New Work

I have been playing around with the idea of making a table setting. These are images of some test pieces.

A New Take on The Off-Circle Vessel

I am working on a new project!

I have been wanting to widen the lips of my Off Circle vessels. After a few unsuccessful trials of trying to construct these wide lipped bowls with the same method I had previously used, I decided to rethink my concept and technique. I realized that I wanted to create pieces that gave the sense of weight and heft, but in actuality were very light. Producing my Off Circle vessel as a double-walled form was the conclusion that I came to. Creating a vessel with double walls will give me the heavy look and light feel that I am going for. It will also solve my problem with constructing a wide lip. Hopefully...

Above are some images of the interior and exterior walls that I carved. I will create molds from these clay volumes, into which I will press thin slabs of clay.

Finishing The Bowl

...I continued carving the plaster. Once I achieved the shape that I had envisioned, I began to prep it for mold making. First, I applied three layers of a mixture of shellac and denatured alcohol. Secondly, I found the center line where the mold would come apart. Then finally, I built a clay wall up to this center line. After these steps I poured the plaster in two stages and created my beautiful mold!

After waiting a few days for the plaster mold to dry, I cast a bowl from it. Unfortunately, I was unhappy with the shape and volume of the resulting bowl. It lacked the flowing curves and delicate edges I was hoping to achieve.

It is now time to go back to the drawing board!

Beginning of a New Bowl

I have just begun working on a new line of slipcast forms. I thought it would be fun to document my design process from beginning to end. Above are images of where I have gotten so far.

First, I begin by sketching out my ideas. I make drawings on paper, as well as construct small clay models. When I have a general idea of the shape that I want, I pour a block of plaster. I make sure that this block has equivalent volume to the vessel that I have in mind . Once the plaster has set, I begin to carve it down. This part of the process always takes a long time. It is very labor intensive, but it is also the most exciting. Although I have a general idea of the bowl that I want to create, I allow myself the freedom to work from instinct. The outcome is always a bit of a surprise.

Stay tuned to see the final vessel...

American Craft Council Show in Baltimore

Thanks to everyone who came by my booth at the ACC show in Baltimore. It was a great show!

The Poppies

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME (YASHA BUTLER)!!

PLEASE VISIT THE LINK BELOW AND SCROLL TO THE END OF THE LIST. I AM AT THE VERY END!!

http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2010/01/poppies-vote-no-1-ceramics.html

THANK YOU!!!!!

The Poppies

Poppytalk Handmade is preparing to launch "The Poppies" - their awards for the handmade community. If you enjoy my work please nominate me for the "favorite handmade ceramics" category. Here is the link where you can post your nomination directly in the comments. Feel free to also add other ceramic artists to this list:

http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2010/01/favourite-handmade-ceramics.html

thank you

xo yasha