Art: free to express

This is my favorite out of the entire invitational.  I love the color and the texture of the yunomi and the undulation is beautiful.  But I also see where the hand goes when holding the little cup.  Yunomi cups are used in the Japanese tea ceremony and need to be both elegant and simple.  This is the accomplishment by Adler.  It has the right amount of change while still maintaining the form of the cup.

What I like about this cup is the lichen glaze and the colors.  It is fairly obvious from my ceramics portfolio and my favorite picks that I love earth tones for pottery.  I think it is because I think that the pottery should look like pottery and not like the a cup that you bought from the store.  I needs to stand apart from american commercialization.  Holen definitely accomplishes this with her work.  She uses the simple and natural colors.  I also like the added base.  Even it seems out of place for a yunomi and a bit martini glass reminiscent, if you follow the lines of the shape the line is beautiful.

Simple.  
Regal.  
Precise.


Harlan House is one of my favorite potters.  He can use both volume and size while still keeping the yunomi to look light.  If I were going to perform the tea ceremony, House's yunomis would be without a doubt my first choice.  I love this one.

This again is an amazing cup.  What I look for in potter is the artist to be able to maintain a sense for what the vessel is for and to combine it with their own perspective.  I guess that would be interpretation but with recognition of the origin.  The clash of east and west can be interesting but it can very easily become tacky or inappropriate if it is not down in a tasteful fashion.


On this yunomi, I love the black and white and the small dimple of the side of the cup.  


This is asking to be held.

I want to try to do some yunomis like Hunters.  The left are vessels that I made with a similar style.  Black and White matte black with undulation.

Speaking of the clash of east and west, this is what Matt Long accomplishes.  His piece has a southern and down to earth appeal but does not push the boundaries of the additives.  In addition, his color choice is incredible.  I had the opportunity to take a class with Matt Long and I would to here his theories on form and function.  He makes things that have an aesthetically beautiful form while still maintaining the function of the piece...victory.

One of my favorite potters as well.  Elegance and simplicity and he should know.  For those of you who do not know, Meadows apprenticed under Takashi Nakazato which would be where I would like that he gets his beautiful form and simplicity.  I also had the opportunity to take a class with Meadows and it was incredible to see how relaxed he was as a potter.  I love the repetition and the uniformity in his work.

So those are my picks as my favorites of the invitational.  For my final presentation last year, one of my pieces was my yunomi sets.  I love this piece.  But for some reason, I do not have that picture.  Once I get it I will post it.  It is one of my favorite pieces.

I love photography.  I had the opportunity to Winter Park these past 3 days.  And while I was there of course I did not past up the opportunity to try to take some awesome photos.  Unfortunately, the weather was pretty cloudy so I couldn't get clear shots of the mountains which was a complete bummer.  But at the place where we were staying, there was a incredible historic part with very rustic builds and structures.  I went crazy and took over 70 pictures.  I am going to post some of my favorites.  A few of these will also go into my portfolio.  Please tell me what you think!!!  That is the only way that I can get better!!!

So let me know what your thoughts are!

I guess in discovering new facets of art and learning, you always have to go back to where you started.  For me this was pottery.  What was it about molding a lump of earth that appealed to me as person?  It seems that in some level, all children and people begin with creating from the earth.  I can remember as a child making mud pies and houses out of the dirt in our backyard and even going as far as exclaiming how incredible the mud construction was and showing my parents.  But it seems that as we grow older, we are told that playing in the dirt is for kids.  We are told to be more refined and to do things that better soots our age.  Also look to where we regress as human beings.  Look at middle aged men, many of them spend much of their time working in their yards; maintaining their lawns.  In addition look at the elder people; they spend much of their time pruning and clipping their rose bushes and flowers.



So what I am trying to say is that we need to remember how to be kids.  In the midst of the crazy work and studying for school i want to remember what it was like to be free to rule in a kingdom where there is no right or wrong.  This is what pottery did for me.  It allowed for me to be able to return to my childhood for a moment and experience bliss.  I do not want to wait until I am old to be able to do this, I want this now.  It is like the artist had told me before in my other posts, life doesn't wait around for you.


In all, art needs to return to me.  I don't know how yet but I think that when I do, I will know that it is right.  


Here's to discovery... 

I need to start some more art!!!
Its killing me that I haven't been really doing anything artistic for the past year almost.  It sad.  Hopefully I will be able to find something before this summer ends.  I feel as though my artistic taste will be lost if I do not start something soon.  Well, maybe I won't lose the artistic taste but maybe it will regress.


Second, I have posted a new page on photography.  I am absolutely no expert on photography but I love taking pictures.  I posted a few that I really like.  Please let me know what you think!

Another form of art that is amazing to me is tattoo art.  I think it is incredible to see what people permanently put on themselves.  A very well known tattoo artist is Kat Von D.  Her tattoo art is incredible.  Here are some of her pictures.

Images are from: http://www.katvond.net/tattoos.html

Tattoo art is incredible.  The amount of detail that the individuals are able to get with the tip of a needle.  I have myself wanted to get a tattoo.  I view it as an expression of myself as an artist allowing myself to be able to permanent establish myself.  

I guess in a way the tattoo is an artist statement.  However, tattoos are able to transfer from the tattoo artist to the individual.  Looking at this tattoo in particular, what is seen is the aesthetic of the artistic individual and the desire of the individual.  what the tattoo allows for an individual is to project an image that the individual wants in a more permanent fashion.  Tattoos in my opinion can be seen as an accessory to the individuals.  It is another form of permanent clothing.  Tattoos are an image, word or phrase that comes from our mind.
Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkonig/4585329251/in/pool-the_original_tattoos_group

So, why do I want a tattoo?


I want something that is able to establish myself as a individual.  I think I am now being to individualize myself and separate myself from the rest of society.  For myself, I want a tattoo that symbolizes who I am.  A tattoo is not just something that I want to do because I turned a certain age but because I am.  I think with this, a tattoo is art.  It is not just a bummer sticker or a decal but it is your mind and your thoughts going through your skin and finally reaching the surface.


Will I get a tattoo?


I am still undecided.  I have to find something I absolutely care about.  Only until I find this will I get a tattoo.

(http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/htmls/slr9698.htm)

However, due to the time and the lighting a lot of the photos did not turn out as great as I would have hoped.  A few of the shots had great focus and out focus shots but the colors where very drab and boring mainly sticking to the colors of white and blue.  I wanted to capture the essence of the Rocky Mountains and take back to my dorm impressive pictures but instead got only washed out photos.  I was very disappointed.  However, thanks to always being ready, New Year’s morning, I was able to take some amazing photos.  I had a great viewpoint of the Rockies.  After a late night of excitement, the sun had just begun to rise up and brightly illuminate the mountains.  Now instead of blue and white the Rockies glowed bright pink and sun burnt red.  Flashing above was a bright white moon and pink clouds floating along.  I was thoroughly happy with being able to take these pictures.  However, because I used a manual camera, I have to scan the pictures before I can upload them.  This will happen soon.  Here’s to more photography!