TWO SNOUTS AND A SPOUT
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This stoneware teapot represents a design advance over its predecesssor, Circus Snouts. Among the principal modifications made, the balance of the piece is improved by enlarging and weighting the base.
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The teapot body is formed of a single extruded tubular clay form. The Dachshund heads appended at the ends of the tubular body are sculpted with elongated snouts. The sculpted lid is in the form of a dog bone.
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A commercial tile is modified to provide stability to the base.
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Construction sequence:
- Air-brushed underglazing is applied to the bisque state.
- Fired initially to cone 06.
- Additional glazes applied.
- Refired to cone 015.
- Cold finishes applied to complete the piece..
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Size: 12.0" x 16.0" x 6.0".
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Date: 2009
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Featured at First Street Gallery International Juried Show, New York, NY.
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Available for purchase: Price $1,100.
ENLARGED VIEWS
CREATIVE PROCESS
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This is a further development based on a prior work, Circus Snouts, modified in a number of important structural and design ways.
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One basic issue with the prototype was suboptimal balance caused by its lightweight base structure. The new piece, therefore, was designed to ensure better balance by enhancing the weight of the base attaching several large thrown elements together. The heavier base thereby lowered the center of gravity to prevent tipping,
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Further, the body of the original version was formed of two split components plus a number of thrown pieces to form a somewhat busily labored work. By contrast, this body is formed from a single extruded tube, intended to provide a simpler, sleeker feel with greater fluidity.
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My intention, moreover, is to exaggerate the length of the dog's snouts.
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The Dachshund heads are separately sculpted.
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They are appended to opposite ends of the tubular body form.
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A spout is added to the front face of the tubular body.
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Additional sculptural details are applied to the dog faces.
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Two parallel handles for the teapot are formed from long extruded clay ropes.
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They are appended to represent curved arches of the dogs' tails.
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A lid is made by slip cast molding in the form of a dog bone.
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It is fitted into the opening made for it in the center of the tubular teapot body.
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Underglazing begins with air-brushed application of subtle nuances of softly blended coloration.
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The work has now been bisque fired at cone 06.
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Additional layers of underglazes are applied to enhance the coloration.
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After an additional refiring to cone 015, cold finishes are applied. They include the use of Baroque stains and the application of gold leaf and colored waxes.
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These embellishments and the addition of a prefabricated commercial tile to ensure stability of the base conclude the work on this piece.
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