I've been on a changing journey in the studio.
It’s mostly been about my students. There are four at the moment, individually taught, and each is on a different path from the others. I really enjoy their unique approaches to clay and their personalities. Here’s a glimpse of one sculptural work by a gifted student.
Bisqued, glazed but not yet fired- stay tuned for glazed sculpture “after”. Student work. So good!!
Meanwhile, last week I took a long look around my gallery, adjacent to my studio. So much nice work to sell- yes, I do think so!- and most of it is one-of-a-kind. Often they are related to a color or shape group, but they are still all individuals. And I am not working on more of these very much at the moment. The shelves are full enough and groaning. The pots will only be in the gallery till they sell, probably not to be replaced… Because I am working on a changing roster of other sorts of pots. These are sometimes bigger or more complicated than before, and sometimes from my gut instead of from the roster of “pottery I make”. Even though I love “pottery I make”. It was time and more for a change.
For example- I have a related (but not exactly the same) grouping of bowls, sgraffito color on black.
I’m challenging myself (and my students) to throw taller. 20” vase (below), underglaze color on raw clay, not yet fired or final-glazed. (View is of my unpretty kiln room, the first of the taller vases, and 1.5” texture stamps meant to help show vase size.)
I’m still exploring the rarified world of chanukiot (menorahs), now better adjusting the bodies for level stance and greater surface complexities. This study continues to be an evolution of changes!
Surface color and sgraffito is all over this chanukiah.
Starting tomorrow and following daily except Saturdays- check Mimi Stadler Pottery on Facebook for a special look at individual pieces, under the category of “Does it speak to you?” You can always DM me if it needs to be yours.