Cups, Saucers, & Trays_Louise Shye

When it comes to cups with saucers and trays, I immediately think of tea cups and tea time when I was a child, every little girl had to have a set; playing pretend tea time with imaginary friends or stuffed animals. My idea I want to create with this is something like a enchanting fantasy or dream. This instantly brings me back to childhood years and I want to bring that back from the past. This cup and saucer by Jeff Campana is very simple, but yet used fantastic craftsmanship. It reminds me of something enchanting, like if I was a fairy drinking out of a leaf tea cup.

This tray by Tom Rohr is shaped closely to the bowls which I really like, there are many circular and rectangular trays, why not something different? everyone likes different if it turns out right. Also the handle in the middle is unique compared to the handles being on each side of the tray.

more modernly, Nicholas Bivins work is something that is also unique, very structural with using squared corners rather than it usually being rounded. I could not imagine drinking out of something so structural, rather something more usable and comfortable is more ideal.

Lastly, Patrick Coughlin's work looks like something an upper class worker would own and drink out of, the tray is very complexed, giving the simplicity of the cups more value to it than if the cups were by themselves. The tray to me looks like a pillow for the cups giving the illusion that the cups are fragile.

Bivins, Nicholas. Artaxis an evolving independent network of artists. http://www.artaxis.org/ceramics/bivins_nicholas/nicholas_bivins.html (accessed October 9, 2011).

Campana, Jeff. "AccessCeramics: Object Type - Green Curve Cup and Saucer." AccessCeramics: a Contemporary Ceramics Image Resource. AccessCeramics, 2009. Web. 09 Oct. 2011.

Coughlin, Patrick. Artaxis an evolving independent network of artists. http://www.artaxis.org/ceramics/coughlin_patrick/patrick_coughlin.html (accessed October 9, 2011).

Rohr, Tom. "AccessCeramics: Object Type - Condiment Set." AccessCeramics: a Contemporary Ceramics Image Resource. AccessCeramics, 2009. Web. 09 Oct. 2011.

Trays, cups and saucers oh my! By Kristen Moon

To be completely honest, I don't think I have ever used a saucer for a teacup in my entire life. I never really knew what they were for. After doing some looking around the past few days at cups and saucers I still don't know what they are for. I know that after browsing I found a few cups and saucer combinations that I found aesthetically pleasing. Ted Vogel has very unique cups, I really love how they look like tree branches. The pictures below are two of my favorite cup and saucers that I found.

I really like the complexity of the cup in contrast to the simplistic saucer. This is something that I could see myself owning, and enjoying drinking out of. I love a piece that I want to know more about, and these cups and saucers intrigue me. I would really like to try something like this in my work, something "out there".

I found this picture of a teapot, cup and tray on Flicker. I couldn't find out who the artist was, but I love the idea of a strange tray, something that is not round or a rectangle.

I love this shape, but I don't think I would do a leaf shaped tray for my work. I know that I do not want to go with something boring like a rectangle or circle, not that there is anything wrong with those shapes, I just find them kind of dull.

Also I found a tray by Patrick Horsley that I really liked, and yes I know it is a rectangle shape, but what I love about this tray is the surface work.

I like how it looks like it is five different parts making one, and also the very modern design, but in very calming colors. I would love to serve tea to my friends on something like this.

DSC01156-ap. Photograph.

Horsley, Patrick. "AccessCeramics: Object Type - Tray." AccessCeramics: a Contemporary Ceramics Image Resource. AccessCeramics, 2008. Web. 09 Oct. 2011. .

Vogel, Ted. "AccessCeramics: Object Type - Cup and Saucer." AccessCeramics: a Contemporary Ceramics Image Resource. AccessCeramics, 2008. Web. 09 Oct. 2011. .

Cups With Their Trays and Saucers by Mariana Miller

Cups are often seen as a solitary vessel for the purpose of drinking. In certain cultures cups are often seen with a saucer, and the cup and saucer ( a small plate on which the cup is placed) set can be placed on a tray. Whether the process of making the set starts with the tray, cup, or saucer, each piece complements the other two.

Tom Rohr uses stoneware and/or porcelain for his pieces and even though the set below includes bowls instead of cups, the use of a tray is demonstrated in unison with the other pieces.
The function of a tray is provide a stable surface for carrying multiple dinner/drink sets. Rohr's tray would be a latter choice because of the carrying/hanging ring built into the tray's handle; forcing the carrier to make a choice between holding the tray by the bottom or carrying it by the ring. And for a final touch, the has little area for the saucers to rest on and the effect of that is the saucers would not move enough to make the entire set look unstable. Rohr has another tray set that shows how a tray can be used for a different type of cup set; in this case the set contains a sake jar and sake cups.
Focusing in just tea cups and their saucers, there is no set that exists where the design of the cup and saucer do not match. To clarify, the style of the forms and the art/coloring on the surfaces go together. Meredith Host's floral design stays constant throughout the surface of the cup as well as the saucer. It definitely makes the job of matching sets a lot easier. But the other rule for cups and saucers is that the cup must always fit perfectly into the saucer's center dip.

Sources: "Condiment Set." Tom Rohr. http://accessceramics.org/results/artist/150/

"SPIN-A Drinking Game 1." Tom Rohr. http://accessceramics.org/results/artist/150/

"Cup and Saucer Stack Set." Meredith Host. http://accessceramics.org/results/artist/260/

"Espresso Cup Set." Meredith Host. http://accessceramics.org/results/artist/260/

The Coffee is Only as Good as the Cup You Put It In

I am an avid coffee drinker, and for me the coffee has usually been my focus. After taking a ceramics class however I have started considering the vessel as well as the beverage. I have found after that I am fonder of the natural look. Artist Chris Baskin makes cups with a very earthy feel that I feel very drawn to.

Above is a cup and saucer by Chris Baskin, I love the oranges that he chose for the outside of the cup. I am not just saying this because orange is one of my favorite colors; I really love how the color seems to burst across the cup and the plate. Another thing I enjoy about this cup is the beautiful Mediterranean blue on the inside of the cup. When I look at this cup I can see myself drinking a cup of tea, sitting outside and watching the sunset. I also really love the handle on this cup, it looks like it really fits the cup, I like the how it loops up above the rim of the cup, kind of offsetting the rim going slightly upwards across from it. Very whimsical, I love it.

These cups are also works of Chris Baskin, of course I love the colors, but on this cup I want to talk about the handle. I like how it comes right off the lip of the cup and attaches about halfway down the cup. To me it looks very natural, and it looks like it would be easy to hold with maybe one or two fingers. I also love the little decal that is under the handle, I think it is a nice artistic touch, it makes it feel personal to me.

Pictures from

http://accessceramics.org/results/artist/12/

accessed September 25, 2011

Angelina Rich- Cups and Handles Journal #1

Patrick Coughlin, an artist from New York has a unique way of exhibiting his work. He places his cups on elegant-looking pedestals which gives them a royal and expensive feel. He explains that most of his inspiration is from "Victorian era ceramics, silver and wallpaper, the photos of Bernd & Hilla Becher or the landscape and artifacts of his history in farming."

The idea of making his ceramics look expensive relates to the philosophy of Pete Pinnel and his analysis of how cups used in different situations give a different image to "the viewer." The example he used in his Thoughts on Cups videos was how putting a high end brand of coffee in a old boring coffee cup wouldn't show value to the prestigious cup of coffee. The same reasoning is shown in Patrick Coughlin's work; the use of rich and colors mixed with the clever placement makes the cups seem expensive.

These are a few images of his work.

Another interesting concept he uses is imagery of personal or iconic photos. The way he glazes his cups gives them a vintage yet expensive feel, where the colors are always complimenting. They almost look Victorian. An example of this is in the John Wayne and Black Velvet Cups.

Overall I enjoy his style and would definitely decorate my house with it. His creations are beautiful and tasteful.

Sources:

http://patrickcoughlin.com/

http://www.artaxis.org/index.html

Cups and Handles by Mariana Miller

A cup is an interesting piece of art that can be visually appreciated as well as used for its functionality. When a cup is thrown the artist can make it to sit on a gallery pedestal or to specifically be purchased for a functional cup. Cups have the combined aspects of aesthetics as well as function (Charlie Cummings). Because of this, an artist must think about how he/she wants their cup to feel in a person’s hands and how the handle corresponds with the chosen feel.

Malcolm Mobutu Smith makes his cups with the intent of conveying a statement or thought. The forms of his cup bodies tend to be bold in shape as well as in color. As pieces of art, the cups are stunning, but when they are considered for use, the handles are what make the use of the cup difficult.

His handles tend to not be attached to the cup on both ends, so the drinker would have to have a constant hard grip on the handle in order to drink with it.

When a person is asked to think of what cup he/she generally drinks out of, he/she might think of something like a mug, especially if he/she drinks hot liquids. Linda Arbuckle has made a mug here that is very functional. The handle allows the holder’s grip to rest while still holding the cup. She also added visual aspects by painting on design with color. It appears to be a mug that would be used in a fruit themed set even though it stands on its own.

Sources:

"Semifjord Cloud Cup," Malcolm Mobutu Smith. http://accessceramics.org/results/object/2/

" Cup: Fruited Fall," Linda Arbuckle. http://accessceramics.org/results/object/2/

Journal #1; Cups and Handles; Louise Shye

Cups and Handles

Betsy Williams:

With Betsy Williams work, her cups distinguish a unique style of cup. Ceramic cups have handles, at least that is what this Blog is about, however with her cups, and the visual over rides the usefulness. The cups are designed to visually appeal the audience, convincing them that handling these cups will damage its value. This is what I see. She uses rims, which also gives the cups more of a fragile look to them. When looking at these cups, I don’t want to touch them, pour anything in them; they are too fragile, unique, and gorgeous.

Emily Schroeder:

Emily Schroeder’s cups have an interesting texture to them. I could not imagine holding my lips to something that is not smooth. It reminds me of the video we watched the first day of class, where a cup was not ideally a good drinking cup; however the texture made it to where the drink was already gone without tasting it. The cups are something I do not see myself drinking out of due to the texture continuing onto the rim and handle. If there was a texture on the body of the cup more so than the rim and handle, I can see people drinking out of those rather than Emily Schroeder’s work. From what I see, her work reminds me of something on cloud nine. They don’t seem very comfortable to many people, especially the handles on the second image.

Citations:

Anderson, Zoe, and Michael Lindsey. Watzek Library, "accessCeramics a contemporary ceramics image resource." Accessed September 25, 2011. http://www.accessceramics.org.