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Darlene Fort’s Cute Clay Animal Creations

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Darlene Fort is owner and artist of Rock Pottery based in Harlem, GA, which she runs with her husband Rock Fort. She named the company after her passions, her husband and her art. Darlene and Rock wanted something to fill their time after retiring following so many years of work, so Darlene decided they would take up pottery in 2005 and sell the things they made. She had no idea they were going to do so well with their business. Darlene Fort’s primary focuses when working with her clay creations are animal figurines and animal face jars, which include everything from cats to elephants to owls. She uses a porcelain and stoneware clay mix when forming her beautiful artwork, and shapes it into jars, vases, pencil holders, and other useful and decorative pieces that would be welcome additions to any surroundings. Playful, whimsical animals peek out from the pieces and add life and personality to anyone’s home, and the gorgeous works of art are immediate conversation starters. What makes Darlene’s pieces even better is that they are colorful, captivating, fun and every piece is kiln-fired at over 2200 degrees to ensure that they are safe for cooking or serving food.

Wendy Lawrence: Nature Captured in Clay

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Art comes in a wide variety of styles and forms. Artists have the option of using many different styles of techniques and material in order to convey the piece they wish to communicate with the viewer. One of the more popular artistic styles throughout the ages has been the use of clay ceramics. Clay allows their artist to mold and shape it into almost anything the artist’ mind can imagine. In the hands of an expert artist a simple lump of clay becomes a thing of beauty worthy of the finest museums or households.Check out this link here. One of the leading ceramic artists’ working today is Wendy Lawrence. This world acclaimed artist has continually wowed the art world with her unique and tantalizing pieces. This brief article will take a quick look at what inspires this amazing artist.

The first thing a person notices when looking at a piece by Wendy Lawrence is its nature like qualities. Whether the piece is large or small the piece is sure to evoke the sense of nature. This is intentional, as the artist designed for this effect. Her works are usually based upon rock structures in their various forms. This naturalistic inspiration has fueled her muse to create some unique and amazing pieces. Truly she is one of the top artists working today.

The Whimsical Beauty of Joyce Bickel Ceramics

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clay when left to its own self is boring and uninspiring. A lump of clay has rarely incited a sense of awe or wonder. However, this same lump of clay when in the hands of a skilled artist suddenly can become the source of joy and happiness for all who see and posses the item. The world has been blessed with many unique and interesting artists who have specialized in the clay art form. Clay demands a special type of artistic vision that few artists are capable of fully capturing. One of the leading individuals in clay ceramics today is Joyce Bickel. Joyce Bickel and her ceramic offerings are known the world over for their craftsmanship and artistic touches. This brief article will discuss how to find a Joyce Bickel ceramic piece.

Joyce Bickel is the name mentioned today whenever an individual thinks of who is the top ceramic artist in the country. Her offerings ranging in size and function have long held the ceramic world in awe. Individuals who desire to won one of her piece would be advised to contact the artist directly or through one of her galleries that she has contracted with. No matter how the person acquires a Joyce Bickel piece they are sure to treasure it for years to come.

The Splendid Bowls of Artist Francis Senska

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Do you love the art of clay sculpture? Artist Francis Senska is into the art of clay sculpture and clay pottery. It may be a simple art but needs skilful hands and great imagination for its perfection.

Francis Senska’s love for pottery began during her childhood exposure to the craft in Africa. Despite completing both BA and MA at the University of Iowa and even joined the navy, Senska’s love for the art of clay sculpture and pottery dominated her interest and developed into a passion.

She would address function as the most important aspect of her love for pottery. African music is her motivational material in creating magnificent and splendid bowls. Throwing the clay to the beat of an African tune simply melds the clay to a function she considers reality and an art.

The Splendid Bowls of Artist Francis Senska is an art influenced by her love for clay sculpture and pottery. Clay is fashioned with what the heart dictates. The hands like the symphony orchestras conductor guiding the orchestra to create a wonderful master piece; a clay sculptures hands does the same. Weaving, pinching, pressing and simply romancing the piece of earth to create a majestic piece of art. Francis Senska creates art that transcends each artists generation.

Francis Senska is a woman that knows no bounds in the art she loves. Greatly influenced by her teachers and colleagues she is a flawless contributor to the likes of the Archie Bray Foundation and Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts NCECA. She recalls great persons who touched her life that lead her to be active in clay sculpture and pottery. Peter Voulkos, Maija Grotell, Branson Stevenson Rudy Autio, Trude Guermonprez, Henry Meloy, Jun Kaneko are just a few of those individuals whom she considers factors, colleagues and mentors.

Best Southeastern Pottery Studios

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

You’ve moved to a new area and you’re all concerned with trash pickup and satellite cable providersbut what about the pottery studios in your area? Here are a few of the best in the southeast we think you should check out when you’re done unpacking boxes!
Mudfire: Atlanta’s best pottery studio, Mudfire is all the rage with twentysomethings. Bring your own wine and make a date night of it but don’t forget the checkbookMudfire can get a bit pricey.
The Mint Museum: Charlotte’s flagship museum offers pottery studios to amateurs several times a month and they’ve got some great exhibits to check out, too. It’s a wonderful setting and though classes aren’t cheap they’re a relative bargain due to the quality instruction you’ll get, for sure.
Catawba Pottery: Straddling North and South Carolina, Catawba Pottery is an interesting mix of history and new traditions. You’ll find ancient Indian pottery exhibits as well as hands-on lessons in recreating them. This is the only place on our list it’s a great ideas to bring the kids along. Make a day of it!

Estruscan Clay Figures: Unraveling the Mystery

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Like most prehistoric pottery throughout the world, Etruscan clay figurines are generally found within burial plots. Whole pots or figures are considered incredibly rare, as most pottery pieces are shattered and found fragmented in trash pits and house basins throughout the archaeological record. There are several different examples of clay figures from the Etruscan era that are incredibly beautiful and inspiring. When considering past art pieces, try and consider their manufacturing process and how they could possible accomplish something so beautiful with their limited means.

A popular Etruscan clay figure was burial funerary portraits; clay figures that displayed the individual (or individuals) in death. A Terracotta Sarcophagus from Tomb at Cerveter (530 BCE) displays a husband and wife, beautifully holding one another on a bed. This incredible piece is almost life size (keep in mind that people were a bit shorter then they are today) at 100cm in height. This particular piece would be incredibly difficult to craft, even with today’s methods and it was crafted in two pieces. Great care was taken in crafting the whole piece: from their smiling faces to the woman’s’ delicate feet, to the cushions at their back to the folds in her beautiful dress.

Sculptor Paul Soldner: Father of American Raku

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Paul Soldner began his legacy at the Los Angeles County Art Institute. Through the institute’s innovative program Soldner learned to take risks, something he still does today. By learning to teach his curiosity Soldner ushered in a new era of Contemporary American ceramics. He introduced the art form known as American-style Raku, thereby legitimizing the low-fire form of ceramics.

In addtion to being an artist he was also a teacher. During his career from 1956 to his retirement in 1992 he taught undergraduate and graduate students alike. Students came from as far away as Japan to study under his tutelage. Then there were the thousands that he taught through his workshops and demonstrations. In all his years of teaching it wasn’t only his curriculum that gained him national recogntion, it was his method. Soldner believed in teaching by example. He would often throw, make, pots off center or upside down. In some instances Soldner would take a freshly thrown pot and toss it onto the floor in order to find inspiration. He centered his curriculum on his own experiences and not another person’s theories. His practices were solidifed in his students’ minds by mixing his studio with the everyday classroom.

Exploring the Works of San Diego Artist Cindy Teyro

admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Cindy Teyro is a San Diego artist who creates clay and ceramic items that capture the whimsy in all of us. From stemware to clocks all of her creations are not only cute but stylish as well. You see them and feel as if you’ve entered another realm, this one of unreality and you love it. She describes her creations as “Alice in Wonderland meets Dr. Seuss” and it certainly shows when you see it. Her art is a functional as it is beautiful and will definitely show others that fun side you never knew you had. Since her art is created by hand she has endless possibilities to explore.
When using one of her teapots you can sit and let your mind wander into the place evoked by the artistry of the teapot. Using one of her trays at a party can be a huge help in starting a conversation. Her clocks will not only share the time with you but also a feeling of timelessness and a sense that you’re a child again and in the magical world of fantasy.
This collection of works is a dream for any little or big girl who loves whimsy and fantasy.

The Beautiful Narratives of Ancient Greek Pottery

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are many different types and styles of Ancient Greek Pottery and it seems like basically all of these types and styles of Ancient Greek Pottery stand for one thing or another. When a person looks at most any piece of Ancient Greek Pottery they can be almost absolutely sure that they are looking at a piece of artwork that tells something about the Ancient Greek Times.
No matter what type or style of Ancient Greek Pottery a person has or will see the person that sees the Ancient Greek Pottery will be looking at a piece of artwork that can show them things about the Ancient Greek Culture or way of life. It seems as if the people that have created the magnificient works of Ancient Greek Pottery has made these special treasure to help their culture live on in their work.
Along with the Ancient Greek Potteries showing people things about the Ancient Greek culture, these pieces of Ancient Greek Pottery can tell people stories about the people from Ancient Greek. The stories that are shown on these Ancient Greek Potteries are often referred to as the beautiful narratives of Ancient Greek pottery. This makes this pottery magnificient!