Inspiration: Species Co-existing

The new year means it's time for a portfolio review- a look back at what I created last year to make a new plan and drawings for the pieces Shine Ceramics will produce in 2011. 

This is actually pretty tough: balancing what I like to make vs. customer demand, taking into account what glazes and colors I can use (I use ONLY food-safe glazes and pigments), and making sure that whatever the result may be, that it is within an affordable price range for people to enjoy and that I can produce enough to stock galleries can be challenging.

It's time for a new production plan, a new artist statement, and new philosophy of working for 2011.  I was a bit stressed about this process until I discovered the above picture on a politics blog (the pic was an outlier for the site).  The blog author mentioned that the co-existence of the species was a nice distraction from the political rhetoric that usually occupies his mind. I agree whole hardheartedly, and think the pic is a nice inspiration to set the tone for the type of work I'd like to make this year.

I've always liked to portray species working together in a seemingly closed environment- closed in the sense that the surface area of functional pottery provides a limited 'frame' of reference.  On most pieces, the species work independently, yet together, as they perform separate but equally important functions within the food chain. This picture seems to epitomize that idea of separate, yet together, and has spawned some additional thoughts on how I should structure and design the images which grace the surfaces of Shine Ceramics.

Graceful yet Strong and Durable: the dahlia is light, yet strong enough to support itself and the frogs (contents).  The lines and forms of Shine Ceramics should appear "light" but the pieces will be built solidly for everyday use.

Surprising and Unexpected yet NOT out of place: the unassuming viewer does not expect to see five tiny frogs within the flower.  Their presence is surprising but not alarming.

I'm going to take these ideas into the studio and make some new pieces which reflect these standards.  Thanks for your continued interest in my work, and I look forward to sharing with you the new products of my thoughts, experiences, and labor.

All the best for 2011,
Jules*