Thursday, January 29, 2009

Contemplating Bottle Forms and Handles

I like to work in a series. It seems to be a productive way to approach working for me. Also, I have a hard time letting go of certain ideas and need to see many versions of the same thing before I am satisfied.
When I was in school and just learning to make pots on the wheel, I was fascinated by the bottle form. I loved the skinny neck, the way the neck met the breast of the pot, the fact that they were hard to make...everything about the form really.

Being back in the studio this year, and after the BIG FREEZE (see post below), I was reluctant to throw. SO....I pulled out my sketch book and made a plan to make 100 bottles. I want to try every possible shape and size. Pushing my throwing boundaries and my imagination.
The first round of bottles I made 15. They are relatively small.
I began to cut feet into some of the smallest bottles and put on sassy handles. It is amazing how much personality comes out of 2 small pieces of clay and a couple of slices off the bottom for feet.

7 comments:

bindu said...

Wow - these are fantastic! The shapes are so perfect. I've taken one class in wheel thrown pottery and loved it. But I'm very much a novice. Planned to enroll in a class at the community college this semester and bought clay as well, but the timings aren't working out ... some time soon. Love the feet - you are really good at this! Looking forward to seeing how you finish them.

Undaunted said...

Ooh wow, I agree - it's amazing how a couple of handles and some feet make all the difference! These look lovely so far. I can't wait to see how you finish them either - I know they will be amazing! You're not going to make them all green by any chance are you? :)

100 green bottles sitting on the wall...

Ed Crabtree said...

Nice shapes. Are you gonna do any black and white with crows? Looks like you've been busy. Hate it about the Big Freeze thing. That's one good thing about working with metal. Hope to see some at the Spring Arts & Craft Show at the Market.

lynne h said...

leanne, you are *truly* an inspiration! thank you!

Leanne Pizio said...

Hey Bindu,
thank you!
I hope you get to take that class soon. throwing pots is so much fun especially in the learning process. I was obsessed for about 2 years. Then I got the carving bug....

Thanks Un D!
I thought really hard about how I was going to glaze these and decided to carve them so they will be black and white but I may glaze them with this amber glaze over the black and white. I haven't decided yet. I may end up using them as glaze tests......

Hey ED! How are you?
Ha! the first one I carved that little one in the middle of the last picture has crows on it!
Can't wait to see you at the farmers market. We love our clock so much.

You are a sweetie Lynne and your words always make my day.

ArtPropelled said...

You are so right! The bottles undergo a character change when you add the handles and feet. Seeing you are making 100 bottles, how about one with real feet with toes sticking out. I love your scraffito effect with black on the light background and as for crows..fantastic!

Jacky said...

Loving those quirky handles and the feet!!! I had never thought of bottles having feet...inspirational.