Porcelain Grace - Meryl Ruth

A PUG MUG LITTER

These works consist of a group of six hand-made stoneware mugs in various designs with silk-screened images.
While thematically related to one another, each of the six mugs is uniquely created as an experiment in which structural design and imagery are integrated.
The series was undertaken for display at the Mug Show Invitational Exhibit, River Gallery, Chattanooga, TN.
Construction sequence: Individually constructed. Silk-screen image applied. Initially fired to cone 06. Underglazes applied. Refired to cone 5/6. Overglazes applied. Final firing to cone 017.
Sizes: Scroll down to see detailed descriptions below.
Date: 2008.
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Snug as a Bug on a Rug

Pug-a-Lug

Seated Pug Mug

Puggyback

Lipstick on a Pug

Pug-Nosed Reindog

CREATIVE PROCESS

Snug as a Bug on a Rug

Snug as a Pug on a Mug is hand-made of stoneware clay.
The first of the series is constructed so that the mug form would represent Pug-like skin folds.
To create the illusion of a Pug head resting on the surface, a silk-screened Pug portrait is applied to a thin slab of clay which is affixed to the facade of the mug.

Snug as a Pug on a Mug in the making.
A clay slab has been silk-screened with the image of a Pug.
The slab isthen applied to the outer face of the mug, encompassing the front facade, but projecting from the preformed skin-fold surface of the hand-built mug.

Pug-a-Lug

Pug-a-Lug is the second in the series of individualized Pug Mugs. It is based on a stylized design for its structure.
The silk-screen image of the Pug's head was intentionally allowed to stand alone on the mug's facade.
This piece is hand-built of stoneware clay. It is conventionally mug-shaped in form, but deliberately altered by sagging and squashing the clay somewhat.
The work is embellished with Pug-like ears which do double duty as mug holders.

After having been successfully fired for the first time at cone 06, Pug-a-Lug is ready for underglazing.
Black glossy glaze is applied to its interior surface to ensure it will be functionally utilitarian as a vessel. Black and tan glazes are air-brushed to provide Pug-like coloration to the outer surfaces of the piece. Particular focus is given to coloring the ear-handles. With glazing completed, the work is now prepared for its refiring at cone 6.

After its second firing, additional overglazes are applied for the finishing details.
A final firing at cone 017 is then undertaken to complete the piece.
Size: 4.0" x 5.0" x 3.5".
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Seated Pug Mug

The third Pug Mug in the series is Seated Pug Mug, depicting a Pug puppy in repose.
The silk-screened image is applied directly onto the face of the mug while the clay is in the leather-hard state.
The sleeker, stylishly svelte mug incorporates free-style representations of a Pug's ears as handles plus legs and tail.

Seated Pug Mug is fuurther embellished with underglazes to provide details of ear and paw coloration.
Size: 4.75" x 5.25" x 3.25".
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Lipstick on a Pug

Lipstick on a Pug, the fourth Pug Mug, evolved with further sophistication of design and structure. It includes a silk-screened Pug image on the facade plus carved Pug ears, skin folds, all four paws, and tail. The lower section is conceived and constructed as an abstract representation of the Pug's body form in miniature.

Some of the original silk-screen image is scratched out and replaced with red underglaze to give the appearance of a rosebud lipstick application. The piece is initially fired to cone 06.

Detailed coloratiojn --- with white stars on a blue background and red and white stripes --- is applied with underglazes.

After the firing, black glossy cone 5/6 glaze is applied to the interior surfaces to make the mug utilitarian.
Then a refiring is done at cone 5/6.
Gold opalescent glaze is applied.
Final firing is done at cone 017.
Size: 5.5" x 4.5" x 4.25".
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Puggyback

Puggyback is the fifth Pug Mug in this series. It is a further development of the mug form.
It has been given another wordplay name for the double mug configuration, as if the upper Pug were riding on the lower one.
The Pug image on the facade of this piece was silk-screened twice. Altering was done to provide sculptural interest. The work is a hand-built complex mug. It is first fired to cone 06.

After a successful second firing, Puggyback is further embellished with opalescent gold overglaze.
Final firing follows at cone 017.
Size: 5.5: x 5.25" x 4.25".
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Pug-Nosed Reindog

Pug-Nosed Reindog is another addition to A Pug Mug Litter, the sixth of the series.
The silk-screened Pug image for this variant is supplemented by semi-abstractly sculpted ears, skin folds and kneeling legs, plus fanciful curlicue reindeer antlers.

The mug is first fired at cone 06. Underglazes of various colors are applied to the piece. The contrasting coloration of the striped pattern on the ears and the legs add whimsy and merriment to celibrate the festive Holiday Season. Black glossy cone 5/6 glaze is applied to the interior surfaces to make the mug water-tight and thus utilitarian. Refiring is next done at cone 5/6.