Shape Stacking

I've thought a lot about the change I have experienced over this last year and one of the major differences I have noted is overcoming the fear I had of three-dimensional forms. The behind-the-scenes perspective I have witnessed in Jen's studio has enabled me to see how the mere stacking of two-dimensional shapes can produce the most intricate three-dimensional forms imaginable. I feel that now I have the ability to dissect the shapes I come across into layers of various other shapes and am better equipped to recreate the forms I dream up for my own work. I don't think I understood how to tackle this problem prior to this experience. I have a new appreciation for basic geometry because of her work. Shapes and colors have become tools I hope to continue to experiment and practice with in my own work as I continue my own exploration as an artist. It's really incredible what you can turn a simple shape such as a circle or a square into with enough dissection and repetition. :)

Jessica Drenk

Jessica Drenk
Swab Skin

A few months ago, Jen introduced me to Jessica Drenk's work. A series of work by Jessica Drenk inspired me to begin experimenting with dipping organic material in clay slip. The sculpture to the right titled "Swab Skin" by Drenk is composed of cotton Q-tips that have been dipped in porcelain slip and joined together and fired, creating a cloud-like shell of the Q-tips' remains. Other pieces in the series were created by similar processes using similar organic material such as cotton balls and coffee filters.

Drenk's work led me to a local ceramic supply warehouse where I acquired my own supply of porcelain slip to try the process out on my own. I decided to use cotton yarn which had been soaked in slip which I then wrapped around long, skinny balloons. After allowing the slip to dry, I slowly deflated each balloon, which then tampered with each cylinder's shape. I wasn't sure whether or not the pieces would maintain their structure and was afraid I hadn't allowed the yarn to become well enough saturated by the slip to prove successful . My experiment yielded the following results:

 

 

I then decided it might be interesting to use the bisque-fired pieces to experiment with a little color treatment, and applied underglaze and low-temperature clear glaze to a few of the samples.

 

 

 

In addition to the yarn, I also experimented with coating a few doilies in slip. The results were not quite as successful as my yarn samples. Although they maintained integrity, the bisque-fired pieces are extremely delicate and paper-thin. I was impressed that the pieces were able to stay intact!

A few weeks ago at my job on campus, I came across a discarded piece of packing material that looked like the paper equivalent of expanded metal fiber. I decided to inflate another balloon and wrapped a piece of the paper around it, which I then used a clear thread to sew together so that it would not unravel while I dipped it in slip. Here is a shot of the form right after I had given it a dunk:

 

 

The piece made it through the initial firing and I was very happy with the result:

 

 

I decided to use the studio spray gun to apply some colored underglaze as well as clear glaze. Here is a shot of the piece right before I applied a coat of clear glaze:

 

 

I should be able to retrieve the glazed pieces from the studio tomorrow, so hopefully they made it through a second firing! It will be interesting to see how color will change each form. All of the pieces are extremely delicate and I hope they will be stronger with the glazes I have applied.

 

Pini Leibovich

I wanted to take a few entries to share a little bit of some of the work Jen Stark has introduced to me recently. Lately I have been utilizing balloons as a tool in the studio to assist with some hand building and slip casting with ceramics. Jen sent me a link to a page with some of Pini Leibovich's work work after some discussion about my own experimentation with balloons in the studio.

In this series, the artist has constructed a blanket made up of the type of balloons used for balloon art making in their deflated state. I love the use of a familiar object in play. I've been attracted to these types of balloons for use in my own work because of the playfulness the assortment of colors creates. I associate this material with a lot of joy and it is interesting to see the balloons gathered together in this way, smothering the objects they are draped over. This work calls to mind a lesson I have learned from Jen: the medium used doesn't have to be extravagant to have an impact on the viewer. The composition of the material is a major part of the effect. Seeing what this artist has done with balloons is comparable to what Jen is able to do with paper and that is a transformation of a simple material into something extraordinary.

Adventure

Recent Works

I thought I would take a second to post some of the recent works Jen has allowed me to assist with in her studio. The following are pictures of a new pedestal piece that will be featured in her solo show at a Toronto gallery:

Here's cute little Zelda, Jen's studio-mate:

And here is the back side of a wall sculpture in progress:

The neon colors reflect onto white walls, creating a really cool effect shown in the sample pieces below:

And here's a little behind-the-scenes look at one of the crazy wall installations Jen will take to Toronto. A hole will be cut in the wall that will create the top layer of the installation. The piece is shown below sitting upside-down on the yellow stand:

 

Her use of color in composition is one of the things I appreciate the most in her work. The way she combines these colors really makes her work pop! Its so hard not to smile around all of this color!!

 

It has been so amazing being able to see all of this work up-close. I always thought I was a fairly detail-oriented person until I started working with Jen. Her attention to detail is phenomenal and has really taught me how to inspect my own work. She has the steadiest hand I have ever seen! Such a remarkable artist!!

 

 

What is LA?

Moving to Southern California has made a major impact in my art and professional practices. I have had more focus and interest in art since moving to this area of exploration in my life. I am fascinated by what it is about being here that feels so encouraging. Being able to surround myself by so many people that are so passionate and alive is such a gift. At school I feel like there is a team of people helping each other succeed. It is so valuable to have people who support your choices and want to help you do your best. I hope I am able to do that for others as I continue to become a part of this art community. I am so happy to be learning so much about art, shapes, colors, and how to observe the world and share the discoveries made. Something about this place makes me feel capable of being the best I can be. My experience of LA is a community of encouragement. You definitely have to try harder and I'd say that's a good thing.

Paths

I've been thinking a lot about our paths and where my life is headed. People grow up being asked what they want to do or be at every major milestone and in between starting as early as kindergarten. I'm 25 and I still have no clue. I'm willing to try anything because I'm afraid I will miss out on something I could have truly loved (this may even explain my dating philosophy, but that's another story). I have a list of things I want to try and I add to it every day. One thing Jen has taught me is to be willing to try things you aren't familiar with. Jen is currently away for the week and I've been using my spare time to research new technique and play mad scientist in the sculpture studio. Friday I will be constructing a fire pit to attempt to finish a ceramic piece I hope to enter into the end of the year show at Cal State. I'm excited to see what comes of my trials and errors and to report back to Jen when she returns. Hopefully I will still have both of my eyebrows. It's hard to see where things are headed for me. I'm enjoying the journey but can't quite make out the destination. I'm ready to push the limit. This year here has shown me more than my brain could have ever imagined. I'm grateful and I'm amazed by what can be accomplished and I look forward to all of the discoveries waiting to be overturned.