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Marian Williams Pottery
Marian Williams Pottery

Hanging Wall Vases

CreationHanging wall vases

I recently made a fairly basic hanging wall vase.   One of the things that I couldn’t figure out too well, was how to hang it!!

So I saw this vase, which is a 16th Century Japanese Wall Hanging Vase, and it had a really cool little hanging device.

In Japanese homes. wall vases are used due to the fact that their homes are small and this allows for better use of their space.  Brilliant!

Japanese Pottery ToolsThe cool little hanging device is called a “Hanaire Rings” and they are for creating hanging vases!  Check out this website to get your very own Hanaire Rings!
Great glazes, huh!  You’d think we would have the glaze thing nailed – they’ve been doing it since the 16th century on this piece!
So I decided to see what other potters are doing to create hanging wall vases and found some really interesting and great examples!  Here are a few of the ones that I liked.
Click here for website

These large hydrangea leaf wall vases were made by Michelle Curtis at Earthen Vessels Pottery.

They have great colours and look fabulous!

All in all, there is no limit to the types of hanging wall vases that can be created.  All it takes is some clever imagination and effort.  Let me hear what you’ve been making!

Altered Pottery – A Big Mistake?!

Creation

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!

 

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’s Work

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

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