SI #5

Stoneware Clay, 7"x2.5"

Ideas: Exploring the influence of Miss Rumphius connection and lupines on form/texture.

Materials: Stoneware Clay

Processes: Slab building, carving, impressions, glazing

Resources

Reflection on Work

When I was younger, my grandma’s and my mom’s favorite book to read to me was Miss Rumphius. It’s about how Miss Rumphius wanted to travel as a little girl and did so when she grew up, but eventually moved back to a cottage near the sea and scattered lupine seeds wherever she went. I loved this story, and I still do. I wanted to express the wandering nature of both Miss Rumphius and the flowers in the book in this piece, so I did that with the varying sizes and placements of the flowers. I used colors similar to what is shown in the book. I chose the form I did because the flat sides reminded me of pages in a book. To continue with the Mailoica theme I put down layers of white glaze before the colors to soften the edges of the flowers. 

In this piece, I experimented in my sketchbook and on a test piece with different ways to connect it to the Mailoica style. I tried different black outlines, but I didn’t like how they looked on the test pieces and sketches. So, I tried to emphasize the Mailoica style with the pattern of flowers on the bottom of the vase and by softening the edges of the flowers with white glaze underneath the colored glaze. 

This piece let me deviate from the classic maiolica style I’ve been sticking with and try to combine it with my style. In future pieces, I’m going to try to continue to stretch the style and combine it with my style to reach the effect I want. 

Visual Art Journal