Old for its age

Once fired there were a few pieces which are starting to get that old feel to them. 

I particularly like the effect of shiny recesses with matte "worn-looking" raised areas.

Sugar, Spice, Oxide, Glaze

I have been trying to figure out what the "look" I am trying to accomplish is. It seems to be a tea-stained-like effect. Cracks, fades, matte and shiny in places where an object wouldn't be worn out over years of use...

I tried some variations with oxides and glazes, putting to use the feel I've developed of their different "looks" in my experimentation with ceramics.

 Some I painted with oxides and then lifted the colour off of the raised areas.
Some I glazed a light brown glaze over the oxide layer.
Some I clear glazed over the oxide and then lifted it such that only the recesses were left shiny.

 The pieces where the clay was quite dry before being pressed came out in a subtly cracked texture.

Sugar and Spice and All things nice

While using Rhino CAD to try and get a more believable text, I took the opportunity to incorporate it into my  thaumatropes. 

I designed and cut two sides of the spinner into plaster of paris and then used them as a double sided press mold.

ConTEXT

Because I wanted to make use of a specific kind of font, I turned to the CAD design program Rhino and with it made a plater of paris press mold. I used the words Sugar and Spice breaking them down into "Sugar", "&" and "Spice"

I tried to use glazes and underglazes and oxides in a way that would end up looking old and a bit worn.

The drier the clay before I pressed it, the more "cracks" it had. I am drawn to this look. It reminds me of old ruins and aging book covers or overused dry leather.

I glazed some and left others to be matte.

I found the oxides to be much stronger than anticipated which resulted in a burnt-like appearance. This itself is quite effective in the right dosage.

What Mary and her lamb look like

Illustrators seem to take liberty in altering this nursery rhyme in particular. It seems to allow for comedic elements as well as cynicism through word play.

Here the sender has personalised the rhyme by replacing Mary with Delia. 

The contrast of the printed rhyme with the seemingly personal handwriting feels rich in a sort of personal and sentimental character. 

Artist: Agnes Richardson

Artist: C. Ryan

Publisher: P. O. P Amusement Co

What do nursery rhymes look like?

I have been looking at some variations in the illustrations of my chosen nursery rhymes.
Here are some for  Mary,Mary...

Artist: Millicent Sowerby

Publisher: Humphry Milford

In some of the examples the reverse side of the post cards on which the illustrations are found are also provided. The stains, smudges and fade of the writing seem to make it look that much older and more precious. 

Knowing that the illustration was accompanied by a letter also brings new stories to the cards and new sentimentality. There is potential for a general connotation of the rhyme, and then a further personal connotation for the people to and from whom the card was sent.

Artist: Flora White

Publisher: J. Salmon

Publisher: National Art Co

Through a lense...

In order to evaluate and speak about my own work, it will be helpful to do so from a certain perspective. I need to look at my work through the filter of what I am/was trying to achieve. My chosen lense/filter at the moment is to look for the answer to this question:
How did I make piece which feel old and precious?