Marian Williams, Author at Marian Williams Pottery

Altered Pottery – A Big Mistake?!

It started out ok, but it soon turned into a big mistake!

The bowl that I was throwing was looking good! But then.. It started to skip? So I grabbed a big wooden rib. The faster the wheel turned the more wobbly the bowl got. The sides were straight. But the rim was going around like that ‘big wave ride in the playground at my school. (it would be totally unacceptable these days!!)

So I decided to ‘alter’ the rim! ‘alter’ is code (for me, sometimes) for saving a pot!

Here’s the result!

Can’t wait to glaze it!!

Maybe it wasn’t a mistake after all!

Just creativity at work.

What’s that Cheryl Crow song? “My favorite mistake” – this may turn out to be one of my favorite mistakes!

Oh…and don’t make the mistake of missing out on the other blogs at Mud Colony!

Click here!

Ideas!! or Food for Thought! Pottery Seen In Italy!!

Creation

One of the great parts about traveling is the opportunity to see pottery created by artists outside your normal circle of influence. While in Italy, I didn’t make extensive efforts to “see” ceramic art as I was travelling with my husband, Ronnie, and I didn’t want to be selfish and see ONLY stuff I wanted to see.

However, when I did get the opportunity to duck into a shop selling pottery…I did!!

Here are the photos that I quickly snapped with my phone camera! I love the inspiration of looking at others work!

Not that I want to copy – but as I commented on a recent facebook topic – copying is how we learn-from the alphabet on. In Austin Kleon’s book, Steal like an Artist – he states that everyone learns by copying, i.e., the Beatles learned to play and create music by playing covers, etc.

So there you have it! More food for thought and some beautify work by Italian artists.

Alabaster Art

Creation

Although this post isn’t about clay, it is about the creation of art from one of the earths’ treasures – Alabaster! I actually knew nothing about it and was fascinated by what I learned!

In the Tuscany medieval town of Volterra, the carving of alabaster is the main attraction.

Although it is not as “in style” as it once was, the creation of artworks from alabaster is still alive in this small village.

Alabaster comes in four colors and can be easily carved due to its soft composition.

In earlier times, thin sheets of the translucent alabaster were used in cathedral windows- it allowed in light, but was opaque and durable.

The carving of alabaster today is assisted by machines, such as a lathe.

All in all, it allows for the creation of incredible art from one of the earths treasures – much like clay!

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Michele Fabbricatore – Italian artist

Amazing Potters

When visiting a shop in the Tuscany area of Italy, I came across the pottery of Michele Fabbricatore!

Really wonderful ‘images’ and workmanship! Although a bit whimsical, the pieces tell intricate stories.

So I checked out this Italian artist and found out the following:

Michele Fabbricatore is from Pistola, Italy. He has a great website at: CLICK HERE!

Tuscan Pottery

Creation

The pottery of Tuscany tends to be majolica, majolica, majolica!

Gorgeous, but seen in vast quantities it tends to all run together.

I did get to see one studio and loved that! So interesting to see the workspaces and equipment of other potters, especially in another country!

This article (click here) from Ceramics Daily gives a good outline of pottery in the Tuscan area.

Sounds like I’ve missed heaps! Guess I’ll have to go back someday!!

Tickets Made From Pottery Shards

Creation

Pottery shards, inscribed with seat numbers and designated entry door, were used in ancient Rome as entry tickets to the Colosseum!

However, entry was free! Interesting, eh?!

Cute idea for a party or raffle!!!

Pottery Camp! Italian Style!!!

Creation

La Meridiana International Ceramic School is in the Tuscany area of Italy near the town of Certaldo.

I convinced my husband, Ronnie, that we should try to find La Meridiana International Ceramic School.

It was “sort of” on our way to Cinque Terre! So off we went! I plugged the lat/long coordinates into the GPS and about an hour later- after driving “off-road vehicle roads” – !!! (oh well, it was a rental!) we arrived at the “back” door of La Meridiana.

It was a Sunday and I was soon to learn that it was a day off and not too many folks were around.

However, I was lucky to meet Annie Gutierrez (on the left), a student from southern California, USA, and one of the instructors, Donna Polseno, from Virginia and Italy. Donna was teaching a sculpting class- see projects here:

Her husband, Richard Hensley, was also teaching a throwing class there.

They were absolutely delightful and took time out to show us around.

The facilities are warm and inviting and the studios gloriously suited to doing lots of pottery!

Here is some of the work we saw in the gallery at La Meridiana!

It would be so great to take a class here! Adriana Christianson, Australian potter and blogger, has visited there as well, and raves about it!!!

So anyone game to go next year? But not in August! It’s been freakin HOT!!

Here’s their website: Click here!

And for the schedule click here.
Caoi, baby!!!!

Matthew Hyleck

Amazing Potters

Matthew Hyleck

My incessant searching of the web finds me some pretty cool stuff. Found this potter and am OBSESSED! Love his glaze work!

Matthew Hyleck’s Work

Matthew Hyleck!!! Check out his work here! Matthew is currently the Education Coordinator at the Baltimore Clayworks

A Brilliant Idea for Mixing Glazes

Glazes Studio and Equipment Tutorials

Ricks – Bricks Pottery

Well, this is such a good idea! Do you think I did this? No….!!!! Of course not!!! I just slung glaze all over the place! This is brilliant! My next glaze mixing day will be much less messy!!! Yeah!!!