Thursday, December 8, 2011

OWL SKETCHES 2011

My Goodness two posts from the BLUEDOOR in as many days. That must be a record!!! As promised though here are some of my favorite OWL sketches. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.




I really LOVE this drawing technique (very new for Me)


I  use a very fine gel pen and work very fast.
This gives the drawing lots of energy and allows
 me to create depth or build the "form" so to speak,
 so I feal more like I'm sculpting rather than
drawing, which is probably why it works for me.



Mean while I've spent ages trying to format the layout of this post and it just seems to have a mind of its own. So apologies if it seems a bit hap hazard.
Enjoy! 
Until next time
CHEERS!
ROSE MAGUIRE @THE BLUEDOOR STUDIO
ALL IMAGES REMAIN THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF ROSE MAGUIRE AND ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

OWL PHOTOS FROM THE BLUEDOOR -UPDATE TO '2011 YEAR OF THE OWL'


As I mentioned in my last post its been a very busy year @ the BLUEDOOR this year and Ive been developing a body of work that started with some simple line 'studies' using a fine gel pen, I managed to fill up most of  a large sketch pad. That's pretty amazing for me as until the last few years I usually just do a few rough sketches to get the feel of the piece I want to make, splash around a few colour swatches and get stuck into the clay.

My very first Lecturer at art school used to tell us to draw every day and to draw all our Ideas religiously and couldn't impress on us enough about how much this would inform our work. I struggled with this as I was very much a hands on 3D person and usually started my journal with the few rough sketches etc as mentioned then do a drawing after the work was finished. Yes I know that's cheating!!!

Any way over the last few years I find myself NEEDING to start any sculptural project by getting a feel on paper, This usually involves a pile of the big cartridge paper a lot of charcoal and a great CD (very important!!!)  I find these drawings give me a feel of line and a sense of scale, its at this stage that the character of the piece will start to develop and by the time I get to the CLAY stage the piece almost seems to make itself. I LOVE PROCESS.  

I thought I would post the slide show images as photos as I'm not really sure if the slide show from the earlier post presents that well so I apologise to anyone who feels this to be unnecessary repetition. I will also share a few of my Ink OWL STUDIES in another Post. Till then Cheers from ROSE MAGUIRE @THE BLUEDOOR STUDIO.

'Owl Dreaming' stoneware 35cmx25cmaprox
Hand built Porcelain Beakers with iron oxide inlay or green alkaline glaze 
Add caption
Owls in progress, slipped and drawn into ,waiting for Iron oxide wash
'Owls' Wash applied waiting to be rubbed back

Detail Stoneware Owl
 





Stoneware owl 50cm aprox

The Family



2011 The Year Of The Owl

This year I've finally gotten around to playing with owls. A bit of time to explore (and the deadline of two exhibitions fairly close together)has allowed me to develop my original drawings into a lovely body of work including a series of stoneware wall tiles 30 x 30cm approx. Some small porcelain tiles and hand built beakers, both with embossed inlays,A collection of thrown and altered sculptures and a new bowel series I call Nest, not to mention some lovely Owl pendants. Another spin off is a series of digital prints from my original drawings. Its been fantastic fun and there is still a lot more scope for further development.

The Owl sculptures start life as bottle forms thrown on the wheel then the top is sealed and clay added to create the head and facial features. I then apply a porcelain slip and draw back into the surface to create texture on the form,after this an Iron Oxide wash is applied and left to dry. This is then rubbed back with fine sand paper (always wear a mask if you try this!!!) glazed and fired to cone 6. Initially I sponged of the excess Oxide but found it often took off to much and spread the oxide around to much, sanding offers me far more control. I'm really loving all facets of producing this body of work.


Find more photos like this on Electric Cone 6, Mid-Fire Potters

To view this slide show as photos and to read a bit more click HERE or to view More of my OWL SKETCHES click HERE.