by Carole Epp | Apr 10, 2009 | Uncategorized
It’s amazing how the internet allows you to meet people. I’ve meet so many fantastic artists thanks to this blog and my other websites that it truly makes all the time I put into these practices worth every minute! I met today’s artist through etsy after seeing some of his fantastic sculptural and functional based works in his online shop.
Here’s his blurb about his work, life and ice cream flavors (funny how many of you answered my questions literally, resulting in me craving ice cream everytime I got an email!!!)
“My work is about my curiousity for the cosmos surrounding us and the infinite worlds that lie beyond the stars. I’m interested in how our knowledge and curiosity of space has influenced cultures throughout time.
As for the color of the sky in my area… currently blue.
Favorite ice cream is any kind with bananas in it.
My favorite glaze colors are probably light blues and greens.
Check out more about Ben and his fantastic work at his website and/or etsy shop.
by Carole Epp | Apr 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
Judy is another of the wonderful artists I met while in Red Deer (oh what a time I had there!) These images are of some recent work she started last year. She says “I have been doing all sorts of things related to genetically modified food and plants. These small coloured clay flowers (3-5 cm) are inspired by Asian lilies, but are “modified” with thin laminations of geometric millifiori. I grow some real lilies in my rock garden here in the Alberta foothills, but bears do come out the woods to nibble on them – a different kind of modification!”
Please check out more of her work at her website Water Valley Studios.
by Carole Epp | Apr 8, 2009 | Uncategorized
I’ve known of John Shirley’s work for a while now and was pleasantly surprised that he was a reader of the blog. You’ve got to find some time to spend reading and looking at the gorgeous images of his work and process on his blog. He is a ceramist working in South Africa using Bone China. He makes beautifully delicate slipcast work which uses soluble metallic salts for the soft, yet vibrant, watercolor effect.
by Carole Epp | Apr 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
These gorgeous cups are brought to you by Rose Bauer. I first met Rose a few years back when I was the visiting artist at the Red Deer College and was helping out with the distance ceramics program co-run by the Australian National University and the Red Deer College. Rose made fantastic work, a bowl of hers with my name on it is still floating around out there somewhere…
These pieces are hand built from Southern Ice Porcelain slip. Unglazed outside with a clear liner glaze. Rose is also a member of INTO Ceramics so look her up to see more work or to inquire about this work.
by Carole Epp | Apr 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
It’s no secret that I have a hard time writing. Simply put i’d rather be making…but there is a time and place I feel for a bit of theory, critical writing and contemplation on just what exactly all this “craft” is about. So I find myself currently working on (stressing over) a paper that I’m co-writing for the Australian National Conference this summer in Sydney. Some days I question my sanity over deciding that I could find the time and mental space with a one year old to sit down and pen some thought provoking phrases about the current state of many things craft. I normally love getting absorbed in the theory and the academic writing. But I’m a few years removed from academia and the longer I go, the harder it seems to get that part of my brain working again. But so as I trudge along hoping to make sense in my paper and to hopefully make some valid and thought provoking points I’ll give you a link to a great site I just discovered with some great writing by the gifted minds of the likes of Tanya Harrod, Edmund de Waal, Love Jönsson among many others.
So if you find yourself with plenty of time on your hands indulge in the free downloads and prepare your mind for thinking!
by Carole Epp | Apr 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
Jim is a ceramics artist living in Louisville, Kentucky whose story was of particular interest to me. After news of his first child Jim decided to give up the work he was doing and follow his passion for making ceramics. It was a gutsy move. I keep thinking that having my first child almost compelled me to consider finding a “real job”, so Jim is a great reminder to me that this is a real job, worthy of pursuing against the odds and that being fulfilled as an artist can translate to being an amazing parent as well.
For more info and images of his great pots check out his blog at
http://jimgottuso.wordpress.com
