Clay Forms

 Jay Kvapil-new-work-large-bottle-2013

Volcanic glaze bottle – Jay Kvapil

 

I never tire of admiring a design that exudes originality and spirit. Sometimes form alone works a treat, with the right balance and originality. Any added decoration would detract from its pure brilliance.  Decorative lines, texture and colour can all contribute to the added illusion of depth and combine to manifest rhythm in the design. Overlapping lines and colours support the perception of depth. Sharp edges in the decoration can flatten the depth, as can a lack of tonal diversity. Decorative additions can clash with the shape of a piece, if the lines aren’t harmonic with the form.
The curvilinear shape always presents shifting perspectives and intriguing possibilities on the three dimensional canvas of clay pottery. Asymmetrical patterns and design adds to the allure of a decoration as it offers multiple angles where the piece reflects a shifting appearance. Additional texture can be created with decorative lines, directly carved into a piece or appear with the glaze and natural surface of the clay. The more textured a surface, the larger the object appears.
The mood of a piece can be manipulated with the styles of the lines in both the form and decoration. Vertical lines are yin, expansive, gravity defying, feminine, restless and reflect growth and flexibility. Conversely yang horizontal lines are grounded, masculine, restful, steady, rigid, passive, calm and serene. An assertive mood can be created with bold, straight, solid, sharp, thick, and even lines. A soft, or delicate mood would employ curved, thin, or continuous flowing lines. An edgy feel logically comes from diagonal, disjointed, angular shape and lines. The creative combination of these ‘moods’ can create an excellent dynamic. This was particularly evident in the vivid Art Deco designs.
The most cleverly conceived design can be dismissed in a glance if these creative elements don’t mesh and sometimes if the form isn’t right to begin with, decoration will struggle to save it. The artist uses these design elements to put form to his creative spirit, and ironically, with abandonment of intellectual analysis, the viewer can get closer to appreciating the spirit of the work.
The focus of this post is on forms that are original, or have decoration that effectively enhances the form.

 

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Female figure dish – Edouard Cazaux

 

 

Alessandro Mendini,-Superego-Editions,-Yellow-and-black

Modernist ceramic vessel by Alessandro Mendini,- Superego Edition

Italy

 

 

American master potter and ceramic artist-Val Cushing-(1931)

Val Cushing

USA 1931

 

 

 

Anne Currier abstract ceramic sculpture

  Anne Currier

 

 

 

Bamboo-shoot-ewer-by-Plant-Design-Online

 A graceful Korean celadon glaze porcelain ewer, designed to resemble a bamboo shoot.

Museum of FIne Arts in Boston, 12th century

 

 

Brother Thomas,-Tall vase, textured copper reds and greens, porcelain

Tall textured copper reds and green vase – Brother Thomas

 

 

Camille-Faure-French-Art-Deco-Enamel-Vase

Globular Art Deco vase – Camille Faure

 

 

Carlos Versluys ceramic pitcher

Carlos Versluys ceramic handpainted pitcher

 

 

 

Catherine of Siena-Italy

Ceramic burner with decentralized neck – Catherine of Siena, Italy

 

 

 

raku vase Caught Up In Clay - etsy

Japanese influenced raku vessel – Meredith McGriff, Indiana

Caught Up In Clay – etsy

 

 

Cecilia Boivie lamb figurines

 Cecilia Boivie – sheep figurines

 

 

 

 

Davis Vachon-raku bird

Davis Vachon

 

 

 

Clyde_Burt_Ceramics bottle

 Ceramic bottle mid-century – Clyde Burt

 

 

crater-glaze Michael-Hamlin-Smith

 Yellow crater glaze vessel Michael Hamlin Smith

 

 

 

Davide-Salvadore 2000

Abstract vessel, twin necks – Davide Salvadore

 

 

 

 

'Tyto 1' - Daina & Francis - sculptural owl -- Stylized barn owl sculpture in graphite colored mica flecked stone. Mounted on a bronzed patinaed steel base

‘Tyto 1’ – Daina & Francis- Elemental Artifacts

Stylized barn owl sculpture in graphite colored mica flecked stone. Mounted on a bronzed patinaed steel base

 

 

 

Emile Jacques Ruhlmann French Art Deco

Art Deco bowl – Emile Jacques Ruhlmann

France

 

 

Enno Jäkel contemporary vessel

Enno Jäkel contemporary vessel

 

 

 

Giuliano Malimpensa 'Roma' palladium vessel

‘Roma’ – Giuliano Malimpensa palladium sculptural vessel

ponteonline.com

 

 

Jim-y-Shirl-Parmentier

Jim & Shirl – ‘Parmentier’

 

 

 

Japanese pottery - Kato-Yasukage,-Joan B. Mirviss Gallery

Kato Yasukage, Joan B. Mirviss

Sofaexpo

 

 

 

Kazuo Yagi---Futakuchi Tsubo-1950

Kazuo Yagi — Futakuchi Tsubo

1950

 

 

 

Natasha-Dikareva Fishwife's Birthday Teapot;

‘Fishwife’s Birthday Teapot’  sculpture by Natasha Dikareva.

 

 

 

 

Large Guido Gamboni Stoneware contemporary Vessel,

Incised stoneware Vessel – Guido Gamboni

 

 

Larry Halvorsen freeform abstract ceramic sculpture in black and white

Larry Halvorsen

 

 

Leza Mcvey clay sculpture 40's

Handbuilt vessel – Leza Mcvey

USA 4o’s

 

 

Listening to Waves vase Heisei period-(1989–present),-2004-Sakiyama Takayuki

‘Listening to Waves’ vase  – Sakiyama Takayuki

Heisei period-(1989–present), 2004

 

 

 

Lucie Rie vase

Lucie Vase

 

 

 

Marianne de Trey contemporary ceramic sculptural vessel

Marianne de Trey

 

 

 

Meissen Porcelain-Factory ceramic lidded vessel

Meissen Porcelain Factory ceramic lidded vessel

 

 

 

Michelle Mendlowitz contemporary bottle

Michelle Mendlowitz contemporary ceramic bottle

 

 

 

 

Peter_Mandl_Kassandra

‘Kassandra’ – Peter Mandl

Höllviken, Sweden

 

 

 

Kerry Hastings-contemporary bowl

 Kerry Hastings

 

 

 

Koloman Moser-lotz-vase

Koloman Moser vase for Loetz

 

 

On a Dark Wing of a Wave Jacques Vesery

‘On a Dark Wing of a Wave’   Jacques Vesery

 

 

 

Paul Soldner Wood Fired Ceramic-Vessel

Wood Fired Ceramic Vessel – Paul Soldner

 

 

 

Robert Hessler---Crystalline glazed bottle

Robert Hessler—Crystalline glazed bottle

 

 

 

 

Ron Mello gold leaf vase

‘Puzzle Pot 1’ – Ron Mello

This particular piece was wheel thrown, burnished and initially sagger fired. Then the  piece was cracked and broken into several pieces. Each was then fired or treated with a different technique and reassembled.

 

 

Shimaoka-Tatsuzo rectangular vessel

Shimaoka Tatsuzo

 

 

 

Stig Lindberg; Glazed Stoneware Vases for Gustavsberg,-c1955

 Two Turquoise Glazed Stoneware Vases by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden

1955

 

 

Tessa Wolfe Murray ceramicist

Tessa Wolfe Murray

israel-ceramics.org

 

 

 

 

Two-Vases by Maia C - Flickr

Art Nouveau vases in the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio

Maria C – flickr

 

 

 

Yoko-Sekino-Bové

‘Second Amendment Urn’ – Yoko Sekino Bové

 Porcelain with sgraffito, brushed glaze, fired to cone 5 in oxidation, with luster, 2011

10 in. (25 cm) in height

 

 

 

Japanese Edo-period, crackle glaze bottle

Japanese Endo Period crackle glaze bottle

 

 

 

Peter-Layton-Large-stoneform - Mattson's-Fine-Art

Peter Layton glass vessel

Mattson’s Fine Art

 

 

 

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  1. By Creative Ceramic Tile on October 20, 2017 at 11:02 am

    […] NEW POST  —  ‘Clay Forms’ […]

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