Virtual Perceptions

My postcards arrived. I ordered them Monday and received them Friday. Quite impressive! However, the color is not true. I've been working very hard to use vibrant colors on a rich chocolate brown clay. I generously slather on layers of porcelain slip to prevent the clay from obscuring the brightness of the colored underglaze and then I pick and choose where to reveal the clay again.

There is clearly a visual barrier when using the internet to make color specific choices. My postcard pot looks like gray stoneware. I was hoping for something a little more intriguing, seductive if you dare. The dish on the left is actually blue. It appears true on my computer. Maybe I should have known better. I once ordered a purple bedspread online and was terribly disappointed how dull the actual color was. I can't fathom buying art online and being satisfied unless I had previous knowledge of the artist's work in person.

Besides color I also wonder how one adapts to sensing the work physically in its pixilated form. Clay is inherently a tactile medium. It requires physical contact to assess craftsmanship. What is the scale and heft of this dish? Aesthetically and functionally, it is my favorite serving dish for steamed broccoli. Holding four ample servings it is the perfect size for my family.

Over the next week I will post more images of my work. For those of you who can visit during the open studio tour please share with me how your virtual perceptions wage in as you see and touch the actual thing. Your comments can be posted directly on location for those folks who haven't met my pottery yet.