Monday, November 10, 2008

Ok, ok, I'll be first!



Sorry for the few blurry times, it's hard to hold the camera steady and turn the lazy susan. I stole all of the lights from my studio to take pictures, so I had to film on the kitchen counter instead of on the wheel that spins all on its own. I'm not going to comment on the piece except to say that I sanded the little bump in the middle smooth--it bugged me too ;) Oh yeah, this piece is bisqued and I have no real idea of how to glaze it :) Spray gun and lots of wax resist I guess.

I also want to say--be honest and don't hold back!

The video was a bit darker than I would like so here are some pictures to go along with it.

11 comments:

Judy Shreve said...

Is this all one piece? I like it a lot.

The strengths - the texture on the plates and the indentions on the plate rims. Both of these features help to add movement to the piece. It's hard to tell scale from a photo - but the two plates seem to be balanced in relation to size - the top being just the right amount smaller in dimension.

Again what I can't tell from a photo - how does it function? Is the center cylinder adequate in size? Is the top plate stable?

I'd like to see it glazed.

I like it -- did I say that already - lol.

Judi Tavill said...

I too like the proportions and I get the feeling function wise it could hold various small desserts, candies, a small cake with other deserts on the lower portion... very interesting. I think the the placement of the indentations work well. Glazing shall be interesting!

Jerry said...

I like it as well. I love the rims on the plates and the indentations tie everything together. I am assuming that it is a single piece.

The only thing that catches my eye is the transition between the cylinder and the bottom plate. The piece has such nice soft lines and that sharp delineation between the cylinder and the plate seems a bit jarring. How would it look smoothed out?

Excited to see it glazed!

Ben Stark said...

Thanks y'all! It is one piece. The function is really as Judi described--a double-decker dessert plate.

Jerry--I'm intrigued by the smooth transition. I'll definitely try that on the next one--that is if I can figure out a good way to glaze this one.

I had also considered putting a handle in the middle of the top plate, but decided not to. Do y'all think it would add to or subtract from the piece?

Judy Shreve said...

I agree with Jerry on the cylinder. I don't need it to be soft because your texture & line around your texture make a hard line ok - what bothers me is that it just seems to be sitting there & not connected in any way. I'm thinking glazing might help that transition. (Or what other ideas you may come up with to make that seem more like one piece.)

Functionally I would be worried about picking the piece up - wondering if it was one attached piece. A handle may resolve that as well.

I had a instructor once who refused to critique work until it was glazed.

Linda Starr said...

Ben, what a unique ceramic piece. I see it as both useful and beautiful on a full table. The indentations make me feel I could whirl it around somehow like a lazy susan - and I like that. I think I have seen antique silver pedastal trays similar to this but with a much smaller third upper plate. I don't think that would add to this piece however, maybe though. I thought about a handle but not sure where it would be placed and not detract from the fluid lines. Perhaps a tall knob in the center of the top mimicking the pedastal only smaller. Or another smaller pedastal with a similar shaped miniature plate atop used as the knob (a third tier - I can draw it but can't seem to explain it). A handle isn't necessary though as the raised rim and indentations make a convenient place to grasp the plate to move it. Looking forward seeing it glazed.

Kip said...

I just stumbled across this blog - this is such a great way to get feedback on work! Ben, I think this piece has a lot going for it - I really like the movement you've created in the rim. One suggestion: have you tried this form with three plates instead of two? I'd love to see how the feeling changes with a little more height to the piece. Good luck with the glazing!
--Kip

Ben Stark said...

Thanks for the comments Linda and Kip! I just noticed them this morning. The glazing went so so. I had one spot on the top plate that didn't get good coverage, so I'll be keeping this one for myself. I am going to make a new one with three tiers next.

Ellie Great said...

Wow Great job!

Cynths said...

I love it! It's so unique!

Unknown said...

I LOVE IT! I am just a lowly consumer (no real knowledge about the process) but I love the unique indentations. It will be white, right? Food is best on white!

beautiful.

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