May 2010 Archives

My image for my body on ceramic tile didnt just pop out of no where. I created it in illustrator using the wacom tablet. I recommend everyone or anyone who designs to either buy or at least try a wacom. I have had mine for like 5 years and I love it. When I started creating my image in illustrator I used a image to base my illustration on. Then I tiled it and seperated them based on the actual ceramic size. Finally I stuck my paper in the printer and booooooom. It was ready to go.

Without a doubt I believe our student show turned out well. It was a great feeling to be able to just stand at peace and look at all the completed projects. I am sure everyone was rushed towards the end and that many were stressed. But when it came down to the wire and that final run, we all got it done. I loved how things worked out, more importantly I loved the tacos in a bag. Quite a few people showed up to gaze upon our final pieces and then left a cool little post-it note to let everyone know how they felt.

We did good work people. It may have been rocky at times or slightly confusing. Maybe you wanted to throw a watermelon at a wall and watch it break. Or run through a corn field naked.....ah maybe not. But seriously, I would use the word impressive for how we got everything to work in the end. Also someone needs to scrap chads epoxy off the art floor, I did see a slight drop or so. Just kidding Joellyn "Tenure" Rock.

If you didn't see my piece, here it is. Its the idea or shall I say the interaction between the internal and external and beginning to see how the body works as a structure or vessel. I worked alot trying to find the right materials to carry out this idea on ceramic tiles. I wanted my tiles to be an investigation between the viewer and the piece. Each time being different but slightly the same. Being the viewer you could change the order and set up of the tiles. In some ways creating an entirely new but yet human form. The idea: Our body as a structure can be taking apart and changed in a way that will still yet work but always be a vessel of ourselves.

First and foremost, this is a tough process if you do not get the right paper. Make sure you have the ceramic lazertran for lazerjet. For some reason the ink jet doesnt work well when firing. It basically sucks.

1. Print your image and fill up a bowl of water. Also have your ceramic piece ready to go. AND THAT IT HAS BEEN CLEANED. You don't want it to peal off in the kiln. NO NO NO.

2. You want to cut the image off as close as possible to the image. This well help seal it on easier since there will be less lazertran to cover on to the surface.

3. You will now use the bucket of water. You are going to put the paper into the bucket for roughly. 60 seconds. or until the paper seperates from the lazertran.

4. Take image out of water and place on ceramics. Push down on one edge and then pull the under paper out, leaving the clear lazertran on.

5. Once paper is gone, begin to smooth out the lazertran, getting rid of as many bubbles as possible. Once this is done, place in kiln at either cone 03 or 04. Can be fired as low as 06 but in my experience 03 and 04 gives the best result.