Clay

Fine Art Clay...

Clay is defined as a fine-grained and firm natural material that is plastic when wet and can be made permanent and rock-like when exposed to high heat in a kiln or oven. This may be the clinical definition of clay, but for the artisan, clay offers nearly limitless possibilities for creative three-dimensional expression. If you have ever wanted a medium with which you can create subtractive or additive art forms and end with a fired, permanent record of your work, clay may be the answer.

The physical composition of clay varies greatly, and all commercially manufactured clays are carefully calculated mixtures of earth and minerals. A balance is created among plasticity, wet strength, dry strength, absorbency, shrinkage, surface texture, overall color of fired material, and firing capabilities. Some potters and sculptors even concoct their own private mixtures in order to comply with the needs of their personal work.

Tools used in the creation of clay work can vary greatly. Metal tools, usually with handles, are often used to cut, slice, score or form clay. Most of these metal tools are used when the clay is pliable and soft and are effective at removing a controlled amount of material. Others are made of smooth wood or rubber and are used primarily as surface-smoothing tools. Many of the tools are fashioned after those made from animal bones by early man. Remarkably, many of today's wooden tools are still called "ribs," stemming from those origins. A myriad of tools can also be created by the artisan from found materials or adjustments to existing commercial tools.

Glazes are made up of many of the same minerals and earth from that which clay is made. The major difference between the composition of the potting and sculpting clay and the glazes used to decorate the clay is that the components in glazes are formulated to melt at high temperatures rather than harden into a permanent rigid form. Certain components of glazes also control the degree of shine or matte the glaze creates. Color in glaze formulas is usually created by the addition of metal oxides. The composition of a glaze, while not purely scientific, is strictly monitored and controlled in order to replicate its end result.

Commercial clays and premixed glazes offer a tremendous selection of choices, and often the locations that sell the materials offer firing services so you can easily try your hand at creating in clay. Colleges and art schools offer programs of instruction and have equipment for student use. Private studio classes are available in many cities where clay artisans share their experiences and love of this versatile and inspiring material.

...or Polymer Clay

Polymer clay is one of the most versatile and spontaneous materials available for the creative spirit to explore. The color range of off-the-shelf, ready-to-go polymer is remarkable. Special design clays also are available to speed your creating adventure. Though once considered a children's material, polymer clay has begun to assume far more importance in the fine art world. What many contemporary artists create from this simple material is astonishing.

Of the qualities offered by polymer clay, ease of use is at the very top. All you need to create a beautiful, permanent object is the clay from which to form the item and an oven. (You can even use a toaster oven.) So you see, it is a material that lends itself limitless use by all age groups. The clay is non-toxic, requires no specialized or expensive equipment to work with, stays pliable for very long periods of time, and becomes permanent when heated in the oven.

Unlike other clays, there is no shrinkage with polymer clay. It stays exactly the same from creation to completion, making it an ideal "covering" material. Any household item can be covered with polymer without fear of cracking. As long as the item can withstand the heat required to permanently set the material (265 degrees), it can be decorated.

Polymer clay comes in small bricks and design rolls (canes). Each brick is a uniform color and texture, and each manufacturer offers a good variety. Brands all function the same, but the firmness varies from one brand to another. This offers artisans great choice and selection. Colors that are not premixed and available off-the-shelf can be created by the artist. Recording quantities and colors used in the formation of original hues is recommended so that future duplication will be easy.

Intricate designs, actual pictures made from different colors, are available off-the-shelf or can easily be created with polymer clay. Millefiori is the term used to describe these long, thin snakes (called canes) of designed clay. Thin slices of these canes are cut, then laid out like cookie slices to cover the item with design. Once heated in an oven, it is ready to enjoy.

No glue is needed to attach soft polymer pieces to one another. They bond automatically and become permanently joined once heated in an oven. Repairs are easily made by adding fresh clay to the damaged piece and heating in the oven.

It's easy, it's fun, it's almost instant gratification, and it is available virtually any place that sells art and craft supplies. Try it soon, but beware. You will get hooked!

Web Sites of Interest

art.sdsu.edu/ceramicsweb/ - "The CeramicsWeb" is an experimental web site for ceramics and includes databases of glaze recipes and material analyses, links to other ceramics web sites, health and safety info, and a variety of educational materials.

www.potters.org/ - This is a resource site for potters, ceramic artists and clay sculptors and includes Clayart discussions on a vast variety of subjects.

www.npcg.org/ - The National Polymer Clay Guild's objectives are to educate the public about, and to study and promote an interest in, the use of polymer clays as an artistic medium. Here you'll find lots of info on membership, conferences, exhibitions and retreats, competitions, classes, regional guilds, a member gallery, gift shop, and more.

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Kids' Korner

Just Add Water!

Included in many activity books created for pre-schoolers you can sometimes find special pages that need only be dampened with a brush to release instant watercolor hues. These pages are fun for several reasons. Their simplicity provides a genuine surprise. Who would believe that color can come from plain water? They are easy for any age level to enjoy and offer guaranteed success for all.

Similar in many ways are new, dry sketching materials that can be combined with water to create instant watercolor. Marketed in two styles, watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils, these drawing tools are a real hit with all ages, but are uniquely suited to children's creative needs. First, they are very neat. There is none of the usual mess of watercolor pans with dripping pigments. And they are compact. A package of watercolor crayons, a single brush, a cup of water plus paper and the artist is ready to create.

Begin by first drawing the scene with the watercolor crayons or pencils. The more color you apply in the drawing stage, the more intense the colors will be in the finished "painting." Soft applications of color can create pastel tones, while heavy buildup will create vibrant colors. Then apply fill-in color. Sketched areas that need "repair" can be scrubbed with brush and water, removing most of the design. Or they can simply be drawn over, then dampened.

Projects that can be created with watercolor crayons or pencils include more than traditional drawings. When applied to vellum or tracing paper, the pencils take on the look of frosted glass. This look is great for holiday ornaments, decorations, greeting cards and unique gift wrap.

Creating special colors and color blending is easy. Simply apply the dry color to paper in light stripes or overlapping line designs. When the surface is dampened with a wet brush, the colors will begin to blend. Work the surface with a brush for complete mixing of colors. Fix the surface with a spray adhesive if the artwork is to be displayed without glass protection. This will hold the colors and prevent any dry pigment from smearing. Redefining details or outlines can be added after the work is dry. Those lines will remain soft, so spray fixative

is suggested here as well. Remember to mist the surface with the

fixative, as heavy applications will melt the drawn lines.

Clean, fast, easy, transportable and FUN--great qualities in any art material, especially one with such versatility. Help your young Picasso discover the joy of watercolor crayons and pencils today.

Museum Activities

Cincinnati Art Museum--Family Fun Workshops - Families are invited to spend a Sunday afternoon exploring their creativity together. The interactive program for children ages 5-12 and their grown-ups feature a thematic Family Fun Tour in the galleries followed by a related hands-on art activity. Admission. Call (513) 721-0300 to register. Family Days - Each free day has a different theme with a range of related activities for children and their grown-ups to enjoy together, including Family Fun Tours, Family Fun Guides, hands-on art projects, demos of living traditions, storytelling, puppet shows, dance and music. Free admission and no reservations needed.

Children's Museum of Manhattan--John Lennon's Real Love - The Drawings for Sean - Before he was a Beatle, John Lennon was a poet, musician and artist. As a natural expression of his love for his child, Lennon created delightful animal drawings and figures to teach, amuse and entertain him. Visit the fourth floor and see Lennon's limited edition prints on public view for the first time. For all Ages. Maira Kalman's Max (A Dog) - Max, a poetry-writing dog, and his colorful friends come to life in the floor-to-ceiling murals of this hands-on exhibition with games, puzzles, and art and writing activities. For all ages. (212) 721-1234.

Charitable Project Successful - Fourteen 30-inch-tall children's chairs from Ethan Allen, designed and autographed by celebrities, raised $40,000 at auction for CMOM. The money will be used to aid some of New York City's teen mothers and homeless families. Vera Wang's chair drew top bid at $5,500, with Rosie O'Donnell's a close second.

Children's Museum of Denver -- In addition to the many programs available on a regular basis, Parent/Child Summer Camp Programs are available through August 13. Two of the options include "Wild and Crafty" and "All About Me," where self-awareness and self esteem will be strengthened through fun arts and crafts. Group Summer Camp Programs, as well as classroom educational programs both at the museum and at schools, are also available. Teachers may call to request an Educator Toolbox. For further info, call (303) 433-7444; or see www.cmdenver.org/ for info and some "Recipes for Fun."

New Books - Habla usted Español?

Fun with Numbers from Usborne Books involves easy activities for ages 3 and up and helps to develop creativity skills. In addition, Usborne has translated several best-selling titles from English to Spanish, including I Can Crayon and I Can Finger Paint (ages 3 and up).

Painting

A Little Art History: Paul Gauguin 1848-1903

Describing the life of Paul Gauguin is a daunting task, since the myths and legends surrounding both the man and his art reveal myriad personas. Gauguin lived a life of contradictions where at various times he was a calculating Frenchman, a swaggering seaman, a financial speculator, and finally a visionary artist.

When Gauguin was 40, he abruptly abandoned everything to pursue art, including his business, his wife, and his children. At the time he knew nothing about art, except that he had an uncontrollable passion to paint to the exclusion of all else. Gauguin had fully participated in the 19th Century's great circus of progress, technology, and wealth but ultimately rejected it all to devote himself to immortalizing his personal vision of an innocent dream world.

Gauguin went on to become a post-Impressionist painter, whose lush color, two-dimensional forms, and subject matter helped form the basis of modern art. His bold experiments in coloring also led directly to the 20th Century Fauvist style.

Paul Gauguin was born in Paris in June 1848, at a time when violence and chaos were commonplace in Europe. His father was a journalist who eventually decided, for the safety of his family, to move to Lima, Peru (but he himself died during the voyage). The family, however, continued on to live and prosper in Peru. It was here that Paul Gauguin was introduced to life in the lush tropics. Before long, though, the family moved back to France.

By all accounts, Gauguin was an arrogant youth who never appreciated school because he felt superior to his fellow students. Consequently, he wasn't too popular among his classmates and his lifelong misanthropic feelings seem to have originated from this period. After completing his education at the age of seventeen, Gauguin joined the French Merchant Marines, then the French Navy, and eventually became a successful Parisian stockbroker, settling into a comfortable bourgeois existence with his wife and five children.

In 1874, after meeting the artist Camille Pissarro and viewing the first Impressionist exhibition, Gauguin started to become a collector and amateur painter; and he exhibited with the Impressionists from 1876 through 1886. By 1883 he abandoned his secure existence to devote himself to painting, while his wife and children, without adequate financial support, were forced to return to her family.

From 1886 to 1891 Gauguin lived mostly in rural Bretagne where he was a central figure of a small group of experimental painters known as the School of Pont-Aven. Under the influence of the painter Émile Bernard, Gauguin turned away from Impressionism to a less-naturalistic style, which he called Synthesism.

Gauguin found inspiration in the art of indigenous peoples, in medieval stained glass, and in Japanese prints. He was introduced to Japanese prints by the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh when they spent two months together in Arles (southern France) in 1888. Gauguin's new style was characterized by the use of large, flat areas of unnaturalistic color, as in Yellow Christ (1889).

In 1891, ruined and in debt, Gauguin sailed for the South Seas to escape European "civilization." By 1895, he left France for good and remained in the tropics for the rest of his life, first in Tahiti and later in the Marquesas Islands.

The essential characteristics of Gauguin's style changed little in the South Seas, as he retained his expressive use of color, denial of perspective, and thick, flat forms. However, his paintings became more powerful while the subject matter became more distinctive, larger in scale, and simpler in composition. Gauguin's subjects ranged from scenes of ordinary island life, such as Tahitian Women or On the Beach (1891), to dark and superstitious scenes, such as Spirit of the Dead Watching (1892).

During his life, Gauguin never experienced strong sales of his art or the satisfaction of positive reviews from critics. Like his close friend, Vincent Van Gogh, he was virtually unrecognized until he died. So he decided to remain in the tropical islands with the primitives in order to isolate himself from an unappreciative world.

His masterpiece was the monumental allegory Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897), which he painted shortly before a failed suicide attempt. In his final years, Gauguin suffered poor health and used morphine to help him sleep and escape. Consequently, by the age of 53 he looked like he was in his seventies. Finding it increasingly difficult to paint, he spent most of his time enjoying the scenery of the nearby mountains and countryside.

During the last months of his life, Gauguin battled abusive treatment by the colonial government. He was later sentenced to three months in prison for belittling a local police officer. Afterwards, he isolated himself in his house in Antuana on the Marquesas Islands. He was found on May 8, 1903 dead at age 55. It was the end of a strange but evolutionary life that the artist himself helped to obscure and distort.

Paul Gauguin is still regarded for his tremendous efforts to remain unique and original as an artist. He lived a diverse life that allowed him to witness and capture the purest and wildest parts of humanity. As a pioneer of primitive art, contemporaries such as Derain and Picasso also followed in the trail that Gauguin first explored. He remains one of Modern Art's most important contributors, and his art is still viewed and appreciated by millions worldwide.

More than 100 paintings and prints by Paul Gauguin and 13 artist followers are included in a special exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art through August 1. Gauguin and the School of Pont-Aven celebrates the acquisition of these works by the museum in November.

Portrait Seminars

The American Society of Portrait Artists Foundation is dedicated to promoting portraiture by providing four regional portrait seminars and/or workshops across the country in association with fine art schools and by offering a $5,000 scholarship to a deserving artist at each school. This year's remaining schedule follows: August 13-15 - Academy of Art College, San Francisco; September 18-19 - American Academy of Art, Chicago; and October 23-24 - Paier College of Art, Hamden, CT. Non-members of ASOPA are invited to attend as well. For further information, call 800-622-7672; or visit www.asopa.com/foundation.

Art Marketplace

New Palettes

Paragona Glass Palettes from American Art Clay Company are the ideal surface for paint mixing and color control. Non-porous and made of 100% tempered safety glass backed in white safety vinyl, these are perfect for use with heat-set Genesis Artist Colors™. The smooth surface is gentle on brushes and will not absorb pigments, oils or inks, Dried acrylic paint peels right off, and dried oil paint is removed with light scraping.

Paragona palettes are also the ideal surface for brayers and ink printing, monoprinting, stenciling, rubber stamping, clay sculpting, decorative and tole paint mixing, jewelry making, and crafts. Six varieties of palette styles and sizes are available including a color mixing palette with mixing diagram, as well as various accessories. See your retailer.

New Book

Simply Pottery - A Practical Course in Basic Pottery Techniques by Sara Pearch and Geraldine Christy makes it possible for even a novice to turn out beautiful plates, bowls, vases and other decorative ceramic objects with ease and confidence. Traditional techniques--how to hand-build by coiling, slabbing, modeling; how to use molds and throw simple forms; how to apply glazes and utilize various firing processes--are clearly detailed in illustrations that take readers through every step. Potters are encouraged to use different finishing techniques--slip decorating, trailing, sgraffito, impressed and relief decoration--and to experiment with new ways to create imaginative effects, forms, and themes.

Whether developing skills for purely practical purposes or broadening artistic abilities, this book offers a choice of both functional and sculptural projects, making seemingly difficult and complex methods accessible in the 25 projects that capitalize on the techniques outlined. Watson-Guptill Publications, 144pp.

Airbrush

Glaze Application - Simple Concept, Dynamic Results

The supplies and equipment needed for airbrush glazing are not much different from those needed to do airbrush work on canvas or paper. And with this method, you can set your ceramic and clay works apart from most of the pack.

First, some health and safety precautions are in order. To prevent contact with any glaze chemicals, be sure to have good ventilation and wear a respirator and eye protection. Prolonged contact with bare skin should be avoided as well, so also wear surgical gloves (available at hospital supply houses and some drug stores) to protect your hands. And NEVER smoke in the studio, as the heat generated when breath is drawn through a cigarette accelerates the dangers of chemical poisoning.

About the equipment: You will need an airbrush that is designed for the application of heavier liquids or one that accommodates a heavy duty tip. Some are available with paint jars and screen filters. Extra jars are offered as accessories and a half dozen extras are recommended. Cleaning the airbrush is very easy and should be done after each use. A complete flush with clean water should suffice, and all bottles, siphon tubes, screens and lids should be thoroughly cleaned as well.

The hose and compressor you use for your canvas and paper airbrush works will also accommodate glaze application. When you get into a production mode with your clay work, a heavy-duty compressor may be a wise expenditure. If you do use your compressor and hose for this double duty, be sure they are clean when you store them. This will protect your fresh canvas or paper works from soiling.

Glaze components vary greatly. Ready-made glazes have improved over the past few years and now include many color and textural choices. Color chip charts will give you ideas from which to build a collection of colors for your personal palette, but you also have the option of formulating your own "scratch" glazes, too. Many art material retailers carry the dry components and metallic colorants needed to concoct original recipes. Texts are plentiful on the subject, but for the fastest and most expedient start, ready-made glazes are the best choice.

One glazing technique that is nearly foolproof is to choose a base glaze that has good opacity and is a "stay put" formula that does not move much during the firing cycle. This type of glaze will give you a good foundation to do all sorts of topical decorating. It will be this base that covers the clay body, holds the colorants in place, and gives a uniform feel and appearance to the work. White or light bases allow you to "feather" (lightly apply) any colorants over them to create a full pastel range of colors. Dark bases cover the clay body quickly, but allow for little or no topical spray decorating.

Colorants in glazes consist mostly of metallic materials that react in the firing to create a wide range of colors. Cobalt and iron are two favorites with potters and ceramists and can be used in so many application techniques that these two colorants alone offer myriad possibilities. Softly layered, you can achieve pastel to deep blue/black with cobalt; or soft beige to rich, stone black/brown with iron. Consider the combinations of both colorants and you have dozens of color possibilities. Add a third color - perhaps a copper glaze of blue/green - and you have a wonderful start-up palette.

Stencil designs--both as positive images and resist tools--are a dynamic look with airbrush glazing. Even and perfect replicas of any cutaway shapes can be sprayed over a base coat and full scenes can be developed. As resist, stencil papers can be cut and sprayed over (or found objects can be used) to create very appealing three-dimensional looks. Layering positive and negative shapes gives implied textures that cannot be duplicated with any other glaze application. Shapes selected should be relatively simple, as the glaze will soften any small detail and it will be lost; and bold shapes work best.

Other surface decorations utilize the airbrushed base coat, plus other techniques. Carving designs through an opaque light base coat to reveal lines on a dark clay body can be very striking. With care, fairly intricate design work can be done with tools such as tapestry needles, old dental tools, clay trimming tools and knife tips. One technique that is especially interesting and unique is to spray a piece of clay work with one color. Allow it to dry completely, then spray with a second color. Allow this to dry. Then use a soft wire brush (like a barbecue grill cleaning brush) to lightly abrade the surface revealing both the clay body color and the first glaze color in a mingled pattern.

If you are a painter, employ your brush work skills over an airbrushed base coat. Stains from the cobalt, iron and copper mentioned above do well as brush decorations on glazes. Sponging, speckling and spattering do well, too.

If you are a clay artisan, give airbrushing a try. It offers a unique and very personal look to your work, and it can be a relatively inexpensive way to supercharge your creativity.

ArtPourri

Mural Restored--da Vinci's world-famous mural, The Last Supper, has been unveiled in Milan after more than two decades of restoration work. Tickets to visit the refectory of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie must be booked in advance, and the number of visitors at any one time is limited. Finalists Named--London's Tate Gallery has announced the finalists for the 1999 Turner Prize. The prestigious award given annually to a British artist under 50 will go to one of five artists who work in video or installation art and will be announced on November 30. Gavel to Drop--A year ago the Austrian government returned millions of dollars worth of art and objects that the Nazis had confiscated from the Austrian Rothschild dynasty. Now because of a change in lifestyle, security, insurance and maintenance costs, the family has decided to sell this treasure trove of paintings, furniture, decorative items, and one of the greatest collections of scientific instruments in the world. The sale begins at Christie's in London on July 8.

Laureates Named--The Japan Art Association will give awards of $125,000 each to five individuals for outstanding achievement in the arts. Among those receiving the 11th Praemium Imperiale Awards are American sculptor Louise Bourgeois and German painter Anselm Kiefer. Statue Returned--After a five-month renovation, a statue of Prometheus has been returned to its permanent home at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. The 12,500 pound bronze statue by Paul Manship will undergo a complete makeover in January and be regilded with 24-karat double-weight gold. Contemporary Art Sold--At Sotheby's sale of contemporary art in Manhattan recently, 40 of 52 works offered sold for a total of $25.2 million. Top draw was The Painter's Mother by Lucian Freud, which sold for $3.3 million. At Christies, 41 of 46 contemporary works sold for a total of $9.5 million. Records were set for 11 artists. Robert Gober's 1991 sculpture, Untitled (Leg With Candle), sold for nearly twice its high estimate of $400,000.

Exhibitions: --New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Museum of Art: Degas and New Orleans: A French Impressionist in America is a nationally acclaimed exhibition of 40 works Edgar Degas created during his 1872-73 sojourn with Louisiana relatives, including the rarely-exhibited A Cotton Office in New Orleans. Through August 29.

--New York City - The Whitney Museum of American Art: Part I, 1900-1950, of The American Century: Art & Culture 1900-2000 explores the evolution of American identity over the past 100 years as seen through the eyes of the nation's artists. More than 1,200 paintings, sculptures, photos and prints, supplemented by related materials in architecture, music, dance, literature, film, and the decorative arts, will fill the entire Museum. Through August 22. American Craft Museum: Brooching It Diplomatically: A Tribute to Madeleine K. Albright is an exhibition of brooches made by 61 artists from 16 countries and reflects the Secretary of State's practice of wearing brooches with political and diplomatic overtones. Through August 8.

Morgan Library: New York Collects: Drawings and Watercolors, 1900-1950 comprises more than 140 works on paper which trace the development of drawing during a period characterized by stylistic diversity. Among the 82 artists featured are Matisse, Leger, Kandinsky, Cezanne, and Miro. Through August 29. Metropolitan Museum of Art: Cezanne to Van Gogh - The Collection of Doctor Gachet exhibits the famed collection of this pioneering patron for the first and only time in America. Through August 15.

--Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Museum of Art: Impressionists in Winter features works by Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Caillebotte, Gauguin, and others. Through August 29.

--Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art: Intimate Glackens. Through August 28. This is the largest repository of William Glackens' work.

--Washington, D.C. - National Portrait Gallery: George and Martha Washington: Portraits From the Presidential Years includes 25 depictions of the First Couple by both little-known and established artists. Through August 8. National Gallery of Art: Mary Cassatt: Modern Woman is the last chance to see this traveling show. Through September 6.

--Lowell, MA - New England Quilt Museum: Endangered Species is an exhibition of 34 quilts depicting animals in danger of extinction. Through August 1.

--Los Angeles, CA - LA County Museum of Art: Diego Rivera: Art and Revolution includes more than 100 paintings, prints, and drawings by one of the most important artists of the 20th Century. Through August 16. Then travels to Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City.

--San Diego, CA - San Diego Museum of Art: Ringing Thunder, Tomb Treasures from Ancient China exhibits more than 100 ancient Chinese works of art including lavish bronzes, lacquers, jades and gold vessels from the 5th century B.C. Through August 29.

July Birthdays

  3  Jean Dubuffet
  9  David Hockney
10  J. M. Whistler
17  Camille Corot
19  Edgar Degas
23  Jessica Paschal
25  Thomas Eakins
28  Beatrix Potter
30  Henry Moore

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Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 9 No. 9 -- July 1999