It has been
a very cold and snowy winter here in western Massachusetts. Having a view of the river from my
pottery studio is one of the things I always look forward too about
coming in to work. However, this winter all that view has done is
reinforce the conditions.
My designs on the pieces included in
this year's show follow a theme similar to the this one.
If you know my work, you might be
surprised by the mono-chromatic nature of this design. Don't worry: I
am not about to abandon color!
But I do enjoy how the
positive/negative contrasts become more prominent with a pared down
palette. I like the "windows" that the decoration moves
through and around, and alterations to the form that invite the hand
to hold it.
In some new pieces that I am in the
process of making now, I am taking some of these ideas a step or two
further. I want the geometry and the organic elements to interact
more. (That light blue you see is the wax I use for resist
techniques.)
The natural light helps take some sting
out of the winter.
Besides yunomi as a drinking vessel, I am working on some pots that bring
some of the same proportionality and design theme to different
objects. There is something about the ceremonial quality that is
making me excited to see how these will come out (they are waiting
for their first firing).
So here's to March and new beginnings...and getting to summer.