Porcelain Grace - Meryl Ruth

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ENLARGED VIEWS

Enlarged view.

Enlarged view.

Enlarged view.

Enlarged view.

CREATIVE PROCESS

Template is placed on rolled out clay slab for cutting to shape.

A large cardboard template is created in the shape of the body of the purse.
Two slabs of clay are rolled out to the size of the template preparatory to the construction of the teapot body.
Additional templates in white cardboard stock, as shown, are made for the faux hardware of purse clasp opening.

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Three-dimensional form is made out of a paper template.

The paper template for the body of the teapot-purse is manipulated into a three-dimensional shape.
This will be used for modeling the clay form.

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The template is secured by tape for use in holding the clay form until is is dry.

The cardboard template is held in place with strips of tape. It is used to secure the clay structure until it is dry enough to hold its shape and stand alone.
A heat gun speeds up the drying process.

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Purse body is formed and the assembled clasp hardware attached.

The purse body of Black Cherry Tea is formed.
The clay clasp hardware segments are assembled in place.

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A spout is wheel thrown and attached in place.

The spout is wheel thrown and applied to the body of the purse-teapot.

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Feet are formed and appended.

Feet for the piece are designed, sculpted in clay, and added to the work.

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Lid and additonal design elements added.

A lid with cherry motif is constructed for the teapot.
Addiitonal design elements are added as well.

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Handles and faux stitching are added.

Handles are constructed from clay slabs.
Faux stitching is applied to the handles.
This completes the construction phase of this piece preparatory to its first firing to cone 06.

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Coloratioin is applied with underglazes. Clear glaze is painted on areas that will receive a metallic luster.

Bright red underglaze is applied to the strap handles, faux cording and cherry lid.
Glossy black cone 5 glaze is applied to the body of the teabag, which looks gray here prior to vitrification at high kiln temperatures.
The remaining surfaces are glazed with clear glossy glaze, which looks white here.
These areas will be treated with lusters to give them a faux metal appearance.
After glazing is complete and a third firing is done to cone 5/6, cherry decals will be applied to provide the dominant pattern design. These will be fired as well.

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Silver luster is applied to feet and hardware.

Cherry decals are applied decoratively to the body of the piece. It is now ready for another firing, this time to cone 017. Afterwards, silver luster is applied to the feet and hardware. The last firing is then done at a temperature of cone 018.

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Silver luster is applied to feet and hardware. After refiring, red overglaze is painted on trim and handles.

Silver luster is applied to the feet and hardware.
The piece is fired to cone 018.
Red overglaze is painted on the trim and the handles to match the color of the cherry decals.
The piece is allowed to dry for 24 hours.
A final oven firing completes the work.

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Matching cup and saucer are wheel thrown.

Matching cup and sauder are created for Black Cherry Tea.
These accessory pieces are entirely wheel thrown, except for the teacup handle, which is hand-built.

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Detailed underglazing in black and red is applied to the teacup and saucer to emulate the design pattern of the teapot.
A final firing is done for purposes of attaching the cherry decals and vitrifying them to the clay beneath..
Additional overglazing softens the cherry-colored knobs on the teacup handle and the saucer's base, completing the work.

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        Note: This teacup is still available for purchase: Price $50.

                     Moreover, the artist is willing to create a matching teapot similar to Black Cherry Tea described above.

                   To inquire, click CONTACT.

DETAILED VIEWS

Collage of detailed views.

The matching teacup is still available for sale. Click for details: TEACUP

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		This is another in my series of teabags. It is a teapot designed with a purse motif. It is made of stoneware clay. Templates are used for hand-built construction. Cherry decal images are applied for decorative embellishments. Construction sequence: Fired to cone 06. Underglazes applied. Refired to cone 5/6. Cherry decals placed. Third firing to cone 017. Lusters to feet and hardware. Fourth firing to cone 018. Red overglazes. Fifth and final oven firing. Exhibited at Drink: Functional Forms for Every Libation, Lillstreet Gallery, Chicago, IL and at Inspired Hands IV, University of Southern Maine, Lewiston, ME. Date: 2009. Size: 11.5" x 13.0" x 6.0". Sold to a New York collector. Click for special details about purchase of teacup: TEACUP.
	Return to top ENLARGED VIEWS Return to top Return to top Return to top Return to top CREATIVE PROCESS A large cardboard template is created in the shape of the body of the purse. Two slabs of clay are rolled out to the size of the template preparatory to the construction of the teapot body. Additional templates in white cardboard stock, as shown, are made for the faux hardware of purse clasp opening. Return to top The paper template for the body of the teapot-purse is manipulated into a three-dimensional shape. This will be used for modeling the clay form. Return to top The cardboard template is held in place with strips of tape. It is used to secure the clay structure until it is dry enough to hold its shape and stand alone. A heat gun speeds up the drying process. Return to top The purse body of Black Cherry Tea is formed. The clay clasp hardware segments are assembled in place. Return to top The spout is wheel thrown and applied to the body of the purse-teapot. Return to top Feet for the piece are designed, sculpted in clay, and added to the work. Return to top A lid with cherry motif is constructed for the teapot. Addiitonal design elements are added as well. Return to top Handles are constructed from clay slabs. Faux stitching is applied to the handles. This completes the construction phase of this piece preparatory to its first firing to cone 06. Return to top Bright red underglaze is applied to the strap handles, faux cording and cherry lid. Glossy black cone 5 glaze is applied to the body of the teabag, which looks gray here prior to vitrification at high kiln temperatures. The remaining surfaces are glazed with clear glossy glaze, which looks white here. These areas will be treated with lusters to give them a faux metal appearance. After glazing is complete and a third firing is done to cone 5/6, cherry decals will be applied to provide the dominant pattern design. These will be fired as well. Return to top Cherry decals are applied decoratively to the body of the piece. It is now ready for another firing, this time to cone 017. Afterwards, silver luster is applied to the feet and hardware. The last firing is then done at a temperature of cone 018. Return to top Silver luster is applied to the feet and hardware. The piece is fired to cone 018. Red overglaze is painted on the trim and the handles to match the color of the cherry decals. The piece is allowed to dry for 24 hours. A final oven firing completes the work. Return to top Matching cup and sauder are created for Black Cherry Tea. These accessory pieces are entirely wheel thrown, except for the teacup handle, which is hand-built. Return to top Detailed underglazing in black and red is applied to the teacup and saucer to emulate the design pattern of the teapot. A final firing is done for purposes of attaching the cherry decals and vitrifying them to the clay beneath.. Additional overglazing softens the cherry-colored knobs on the teacup handle and the saucer's base, completing the work. . . Note: This teacup is still available for purchase: Price $50. Moreover, the artist is willing to create a matching teapot similar to Black Cherry Tea described above. To inquire, click CONTACT. DETAILED VIEWS The matching teacup is still available for sale. Click for details: TEACUP