Robert Arneson - My Favorite Ceramic Artist

[George Lewter]

I lived in San Francisco in the seventies, and was able to see the work of Robert Arneson on several occasions. I believe his talent was immense, as was his sense of humor and his understanding that we humans are but a tiny bit more evolved than the rest of the animal kingdom. His work has been dismissed as "caricature" and that may be true, but he used it in many ways (to bring absolute horrors down to a level where they can be confronted, and less uncomfortably to gently chide those who take themselves and their ideas too seriously). The main butt of his humor is most often himself. For a fairly thorough introduction to Robert Arneson, I suggest http://www.verisimilitudo.com/arneson/artworks.htm, and particularly the extensive self portraits.
I invite everyone to post similar blog postings on their favorite ceramic artists. Happy blogging

[Joan Scott]

Thanks so much George. I never would have guessed about the packaging tape. You notes were terrific.

[George Lewter]

Hi Joan. I found my notes from Molly Hatch's presentation. I don't have exhaustive notes, but this if what I do have. 

• Most of her forms seemed to be cylindrical or conical sections which, would lend themselves to transferring designs from flat, original media.
• She used tracing paper to get the original design, then laminated it with clear packaging tape to make the design semi-permanent and reversible.
• She used a ball tipped stylus to trace and transfer the basic design to the leather hard clay, and then calligraphic pens such as a #107 from MrArt.com to cut the strokes.
• Colored slip, underglazes, or Amaco LG-1 Black Glaze were used to fill-in the strokes, and the excess was scraped and/or wiped off.
• She mentioned using Amaco 06 underglazes and LG-1 Black Glaze, & being able to fire them up to cone 6-8 
• She mentioned using alcohol thinned shellac as a resist for water abrasion.

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[Joan Scott]

Yes George thanks I have read the article but it doesn't explain how she laminates her drawings (what actual material is used, I am thinking it can't be very rigid because she wraps it around her object and uses a stylus or something to mark the drawing onto the piece. I just thought you might have seen her do it and what materials she used.

[George Lewter]

There is a fairly detailed explanation of Molly Hatch's image transfer techniques at http://ceramicartsdaily.org/pottery-making-techniques/ceramic-decor.... Paste the address into your browser address bar to visit the website.

[Joan Scott]

He was amazing. Recently I was reading somewhere on one of your notes about a weekend semiar with some of the greats including Molly Hatch. Did you manage to see her at work? I wonder if you know how she laminates her drawings. I was reading an article in Pottery Making Illustrated and don't know exactly how the her drawings are laminated so she can transfer them to the tumblers, plates etc.