Blog entries tagged Decoration

How do you see it?

Yvonne — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0100

What is it that causes a ceramic teapot or cup to catch the eye? Is it the subject or character matter depicted, such as the medieval king teapot shown here? Is it the functionality, like this combination of a teapot and cup as one yet individually each has its purpose? Could it be the pattern or detailing that makes one lRead More...

Erotic teacup and saucer

Yvonne — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0100

This fur teacup and saucer was inspired by Pablo Picasso who suggested to his feminine artist friend wearing a fur bracelet that you could cover anything with fur. In 1936 when the Surrealist leader Andre Breton encouraged her to submit artwork for the first surreal object exhibition Meret Oppenheim purchased a teacup, saucer and sRead More...

Teapot cartoon balloon

Yvonne — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Word balloons were created to reveal in print what a comic strip character was saying or thinking; however, artist Pattie Chalmers has infused the balloons to 3-dimensional formatting. Pattie’s fond childhood memories of reading cheap comic books are now as an adult the foundation of her artistic style. Those fond Read More...

Escher’s teapots

Yvonne — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0100

M.C. Escher is known for his graphic shapes which created a tantalizing maze. Through sheer determination the Dutch artist started with one subject then repeatedly positioned into an amazing motif tiling. An algorithm created to emulate his process is successfully shown in the teapot image to the right. Escher proRead More...

Desirable Blingy Teapots

Yvonne — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0100

How many baby boomer girls made potholders with the loom kit mum bought from the local craft store? Madeline Kaczmarczyk perfected potholders then proceeded to creating ceramic teapots. She air brushes her vessels, low fire bakes in the kiln then meticulously embellishesRead More...

Mini giraffe teapot

Yvonne — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:58:07 +0100

There is a TV commercial in the USA with a mini giraffe that viewers just love. Even though not real ,who would not understand why the giraffe’s body shape would not be regularly emulated as a teapot: it’s extended neck as the spout to control the pouring of steeped tea; round body as the base to retain Read More...

Chaotic beauty

Yvonne — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:44:23 +0100

Ever walked on the beach and had some glob catch your eye not because of its beauty but because of its texture caused by the strong seas, ocean breezes and sandy floors? Artist Susan Collett must have experienced this phenomenon. She, with clay, emulates the push and pull forced by nature. The result is a chaotic combination of shells, mRead More...

Teapots are like people

Yvonne — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Lips, feet, shoulders, rotund, jolly are some common characteristics used to describe people and teapots. This is why ceramic artist Suze Lindsay designs her pots with identifiable hips or waists and legs or feet. She uses the handles and spouts as arms, shaping then placing in such a way that creates a mood or personality.Read More...

Learning to make

Yvonne — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:17:51 +0100

All of his adult life Brian Molanphy has studied how to make things. As a college student he studied bookmaking and papermaking. While participating in a European bicycle tour, he became intrigued at wood fired stoves and kilns. So he decided to learn how to make breads, pastries and ceramic pots. Then, after getting his master’s degree in ceramics, he decided to teach others how to make things. Yet, he continuRead More...

Metamorphosed teapots

Yvonne — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:31:35 +0100

Bonnie Seeman designs utilitarian ceramic teapots to reveal intimate details of living structures and anatomical features. Somehow she manages to create a magnificent vessel by showing a dissected vegetable inserted in a human organ then strategically placing an insect here or there. The combination of coloured glazes, longitudRead More...

Old Soul teapot

Yvonne — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Jake Jarodsky is an old soul in a young body. He knew in his teens that he would be an artist. Jake was torn between becoming a sculptor or a potter. Because of his intense undergraduate studying, he was hired as a studio aid. This is where he learned mixing glazes, kiln temperature results, glass blowing and much moreRead More...

Communicating with flowers

Yvonne — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:34:16 +0100

Artist Ursula Hargens believes flowers communicate newness, animation and flamboyance. Perhaps growing up in Nova Scotia, where four overtly identifiable seasons occur, exposed Ursula to the glory of annuals and perennials native to her homeland. Ursula’s teapots, cups and platters dance with an array of colourfulRead More...

Grappling Teapots

Yvonne — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:49:01 +0100

Mixing up form and function is a balancing act for most ceramic artists. However, this is what motivates Sam Chung to create teapots. If that is not challenging enough, Sam thrives on which role each pot shall play. Chung believes he must decide if it should be historical, tactile, decorative or ergonomically physical. These balRead More...

Please Make Teapots

Yvonne — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:20:24 +0100

Margaret Bohls, curator for “Teapots: Function, Formal, Narrative” has written an article to ceramic artists. The purpose was to share with them the reasons for creating that magnificent object referred to as the teapot. She writes:

The admiration of a living plant, creature or landscape is common. Some people first see colour, others shapes or even patterns. Joanne Taylor Brown sees the latter first. Thereafter, she creates the patterns onto teapots. Her uncanny ability to depict this characteristic is first a result of skillful pottery making and selective glazing; secondly, it takes an artist’s eyes to identify then select the most important Read More...

Showy teapots

Yvonne — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:08:47 +0100

For 35 years Cynthia Shuhy has been an acclaimed hunter and jumper at local horse shows. Her passion for displaying skill continues at her upscale antique and gift shop where she selects each piece to show. Cynthia’s business has been in operation for a quarter of a century. Her attention to detail is obviously wRead More...

Historical Tea Leaves

Yvonne — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:23:37 +0100

Tea leaves are usually stored in tins to prevent exposure to light. However, some tea leaves warrant exposure for all to see. The bottled leaves shown are from the historical Boston Tea Party dated December 1773. It occurred to me that having tea for a special occasion or celebration is historical amongst our owRead More...

Modern Yixing Teapots

Yvonne — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:11:07 +0100

Wu Dong Jun is a Chinese ceramic artist that specializes in Yixing clay. Unlike the traditional purple clay pots, Wu Dong uses this prime earthy matter for contemporary designs. This teapot has been glazed with stylish brown and black colours. The legs are exaggerated; the spout and handle sizes reduced.Read More...

Necessity for Newlyweds

Yvonne — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:44:48 +0100

Being the sensible young adult that my goddaughter is, her wedding registry list contains the basic items she believes are needed to start a home. However, one item that most couples forget to include as a must to start their lives together is the tea kettle. Kettles provide the most basic of all needs – heat water. The Read More...

Oxymoron teapot

Yvonne — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:55:00 +0100

This artist says his teapots are functional but not practical. Duane Brown insists on making his pots have removable lids, pourable spouts and sturdy handles. However, Duane is a sculptor, meaning the object emulates something. If this a sculpture then does it not depict a teapot? But if the teapot is functional is it not actually the objRead More...