Sunday 8 May 2016

Ceramics

This week's promt in Our Beautiful World is 
ceramics 
and it was chosen by me.
I guess I always loved 
ceramics
 (heart made by Ifigenia, assistant ceramist at the workshop)
as I so often bought ceramic pieces and followed friends around the world in their endeavour with ceramics.
Like for example Paula Valentim of otchipotchi, whose work I adore and have some of her pieces like these lace stones.
Or her Christmas ornaments she so kindly gifted me with this Christmas!
I also love Atelier Stella's work and was so lucky to win a piece of hers some time ago.
I also love Geninne's ceramics. Geninne took classes some years ago and now sells her own pieces. Just follow her instagram feed to know when she sells them.
I also love local ceramists' work like Polytimi's at Nafplion.And I am glad I have two of her candle holders.
So one day I met George Vavatsis and his work at Hakah Ceramics 
Here are his famous tumblers used at bars for cocktails.
Here's an oil,vinegar,salt and pepper set.
He has a lot more work in his workshop.



And you can also find there paintings by his brother painter Nick Vavatsis.


So I decided to take lessons there and see if I can learn something.
It all started with a piece of clay!

You can see all the development of that piece of clay to those two first pieces here.
I am so very proud of those two pieces.
Especially the second one.
I proudly decorated it on my coffee table.
And started my third piece a biscuit jar.


Which had a lot of work.
Because of the inlays.



But in the end
it is gorgeous.
Then it was time for the wheel.
I found it hard to work on.
It didn't really suit me.

And I only managed to make just one piece.
Then I simultaneously made three pieces, one on the wheel, one made by my teacher that I had to decorate and a tray.
I engraved my piece with a simple pattern I made by myself.

And here it is out of the kiln.
The tray was very easy to form
but had a lot of work afterwards. First I printed some feathers and saw how they looked on my tray.
And then I engraved them on it only by looking at them.

Then it was time for my teacher's bowl. I draw my design.
And engraved it.
And here after the kiln.
And all three finished. I was so happy when I took them at home!
I then started a flower. I wanted a poppy.
But it became a peony!
And here after the kiln.Inside my bowl.
Then we were asked to make something with dark clay.






That had a lot of stages too.


It had to be burnished and I used my own semi precious stone.
Don't you love how it looks like chocolate?
I then engraved a pattern, my favourite dragonfly.


And now it is waiting to be put in the kiln!
I then made a couple of tiles!




Hope they will be in the kiln soon!
Till the end of the workshop year in June we will make some more smaller pieces and try various glazes! This has been a great experience for me and am looking forward to one more year in ceramics!
Why don't you join us in Our Beautiful World and link your blogpost with your favourite ceramic pieces or ceramic artists?

16 comments:

riitta k said...

Thank you Ariadne for preparing us a real art exhibition! I found this post very interesting and all the works personal and beautiful. Your own items are great too! I'm sure you are proud of them. Happy Sunday!

PS
I noticed that you have a Finnish Ultima Thule there, how nice!

riitta k said...

Correction: It isn't Ultima Thule but Tapio Wirkkala's Stellaria. Sorry.

Justine said...

Wow! Such a gorgeous inspiring post. Your own pieces are just as beautiful as the purchased ones. I love the dragonfly design, and the flowers on your biscuit barrel.

AppleApricot Wen said...

Sweetie, your ceramic pieces are stunning!! I'm on awe! Thank you for taking us along the process. And thank you for the theme this week, which led me to some beautiful art pieces.

Marie-Anne said...

That was a super post, Ariadne!!!! How interesting to learn so many things about your ceramics classes. I love every one of your creations, they are all beautiful and the large black one with the dragonflies is gorgeous!!!
Χριστός Ανέστη, χρόνια πολλά για την ημέρα και καλό μας μήνα!
Φιλιά!!

Ο κόσμος της Ράνιας said...

Όλα τα έργα που μας παρουσίασες είναι πραγματικά καταπληκτικά !!! Όσο για τα δικά σου, βλέπω ότι "τόχεις" και αυτό το ταλέντο !!! Καλή συνέχεια !!! Πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα ανάρτηση !!!! Σ ευχαριστούμε !!!!

Geninne said...

How exciting that you are making your own ceramics Ariadne! You are so good at it! Thank you so much for the mention :) Hugs from sunny Santa Fe xox

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

I know you will have a great post for this one Ariadne, awesome!

Unknown said...

I'm so impressed with your progress in ceramics, Ariadne. I did a couple of years of evening classes in ceramics back in the 80s, but never managed to produce anything as beautiful as your pieces. I'll try to find something I made and send you a pic! Meanwhile, thanks for sharing all your lovely pieces.

Thalia Tzellou said...

Αριάδνη μου όλα τα έργα τέχνης που μας δείχνεις είναι καταπληκτικά! Τα δικά σου πήλινα τα λάτρεψα, είναι υπέροχα!! Χίλια μπράβο και καλή συνέχεια!!

Mii Stitch said...

Wow! I am so jealous!!
What beautiful, beautiful pieces!!

paula said...

Thank you so much my dear Ariadne.
I love seeing you at the wheel and working on your pottery. Beautiful!
Enjoy and keep on the good work ...
hugs

mandysea said...

Oh wow.. what an incredible post! I love the earthy colours... oooh the shapes and texture!!! You are very talented!

Sonia / COZY MEMORIES said...

Oh Ariadne, thank you for this wonderful post ! You have made marvels with your hands ! Pottery is something I really would love to try one day. I love the feather dish & the botanical tiles (almost at the end of the post) best !! Great job, Aridane !! Hugs ox

Ros Crawford said...

There are many wonderful pieces of ceramics here and so pretty! Great photographs Ariadne!

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

I am VERY impressed with your ceramics! You are very talented. You made so many beautiful pieces, that I can't decide which one is my favorite. I took a couple of ceramics courses in college and loved it. I was best at hand building and painting them, but did not enjoy the wheel as much. I wish I had access to a kiln so that I could do some more. Blessings!