7.11.2017

Geta by Andrea Zimon

I  am working on my project list for next semester's ceramics class. While doing this I pulled out this piece from last semester's work which is a geisha shoe, called a geta. 

 I like my concept, especially the lack of practicality. No sane geisha would wear this geta. 

I loved doing the carving of my favorite motif - a leaf shape. 

I am happy with the result of the hanao (cord). The hanao texture looks like fabric with its cracks and lace imprint. This was difficult to do as I used thin-ish clay and the cracks appeared as I was rolling the clay into a tube. I was hoping this would happen. However, when it got into the bone dry stage I was holding my breath as the clay gets so brittle at this stage and tends to break if handled too much (that quantity you only find out after the piece breaks). 

By the time I had to glaze this piece,  I admit I was tired and snafus beyond my control led to more hand painting than I wanted to do. Hand painting ceramics is great when you have time. Not so great when the end of semester is looming near.  I thought I would water down the glaze to keep its organic feel. I used four colors which is minimal for me.  The black is too strong and the watered down glaze just looks weak. 

What I will take from this project is to plan enough time for the  next projects. I didn't really estimate how much time a piece should take. Glazing, also, tends to be the most difficult for me. Last semester I didn't really put down to paper what how I wanted to glaze things. I will for the next.  

If I stick to a plan next semester will provide some really incredible fodder for this blog.