Changing Woman
Details
Sculptural vessel
Earthenware
Coil built
underglaze
04 glaze
10h x 8.5w x 8.5
This piece to approximately 72 hours to complete, not including firing time.
Sculptural vessel
Earthenware
Coil built
underglaze
04 glaze
10h x 8.5w x 8.5
This piece to approximately 72 hours to complete, not including firing time.
Prompt and sketches
The prompt for this project was to create a vessel that conveyed a narrative. I chose to take inspiration from the Navajo (Diné) goddess Changing Woman. This sculptural vessel is from a set of work inspired by myths from around the world. The influence of other vessels in this body of work can be seen in the piece’s overall form. The formal language of Native American pottery can be seen as an influence as well. The shape of this piece of evolved subtly overtime. As did the imagery adorning the piece, which you can see from my sketches.
The prompt for this project was to create a vessel that conveyed a narrative. I chose to take inspiration from the Navajo (Diné) goddess Changing Woman. This sculptural vessel is from a set of work inspired by myths from around the world. The influence of other vessels in this body of work can be seen in the piece’s overall form. The formal language of Native American pottery can be seen as an influence as well. The shape of this piece of evolved subtly overtime. As did the imagery adorning the piece, which you can see from my sketches.
Process
I began by determining the dimensions of my base from there I built up the walls of the vessel until I reached the point at which the convex curve becomes a concave one. At this point I allowed the vessel to dry sufficiently until I could begin building inward and creating the neck of the vessel. After I completed construction, I score the outside of the vessel taking away any rough patches and then went back to smooth and burnish the surface. After the piece had been bisqued, I lay down white slip to create a ground for the illustration. The illustration was painted, then waxed. The unwaxed parts were glazed with the turquoise 04 glaze, then re-fired with a black 04 glaze.
I began by determining the dimensions of my base from there I built up the walls of the vessel until I reached the point at which the convex curve becomes a concave one. At this point I allowed the vessel to dry sufficiently until I could begin building inward and creating the neck of the vessel. After I completed construction, I score the outside of the vessel taking away any rough patches and then went back to smooth and burnish the surface. After the piece had been bisqued, I lay down white slip to create a ground for the illustration. The illustration was painted, then waxed. The unwaxed parts were glazed with the turquoise 04 glaze, then re-fired with a black 04 glaze.
Challenges
This piece required some problem-solving as the glaze I used was old and reacted poorly in the kiln; bubbling and creating pockmarks. I then did some tests to determine what glaze would not only illuminate these flaws but create a more dynamic surface. Using that information I created a surface that would speak better to the nature of the piece.
This piece required some problem-solving as the glaze I used was old and reacted poorly in the kiln; bubbling and creating pockmarks. I then did some tests to determine what glaze would not only illuminate these flaws but create a more dynamic surface. Using that information I created a surface that would speak better to the nature of the piece.
