There’s something deeply rewarding about shaping natural materials with your own hands.
Leia mais“Ceramic pieces emerging from the wood kiln are imbued with an equally intriguing sense of beauty, whether they are the rich green tones of an Iga vase, the speckled flame-warmed volume of a Shigaraki storage jar, or the red and purple flame markings of a Bizen plate.”
Leia maisCeramic instruments have long been a gateway to connecting with the natural world. Cultures across America used these sound objects in music, dance, and daily life, imbuing them with ritual and ceremonial meanings that bridge the past and present, the tangible and the unseen.
Leia maisIt is amazing how many types of materials we can use in the medium of ceramics, almost all of them in some way.
Leia maisIn a world increasingly dominated by technology, there are still artisanal practices that preserve a millennia-old legacy. One such tradition is the construction and use of brick kilns for firing ceramics.
Leia maisIn a world where mass production often overshadows craftsmanship, the art of furniture-making with greenwood offers a refreshing return to the roots of creativity.
Leia maisKnown for his large-scale, organic works, Nash’s pieces are as much about honoring the natural life of the wood as they are about artistic expression. His art shows us a profound respect for the materials he works with, making it a powerful reminder of our relationship with the natural world.
Leia maisMany ceramicists face the challenge of finding an affordable solution to fire their pieces, as professional kilns can represent a significant investment. Fortunately, there are simple and cost-effective alternatives, such as rudimentary kilns, which offer an excellent opportunity to continue creating without compromising your budget.
Leia maisWood sculpture can be approached in various ways, depending on the tools used. In Cerdeira’s wood carving course, participants have the chance to explore both manual and electric tools, each offering distinct advantages and producing different results.
Leia maisWhere does the fascination for wooden spoons come from? What is it that makes it so special to have a simple object made by your own hands?
Leia maisWorking with green wood – wood that’s fresh and unsawn – is endlessly inspiring. Each piece guides the work, with its natural shapes suggesting the forms it wants to take, whether a chair leg, a spindle, or a table lamp. This approach demands adaptability and ingenuity, yet it offers an immense satisfaction that I cherish. For me, true craftsmanship isn’t about imposing a vision but about listening to what the wood wants to become.
Leia maisUsing freshly cut, green wood—soft and fragrant—invites a respectful and patient approach. Each spoon begins as a block, transforming through the act of carving into a unique piece, that possesses form and function. With just a few hand tools, like knives and gouges, each cut becomes deliberate and intentional, creating a rhythm that feels meditative. It’s a practice that highlights our capacity to create through basic tools while encouraging a deep respect for the material and nature.
Leia maisThe construction and use of rudimentary kilns is an ancestral practice where fire and earth come together in a transformative process.
Leia maisMatthew Blakely creates pottery using locally sourced rocks and clays, emphasizing their geological origins. He meticulously collects and prepares materials, ensuring their provenance. Conscious of environmental impact, he uses non-toxic materials, efficient kilns, and local waste wood for firing. His process involves extensive testing to develop unique glazes that highlight the natural qualities of the materials, with wood firing adding distinctive textures and colors to his work.
Leia maisFor Carlos Fontales, basketry represents more than just a craft; it is a means of disassembling the complexities of a world he neither entirely nor has ever understood. In an era where productivity is often equated with profitability, Fontales finds solace and purpose in the act of creation. He sees basketry as an excuse to research, ask questions, learn, observe, and discover new people, occupations, lifestyles, places, and mysteries. This journey into the world of basketry is not about seeking external validation or profit but about finding sheer pleasure in making things with one's hands.
Leia maisVulnerability is the core theme of Patty Wouters's work. With porcelain, she expresses her feelings about the state of nature, about people who have to flee from their homes, about unstable balances, and about transformation into new situations.
Leia maisJapanese art is like no other.
For all its refinement and delicacy, at its heart, it breathes the pure spirit of nature.
Leia maisIn the heart of Cerdeira, the Wood Carving with Chestnut course invites participants to delve into bas relief, exploring its techniques and composition options. This traditional art form expresses delicacy and precision, transforming wood into pieces of timeless beauty.
Leia maisThe blog article explores the allure of wood-fired ceramics, particularly within Japanese aesthetic principles like wabi and sabi. It argues that artists choose wood firing despite its labor-intensive nature for the unique and profound beauty it produces. Wood-fired pieces are seen as embodying imperfection and impermanence, akin to nature itself. Appreciating wood-fired ceramics is likened to tracking signs in a forest, leading to moments of profound contemplation and connection to nature.
Leia maisThe Sound Masks workshop is an immersive experience of personal transformation. The symbolic language of masks is a form of poetry in clay. In each creation, clay, water, and air dialogue shapes the void, which will be transformed by fire, leaving the imprint of the unpredictable. The fifth element that incorporates itself intangibly is sound.
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