Artist Statement

As I continued to look deeper into oriental art, I found another subject that frequents their masterworks - Volcanoes. This set of outrageous handle mugs needed an outrageous subject and erupting mountains seemed a perfect fit.  Both mugs taper from bottom to top representing volcanoes with over-sized top lips for the caldera rims.  The base color for the surface of the mugs will be dark brown when fired matching the dark earth of the mountain.  Since both of these have recently erupted, they are riddled with flows of lava which will be a fiery orange once done in the kiln.  One of the lava streams bows away from the mug to make the perfectly outrageous handle to hold!  Better drink fast so you don't get burned!

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The emphasis of this piece is brought out using largely form and color.  Form is used to give structure and depth to the lava flows as they branch down the sides of the mugs.  The bright Color of the lava sharply contrasts with the dull background to help give visualization of the heat of the flow making them stand out. 

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This project started off with a design that had earth mugs with vines to support my Teapot project.  Once the idea of making the change to volcanoes came up though I was all in.  Much of the art in Japan showing volcanoes shows the snow covered docile mountains like Mt. Fuji.  I wanted something with a bit more bang and went a little more caricature-ish to allow for the outrageous handle theme I was going for in the piece.  They were fun to make and the idea of holding onto hot lava while drinking your team seems pretty out there to me.  

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Others can have a dramatic impact on your work if you listen.  I was pretty set in making this a joint set for the Asian Teapot I was working on but was struggling to make it all fit together in a way I liked.  While talking with Mr. Manders, he mentioned that the design I had reminded him of volcanoes more than vines.  While it wasn't what I was going for, he was right and changing the theme gave me a chance to step away from a vine/tree motif that I had used multiple times and made me stretch and grow.  Ask others for feedback and be open to their ideas - you will become a better artist in the process.

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The process was as follows:

  -Wedge two baseball sized balls of stoneware clay
  -Throw 2 cylinders on the wheel

  -Use your fingers and a sponge to widen out the base

  -Make the opening smaller than the base

  -Use thumbs to form a lip at the top
  -Trim skirt clay away with a wooden rib tool

  -Smooth out the surface of the mugs with a sponge

  -Use a wire cutter to remove the mugs from the wooden bat
  -Roll 4 x ½" coils

  -Scratch and slip them onto the mugs to look like lava trails
  -Roll 2 x ¾"coils

  -Scratch and slip the top/ends of the coils to the mugs to look like lava trails

  -Place paper towel between coils and mug to form handles

  -Let stand to dry
  -Bisque fire both mugs
  -Use iron oxide to bring out the texture, and glaze to finish
  -Glaze fire them for completion

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