More Show in Progress

So these are some sculptures I'm in the process of glazing tonight. They have a base coat of underglaze on their skin that I fired on in the bisque firing. Now I have rubbed black underglaze into the crevices to bring out the detail and I am about to add shadows and highlights. Next I will glaze their eyes, hair and finally clothing.

This is a sculpture I got out of the kiln a couple of days ago using the same process as above(different grey-green underglaze for the skin color.)

Next is the finished flame wall pedestal. Turned out rather nice though I broke one of the flame points off of the upper left hand side. I'll have to glue unfortunately.


Finally a little test piece I made with an old 1961 slip casting mold of a geisha that I used as a press mold.

This long road: in the works

So here are some pictures of some work that I'm getting ready for the show next month.
We just fired a couple of kilns full of work that we'll be unloading tomorrow evening. The last couple of nights I've just been glazing glazing glazing. The piece with the flames you can see was glazed with old duncan leaded glazes. They are absolutely gorgeous. I've already glaze fired it twice but it's going in the kiln tomorrow for yet another round.

Here are some shots of me in the studio.



Stay tuned I'll try to keep posting as I ramp up for the show.

This Long Road

So I'm going to be in a show next month with my good friends Crystal Morey and Derek Weisberg. It's at the Compound Gallery where I have been selling heads for quite a while now(see earlier posts). Here are the details about the show:

This Long Road is a show of individual works as well as collaborative pieces, made by Ben Belknap, Derek Weisberg, and Crystal Morey. All three artists were schoolmates at the California College of Arts and Crafts where a relationship began rooted in the love of figurative sculpture. Each artist has their own interpretation and style of the body as well as emotional content behind the work. In “This Long Road’ the artists will each represent their own work, and then explore the wonder, innovation, and trials of working together on a larger project.
Opening: Saturday September 12
Closing: Sunday September 27th

Ceramic Beer Bottles

These are some really awesome ceramic bottles that my friend Mikael Kirkman has been making that I have been helping with. We are planning an art show where we are going to have different artists glaze the outside of the bottles. Afterwards we are going to brew beer in them and display them at the Guerrilla cafe in Berkeley.

Also we're working on a couple glazes that we are going to try to market to some different brewers. We'll see. The ash glaze (the drippy one, for you non-ceramic types) is especially cool and old-timey looking. Anyhow contact me if yer interested in decorating a bottle and stay tuned as I'll have more pictures as we make more.

Dams

I've been working on some small pieces that are sort of tests for a larger project I want to work on. They're in the kiln right now so I don't have any pictures but I found this photo on the internet that is somewhat similar. The glaze is going to look really good.

Craft Fair At CCA in Oakland

So I'm gearing up for the craft sale at the ol' CCAC campus.
It's weekend after next on Saturday the 6th from 11 am til 3 pm or so.
Please stop by as I will have many heads for sale as well as other goodies.


Also I will have heads for sale as usual at the Compound Gallery. www.thecompoundgallery.com
They are having their holiday sale the same weekend.

Here is their schpeel:

This gift sale has become a Blankspace tradition and this year we are happy to announce The Compound Gallery (Southpole) and Blankspace Gallery (Northpole) will be joining Holiday forces to create an Art Extravaganza! There will be great original artwork, handmade crafts, jewelry, accessories, cards, ornaments, tote bags and much, much more.

Both Galleries will open the same hours and will be hosting receptions at the same times. All art will be available for immediate purchase (cash & carry).

Plus, come by during one of the two Holiday cheer receptions and enjoy the fun music, festive food, seasonal libations and holiday surprises!!

The best original and thoughtful gifts for the ones you love can be found at Holidayland.

Shop local, support small business this Holiday Season.

Participating Artists: Adrian Van Allen, Adrian Varnes, Alissa Goss, Ambur Mueller, Mr. Ben Venom, Bob Denman, Christopher Romer, Claudia Bauer, Crystal Morey, Elysa Fenenbock, Eric Sanchez, Freya van Dien, Gabriel Nansen, Gina Pericini, Jake Gillespie, Kari Marboe, Lena Reynoso, Matt Reynoso, Noah Sakamoto, Obi Kaufmann, Paul Murphy, RedStart Design, Sara Christian, Steven Barich, Tallulah Terryll, and more…
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Something I'm Working On

I made the figure in the asbestos suit a while ago. Originally he had a rather plain wall hanging pedestal. I wanted to make it more interesting.

Heads from Texas

I was just in texas recently visiting the folks. It was really fun.
While I was their I took some pictures of some of my older work that now resides there.

restock of ceramic heads at the Compound Gallery

See older post for details on the Compound Gallery.
(Thank you Matt and Lena.)

Mountains - fresh

So just got these from Derek Weisberg, who was kind enough to fire them for me.
The big one had been sitting around for a couple of months waiting for the first available cone five firing.
They turned out pretty sweet, I just need to figure out how to display them and with what other elements.

Ceramic Head

Another Ceramic Head

New ceramic heads fresh from the kiln

I'll post several over the next few days.
Stay tuned.

Ceramic Head that Hue Made that I Glazed

I Put Some of My Drawings on My Website

Go see more at: www.BenBelknap.com

Ceramic Heads Re-stocked At the Compound Gallery

So I re-stocked the heads that have sold at the Compound Gallery.
See the earlier post for more info on them and their location.
Thanks again to Matt and Lena, the proprietors.
Also if anyone is looking for a studio they had 2 left that they were renting out as of Friday. They are really amazing artists who have done absolutely insane amounts of work making that place functional as well as beautiful.
Any how please stop by and see the art and in particular the heads.
Here is another one.

Yet another Ceramic Head

Ceramic Head

New Ceramic Lady

As you may have noticed I tend to make sculptures of men. This is because I am not too good at depicting ladies. In recent months I have slowly been working on improving in this department and the sculpture which you see is my most successful to date. It will likely be included in a larger sculpture, perhaps with a landscape, at some future date.

Recent Head

Heads up at The Compound

The kind people at the new Compound Gallery and Studios asked me if I wanted to put some heads on display in their new gallery space. Of course I was delighted.
The frame above shows the ones that I chose to show.
You should stop by and see their cool new space and my heads.
Their website is: http://thecompound.ning.com/

It's located at:
6604 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, Ca 94608 - Hours: Sun 12-5, Mon 12-5
At the Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland border. Located right next door to the Blankspace Gallery and Goodwill.

My website is up!

BenBelknap.com

Check it out!

Craft fair tomorrow at CCAC in Oakland

Hey I'm going to have some heads and some other work at the CCA craft fair.
Please come out and sample my wares.
It's located at the intersection of Broadway and College and runs from 10-2.

New Ceramic Landscape