Finally finished (partly/mostly)

It's glazed but unfired. I'm going to do a couple of tests to get the temperature perfect. I'm pretty pleased though.

More Art Show Preparation - Porcelain Cars

I just got these pieces out of the kiln. They are just black underglaze on porcelain. I am about to start a couple larger pieces which will take forever and I only have a couple of weeks. You do the math. These were pretty simple, here is the process:

Here is the unglazed porcelain car.

First I brush black underglaze into all of the cracks. I like to use Leslie Ceramic Supply's U-24 Basic Black. They also make U-9 Black which is a cool blueish black. The U-24 is a warm brownish black and it tends to flux (get shiny) less than the U-9 which is also a bonus in this case.

All the cracks, crevices etc filled with black underglaze.

Next I take a sponge and wipe off the excess underglaze leaving nice crisp lines.

Now for the laborious part, the background. I have collected lots of images to use which I organize and paste in a scrapbook. This page is all from an old french encyclopedia that had some great images. Landscapes tend to be pretty forgiving since people can't really tell whether you copied the image faithfully so I don't really worry that much about it. It still takes a bit of time even on so small an area. I also shaded the car somewhat at this stage.

And here is the result after firing.

I will post more pictures in the coming weeks. Check out the website for the gallery here: http://roscoeceramicgallery.com/

See my last post for the time and other particulars.

Fresh out of the kiln: A new glaze painting

Black underglaze on porcelain

(click on image for larger view)

This one turned out great. It's pretty darn small, only 3 1/4 by 4 1/4", but very detailed.

It's for this show that I have coming up in August. Here is the card:

It's a new gallery that Derik Van Beers just opened up. The back half is his studio and the front half is the gallery. It is very neat and tidy and looks great.
Here are the details:
Roscoe Ceramic Gallery
473 25th St., Suite D
Oakland, California
Gallery Hours Saturdays 11 am - 5 pm
415-515-3174

I also just got out these completed sculptures of dams. They were really smaller studies for large pieces but they came out really nice.

Sketch Book Drawings

So I've been going through my sketchbooks in search of inspiration for my show in a couple of months. I've made a lot of flat picture frame-like ceramic plaques so I need quite a bit of content to fill them. These drawings span probably like 2004 to the present so some of them are kind of old. I've included both drawings of things I typically do as well as a few weird drawings as I would like to get a little weirder in my work.
I've been drawing and sculpting rocket cars lately. Here are a couple:

This one is based on the caption:
This is a drawing I did for a friend who was going to have a fashion line called "Squirrel and Cross Bones"
This is drawing of a photo of some german lady that was at a party at the co-op house that my friends Brandon and Erich used to live in. Dumpasaurus is completely unrelated but written on the same page.

My friend Brandon drew this guy in my sketchbook. I think this was a t-shirt idea.
This is a drawing of a bed that used to be at a cabin that we used to go to when I was a kid. It was a really old spring based hospital bed that was all worn out so you'd always roll into the middle when you were sleeping in it. My family called it the Fat Lady.
This is a stupid drawing I did late at night.
Math Rebel

I had a dream with a drive through pencil sharpener. I should have drawn it in pencil.
Don't ask me what this is about. Cat/Bus

I drew the lady on the left with this amazing old water based sepia ink that I think I got at the Depot for reuse years ago. You just do your drawing in ink and then use a brush and water to shade the ink. It's like one of those coloring books that had the color in dots where you just needed to use a brush with water to color in the pictures.

New Flat Ceramic Work

So I've been focussing on flat work recently for Art in a Box.
These are a couple of pieces from the last two months:


This is the one I just dropped off:


(Click on the images to see them large.)

Set up an Etsy shop

I'm just getting started, but stay tuned for more ceramic sculptures for sale on my etsy page: http://www.etsy.com/people/Bentonight

New Drawing

So I just finished this drawing. I was going to use some of my nice drawing pens but all of my ink has become dry so I had to settle for disposable drawing pens. Anyhow this is for some one night art show based on poetry. I'm not much of a poetry person but the poems by one of the choices had nice imagery that I could work with. I even enjoyed the poem. It's called Trudy and Beau and it's by Steve Lance. Show is tomorrow night March 12, 2011 at Krowswork Gallery (480 23rd st Oakland, side entrance) at 7:30.The event will feature readings by Steven Lance, John Sakkis, and C.S. Giscombe, and art by Ben Belknap, Misako Inaoka, Shannon May, Jae Payne, Sarah Ratchye, Peter Schulte, and Jon Stich.

Progress on the Artstuct Door Project

See former post on the subject for details here.
Visit Artstruct here for more info as well.

Another Dam Sculpture Completed!

Similar to the last dam sculpture however there are a couple of differences. Most notably I did not include the car and there is water below as well as above the dam. Overall I think that the perspective is perhaps slightly improved.
Anyhow that's what I've been working on.

Another Dazzling Art in a Box Piece

Believe it or not I had to fire this piece 3 times(in addition to the bisque firing) to get it to work. The darn rocket kept popping off during the glaze firing. Eventually I ended up using nichrome wire to hold it in place which also ended up looking rather nice. Just another example of mistakes(or mishaps) working out in the end. Join Art in a Box or give the gift of Art in a Box today.

Holidayland at the Compound Gallery and Prof. Squirrel shop Just Around the Corner

Another Disappearing Bikini

I apologize for the sideways orientation.

Another Art in a Box in the Works

Almost done, just a few more coats.....
Coming soon to Art in a Box.... Join now and DEMAND this brilliant piece of ceramic history. Don't wait, this would make a great present or addition to your art collection. Art in a box. http://artinabox.net/

Video for your further amazement!

I apologize for the poor quality of the video, however I think you will enjoy this. Stand dumbfounded as you behold the magic disappearing bikini.

Eureka! It works!

So something I've had in the works for some time now is finally done(though not perfected yet). I have been interested in creating a heat sensitive ceramic vessel where clothing disappears when hot liquid is introduced. Recently Karl McDade was kind enough to invite me to be in a Gravy Boat Show at Diablo Valley College which gave me the perfect opportunity to test out my new concept. This is the gravy boat that I made:




Just add hot liquid and....





Unfortunately this is as transparent as it gets for now. Still rather novel if you ask me. However I intend to find a more transparent base that would give a true clear as opposed to this yellowish color. So stay tuned.
For more information on the gravy boat show visit Diablo Valley College's website here. The show runs 11/1 - 11/23 and I believe there is a closing party. The work will be sold silent auction style with a buy it now option. Also I believe you can "buy it now" over the internet if you are so inclined here(not up yet, check back).

Just a quick post to alert y'all that I'm going to drop off some new heads at the Professor Squirrel Shop located within the Compound Gallery. And actually Friday night their having an event within the shop. Here are the details:

"Two Events! Stowaway Card Game Launch Party and more!
Friday October 8th, at 8-10pm
Sunday, October 17th, 3-5pm

Come Get Some Booty! Pirate Party to show off Stowaway, a pirate card game by local game maker, Jonathan Curley
and to show off nautical art by local artist, Kerri Johnson
Learn to play Stowaway! Compete in a tournament! Prizes! Professor Squirrel is carrying Stowaway Card Game!

Pirate outfits highly encouraged! Prizes!
Art and decks of cards for enjoyment and purchasing.
Pirate Snacks and Libations
Arrrrrrr, mateys!"

Location:
Professor Squirrel & The Compound Gallery
1167 65th st
Oakland, CA

Normal Hours:
The Gallery is open: Thursday-Sunday 12-6

Here is another small glazed ceramic head that will be available:



And here is a small ceramic hand holding a pistol also available at the shop:
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Thanks!