
FIT AS A FIDDLE, A CERAMIC TEAPOT
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This is a functional stoneware teapot in the form of a humorously distorted violin made to mimick a cowgirl in Western tooled apparel. It is a major modification of the more formal prototype violin teapot, Mel-Oh-Tea-Us.
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Underglazes are applied and rubbed off the belt and the boots. Meticulous hand painting created the faux wood surface. Several firings were undertaken, especially after layers of China paints had been applied to enhance coloration. Ruby and gold overglazes added to belt and boots. Silver luster applied to buckle, gun and belt. Cold finishes added.
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Date: 2010.
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Size: 16.0" x 9.25" x 3.5".
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Displayed at National Teapot Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC. Viewers' Choice Award.
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Sold.
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CREATIVE PROCESS
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Preliminary sketch of a new teapot in the Melo-Tea Series in which a violin is morphed into the form of a cowgirl dressed in Western garb with leather belt and boots.
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Trim is added in the form of extruded clay piping.
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Sculpted Western-style boots are also appended in place to do double duty as feet for the teapot.
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Faux stitching supplements the design as well.
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Creating a more flowing gestural handle was considered important, so a number of different templates were made before a satisfactory one was chosen for this piece.
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Two clay slab matching parts were made and attached to the body of the work, draped over the base of the teapot and attached in place by slip and score method.
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Additional sculpting and carving was done to embellish the handle as well.
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A series of underglazes are applied. These are rubbed off on the press mold areas, such as the belt and the boots. Other areas are meticulously hand painted with underglazes to create the faux wood surface treatment of the violin.
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The work is fired successfully a second time at cone 5.
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Multiple layers of China paints are applied to provide enriched colored embellishments. Refiring is done after each layer.
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Opalescent ruby and gold overglazes are applied to belt and boots. Firing is done once again to cone 017.
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Silver luster is painted on the buckle and other detailed parts of the gun and the belt. Final firing to cone 018.
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