Tuesday 11 June 2013

First Blog...

I have been playing with gilders wax and achieving different surface qualities...







These latest beads are inspired by Nigerian clay pots, my passion for African pots started when I seen a large storage pot in the British Museum in London that was made by Igbo people around 1954. I stumbled across this when I was about 18 years old and studying for my BA(hons) Ceramics. 
I was taken by the scale and practical qualities it possessed...
The design of this round yet pointy pot was to store water in a hot environment. In order to do this the pot had a round bottom for stability on the sand, so that it could be dug into the ground away from the heat of the sun and for ease when carrying.
It had a big round belly, a small neck, a sturdy lip and three coiled lug handles that bridged the distance of the neck and chest. The main body of the pot was covered in nobbles of clay.
This pot and others like it were normally low fired in pits which left a smokey effect and sometimes a red/orange glow on the surface. Animal fat was readily available and this was rubbed into the porous surface then burnished as a way to make the pots water tight.





This is the pot from the British Museum


The shape and surface of my beads are influenced by the similarities between pots and the human body. The way a mug has a belly, a foot, a handle to fit your hand and a lip to fit your mouth. These beads may have belly's, lips, legs, necks and arms, and a polished skin like surface. 
Shapes are developing every time I sit down at my desk to make and working with red clay again has brought back this passion for African pottery once more.

More beads...















....have a peek at my work at www.raggedrobyn.etsy.com


19 comments:

  1. What a stellar first post dear Robyn... Wow...you got it all right the first go...perfect....you get people to visit mostly by visiting them, leaving a comment and they will do so in kind...these days, my blog falls in last as things to do!!! When i first got. Y computer and before etsy, i was on it everyday.... Now? Hmmpf....but it is a good way to record events in your life, post pics, run contests and find new friends... Hurrah for you...

    Cynthia

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  2. Hooray! Thanks bh. I based it on yours because I like how its easy to see and find things :)

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  3. Fabulous. Looks great. Makes me want to go clean mine up. I will surely look forward to your postings. Finding a place that feels like home is half the battle I think. May your new home be an inspiration to you and your work. I love and admire your creative sense and abundant talent. Nice to get a glimpse of the life behind the work.

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    1. Thanks Tracy. Yours doesn't need cleaning up at all, it's a pleasure to visit.

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  4. Hi Robyn! Welcome to blogland. I've been admiring your work for some time. Your blog looks great - I look forward to more posts.

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    1. Thank you so much. Its so much fun here in blogland and everyone is super friendly :)

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  5. I can't add a thing as these other ladies have said it all so eloquently. So let me simply bid you a warm welcome to blogland. Great first post!

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    1. Thank you for the warm welcome and I hope my posts are as diverse and interesting as yours!

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  6. I love reading about your influences and those are the exact qualities that make your beads such covetable works of art. Welcome to the blogger-world. So happy to see you here!

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    1. I fear my describing words arn't as good as yours Dawn. Thank you for the warm welcome and for such flattering comments and the mention on your blog. Cant wait to see what you do with that elk skin and how you include the beads.

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  7. I love your work and am so glad you're blogging - will be looking forward to updates on both!

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    1. I'm overwhelmed by all these fab comments. Thank you so much Maggie.

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  8. So glad to see you here and read more about your process in making your wonderful work. I am a big fan and future customer as you are on my list of next splurge after meeting my next goal.
    Welcome!

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    1. Thank you so much Kimberly! I aim to blog about something or other every week.

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  9. Welcome - Great post looking forward to seeing a lot more. I just happen to be working on a post with a little blurp about your aunt Rey right now. I'll add a link to your new blog as well. ; )

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    1. Thanks Kelly. I appreciate all the link posting!

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  10. I came to your blog via Dawn (LaTouchables). I am inspired by your first post, I admire your beads and I wish you luck and happy blogging! Waiting to hear from you again soon! :-)

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    1. Yael thanks for popping by and taking a look, I plan to post regularly and its good to know people are interested.

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  11. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower too. I appreciate your comment about my 16 gauge wire work. Love your beads and fiber.

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