* Intention
- an idea or plan of what you are going to do.
- a determination or plan to do a specific thing.
as opposed to
- aimlessness, chance occurrence, digressions.
I would like you to consider the idea of adding ‘Intention’ to your work. Look at the images below taken from a facebook page “JTMcMaster Artisanal Ceramics.
Here is a very simple idea. This is one cane where the colors are stacked vertically so each slice produces a different color.
A little planning in your design gives you many colored flowers rather than one flower with many colors.
Notice how many ways the artist found to design a heart.
The groupings are held together by the similarities of liveliness, background design and color.
You would easily know they were made by the same person. For the sales person, I point out that many price points are covered to encourage sales.
Another elegant idea.
Could a pattern get much simpler yet still capture the imagination?
Variations on blue and white … one of the all time favorite combinations for porcelain people.
The patterns are not complex but the results are gorgeous and they make lovely combinations.
Another simple idea taken to a gorgeous conclusion.
Notice how the dishes could be mixed because they all relate to each other in at least on or two colors.
Now, take a moment to admire the work of Nell Hazinski. a potter in Pennsylvania. Though the brown hues come from wood firing, the simple pattern are definitely a WOW factor on any set of plates or wall tiles.
INTENTION
Go beyond making canes and images that ‘sort of’ end up looking like you wanted them to … stepping up to planning and executing a specific idea. Taking your idea from sketch to color to cane to object … all the while, keeping on course.
An idea goes from pencil to color … then to cane and finished vase.
I can imagine you saying to yourselves that the one above is too complex … so let's move back a bit and try putting the same steps into action at a simpler level.
ALL STEPS can be arranged focusing on how you think/work.
Choose your actual design idea
Choose your color palette
Make a few sketches and color them in
Mix your colors and secondary shades
Test fire your colors to make sure they are right
( If you don’t have a test kiln right now, cross your fingers and go! )
Plan your cane/canes color placement before you start
Make your canes paying close attention to your sketches
Use your canes to make at least 3-4 pieces that go together either by pattern, color, background or shapes.
POST pictures of your progress and your results on the facebook group “Color/Colour in Clay”
HAVE FUN