A while back I was watching a Japanese jidaigeki
film from the 1950s and in one of the scenes was this distinctive painted
backdrop of a cloud streaked sunset sky. I found this visual very intriguing
and decided at that moment to set about trying to capture its essence as a
backdrop on pottery and this is where the pursuit has taken me. Marrying
together some elements of t'su d'zu, slipware and galena glazed potteries, this
teabowl has the background of layered slips that come through with thick black
additions painted over and carved through to the clay. The thick black slip has
bled a little together with the banded surface background helping to add some
motion to the bowl. As may be apparent, the whole surface created on greenware
was done rather quickly without any chance to go back and fuss with it as was
the carving of the flower heads and leaves. I find that the more time I take
the more stiff and contrived the piece will look and though this is not exactly
the epitome of Zen spontaneity, it is about as close as I can get while still
working with a preconceived notion in my head.
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