DE ARTE

Clay Talk

in

I left the studio i was at back in January. Before i left, i finished a collection of objects. Self-described as Nomsters, of all shapes and sizes. Nomsters of gods and blobs and things.

I started school again, after about 6/7 years… I’m taking a handbuilding class! So far its been good, I think its something that forces me out of my comfort zone a bit. Having assignments and objectives has pushed me to step into more logical thinking and planning. Planning is not something ive been doing with clay for the last few years, ive let it speak through me and let the ideas flow out of me as i go.

Ive updated the Day Ceramica- Process page with a bunch of work in progress photos at different stages of the clay process. I’ll be updating the objects page soon with some shots of the final forms.

Pieces in progress-green ware pt. 1

in

What a special medium. Ive been working with clay for the last 4/5 years, it has remained dear to my heart ever since. I started connecting to it instantly and felt a part of myself start to speak through it. Im coming into my puzzle of an identity more and more the longer i create with it. I feel all the faceless ancestors of mine teach me.

This medium goes through fire and dryness and unpredictability in such a consistently magnifying way. It’s beautiful in each of its stages. A wet maleable dough, a form that starts to hold its shape, it can be carved into and added on to until it reaches a state of fragile strength, its put under fire, forced to cool, and painted with liquid that burns into glass for its final form. All while being in an uncertain state. Your final piece may not come out exactly as you expect it to, it may come out in pieces, it may come out fully intact. The beauty in that is so powerful and has been my biggest teacher since i started.

This collection, like all my pieces, are a connection to me. I expect nothing and receive everything. I wanted to record a few of the pieces ive been making in its earliest stage- pre-bisqued and raw.

I’m excited to play around with not only functionality but making them come alive through the shadows they create, I noticed this pattern when I first started making this collection and I’ve been chasing different shadows in some of my pieces ever since.

Beauty Testing - testing 1..2..3!

in ,

Beauty with Photographer Tory Rust, Makeup Artist Denika Bedrossian, Hair Florido, and Stylist Ashley Rose Weber

More than just gratitude, I am blessed to be able to work with artists in this way. To be able to be a canvas for others and yourself all at once. Being a model allows you to be creative with your physical self, your movements, your emotion, especially when testing. Theres an openness to creativity and ideas when testing. We aren't held back by specific set of rules. You get to push boundaries, you get to be a character youve never been, you get to try something new.

If I had to explain a test shoot id say they are all different, for the obvious reason being every team is unique and every artist is as well. The way the photographer shoots, the makeup and how far you push it, the creativity of hair and the extreme changes it can make, the styling textures and color palette, everyone works together to make a single thing happen. Its important to note we are all freelancers—doing this for our portfolios and whatnot so the fact that a team can work hours into something that we basically create for free is something of a meaningful reward in itself.

I think its important to highlight these artists and the incredible work everyone is doing. Ive worked with both Denika and Florido before (I mentioned them on my Haus Lab shoot post because they did Makeup and Hair and I love their work so much)

Working with them brings a huge smile to my face, I gravitated towards their energy immediately. When you're on set you spend a lot of time with the team. You're sitting in their chairs, getting comfortable, and talking to them while the crazy chaotic set up happens around you. It’s all a special way of connection for me.

Tory is an incredible photographer and I’ve seen their beauty work around often, I was so excited to be able to work with them. Ashley had great jewelry pieces and even though it was mainly beauty work, her clothing rack had pieces I wanted for myself! I hope to get to work with everyone again.

I'm observant so modeling to me is a way to connect and observe others around me. I see everyone at work doing their specific job to make these stills happen. A beautiful image you see online can be seen and scrolled down in a flash, but when you are on set you see the hours everyone puts into their jobs. Its a beautiful energy transference.

Okay enough of me talking, if you got this far scroll a little more down for the photos from the shoot. Ive been wanting to do more beauty work since I started modeling. This team was so sweet and I am extremely thankful and grateful to have worked with all of them.