Re-Purposing Damaged Cups

For one  reason or another most potters end up with some pieces that are not able to be used the way they were originally intended to be. For instance, these two cups were the casualties of a kiln explosion. On the outside they are totally fine, but the interior was too damaged to be food safe.
 I really liked the outside, so I kept them, and tried to figure out a way to make them useful. The end results were these cute windowsill planters which are perfect for succulents. I purchased a hollow, diamond-tipped, drill bit and put holes in the bottom of these guys, and a few others that I have  since given away as gifts (they make great little presents!). It was a bit tricky drilling them because you have to keep the drill bit wet, hold the cup in place, and manage not to crack the cup itself, but overall they were totally worth it.

Another way that I have found to re-purpose damaged cups is to make them into candles. Making the candles really isn't that hard, and they become cute hand-made gifts that people really appreciate. This photo is a close-up of some candles made from re-purposed cups for the GLAM show last December. Not only does all your work not go to waste, but by refashioning these pieces it also adds a little diversity to your merchandise which is always good!

Currently, I am working on building my collection of bowls for my upcoming show. I'm having a hard time not keeping a few of these guys. Check 'em out below. There are these and more on my website BiancaWilliamsCeramics.com.

Oh no! Hooray!

 I have experienced several occasions of pottery experiments gone wrong, but I would be kidding myself if I believed I had learned nothing from those instances. Sometimes that learning takes a while to cut through the generally foul mood that follows one of these blunders, but none-the-less you do tend to learn something. Today, I am happy to report, is an instance of a completely different nature-- the experiment gone right after looking like it was going to be a huge disaster. I decided to experiment (I somehow always manage to get the urge to experiment on new pieces that I really like...) with a new white underglaze that my studio uses for painting on biskware, I coated the inside of my piece not thinking twice about it. I, however, decorate all of my work in the greenware stage. The underglaze is formulated to flux at about cone 06 which means that it totally fluxed in the bisk!! After the bisk, I started applying the black wash that I use to define my lines, and  I noticed this pinging sound. I look at my bowl and the entire inside is crazing right before my eyes! I decided to glaze it anyway since I liked the bowl so much (who doesn't love fish with wings!). I am so very glad I did, because the clear glaze completely sealed the whole thing, plus, a safe non-porous crazing pattern is a total bonus. Check out this sweet bowl and a few more pieces I'm working on for my show in May at 706.  Look for more pieces in my new series, "Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground." Coming Soon!

                     
                                                                      Cloud Bowls

Classes and Vases

Classes start Monday! I'm super excited about this, those poor people in my class won't know what hit them. I am a little concerned about me being a total hardass about the lessons, it's a leisure course after all, not the pottery bootcamp course I had in school. I'm just going to teach the class I would have wanted to take. The value of an enthusiastic teacher is immeasurable.

So I have been thinking about digital drawing tablets and their implications for decal/screen printing work in limited production, and I have come to the conclusion that I must have one! I got a new monitor that's huge as well. I have a little experience screen printing on fabric, and the transition to pottery seems pretty straight forward. I need to find a super refined slip base though. I just wonder, is it worth the time? Normally I would want to use underglaze (for the colors) but I think they would run a little, or dissolve in the glaze. I'm going to try it anyway. Check back for some photos, and maybe a tutorial!

Another thing that has been on my mind is vase forms and colors. Here are some of my favorite inspirations so far! Sophie Cook, visit her site here.



and Molly Hatch for Anthropologie, see it here.




And finally another all time favorite is Diana Fayt, check out her other work here. She's teaching an e-course workshop on surfaces, I super curious how that's going to work. I'm probably taking it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Science and Art: They Go Together

This is a great video about the modern relationship between art and science based on the work of Haresh Lalvani at the Design Miami 2011 show. These are 1,000 fruit platters, all unique, with mathematical algorithms as designs with potential to reach 1 billion plus designs from a single equation! My favorite part about this is that they speculate that these designs already exist in nature somewhere! It is a really interesting take on limited production and the value of art that is created with technology. The gallery owner (Murray Moss) talks slow, but it is really interesting I promise! If you dont want to watch the video here is the link to the site.

Calender Year

Over the holidays I took a break from my endless to-do list making. It was pretty awesome, but at the end of my first week back in the studio in 2012 it might be time to get scribbling. I booked a show in May at Leonardo's 706 which is also that last month I will live in Gainesville!! I did a show here last September and it show turned out great, but it is a big space to fill. I need to get cracking! Last time I did 100+ cups but this time it's going to be a little more diverse.  On top of this I am also going to be teaching beginning ceramics and a workshop at my studio. I'm really looking forward to it, but time is going to become a hot commodity for me. Here are some pictures of the show last time. Enjoy!