Tag Archives: meditation

African Themed Figurines

 

A collection of female ceramicists, all with an interest in exploring  African themes in their creation of figurines and sculptures.

 

Michele Ludwiczak :

 

Fascinated by working with clay, French ceramicist Michele Ludwiczak  trained with various potters including Marc Uzan, Gilles Acker ( raku ), pursued the construction of ovens and the cooking of primitive home ceramics  with Thiebaut Dietrich ( founder of the European Institute of Ceramic Arts in Mulhouse) and studied art history at the University of Strasbourg.

” I am a dreamer, an idealist and my art allows me to transcend my contemporary world  and explore other cultures and traditions, where people live to a different rhythm with nature and time. Their endurance and maintenance of beauty, grace and dignity, despite their numerous hardships, is worthy of artistic representation. “

 

 

Michele-Ludwwikzak

Thursday, February 25, 2016 
vernissage at the Galerie Brûlée in Strasbourg from 18.30
concert at 19:30

 

 

 

Michele Ludwiczak - Galle- two African figure sculptures

Michele Ludwiczak – Galle, France

Michele Ludwiczak - African lady holding her child sculpture

Michele Ludwiczak ceramic sculpture

Michele Ludwiczak mother feeding child sculpture

Michele Ludwiczak, France

Michele Ludwiczak sculpture of African girl

Michele Ludwiczak

 

Michele Ludwiczak - sculpture of an African girl carrying a water pot

Water bearer figurine – Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak - mother carrying child on back

 Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak raku scultpure

Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak sculpture

Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak three african figures contemporary sculpture

Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak African woman sculpture

Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak figure sculpture

Michele Ludwiczak African child figurine

Michele Ludwiczak seated child scultpure

Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak sculpture of traditional African mother and child

Michele Ludwiczak

Michele Ludwiczak painting

Michele Ludwiczak painting

Michele Ludwiczak african sculpture figures in village setting

Michele Ludwiczak

Contact Michele here 

Lindy Lawler :

 

Lindy  started working with clay 15  years ago and now works mainly in oil based clay and ceramic clay. Her handmade sculptures all have colours, shapes, glazes and symbols inspired by her memories of South Africa. She works from her home studio in Sydney, Australia.  ” All my work is inspired by cultures of the world and their traditional practices. I have great respect for past and living cultures, of past and living traditions. My sculptures are completely handmade and many of them are made to be held in the hand, and some are created to look like they are old with colours muted through years of antiquity. “

Lindy Lawler African figurine bust

Lindy Lawler

Lindy Lawler ceramic sculpture of an African female bust

 African female bust – Lindy Lawler

Lindy Lawler grande zulu mother and child sculpture

Mini Zulu Mamma – ‘Protecting’

Lindy Lawler

Lindy Lawler sculpture of an African lady

Lindy Lawler African figurine

LindyLawler.jpg-379px-461px

Lindy Lawler

Lindy Lawler " Ayan " sculpture

Lindy Lawler   ” Ayan “

grande Lindy Lawler African woman wearing a pink dress with a red haert bag sculpture

‘Zulu Mama’ – Lindy Lawler

Contact Lindy here

 Annie Peaker :

 

Inspired by her love for African culture, UK ceramicist Annie Peaker captures the beauty of African women in ceramic sculptures. Some of her figures are slightly elongated to emphasise the grace and elegance of the African female form. ” My work is a response to my fascination with the power of body language and movement. Each piece of work is a unique composition with striking features and fluid lines. Surface texture plays an important part and l enjoy exploring the huge potential of the clay and the firing process to deliver new finishes.”

 

 

Ruby by AnniePeaker

‘Ruby’ – AnniePeaker

        annie-peaker figure sculptures - two african women

Tall Figures in honey & blue glaze.

Height 40cm

Annie Peaker sculpture figure of an African lady

African figurine – Annie Peaker

Annie Peaker ceramic sculpture of sitting lady

Annie Peaker

Contact here

Dancing Belle Sculpture

Dancing Belle Sculpture – VoluptuArt

 Etiye Dimma Poulsen :

 

Etiyé Dimma Poulsen was born in 1968 in the rural areas of Ethiopia, became an orphan at the age of two and went on to grow up in Denmark. She studied art and art history for two years.  At 22, she moved to France, where her early work was in ceramics. In 1993, she moved to Belgium, where she now lives and works. ” This very traditional approach of art as craft, is also present in the form of my art. Not that I really copy traditional statues or tribal styles, but I reinvent ‘archetypes’ of ‘primitive art’, totems if you want, from my own processing of matter, from my memory, my vague nostalgia, my longing for a continent that I left ages ago. The soil of Africa…. But my work is not just African; there are some elements from ancient Greek art (Mycenaean), prehistoric Venuses, oriental art etc.” ” I always try to make primordial figures, humans in their most naked, primitive being, as tokens of some basic existential condition: loneliness, fear, desire. But most of all: being there. Being part of. Going towards. A primordial presence, a trace of human culture on the face of planet earth. “  

Blue-Dancer Etiye Poulson ceramic figurine

‘Blue Dancer’  – Etiye Poulson

Etiye Poulson ceramic sculpture

Etiye Dimma Poulson at gallery.

Etiya Poulson contemporary sculpture

Etiya Dimma Poulson

 

Etiye Dimma Poulsen pottery sculpture

Etiya Dimma Poulson

Etiye Poulson ceramic abstract sculpture

Etiya Dimma Poulson

Etiye Poulson ceramic sculpture

Etiya Dimma Poulson

Etiya Dimma Poulson sculpture exhibition

Etiya Dimma Poulson

Etiya Dimma Poulson abstract figurine

Etiya Dimma Poulson

Contact Etiya here

Margit Hohenberger :

 

Margit is inspired and respects the works of art from global cultures. You will recognize some African influences; along with historical and modern aestheics being honoured and integrated into her work,  leading to elegant shapes and styles. She lives and works in Germany in an area which is called “Upper Franconia”. This area was (and still is) very famous for porcelain-production. ”  I have to draw my work first and then create the art in clay. An idea is born on paper and then I go into my studio and transform it into shape.”

Raku flashdance sculpture Margit Hohenberger

‘Flashdance’  – Margit Hohenberger

 

Keramik figurine Margit Hohenberger Raku

Raku figurine  ‘In the storm’  – Margit Hohenberger

.

art keramik-venus -Margit Hohenberger

‘Venus’ –  Margit Hohenberger

Raku figurine.

Contact here

Marianne Houtkamp :

Marianne Houtkamp

Marianne Houtkamp

Marianne Houtkamp - Reveille

Marianne Houtkamp – ‘Reveille’

Searching for food

‘Searching for food’ –  Marianne Houtkamp

The shy bride - Marianne Houtkamp

The shy bride’  – Marianne Houtkamp

Marianne Houtkamp

Marianne Houtkamp

Beruk Mamo painting

 

Beruk Mamo

 
 
 
 
 

 

Yoga merged with clayart

 

Clayoga

 

Clay pottery goes through many transmutations that are analogous with yoga during its creation. The stretching, kneading and contortions it experiences is not dissimilar to what yogic practitioners subject themselves to when practicing their asanas ( postures) in the pursuit of agility and good health. Added to this is when the clay becomes an object of intense concentration during formation, being scrutinized and contemplated till deep meditative moments arise that lead to illumination for its design. Not to mention the exhilaration of the whirling dervish moments it can experience when being thrown on the wheel. At times it is privileged to experience the flashes of brilliance from its creator, which surely infuses it with a sense of wholeness and contentment. Next comes the purifying powers of the kiln unleashing its subtle and unpredictable refining forces not unlike the “ fire of yoga “. If it survives the post kiln scrutiny, it can go on to further glory, rather then be discarded from the Path into the reject bin. Now for the deep cleansing it receives in the cleanup that takes it to its final Enlightenment where it experiences an eternity of bhakti yoga (adoration) when on display.

 Marjory Bankson in her book ” The Soulwork of Clay – A hands on approach to Spirituality” states –  “Working with clay is a way to get our hands dirty and our minds clear “.  She also alludes to it being a kind of primal therapy with the statement “We were all mud-loving children once”.  

♦◊♦

 

expanding white flower gif

yogini painting by Holly Sierra

Holly Sierra

 

Retro Thai lady lamp

Mid century oriental Siamese lady lamp

(  beetle2001cybergreen – flickr )

  Bill Campbell lotus bowl

 Bill Campbell lotus plate

 

 

 

ubud-bali-elephant-buddha---Flickr---Photo-Sharing-

Ganesh statue, Ubud, Bali

 

 

Lidded bue Lotus Jar

Blue Lotus Jar – Moorcroft – 2009

The divine image of the lotus is often used to symbolize purity.


colorful elephant statue on the street The Elephant Parade is an open air art exhibition of life size models of elephants held for the preservation of the Asian elephant. Held in the streets of Holland, Belgium and London over the years, the Elephant Parade has raised millions of Euros for the Elephant Family charity- which is working with the Wildlife trust of India in preserving the Asian elephant.

 

 

Sacred Om symbol in coral, gold and turqoise

‘Om’ turquoise and coral inlay pendant

 

 

 

Carved-teak mandala -wall-panel

Exquisite teak mandala screen

 

Wicked Clay Girl wabi sabi wavey bowl

Bowl with a ceramic wavy organic shape for a meditation bowl in wabi sabi turquoise

WickedClayGirl – Etsy

 

 

Peacock Jar- Anne Webb

Raku Peacock Jar by Anne Webb

Meditation Shrine

Meditation Shrine

Cindy Fuqua pottery vessel with horse hair decorations

Cindy Fuqua horse hair pottery

 

 

 

Buddha-statue-at-pumpkin-stall

Buddha, pumpkin convergence

Tribute to Miyashita Zenji vase

Miyashita Zenji vase   ( 1939 – 2012 )

( Joan B Mirvis Gallery )

Ginkgo Meditation Vase Celery green glaze

Green Ginkgo Meditation Vase

( JW art pottery )

ANTIQUE-JAPANESE-HIGH-FIRE-KUTANI-CERAMIC-AKAIMARI-IMARI-SAMURAI-BOWL

Japanese Imari bowl

 

 

Clarice Cliff jug -1929-1931

Clarice Cliff –  1929-1931

Peruvian raku lotus bottle - Armando Romero

Peruvian raku lotus bottle – Armando Romero

 

 

Two Trees at Midnight by Linda Starr

 ‘Two Trees At Midnight’ –  Linda Starr

( bluestarrgallery blogspot )

Campbell Pottery Studios

Campbell Pottery Studios

Grace-Cheng tri legged ceramic vessel

Grace Cheng tri legged ceramic vessel

Muncie Matte Blue Vase

Muncie Matte Blue Vase

Meditation figurine by Buddahbuilder

Meditation figurine by Buddahbuilder

 

 

Van Briggle Pottery turquoise vase

Van Briggle turquoise Vase

 

 

 

Asian-fabric-lotus-birds-butterflies

Asian fabric lotus print

 

 

Vase signed – Flowering Cherry Tree Japanese Inspired

( Rubylane )

CONTEMPLATION-ceramic vessel by Ann Mallory

‘Contemplation Vessel’ – Ann Mallory

Dancing Dakini - Musée Guimet - Paris

Dancing Dakini – Musée Guimet – Paris

The largest museum of Buddhist art in Europe.

Meditation by Victor Salmon

Meditation by Victor Salmon

Large natural Lingham Stone from India

Large Shiva Lingham stone naturally formed by the currents of the Narmada River, India

( Lawton Mull 1stDibs )

Smiling Stone Buddha

Smiling stone Buddha

Toseland om vase

Om Vase – Toseland Glass

Mandala Pendant Shimmer Creek

Mandala Pendant

( ShimmerCreek – Etsy )

Raku-Buddha-Statue-Seated-in-the-Clouds-Sculpture-AnitaFeng-buddhabulider

Raku ‘Buddha in Clouds’ – Anita Feng

Brian Kakas abstract sculpture

Abstract ceramic sculpture  – Brian Kakas

( Assistant Professor of Ceramics at Northern Michigan University )

Michael Wein Raku Bottle

Michael Wein Raku Bottle

 

 

Jingdezhen-Kiln-Qingbai-Glaze porcelain crane candlestick holder

Jingdezhen Kiln Qingbai Glaze Porcelain Candlestick – Song Dynasty

Yoga bella sculpture

Yoga Bella sculpture – Acacia

A Chinese famille rose bowl

A Chinese famille rose bowl – Quianlong 1760

Artpark yoga sculpture by Ev Meynel

Artpark sculpture ” Lotus ”  – Ev Meynel

Duangkamol vase

Celadon ceramic vase, ‘Orchid Glory’ – Duangkamol, Thailand

( Novica )

Yoga Figurine King Pigeon

Yoga Figurine King Pigeon

( FemailCreations.com )

Vintage Mexican Painted Terra Cotta Sun Face Mask Wall Hanging

Vintage Mexican Painted Terra Cotta Sun Face Mask Wall Hanging

( beadandbag – Etsy )

Matsui-Kosei-(1927-2003 )

Matsui Kosei –  (1927-2003 )

mirviss.com

SMOKEY BLUE OMBrendaMcmahon

SMOKEY BLUE OM – Brenda Mcmahon

Crystal Healing Buddha

Healing crystals with  Buddha bust

Studio Salvadore glass vase

Studio Salvadore glass vase

Zhao Meng sculpture

Zhao Meng sculpture

 ( Tao Water Art Gallery  )

Mougin vase executed by J.Wolfe

 Mougin vase executed by J.Wolfe

Kurt and Heidi BekerYoga 2011---Ceramic figures

Kurt and Heidi Beker – Yoga-Ceramic figures  2011 Australia

( Gannon House gallery )

Curvy Yogini figurine

Curvy Yogini figurine ( cobra pose )

Jizo Japanese garden statue holding hydrangeas

Jizo – Japanese garden statue

Ireland's famous Belleek porcelain vase

A porcelain vase by Ireland’s famous Belleek Pottery

 

 

 

Azurite.-Shilu-Mine,-Yangchun-Co.,-Yangjiang-Prefecture,-Guangdong-Province,-China

Deep Blue Azurite gemstone – Shilu Mine

Ann Mallroy Ceramic Lingum

Ann Mallroy Ceramic Lingam

Delhi Art Gallery - Manifesta by G.R. Santosh

G.R. Santosh – ‘Manifesta’

Delhi Art Gallery

Mexican folk art peace-plate-475x450

Mexican Folk Art plate

    Esse Art and Yoga:   Esse is an Art and Yoga centre combined and is situated in Fargo.” Our space is split into two halves that work together to form a whole. We promote the arts + wellness in an intimate and comfortable environment “. Featured below are some their talented artists.

 

Dale Cook :

Dale Cook red ceramic vessel

Dale Cook

 

 

Dale-Cook-wood-carved-wooden vessel

Dale Cook

Dale Cook ceramic blue jar

Dale Cook

 

Dale Cook Wood Carved bowl with leaf motifs

Dale Cook

 

 

Dale Cook wood carved vessel

Dale Cook

 

 

Emerge :

circular ceramic vessel by Emerge

Circular ceramic vessel – Emerge

 

 

 Casey Hochhalter :

Casey Hochhalter Ceramic Sculpture

‘Upsurge’ by Casey Hochhalter

 

 

Casey Hochhalter blue sculpture

‘Culminate’ – Casey Hochhalter

 

 

Casey Hochhalter Pitfall ceramic sculpture

‘Pitfall’

 

 

David Valdez Ceramic Sculpture

David Valdez ceramic sculpture

 

 

blue-lotus-flower

Blu lotus flower

 

 

Caterina-Zacchetti seated girl in Full Lotus yoga pose

Caterina Zacchetti ceramic sculpture

 

 

 

Cypress-Cut-away-Bowl---Bonnie-Belt

Cypress Cut away Bowl Bonnie Belt

 

 

springburst-mosaic-art-mandala

‘Springburst’ – mosaic art mandala – Brett Campbell Mosaics

 

 

 

Stone Lotus Pottery green glaze cup and saucer

Turquoise and jade glazed platter and bowl – Stone Lotus Pottery

 

 

 

James_Perry_AWAKENING_l--ISABELLA-GARRUCHO-FINE-ART

‘Awakening’ – James Perry

Isabella Garrucho Fine Art

 

 

 

Ogata Kamio (b. 1949) Carved columnar neriage vase with blue, off-white and grey colored clay, 2007

Carved columnar neriage vase with blue, off-white and grey colored clay – Ogata Kamio

2007

 

 

 

puxianmalaysia.wordpress Seated bronze Buddha holding red lotus

 Seated bronze Buddha holding red lotus flower

puxianmalaysia.wordpress

 

 

Zen-Garden,-Koyoto-Japan-in black and white

Zen Garden, Koyoto Japan

 

 

Elena-Ray---flickr buddha stone head with stones and a flower

Buddha display – Elena Ray

 

 

 

 

Pat Swyler Ceramics Sublime

 

Pat Swyler is a fine ceramicist who creates figurines infused with a depth of feeling and beauty. The figures usually display  classical Mudras, ( hand gestures ) and manage to reflect the subtlety of meditation.

 

Pat Swyler Purity sculpture

‘Purity’

 

” Since childhood the human figure has interested me as subject matter, a fascination which I have explored working from live models in both clay and drawing materials.  Although the majority of my work is three dimensional, drawing and painting are essential to development of my ideas in clay.
My current work centers on the human body as a means of expressing concepts.  Like dancers, the female forms I sculpt use their bodies to communicate.  The symbolic and transient is conveyed through hand positions, postures, facial expressions or included object.  The figures are seers and intermediaries who comfort, guide, protect or reveal life’s innermost secrets; they are sentinels at the gates of eternity.  Multiple layers of color applied to the surfaces suggest the passage of time.  Patterns, surface textures and “tattoos” allude to our common tribal ancestry and records of our yesterdays.  The scale of my work is small (six to twenty-four inches), requiring the viewer to look closely, creating a feeling of intimacy. ” – Pat Swyler

Inspiration :  The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection of Medieval, Egyptian, Renaissance and Asian sculptures is a source of inspiration.  The paintings, drawings, textiles and sculpture of the Rubin Museum have also given me much visual reference material.  Incorporating historic iconography into my personal vision of clay is a lifetime obsession.

 

Pat Swyler ceramic bust of uan Yin

‘Virtue’  – Pat Swyler

 

Porcelain wood fired vessel with lid

Porcelain – wood fired vessel – Pat Swyler

 

Ceramic vessel with lid Pat Swyler

Stoneware – oxidation fired – Pat Swyler

 

Pat Swyler-vase

Raku vase – Pat Swyler

 

Pat describes her technique :   Since first touch clay has been my medium of choice.  Its plasticity allows me to rapidly develop forms, while the firing process transforms them into something stone-like, a metamorphosis of the temporary into the permanent.  My surface colors are built up gradually with a mixed media approach.  Oxides and ceramic colorants are fired onto some surfaces while others are finished with oil and acrylic paint and varnish layers.  Experimentation with color layers is exciting and results in a variety of depth and range not otherwise attainable.  Multiple clays and firing techniques create dramatic differences in surfaces.  The majority of my work is executed in earthenware and porcelain fired in an oxidizing atmosphere in an electric kiln.

 

shell vessel - Pat Swyler

Pat Swyler

 

 

Serenity wall plaque by Pat Swyler - Serenity

‘Serenity’  by Pat Swyler

 

 

two teapots Pat Swyler - orange pumpkin style

 Pat Swyler teapots

 

lidded ceramic box Pat Swyler

Pit fired with gold leaf lidded vessel – Pat Swyler

 

Pat Swyler statue

Pat Swyler

 

Pat Swyler-abundace sculpture

‘Abundance’ – Pat Swyler

 

inner bliss- Pat SwylerCeramic bust – Pat Swyler

 

Pat Swyler Compassion statue

‘Compassion’  – Pat Swyler

 

boddhisatva sculpture - Pat SwylerStanding meditation statue  -Pat Swyler

 

standing Kuan Yin sculpture by Pat Swyler

‘Peace’ – Pat Swyler

 

Ceramic lidded ceramic pumpkin vessel - Pat Swyler

Lidded vessel – Pat Swyler

 

Pat Swyler-Harmony sculpture

‘Harmony’ – Pat Swyler

 

Pat Swyler Serenity 3 sculpture

‘Serenity 3’

 

Pat Swyler meditation statue -seated posture - inner calmness

‘Meditate’ – Pat Swyler meditation statue

Pat’s statues at an exhibition

Pat Swyler exhibition sculpture

Pat Swyler mudra sculpture

 

 

Pat-Swyler---sculpture female figure - vision of calm

Pat Swyler

 

 

Pat Swyler-four sculptures

Four Sculptures – Pat Swyler

 

 

Pat Swyler ceramic statues

Blissful sculptures by Pat Swyler

 

 

Pat Swyler ceramic sculptures

Sculptures by Pat Swyler

 

 

Ceramicist Pat-Swyler exhibition

Meditation statues by Pat swyler

 

 

Pat Swyler two statues with meditation poses

Two female sculptures with mediation poses

 

 

Pat Swyler female figure with mudra statue

More Pat Swyler here

◊♦◊

Kuan Yin and the cicada :

A live cicada visiting the Kuan Yin statue in the lounge room

 

The only time I ever saw an auspicious Cicada in my home was when it came and sat on the Kuan Yin statue. I admired its sense of symmetry.