MOTTLED MARKS

In a recent discussion with a potter though quite some distance away but Earthly bound, the topic turned to making marks, marks and their meaning. Admittedly many marks that I make on my pottery may seem obtuse or abstract (or abstrakt) even though many times there is meaning, narration and symbolism in decoration that may appear otherwise and I am sure I am not alone in this. Some marks, design and decoration like with this carved teabowl showcases an incised narration, which is meaningful to me and meaningful enough to commit it to clay and fire it into permanence. As I make these marks I wonder if it is necessary to spell out the implicit meaning of the design, the decoration and in the end I leave it to the viewer to see and interpret as they see fit, according to their ideas and experiences besides who really wants to know what crazy ramblings are rolling around in other people's heads?

This teabowl with its mottled marks is a classic example of what I am talking about, these marks are more than decoration and have meaning  though not all marks do. I slipped this simple stoneware in a white slip and then once almost dry I incised, carved the marks around the bowl to create lines that are not crisp and show areas of chipping and roughness, once bisque I glazed this in an Oribe variant and added iron over areas of the bowl to create a rich texture that has a nice range of effects especially in the sunlight. 

"Five exclamation marks, the sure sign of an insane mind." Sir Terence (Terry) John Pratchett OBE