WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS - BYE-4-NOW!

AU REVOIR

THE OLDER I GET, THE SLOWER AND MORE  ACCIDENT-PRONE I BECOME!

LARGE SNAPPING TURTLE - ONTARIO

THE LATE GUY THE GORILLA FROM REGENTS PARK ZOO, LONDON

I ALWAYS IDENTIFIED MYSELF WITH ICONS OF ETERNAL YOUTH, SUCH AS

 MICKY MOUSE AND PETER PAN

NOW I CAN REST UP, WORK IN THE GARDEN, BE PATIENT AND RELAX!

PRE- COLUMBIAN BABY FIGURE - ECUADOR

TEAHOUSE WAITING BENCH OR MACHIAI

WATCH PLANTS GROW, WATCH FALL COLOR DEVELOP AND MAYBE GARDEN NAKED!

TOO MANY VISITORS AROUND FOR THIS ACTIVITY

 TAKE MY OWN T-SHIRT ADVICE


OR, AS A LAST RESORT, READ ABOUT IT!


THE PROBLEM IS, AT MY AGE, I CAN'T
REMEMBER WHICH BOOK!

TIME TO QUIT FOR A WHILE AND RECHARGE THE BATTERIES!!

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, 
BEST WISHES,
ROBIN

BRUSHSTUFF #2

BRUSHES, BRUSHWORK

AND BRAVADO!

COLCHICUM OR AUTUMN CROCUS 

A SMALL SELECTION OF ASSORTED BRUSHES FROM MY LARGE COLLECTION OF MARK-MAKING TOOLS. THEY HAVE BEEN COLLECTED OVER MANY YEARS TO FULFILL MY SPECIFIC NEEDS.


WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY TIME SPENT IN PROFESSIONAL THEATER AND EUROPEAN TRAVEL INDUSTRIES, I CAN HARDLY REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE CLAY UP MY FINGERNAILS OR A BRUSH IN MY HAND SINCE I WAS 3 YEARS OLD!

BRUSHES ARE MY FAVORITE TOOLS. THEY COME IN A HUGE VARIETY OF SHAPES AND SIZES FROM TWO MOUSE WHISKERS TO A WHOLE HORSE TAIL. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HAIR OR BRISTLE THAT ARE USED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. THIS BLOG WILL EXPLORE SOME OF THE BRUSHES THAT I USE AND THE DIVERSE MARK-MAKING POTENTIAL THAT THEY EACH HAVE. MOST BRUSHES HAVE THREE DISTINCT MARKS - THE TIP OR STIPPLE, THE FULL-STROKE AND THE SIDE- STROKE OR DRAG. IN ADDITION TO THE VARIETY OF BRUSHES AND THE MARKS EACH IS CAPABLE OF MAKING, THE DEGREE OF PRESSURE, OR LIFT, DURING THE STROKE WILL GIVE MANY FURTHER VARIATIONS.

TO ADD CIRCULAR DOTS AS DETAILS, I HAVE FOUND IT BEST TO USE Q-TIPS OF DIFFERENT SIZES. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAKE CIRCULAR DOTS WITH ALMOST ANY BRUSH.

BRUSHWORK USING A MOP (RED PART), A DRAGGED, LARGE, ORIENTAL STYLE BRUSH, A FINE WATERCOLOR PENCIL BRUSH WITH LIGHT PRESSURE AND A FLICK AT THE END OF MANY STROKES AND Q-TIP DOTS.

BRUSHWORK USING A MOP (RED PART), A DRAGGED, LARGE, ORIENTAL STYLE BRUSH, A FINE WATERCOLOR PENCIL BRUSH WITH A FLICK AT THE END OF MANY STROKES AND Q-TIP DOTS.

TO DEVELOP CONFIDENCE AND FLUENCY WITH BRUSHES, IT CERTAINLY HELPS TO TAKE COURSES WITH GOOD TEACHERS. THEY CAN SAVE A LOT OF TIME IN LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A GREAT VARIETY OF STROKES. I HAVE HAD SOME TREMOR PROBLEMS WITH MY PAINTING HAND FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS, SO MY CURRENT DEMONSTRATION BRUSHWORK IS VERY ROUGH. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE ADEQUATE TO SHOW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRUSHES AND BRUSHSTROKES.

BRUSHES NEED TO BE CARED FOR PROPERLY AND CAREFULLY WASHED, DRIED AND STORED AFTER USE.  THEY WON'T LAST FOREVER, AS THE MATERIALS USED IN CERAMICS ARE ABRASIVE. THE BETTER THEY ARE CARED FOR THE LONGER THEY WILL LAST. VERY GOOD BRUSHES MIGHT BE VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT IF THEY ALLOW YOU TO DEVELOP A "SIGNATURE" STYLE THEY ARE MORE THAN WORTH WHATEVER YOU PAID FOR THEM. GOOD, EXPRESSIVE BRUSHWORK CAN RAISE THE AESTHETIC AND MONETARY VALUE OF AN OBJECT.  BAD BRUSHWORK CAN EFFECTIVELY RUIN A GOOD PIECE, WHEREAS GOOD BRUSHWORK CAN GREATLY RAISE THE CALIBER OF LESS THAN EXCITING PIECES. 

MOST OF THE TIME, THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL BRUSHWORK TAKES MUCH PRACTICE AND YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE WHEN YOU APPROACH THE SURFACE TO BE PAINTED. THIS IS WHERE THE "BRAVADO" COMES IN. IN THE ORIENT, IT IS QUITE THE NORM TO PRACTICE A SINGLE STROKE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS TO DEVELOP THE FREEDOM OF TOUCH. THE MORE THAT YOU DO IT, THE EASIER AND MORE FLUENT IT BECOMES.  TRY IT AND SEE!

 ABSORBENT  PRACTICE PAPER AND Q-TIP VARIATIONS

IT IS BEST TO PRACTICE ON ABSORBENT PAPER SUCH AS NEWSPRINT, BLOTTING PAPER AND SPECIAL PAPERS AS SHOWN ABOVE. THEY MIMIC THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PAINTING ON BISQUE, OR GLAZED WARE, WHERE THE LIQUID IS "SUCKED" FROM THE BRUSH IN MAKING THE STROKE. VARYING THE PRESSURE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE STROKE GIVES "LIFE" TO THE MARKS.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE 
 IS THE BEST WAY TO MASTER 
BRUSH-WORKING.

"DAGGER" WATERCOLOR BRUSH

"FAN"WATERCOLOR BRUSH. DOWNWARD PRESSURE CAUSES THE  BRUSH TO "OPEN" AND MAKE MANY LINES AT THE SAME TIME. YOU CAN ALSO SELECTIVELY CUT OUT SOME OF THE HAIR WITH A RAZOR BLADE.

TIP. FULL AND DRAG STROKES FROM A KEITH LEBENZON ORIENTAL STYLE BRUSH WITH ROOSEVELT ELK HAIR. KEITH FELT THAT THE HAIR FROM THE NAPE OF THE NECK MADE THE BEST BRUSHES.  UNFORTUNATELY HE COULD ONLY GET ENOUGH OF THIS PREMIUM, SUPER-SPRINGY FUR FOR SIX LARGE BRUSHES FROM A WHOLE HIDE

TIP. FULL AND DRAG STROKES FROM A WATERCOLOR "PENCIL" BRUSH OR LINER. CIRCULAR DOTS FROM Q-TIPS

SIGNWRITING BRUSHES 

SMALL CLIPPED "FAN" WATERCOLOR BRUSH 

LARGE "FAN" WATERCOLOR BRUSH 

SMALL "PENCIL"LINER WITH PRESSURE CHANGES AND TIP FLICKS

SMALL SIGNWRITERS BRUSHES AND Q-TIPS

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DUE TO CHRONIC AND INCREASING HEADACHES THAT ARE LIKELY EXACERBATED BY SPENDING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER KEYBOARD AND SCREEN, MY MEDICAL TEAM CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND ELIMINATING THIS ACTIVITY.  UNFORTUNATELY THIS POSTING WILL BE MY LAST FOR THREE MONTHS WHILE THE MEDICAL PROBLEM IS ASSESSED. IF THINGS IMPROVE SATISFACTORILY, I HOPE TO BE BACK ON LINE IN EARLY DECEMBER.

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR READERSHIP OVER THE LAST 8 MONTHS AND 87 POSTINGS. I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY OF WRITING IT. IF YOU ARE FEELING CUT OFF, YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND START ALL OVER AGAIN! 

ALL BEING WELL, I WILL DO A SINGLE POSTING IN EARLY NOVEMBER ON FALL IN THE GARDEN. IT WILL TAKE THE FORM OF ANOTHER PHOTO ESSAY. THIS WILL COMPLETE MY LENGTHY TOUR OF THE GARDEN THROUGH THE SEASONS THAT STARTED EARLY LAST SPRING. THE GARDEN IS ONE OF MY MAJOR SOURCES OF IDEAS FOR MY CLAY AND GLAZE PAINTING WORK. WITH 25 DIFFERENT JAPANESE MAPLES AND MANY OTHER ORIENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, PERENNIALS AND GRASSES THAT HAVE OUTSTANDING FALL COLOR, I FEEL THAT IT IS A GREAT TIME IN THE GARDEN.

KEEP SMILING!

ROBIN PLAYS "THE LAST POST" or "TAPS" ON HIS B-FLAT WALKING CANE. 
Photo by Dania Haufschild  - aged 10

BRUSHSTUFF #1

COONTAILS, YUCCA AND BIG BUCKS!

THIS POSTING IS ABOUT CERAMIC SURFACE DECORATION THAT USES BRUSHES OF VARIOUS TYPES                       TO GIVE FLUID GRAPHIC MARKS OF GREAT EXPRESSION. I HAVE CHOSEN TO SHOW A FEW DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO USING BRUSHES. IN THE NEXT TWO POSTINGS, I WILL SHOW WHAT MARKS TO EXPECT FROM DIFFERENT BRUSH TYPES AND HOW TO USE BRUSHES MOST FLUENTLY WITH TIPS FROM A LIFELONG BRUSHWORKER'S EXPERIENCE.

THE EARLIEST BRUSHES WERE LIKELY MADE FROM THE SOFTENED ENDS OF THE DESERT PLANT YUCCA LEAVES THAT HAVE HAD THE SOFT GREEN TISSUE REMOVED, LEAVING THE FIBROUS STRUCTURE OF THE LEAF FOR MAKING MARKS. THESE  CONTINUE TO BE USED IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY BY MANY GROUPS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE PUEBLO AREAS OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. THE DEGREE OF REFINEMENT OBTAINABLE BY THESE PRIMITIVE FIBROUS TOOLS IS ASTOUNDING. 

SEED JAR - ACOMA, NEW MEXICO

YUCCA LEAVES STRIPPED OF SOFT MATERIAL, LEAVING FIBROUS "BRUSHES"

YUCCA LEAF DECORATED PLATE - PANAMA

YUCCA LEAF DECORATED OLLA - ZUNI, NEW MEXICO - 19TH CENTURY

BY FAR THE MOST PREVALENT  MARK MAKING  FIBERS FOR BRUSHES ARE THOSE THAT COME FROM FUR-BEARING ANIMALS. THE LATE PAUL SOLDNER, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AMERICAN CERAMIC ARTISTS, OFTEN USED THE TAIL OF ROADKILL RACCOON TO ACHIEVE HIS SIGNATURE CALIGRAPHIC MARKMAKING. IN NORTH AMERICA, RACCOONS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON OF ROAD FATALITIES, SO FREE BRUSHES ARE THERE FOR THE TAKING!

RACCOON BACK END

PAUL SOLDNER - RAKU FORM WITH COONTAIL CALLIGRAPHY  

PAUL SOLDNER - RAKU FORM WITH COONTAIL CALLIGRAPHY   

PAUL SOLDNER - RAKU FORM WITH COONTAIL CALLIGRAPHY  

PAUL SOLDNER - RAKU BOWL FORM WITH COONTAIL CALLIGRAPHY  

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LINDA ARBUCKLE OF FLORIDA USES A VARIETY OF BRUSHES IN HER SUMPTUOUS AND COLORFUL WORK IN MAJOLICA. BELOW ARE SHOWN SOME OF HER FAVORITE BRUSHES AND A DESCRIPTION OF HOW SHE USES THEM.

LINDA ARBUCKLE - Brush Stories  

3, 5, 7 I sometimes use if I do non-majolica slip work. Others are all for majolica

1. fat liner, good for stems. Synthetic with good bounce.

2. multiple kinds of hair mop. Points up well, holds a lot of liquid. Good for leaves. Inexpensive, but good.

3. flat goat or sheep. Good for small ground areas.

4. Japanese brush. Good for thin-to-thick strokes, sideways dabs. Nice spring.

5. Hake goat or sheep. For large ground areas in majolica or slip

6. French China mop, squirrel. Soft, lovely watercolor brush with good spring. Holds a lot of liquid. Expensive, but deluxe.

7. Like 5, but smaller.

8. French quill, squirrel watercolor brush. Soft, supple. Great for long blade-like strokes or lines.

9. Squirrel dagger liner. Nice for bamboo leaf strokes and the like. Good for long pulled lines that taper.

10. Flat watercolor brush. Good for filling in small areas w/flat color, making blocks of color.

11. Small dagger liner. Good for thick-to-thin line work.

12. Brush from the late Keith Lebenzon. Elk, handmade. Wonderful spring and loading of color. One of my special favorites.

Not pictured: I’ve been using some size 1-2 synthetic long liner brushes from the art supply store in town. Not as nice as some other bristle types, but inexpensive. The right ones can have some snap.

LINDA ARBUCKLE - MAJOLICA PLATE WITH PLUM DESIGN 

LINDA ARBUCKLE - MAJOLICA PITCHER WITH FALL FRUIT DESIGN 

LINDA ARBUCKLE - MAJOLICA EWER WITH PLUM AND LEAF DESIGN 

I STARTED MY ART CAREER IN DRAWING, PAINTING AND PRINTMAKING, WHERE BRUSHES WERE MOST OFTEN MY GRAPHIC TOOL OF CHOICE. THEY HAVE ALSO ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR CERAMIC SURFACING AND DECORATION. OVER A LONG CAREER, I HAVE COLLECTED PROMISING LOOKING BRUSHES FROM MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. AT MY LAST INVENTORY CHECK I HAD 873 OF THEM! THE MARKMAKING POTENTIAL AMONG THEM IS STAGGERING. I ALSO USE TRAILERS WITH VARIOUS SIZE TIPS AND VARIOUS Q-TIPS FOR CIRCULAR DOTS. ROUND DOTS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE WITH BRUSHES. I WORK IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STYLES, USUALLY ALL ON PORCELAIN. I OFTEN USE THE COLORS AND FORMS OF PLANTS IN MY GARDEN AS A READY SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND IDEAS.

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THE CLEMATIS SERIES

CLEMATIS "NELLIE MOSER" - THE COLORS AND TEXTURE OF THIS PLANT
WAS THE SOURCE FOR A LOT OF VARIATIONS ON 3D FORMS AND "PORCELAIN CANVAS SUBSTRATES"

THESE ARE THE TOOLS THAT I USE TO PAINT THE "CLEMATIS SERIES" WITH.
THE SECOND FROM THE LEFT WAS MADE BY THE LATE KEITH LEBENZON. IT USES HAIR FROM THE NAPE OF THE NECK OF THE ROOSEVELT ELK. THIS HAIR HAS THE LEAST FRICTION ON THE WHOLE SKIN AND PRODUCES A SUPERLATIVE MARK. KEITH TOLD ME THAT THERE IS ONLY ENOUGH OF THE FINEST HAIR TO MAKE 6 BRUSHES ON A WHILE SKIN. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THESE BRUSHES ARE RARE AND COMMAND "BIG BUCKS". IT WAS WORTH EVERY CENT!

RH - PORCELAIN PLATE - "CLEMATIS SERIES"- THE BASE GLAZE CONTAINS 10% TIN OXIDE. THIS GRANULATES THE COLORS THAT ARE PAINTED OVER. THE SOFT GREY-PINK PETAL COLORS MAKE USE OF THE THIN COPPER-GLAZED BRUSHMARKS FUMING INTO THE GLAZE BENEATH  - CONE 10 REDUCTION

RH - GLAZE PAINTING - "CLEMATIS SERIES" - PAINTED ON TOP OF AN UNFIRED GLAZE SURFACE, MAJOLICA STYLE THAT HAS BEEN ADJUSTED FOR CONE 10. THE PORCELAIN-LIKE SUBSTRATE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY FIRED AT ABOUT CONE 14. SINCE THE SUBSTRATE HAS NO ABSORPTION, IT IS PUT ON TOP OF A KITCHEN WARMING TRAY TO EVAPORATE THE WATER FROM THE GLAZES.
CONE 10 REDUCTION

RH - FOOTED PARABOLIC BOTTLE - "CLEMATIS SERIES"
 - CONE 10 REDUCTION

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THE SOUTHWEST SERIES.

THIS SERIES OF MY WORK IS INSPIRED BY POTTERY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST. THEIR WONDERFULLY GRAPHIC WORK WAS THE FIRST POTTERY I EVER REMEMBER SEEING IN A MUSEUM WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD. BLACK, RED AND WHITE HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITE TRIAD OF COLORS FOR 65 YEARS. I'VE TRIED EVERY VARIANT OF THESE THREE COLORS THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMAGINE.

IN THE SOUTHWEST SERIES, THE DRY GREENWARE FORMS ARE SPRAYED WITH WHITE TERRA SIGILLATA, POLISHED WITH A SOFT CLOTH AND BRUSH DECORATED WITH A VARIETY OF BRUSHES USING BLACK-BRONZE PIGMENT. THIS IS THEN FIRED TO CONE 9 IN OXIDATION. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY PAINTING AND TRAILING WITH A CHROME RED LEAD GLAZE AND RE-FIRED TO CONE 010. ALL FIRING WITH THIS SERIES IS DONE IN AN ELECTRIC KILN IN OXIDATION.

SOUTHWEST SERIES PIECES ARE PURELY DECORATIVE AND NOT FOR FUNCTIONAL USE.

RH - FOOTED PARABOLIC BOTTLE - "SOUTHWEST SERIES".

"FAN" WATERCOLOR BRUSHES AND HANDMADE HOVEY #8 BRUSH
USED WITH TUCKER POTTERY SUPPLIES SLIP/GLAZE TRAILER

RH - CLASSIC FORM VASE - "SOUTHWEST SERIES"

RH - TRIFOOT PLATE - SOUTHWEST SERIES.
THIS EXAMPLE SHOWS CONTROLLED LOCALIZED FUMING OF CHROMIUM RED GLAZE ON TOP OF TIN-OPACIFIED TERRA SIGILLATA

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BRUSHSTUFF #2 IS ABOUT USING BRUSHES AND WILL MIRACULOUSLY APPEAR IN A MATTER OF A FEW DAYS. HAPPY READING!  STAY TUNED!