Sweet Beast

Here's the little beastie himself
at the show posing with his finished
piece. I never saw this piece truly
vertical until it was hung on the
pristine gallery wall the night before
the opening. As you'll see below the
piece was built on a giant easel which
was slightly tilted.

I actually built this to look more hefty
and solid than the other two mural
pieces in the show. However, the
weightiness contradicts the tone of the
subject which is why I chose to paint it
like a cloud alternating layers of
translucent blues and yellows.

The detail to the left is an earlier blue layer.
The thick french cleat adhered to the back
of the piece suspends it from the wall so it
floats about an inch off the surface.

I love the depth within the image, the
vulnerability of the dangling arm and the
intrusive high relief of the wild boar.
Many of the Greek metopes are miniature
scenic sculptures with figures carved in full
dimension on a shallow plane rather than
contrived relief.    It was somewhat difficult
to stay true to this method of composing.
I made many small clay sketches to visualize
and correct the proper pose and tension.

The easel is still flat while the clay sets up.  Once firm it can be tilted almost vertical.  I started modeling from a thick slab slicing through and stuffing with shredded paper to plump out the figures.  The arm was coiled from the shoulder down to the hand.  When dry it was fired flat in one piece in an electric car kiln (my dream kiln) which happens to be the same identical size as the trunk of my car.

Pieces Parts

Had to look at my photos from Greece as I contemplate my new figurative work. I'm still hooked on the fragment although I've added a narrative element. My son has inspired a new take on the Centaurmachy. I'm having some trouble finishing up the series I started in July since my muse has been behaving. Of course we have taken actions to curb his appetite for sugar by providing lots of fruit and implementing a ban on all frozen treats. If given the opportunity, he is weak. Halloween will be here but not soon enough my show opens October 29th!

These images depicting the 12 Labours of Herakeles are metopes from the Temple of Zeus in Olympia. Their display is amazing mounted at eye level. The Parthenon metopes depicting the centaurmachy are in situ and are difficult to see. Perhaps the new museum displays them up close and personal. It hadn't openend yet when I visited in the spring of 2009.

The modeling of the figures has a strange completeness about it despite the obvious missing pieces. The roundness of the form in a protruding limb combined with the dynamism of the gesture really captures the essence of the narrative despite the very literal original composition.

The Cupboard Is Bare

This is all that's left after a great studio tour weekend. On Wednesday I'll back it up to deliver to Handwork in Ithaca so if you see anything you like let me know before then. Below are the remaining gargoyles, downspout covers, and bird houses. 

Today's Paper

Check out a few photos of my studio courtesy of the Star Gazette.  Great camera and good eye Jeff Richards!  You made my studio look so spacious.

I also have to thank my friend and professional photographer, Ann Cady of ARC Photographic Images, for the excellent head shot.  The local papers used it often.  See the Corning Leader Article.  She also does an amazing job capturing the true color, surface and form of my ceramics.

Ready for another great day on the tour.  It's been a lot of fun seeing everyone.

Tour Guide Flair

Abel had a lot of fun rounding up visitors on his bike for the studio tour today.  He gives a great tour!  I think he picked up some skills this summer when we toured Laura Ingalls Wilder's Home.  He's also a big fan of my pins and magnets.  You'd think he worked on commission.  They're pretty flowery but if you poke them through Spiderman's eyeballs it's all boy.

www.colleenmccallceramics.com

Check out my new website!  It's very exciting to have it out there.  Hopefully, a few people begin to follow the blog besides my bestest friend in the whole fourth grade, Faith Pray.

Besides activating my site today I finished up decorating some leatherhard work.  Of course, I was thinking I would slop on some clear glaze and still get it in the kiln, once-fired, for the studio tour this Saturday.  We'll see. Not only are they covered in wax, it is raining outside.  Tomorrow I will madly glaze after unloading a warm bisque kiln.  Darn that dentist appointment in the middle of the day.  If only I could glaze in my basement at least I would be in the same town as the dentist office.  Soon enough!

A Studio of My Own

I can't believe it's done!  I mean constructed.  My deadline was the upcoming Elmira Studio Tour on October 2nd and 3rd.  I promise the paint won't be wet but the smell may linger.  It's all good.  We'll toast some s'mores in the kiln and let the sweet scent of marshmallows and chocolate take over.  I'm itching to finish up the painting and move in.  Of course, I am still on the hunt for a mid-size electric kiln.  Perhaps, if you build it, the kiln will come.

Adam cleared his schedule and got down to work a day after I called.    He, along with occasional help from my fellow potter and teaching accomplice, Christian, built me two walls, installed seven new basement windows and two doors as well as wired in six lights and ten outlets.  The walls required some creative rerouting of duct work which also left me with more head room and heat in my studio.

Working conditions were not optimal since the old windows had been nailed shut and there was only one outlet to begin with.  Did I mention we live near the river?  Yes, the one that flooded our neighborhood in 1972.  As the walls were hammered into place thick chunks of flood mud would bounce out of the joists.  It coated the walls as well.  I briefly considered firing a piece in the kiln to see if it had any potential as a glaze but soon concluded I just wanted it gone.  I know there is plenty more in the rafters of the garage if I really want to try it one of these days.

I'll post some finish photos soon when I stop blogging and get back to painting.