Lizzie Charboneau:

Sam’s work kind of reminds me of Dr. Seuss, with its cloud like curves and almost unbalanced teetering tower. I like this one in particular because of the constant motion this small object has.  The two topmost points going in opposite directions makes it kind of the feeling of a flower opening up, and the points where the contorting curves connect to the main form overlap and cause the veiwer’s eye to move continuously over the object. I like that he put his sections of color also overlapping the curves in the form, it adds to the movement and the increases the interest of the object. The way he places his curves and the sections of color makes me want to pick up the object and look at it more.
   

Title: Ewer

Artist: Sam Chung

Date: 2009

Technique: Slab-built

Material: Porcelain

Height: 8 | Width: 5 | Depth: 3

I love the look of these two plates; both as functional plates and as wall décor. I like that Maren put the white lines in this piece in a way that allows for multiple arrangements. I also enjoy the simplicity of her work, but that her pieces still have some sort of tension. For example, with these plates, the lines are not in the same position on either plate. The position of the lines create tension and movement in their placement and how they move off the plates in two places, and if the lines on each plate were to be matched up, the plates would be off center, and in turn also be creating tension. Yet, simply black plates with white lines.

Title: Wall Plates (Black with Line)

Artist: Maren Kloppmann

Date: 2009

Technique: Slab-built

Material: Porcelain

Height: 12 | Width: 24 | Depth: 3

 

I’m not going to lie, I have to agree with Carolyn’s description of Margret’s work…so cute. It was hard to pick a favorite among her pieces, but I chose this pair because of the amount of detail put into such a small, everyday object. Her work makes simple objects look like elegant vintage arm chairs, and almost that these ceramic objects would be plush.

Name: Yellow leaf salt and pepper shaker, 

Material: porcelain and earthenware.

7.5” h, 7”w, 4.5” d.  

Year: 2006

Artist: Margret Bohls

Jana Jasman: Assignment #1

Maren Kloppmann

Dinner Plate

Slab-built

Porcelain

2007

This dinner plate done by Maren Kloppmann is very pleasing to look at. The black and white, of course, is a great contrast. I love the two white lines that help make the plate interesting, but still keeping it simple. The way that he curves the white line to match the edges of the plate is very nice because it makes it feel more like it belongs there rather than doing straight lines. I also like the glossy look of the piece. What is confusing about this photograph of this piece though is that I can’t tell if the lighter area on the bottom is the light or if it is part of the piece. If it is, I think that I would have made the plate completely black although the fading of the plate is interesting. If it is the lighting from the camera, I think I would have taken a different picture so it’s not too confusing.

Margaret Bohls

Blue Leaf Tea Set with Tray

Porcelain and Earthenware

2007

This tea set made by Margaret Bohls is one of my favorites. The repetition of the leaves is very eye appealing. The color of the set is very beautiful, which is a reason why I love this piece. I like that it’s not completely blue, that it appears to be some white and gold mixed in. It really makes the leaves pop out more. The shape of the tea pot is something to me that is visually interesting because usually tea pots are round, but this one appears to look more box-like but in a very elegant way. And I think what makes this look elegant is the curves in the handle and spout. This piece is very different from the other tea pot that I choose, by Sam Chung in a way that it looks less playful and looks more like an antique.

Mark Pharis

Large Platter

Earthenware

2011

The colors of this platter are what visually interesting to me in this piece and also that it doesn’t have a glossy look that many people like. This piece, to me, looks like a leaf. The piece on top would be the steam and because the texture is not smooth, like the first picture I had posted by Maren Kloppmann, it appears to look more like the veins if a leaf, which I think is really cool. I like the separation of the colors and how they are outlined with black. It really makes the color “pop” a little more. And when I look at this piece, whether this is intended or not, it reminds me of the life of a leaf. The green on top representing the a healthy leaf in the Spring, going onto the fall colors of a dying leaf and then black being the death of a leaf in the winter. These things are what make this a very visually interesting piece to me.

Sam Chung

Teapot

Slip Cast

Stoneware

2003

This beautiful teapot, done by Sam Chung, is visually interesting in every way to me from the shape of the teapot to the color. Because of the seam in the middle of the pot, it makes the pot look symmetrical, besides the fact that one side has a spout and the other a handle. It also looks more 2 dimensional, if you were to place it on the side because the sides are or appears to be flat, which is very different. The colors are beautiful and they contrast well. The green polka dot make it more playful and child-like but still looks elegant in a way that it could be used at a ladies fancy tea party. What I like also is that the whole pot isn’t pink. I really think that the white balances it out.

Carolyn Buss: Week 1: Interest in Visual Elements and Concepts

MARK PHARISOval Platter  black/red/white EARTHENWARE 2009

This platter by Mark Pharis is visually interesting because it is obvious to the viewer where the seams were put together.  He didn't take pains to cover up or heal the process of making the oval shaped slab into a slightly concave platter.  The composition of the colors on the platter is also visually interesting because the black highlights the seam rather than covering it up due to the high contrast between higher areas being light in value and the lower areas being very dark, and almost matte.

SAM CHUNG
CLOUD VASE
SLAB BUILT PORCELAIN, 2010

This cloud vase by Sam Chung is nearly symmetrical, something you would almost never see in the sky.  I am also drawn to the outlining Chung does on the curves and edges of his pieces; it gives his pieces an almost 2D look, something I really enjoy in 3D work.  I love that these pieces are shiny, too because clouds aren't smooth and shiny, nor are they clean or pure as white in our culture would suggest.

PAULA WINOKUR
GLACIER I: ALASKAN MEMORY
SLAB-BUILT PORCELAIN, 2005

This is a piece by Paula Winokur that I looked at during my beginning ceramics class here and I still absolutely love it.  I adore the infinite textures on the piece and now I wonder if she dried out the top of very wet clay and physically moved the clay, thereby creating the breaks and crevasses in the piece.  Geology, especially anything to do with glaciers, is especially appealing to me as well because they store so much information inside their frozen depths.

MARGARET BOHLS
BLUE LEAF BUTTER DISH
PORCELAIN, 2007

This butter dish is adorable.  I'm not sure if Margaret Bohls would appreciate that observation, but it is the one I choose to stand by.  The three little feet on (presumably) either side are cute and give the illusion that this piece is larger than it really is because why does a stick of butter need six feet?  It is difficult to imagine making a piece of work like this with the slab folding technique because of the detailed and precise texture on the surface.  It is probably very simple but I haven't had enough experience in clay to really make something like this happen.