guest post: “show us your influences” with Amanda Barr

by | Jul 26, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

So you may have noticed that starting last friday I’ve begun (what will hopefully become) another weekly feature on the blog. Inspiration comes from numerous obvious and sometimes less clear sources. Fridays will now be a chance for readers of musing to share what inspires them.  So drop me a line with a few lines about you, your inspirations (3 artists, not neccessarily clay based) and some images and join in the fun!
Thanks in advance
xoxo
carole

My inspirations by Amanda Barr:
Author Neil Gaiman
Molly Hatch
Jason Bige Burnett
My
work is very much a reflection of my personality; bright, colorful, and
highly imaginative. Reality has often been painful, so I and in turn my
work, seek escape in other worlds. Seeing creatures in passing clouds,
dreaming of alternate worlds, delving into books about eras long past
make each day a new and fun adventure, for myself and I hope those who
use my work.
Neil
Gaiman writes some of the best science fiction and fantasy worlds in
literature today. His writing is funny, sad, exciting and above all
heart-felt. From his adult fiction (Startdust, Neverwhere, Anasi Boys,
Sandman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane) to young adult and children’s
books (Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Chu’s Day) he has never failed to
capture me completely. His 2012 commencement address-turned-book “Make
Good Art” is my go-to when I need extra motivation to keep going.

Jason’s
work has that blend of simple (form) and complex (surface) that has,
since I first saw a piece several years back, called to me. Playful yet
poignant, his work is everything I’ve strived to create. His subtle
manner of storytelling is some of the best around, and of course he is
as beautiful a person as his work.

 

Molly
Hatch’s work first spoke to me because of the historical references- I
loved Wedgewood long before I ever began working with clay. Her more
recent design work- moving into fabric, wallpaper, glassware- is
something I am fascinated with and would love to someday do myself. What
I love most about Molly is how she has elevated the functional pot into
artwork with her displays of teacups and teapots in frames and of
course her “plate painting” pieces such as Physic Garden with the High
Museum. 

movie day: Alternative methods of ceramic shaping / The Blast / Adam Železný / UMPRUM

by | Jul 23, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

The Blast is a set of ceramics vessels that are shaped by a shockwave
induced by controlled detonation. I am using a sophisticated system of
explosive charges which – on basis of measurements and tests – determine
the final shape of the bowls. As a result, I am presenting a set of
different sized bowls which stand on the edge of fine and applied arts.
The important point is the act of creation of the bowl. The blast,
event, which itself lasts no longer than the actual detonation. A
shockwave shaping the bowl is spreading at a supersonic speed and
partially imprints itself into the ceramic mass. It is kind of a punk
analogy to an industrial porcelain production, isostatic shaping, which
is also based on the use of pressure. However with much lower costs and
much different result classified as free ceramics.

guest post – “show us your influences” with Andrew Tarrant

by | Jul 18, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

 My work is heavily influenced by historical and mythological examples, in form,
use and decoration. I wouldn’t class myself as a production potter, nor a

sculptor, if pressed I usually say I’m a vessel maker, or a maker of things.


I do not generally attribute any artists as a direct influence but rather the (almost) faceless artisans of the past. I have a simple Roman bowl that I
purchased in London when I was a student at ACA back in the late 80’s. It sits on my kitchen table, I’ve put nuts in it during parties. I like that it was made in the first century (AD) and it is still in use in the twenty-first century. I like the longevity of clay.

I have major geek cred, I collect and have sold collectable sculptural toys,
comics and such. In the past we never knew the names of the toy sculptors but these days they are proudly printed on most of the packaging. As potters we are
known only by our marks, sometimes by our names, but always by the look of our art. I can usually tell if two different toys were sculpted by the same person.

Back to the late 80’s again, where I met a jewelery student who practiced
martial arts like I did. We practiced together, exchanging styles, and became
close friends. Jeff deBoer is not so much an influence as a brother in design.
Once or twice we have even come up with the same designs at the same time. We
share a similar design sensibility, snobbery of single-malt, and sarcastic
humor.

website – http://www.trespasser.ca
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/TrespasserCeramics
Instagram – http://instagram.com/the_trespasser
Twitter – https://twitter.com/The_Trespasser