Sold
Published August 14, 2011
My mixed media sculptures are beginning to move, which is nice. This shell baby is made with bronzed ceramic and a sea shell.
I made these strange mixed media hybrids during Beltane, a really challenging time of year for me – all this new life, all in one go! I sleep a lot during this time and in the dreamland between sleep and wakening, poetry is born.
As I snatch at the dream evaporating before my eyes, startled creatures can be seen scurrying for cover. These are such creatures. I call them Mood Critters. There are plenty more hiding beneath my bed….
More of my work can be found in the first sight art gallery in Hastings Old Town.
Ceramic torso sale
Published June 16, 2011More ceramic torsos;
‘Swift’ 20′ x 16′ , made from molochite clay with hooks at the back to hang from a wall inside or outside.
‘Blue Simona’, smoke fired ceramic torso, 22′ x 17”.
If you would like an invite to my upcoming studio sale, then please email me here.
Smoke firing workshop in Hastings – the results!
Published June 7, 2011
Opening the smoke bins are always exciting; what have we here?
Andrew needs to use his handkerchief as the Rhino head is still hot!
The colours were achieved by using manganese and copper oxides…plus some ground up coffee and salt.
The main stain used here is red iron oxide along with coffee grounds, banana skins and salt.
Stephane used a ripped up copper scourer to enhance the copper effect on this ceramic sculpture of two joined heads; a homage to the Royal Couple Kate and William!
Ceramic torsos, smoke firing effects
Published May 30, 2011
I wrote about smoke firing ceramic Fat Bird sculptures on my blog yesterday, and I mentioned how metal oxides sometimes change colours in unpredictable ways during smoke firing.
Here is another example of that; copper oxide, when glazed, usually turns green but on this torso the copper came up red in places. I used a matt transparant glaze on top of the oxides.
When a shiny transparant glaze is used, the result can be even more dramatic.
To see more of my work, or join one of my c
Ceramic Fat Birds
Published May 29, 2011
My ceramic Fat Birds are hand coiled and daubed with metal oxides before they are placed in a galvanised dustbin and set alight. The process of smoke firing is unpredictable and can throw up many variations; you may think that you’ve treated two sculptures the same way – yet they emerge from the flames two entirely different entities.
All the Fat Birds have had their eyes glazed with Botz brush-on and then, after glaze firing, I daubed them in manganese and copper oxide. The manganese can sometimes turn yellow and orange in the smoke fire as can be seen on two of the cockerels – but the middle hen remains grey, brown and charcoal.
I rubbed some iron oxide on the cockerels, but not on the hens. I just love the random way the smoke has left its mark on the surface…
I’m running ceramic and smoke firing workshops in my studios in Dudley Road, Hastings, and if you would like to know more, please go to www.annakeiller.com/workshops to find out more.
Ceramic torso with bronze finish
Published May 24, 2011
This is a ceramic torso with a bronze finish made by painting the bisqued torso with a mixture of bronze filler and varnish.
I painted a layer of graphite powder and varnish on top and then rubbed back with steel wool.
I’ve been busy…
My ceramic torsos are made with hooks at the back to hang from – but I sometimes like to mount them on oak plinths like this one. The oak comes from a friend’s barn in Kent.
To see more of my ceramic art, please go to http://www.annakeiller.com
Ceramic workshop in Hastings
Published May 17, 2011
During this workshop we concentrated on exploring textures while making ceramic bowls using hump and press molds. The bowl to the left is made by draping sheets of clay across a plaster hump mold and removing it a few hours later when the clay has hardened enough to keep the shape. We still had to shore it up with a towel tightly wrapped across the bottom of the bowl…
I love collecting plants from the garden to use in my workshops
Quaker grass…
Jo is making a bowl using a press mold and ferns
Andrew opted for ferns, too.
My next ceramic workshop is planned for Sunday 22May at 10.30-1pm. Please contact me here if you’d like to attend. My workshops are suited for everyone whatever previous experience. There are still two places available!
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