Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Garden features



A lot of ceramics ends up as "Garden Features" as a sort of dust bin to the fired clay world.  But I'd have to respond, "What better use of Ceramics objects of all kinds".  First of all, you can hide imperfections on otherwise extrodinary pieces just by sitting them with "blem down".  Second, ceramics looks great in the garden anyway and finally, the tradition of ceramics garden features is one of the oldest in the field of visual arts.  Plus, it's always handy to have a cup or bowl handy when  you are watering.

The cover picture is a failed salt shaker  (as the glaze filled in the shaker holes) but luckily it makes a great pot feature.

Here is a typical garden feature, a stoneware jar with a test tile lid.  The test tile was rounded to see how it would accept red iron oxide slip in a concentrated form.  Iron oxide is a flux of sorts and this this tile makes a compelling lid.


Ceramic sculpture also makes good garden features.  This head protects the top of a tomato stake and watches sentinel over the bleak winter garden


And another face to keep it company


Well, even rocks make good garden features, as they have for eons in the natural setting.  


So much for garden features.  I will create a post on recent hats next.  I usually spin a few ounces of yarn during the winter, to test drop spindles, and "Pat's Happy Hats" knitted up a few hats, just in time for the New years.  Stay tuned.



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