Cobalt Dilemma

This is the end product of the past entry, "Conglomeration of Old and New." Cobalt on the 14" x 14" bowl.

It took me more than 7 hours putting cobalt underglaze on it. As you can see in the past blog, I paid attention to details. However, because of the glaze I chose, some fine lines and details are smudged. As the creator of this piece, I can say, "I don't mind the smudge." However, my wife would not drop the fact it looks unfinished and unintentional. (It doen't look that way to me.) It is a dilemma. For me, this obscured look has a certain character to it. I may be far more tolerant about imperfection than many other people. I see beauty in that. But, yes, I will also try to figure out how to make the bleeding of cobalt at minimal as well.

Gowanus Nite Market 12/08/'12

It was my first market experience to sell my work. I would not say I sold a bunch but I had fun with my friends and met cool people! It made me think about what I want to make for the market in near future. Here are some images of what I had at the market.

Table cloths I used on the table are from my vintage Iranian fabric collection. Some of them I have since I was in high school. Do I have a thing for Persian design? Yes. 

Yuki and I (Aki took this photo)

New Ones

There are new pieces I got this week.
1) This is from the entry, "New Design." Unfortunately, the glaze I used for this did not do what I wanted it to do. It came so even and clear! I wanted it to be more rustic,  some design obscured, and have black lines... Oh well, I will just have to draw a similar design and do it right next time.

2) I have been making this type of design lately and I like it. The glaze "Shirayuki" over cobalt gives nice look. I don't even mind smudged lines. 

3) I carved wood print rubber sheet to make multiple pieces with the same design. The glaze may be a bit too strong. But it is just a part of evolution of this line. On one side, there is a doe with an arrow above it and the other side, there is a stag with heart above it waiting to be shot though. With dark brown clay, I made mugs with the same design and with white glaze. It will have better contrast between the lines and the back ground. 

                                   

Conglomeration of Old and New

I am putting yet another unfinished piece in an entry. I used cobalt underglaze here as well.
I like traditional Japanese motifs like Peony, Chrysanthemum, or Japanese Aralia. But then I also throw in not so traditional approach like an antler, plants with roots, and giving angular design to balance otherwise a very traditional design composition.
Having spent hours on the design, I secretly thought it was pretty laborious task. Then I heard Mako, co-founder of Togei Kyoshitsu of New York, saying she has seen a documentary on a Chinese ceramic painter who had spent a year fishing a piece. It is a very humbling experience.

However, this kind of design excites me now, so I will just go at it!

Inspired by Korean Celadon-Glazed Porcelain

As I look at more different variations of Meiping in Chinese (梅瓶) and Maebyong in Korean (매병) vases, I am attracted to the Korean specimen produced in Koryo or Goryeo (高麗) period (918~1392). The ones I like use iron underglaze with Celadon glazed porcelain. Some of them have almost the entire plant in a natural form depicted on the vase as if the potters made deliberate effort not to patternize the plant. The result gives the look of a very natural and care-free plant that looks as if it is swaying with the wind on the side of a vase.
Although I really like the shape of Meiping vase, I used one of my bowl, and also, cobalt is readily available to me, I decided to use that instead of iron. So, my end product looks far from Koryo Maebyong vase, hopefully I captured the essence of what originally inspired me to make this piece.

new design

I am making stuff for Gowanus Nite Market for 12/08/12.

I decided not to go with many pieces because I just do not have time to produce that many and I am sharing a table with my friend, Yuki.  So, right now, I am just playing with a new design with cobalt underglaze. I am not sure what glaze I want to put over it though...
It is inspired by many things. I still like the loose "Karakusa"(唐草) or foliage scroll design. Putting the crescent moon above the stag's skull was my wife, Maysoun's idea. I hope it fires well.