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wheellogoThe UnderPressure Fine Art Web Site.

Welcome to Wheel Thrown Ceramic Forms.

MY STUDIO: The larger studio is to the right, storage is to the left. The deck is a great place to put out the wheel and work on a beautiful day. I have another storage shed that houses wood working tools and machinery.

barns

TYPE OF WHEEL: I use a Thomas Stuart Wheel. I keep it pretty clean. Here are pictures of the two kilns, also, covered when not in use.

wheelkilns

PRESENT PROJECT: SPIRIT VASES. My present project involves throwing vase shapes that look animated (bodies). I want the vessels to be spirit vases, with functional parts that don't function normally, or as expected. Art for art's sake brought me the idea that pottery can be beautiful, whimsical, and exist purely for enjoyment rather than traditional function. Most works you see that are not functional do not contain functional parts. My vessels will contain functional parts that are, rather than non-functional, dysfunctional.

The idea comes from looking at Columbian pottery, such as the two below (http://www.trocadero.com/directory/Antiques:Regional_Art:Americas:Pre_Columbian.html), and Chinese bronzes, such as the three below (http://www.artsmia.org/viewer/index.php?start=1&v=2&op=1226):

columbian1columbian2chinese1chinese2chinese3

Now look at the maquettes under the maquette/sketch section. See the resemblance, and then note the variation from the original ideas.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS USED:

MAQUETTES/SKETCHES:

spirit vase 2aspirit vase 1a

Keep in mind that the vases above in this maquette/sketch section are ideas, quick maquettes of a larger idea. The original chinese bronzes were quite large, and so were the original vases made in the Pre-Columbian era. These maquettes don't measure higher than 10 inches. They have removable parts that don't make sense for function. The hand-built arms and legs need serious attention, remaking in fact. The general idea is there, though, and after some more sketching in my journal, and some more playing with maquette ideas with clay in smaller format, I might have a good idea here. My goal is to produce a set of them, perhaps 8 to 10 vessels.

PROGRESS:

RESEARCH: