|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Many of my “innovations “ were actually studio accidents that turned my interest in a new direction.My current work is the evolution of forms that I have “tweaked” for five years.
Now retired from teaching art for more than 35 years at the secondary and college level, I maintain a full studio work schedule. I have dabbled in drawing, painting, and glass, but my preferred media is clay. My first studio was an unfinished basement in Spokane in the early ‘70’s. I later moved to Auburn, taught school and showed in galleries along the West Coast. I participated in several annual summer art fairs. In 2001 I retired from teaching and built a home and studio on Fox Island. I divide my time working with functional and sculptural clay forms and gardening. New concepts and weeds never end. I am represented in several galleries in Washington and participate in a limited number of local and regional fairs and invitational shows. I frequently do commission work for individuals and interior designers.
One of my favorite parts of the creative process is developing the “skin” of the vessel. Many years of research have gone into the development of glazes that work well with the shape and/or color of the container. It is not uncommon to work three years on a particular glaze effect before it is ready to market. When making non-functional pieces, I am concerned with the character or personality of the piece. I think about where it will set and what meaning it brings to the place where it resides. When working with utilitarian pieces, additional consider must be given to the functional requirements for which it was designed .~~Ron Carson About the process: For 35 years clay has been my preferred media. I like its flexibility and ability to accept so many different shapes. I love each part of the process except perhaps opening the door of the kiln to see if what I had imagined actually came out. I like pushing the moist clay and modifying a basic shape. I like to refine the clay in the trimming process. I relish adorning the basic shape with decorative elements. I pour over books and magazines taking in so many ideas to apply to the clay. I research a variety of glazes looking for just the right “skin” for the shape. I modify a firing schedule to bring out the best in the clay and glaze. When the kiln door opens it confirms my best (and worst) ideas. I record endless notes about the glaze chemistry, the firing process, the anomalies that occur that affect the end results. About the shapes: I am most influenced by traditional work of Japan and China. Many decorative elements have a Pre-Colombian or Aztec influence. Recently, I have been attracted to ancient Egyptian architecture. These shapes are essentially decorative but they may be used for a utilitarian function. They are watertight, lead free, and very durable.
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
©2008~WebDesign |
|||||||||||||||||||