Monday 21 March 2011

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 68 -little horses -experimenting with glazes and techniques




Recently I have been experimenting with glazes.  Raku, glazes altered with a layer of copper oxide underneath, smoke firing an already earthenware glazes piece is also interesting and even more interesting if you sprinkle some copper oxide in the bin just before smoke firing. 

Thursday 17 March 2011

More Raku - little horse heads

Wednesday 16 March 2011

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 67 -more Raku experimentations

Today, had a Raku day:) what I like about Raku is the level of unpredictability which really suit me as it is experimentation with no limits:)

here is few of the results:




This piece called 'homage to Modigliani" is a special work for me so i have bigger plan in the future for it  ( you will have to wait and see). I decided to do few in Raku first.

here is a little shape with some new colors...humm strange, red and orange turned orange and yellow!!! thats why Raku is fun, you are not 100% in control:)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 66 -Visit to the affordable art fair and more stuffs

The affordable art fair - London

I have never been to the affordable art fair before so this year as part of my journey I decided to visit the fair and see what is out there in the "contemporary world of art" and hopefully see something unusual:)
I didn't like all the art there but I can say that I really enjoyed visiting the fair, I can't really say that I was bored! so many weird and unusual artwork to see.
I saw a difference in the way I was approaching the artwork, whether i liked it or not, I was a lot more open to look at it and appreciate the technique or the finishing, etc so i can definitely say that all the "art history" books that I read and all those experimentations really opened my mind on new and different art and way of thinking and seeing. I could relate to some of the artwork and understand which movement or artists it was inspired from.

The other positive point about the affordable art fair is a good boost of confidence. My work has changed so much during those last few months that I am sometime not too sure about what I am doing or why I am following those strange ideas:) but I think it is important that I do that work and embrace all my ideas, some may not work out but hopefully some might eventually.


Feel comfortable with the disasters , masterpieces will come


Avery strange things happened, you know when sometimes you receive a comment, an email or an article JUST at the right and perfect time?

I have subscribed to a fair number of newsletters  on art history, contemporary art news, marketing your art, etc, etc.  Today I received an article written by Lori Woodward " Give yourself the permission to fail", Such a great article! here is the link to the article: http://faso.com/fineartviews/28774/give-yourself-permission-to-fail

For those who have read my blog and my journey so far, you will understand why I love this article as it really helps me to understand  and also feel better about what I have been working on so far.

Here are some of the points of the article (Lori agreed for me to quote her):
1)"Ideas are great, but unless you actually acts on those ideas, nothing gets accomplished. Do experiment and try something in order to grow"
2) "You will undoubtably make many disasters"
3)"You can't get to the masterpiece stage unless I'm willing to feel comfortable with the disasters"
4)"When you decide to take your work to the next level by working out of your own box, be prepared for what feels like backward movement"
5) "you'll be better off in the long run"
6)"Don't be afraid to experiment! Experimentation leads to new ideas and eventually to mature works of art"
7)"Be brave enough to make a flop, or several until you arrive at something that's well beyond your usual work. Have faith that each experiment is contributing to your eventual masterpieces... something beyond the ordinary, in fact... extraordinary."


I did feel so many times that I was moving backward rather than forward and I still many many times question some of the artwork that I currently produce - I suppose "my disasters":):)  But Lori is right, feeling more comfortable with those disasters makes you able to see the good points in them and take them to the next level.  Also I have to accept that at that stage of transition in my work, not all works is good yet and this is something sometimes hard to accept especially when the previous work was great:) (i say that ,of course - lol)

Moving out of my comfort zone is not an easy tasks, it is hard work and risky and hopefully, I will be better off in the long run but it can also be confusing sometimes. It is a bit like being in a maze, you start to open few doors then more doors open, and so on and it is very easy to get lost and confused, not knowing anymore which direction to take.

For the time being ,after my visit to the affordable art fair and reading this great article, I feel like i have drunk 20 coffees and about 30 red bulls!!! SO I feel great with all my experimentations and I am looking forward to my disaster and............my masterpiece of course:):)

Wednesday 9 March 2011

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 65 -Re-working the King and Queen sculpture


This is the latest maquette for King and Queen, I think I am rather happy with it and I have decided to scale it up...



I did have some paper...but not big enough:) so what better place to do the drawing of the new large maquette than on the floor of my studio!!!:):) I am hoping to have those new maquettes ready for my open studio... a bit of a challenge.




Tuesday 8 March 2011

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 64 - experimenting with Raku glazes

some finished result!  I have been experimenting with different raku glazes as we as organic shapes. 
here is some of the results




Friday 4 March 2011

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 63 - moving few projects forwards



Studio projects are ongoing and I am for the moment concentrating on finishing those little horses. experimenting on glazes to see which one will fit the sculpture. I was really please with the Raku ones. will see what the ceramics looks like.





Next project is " homage to Modigliani" - few of those little ceramic heads are going soon to France for an exhibition at the Haras de St lo. I have 3 more in the studio for my open studio in May.







Last but not the least, my new "king and Queen" from the "horse and amazone project. I really like this piece and I will try to scale it up in chicken wire and plaster ready for my open studios...this is a big challenge. I have not decided yet if this piece will be in ceramic or Rakued.