Create your own composition.

Another batch of my series Interact with Art has just been fired.  Inspiration does indeed come from everywhere.  In this case these pieces have been inspired by my sons stacking toys.  It really cannot get any simpler.  They consist of a series of cylindrical shapes (rough cylindrical shapes - following the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic) which can be stacked (or left unstacked) in varying number and / or order for the individual to created their own composition.

These pieces together with other works are available at my studio.

A variety of units ready to be stacked

Composition 1

Composition 2

Interacting with Ceramics

My last work out of the kiln "Daily Bread" has finally materialised.  It is the first of a series of interactive art that I have been working on for some time.  Lots of 'slices' of ceramic bread glazed in different colours, or unglazed if preferred can be put into a variety of compositions.  One may prefer a composition of 10 pieces, or just a stand alone piece.  On the other hand if space is no issue a collection of 50 or more would make quite an impact.  The idea is to allow one to interact with art and put their own input into creating their own piece.

Examples may be viewed on my Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeremy-Ellul-Artworks/242399795815980

Living off Art - Daily Bread

I am very often asked "Would you like to be able to live off your art?"  This is indeed a very difficult question to answer.  In an ideal world I guess it would be nice to be able to do so.  On one hand there is one's work or profession.  Is it wise to give all that up?  Why work so hard for many years, create something and then let it go?  This is even harder when you are lucky enough to enjoy what you do.  Even with a good job or profession one passes through ups and downs, just imagine with living off art!  Lets face it, owning a work of art is not a priority (at least for most people).  Then there is another side to the story.  Would living off art affect the work i.e. creativity?  Would there be bias?  I.e. creating what people want, or are used to, rather than what you feel you should.  Art is one of the things that allows one to be free, why lose this freedom? 

Now living on such a small island living off art is even harder.  Yes we've got great telecommunication today, however few opportunities, a small population, travelling to meet gallery owners out of Malta, and funding for art shows are a few of the barriers.  And one may spend so much time trying to get out there that little time is left for creating new work?

With these thoughts in mind living off art is currently a pipe dream.  Nonetheless 'DAILY BREAD' is the title of this new piece I am working on.  It not only represents the interrogation point that remains in my mind every time I'm asked "Would you like to be able to live off your art?", but also the struggle many people have to go through to actually buy their daily bread.  In this case the difference between these two points are that they are respectively at the apex and the base of Maslow' s hierarchy of needs!

INSPIRATION

It is a well known and documented fact that breakfast is essential for a good start to one's day.  I have to say this is true, especially for today as my inspiration came from my breakfast.....from a slice of bread to be precise.  There I was sitting down with this warm piece of bread thinking "interesting texture" ....and it hit me. I  had a new idea to put in a visual and tangible form.  

Inspiration is interesting, it comes in various forms.   The word inspiration refers to an unconscious burst of creativity, and is viewed as being beyond the control of a person.  I have wondered where inspiration comes from, and was always worried that it would never come back.  Ancient theories hypothesized that inspiration came from a state of ecstasy; or as a gift from the gods or from the Holy Spirit.  Really and truly to the artist the essential thing is that inspiration just keeps coming.

Anyway one hour after, I'm at my studio engrossed in this new piece, rolling out slabs of various types of clay, giving them the desired shape and slowly building towards this idea in my head.  Unfortunately I will not be able to divulge anything yet, however I look forward to showcasing this piece.

Inspiration in a slice of bread.  What next?

Earth, Water a Few Kilowatts and Lots of Smoke........

....later, and I am still waiting for the results of my first smoke firing. As I type the kiln is cooling down and I'm  thinking back at what attracted me to try this method of firing.  It must be the seemingly easy method, the ease of obtaining combustibles, (sawdust and also seaweed in this case) and the simplicity of the kiln itself. Secondly it is striving to make an attractive piece without glazing the ceramic.  So what should I expect?  The literature mentions shades of black, grey and brown predominantly.  I just hope that the piece inside will come out intact.  Here s a close up of the ware in the kiln before closing.

 


Some results of my smoked works can be viewed on my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=288199261236033&set=a.251698028219490.66840.242399795815980&type=1&theater

2012. A New Start?

Not as far as keeping an organised workspace goes!  So much for the freshly painted walls and shelving.  The studio looked nice and new for 1 week.  The paint barely had time to dry.  Now the place looks like a rogue wave retreated and left a whole lot of stuff behind.  Actually one may believe this as the floor is strewn with seaweed left out to dry and bags upon bags of sawdust.  (I must say that the mixture of smells in the air from the weed and the sawdust are interesting.)  There is an explanation to all this however.  I ve decided to forget glazing for my second firings and experiment with sawdust firing and other combustibles (this is where the seaweed comes in).  I am also working on some new ideas when it comes to ceramics, and this includes not only having people appreciated a ceramic piece for its shape, texture or colour.  The intention is to allow one to interact with the piece by changing its conformation after firing amongst other things.  Will this be a success?  That is another story, which only time will tell.