The summer ceramics class ended a long time ago and we are just about to start the Fall session. There were supposed to be 2 five week long summer semesters but at the last minute they decided to reinstitute the ceramic summer camps for kids. That meant I was able to get in only one session. The instructor was out for 2 weeks but we were able to come in anyway. It was really a bonus – paid for 5 weeks and got 7 weeks of studio time! Still my production was somewhat limited. I just now got all my pieces back (the kiln tech was on a summer sabbatical). Yes, I am still in my orb phase. But I’m slowly shifting from coccoliths to viruses since the pandemic caused me to do a lot of research on viruses…
This first one is a white stoneware clay body with a 50/50 mix of porcelain and white stoneware used for the decorative embellishments. It is glazed in Super T on the little “florets” and Grape on the dividing ribbons. The background is Megan’s Blue. It represents Navilithus BC, a coccolith from the Indian Ocean found Southwest of Java.
The second one is white stoneware glazed in the new formulation of Oribe. This represents the Human Echovirus.
A Different Perspective 
Always great to see your claywork. The coccolith is particularly cool and complicated-looking. Nice!
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Thanks Carrie! the pandemic has slowed things down but it looks like things are looking up (at least in the ceramics studio). I had to go in and do the annual shelf clean off and it was the first time since the last session. I had 3 pieces I put out for bisque firing and have one sitting on my shelf waiting to be glazed. I even had one piece that is back from the glaze firing. I’ll be posting pictures soon…
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Thanks Carrie! the pandemic has slowed things down but it looks like things are looking up (at least in the ceramics studio). I had to go in and do the annual shelf clean off and it was the first time since the last session. I had 3 pieces I put out for bisque firing and have one sitting on my shelf waiting to be glazed. I even had one piece that is back from the glaze firing. I’ll be posting pictures soon…
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I adore seeing these pics!
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Thanks David! I usually have a very narrow audience as many of the pieces (being viruses, pollens, bacteria, fungi, and parasites) don’t appeal to most. My coccoliths seem to be a favorite – but even so they are not so popular. That’s okay with me since I make my art to please myself (kind of the way I write my blog)! Glad you enjoy the photos…
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Wow, those are wonderful!!! (T’would be fun to watch you work.)
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I’m tickled that you like them! Watching me work is not as fun as having some clay and working next to me!!
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Oh, believe me, I’d be grabbing some clay within about 30 seconds. 😉 Especially if someone else had wedged it!
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I do the wedging to get out the frustrations! I’m very chill after working over some clay! I bet we’d have fun…
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Those are interesting. Glad for the extra time.
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Many thanks!! I find that bringing those things that are too small to see with the naked eye into focus to be loads of fun!
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I am glad you found something you enjoy.
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🙂
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Amazing work, Val. You have posted these orbs after quite sometime.
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Thanks Punam! I had made more but they are still not fired… They will be coming slowly. It has been a very long wait!
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I like your orbs as you know, Val . However a scale would be necessary, principally when you show viruses in the same tima as the orbs!
Love ❤
Michel
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Thanks for the suggestion! However most people can’t wrap their heads around the difference between a nanometers and a micrometers where a micrometer is 1000 times bigger than a nanometer. Of course a red blood cell is about 7 micrometers.
The coccolith is about 60 micrometers across and the virus is about 30 nanometers. Both of my creations in clay are about 3 inches across (7.62 cm). I hope this helps….
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Fascinating!
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Thanks Martha! I find them fascinating too – so much so that I’m still making them!
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Those look very intersting! You do great work.
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Thanks Patti! I have fun doing them…
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such intricate work!
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I like a challenge! hehe! That or I’m a little crazy!
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I’d suggest more the later but I have no reasons to justify that guess 😉
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One persons may see it as crazy and another as whimsy… I am happy so the opinions about me don’t matter – that is their problem! Anyway I suppose in many things I’m on the straight and narrow but when it comes to ceramics I do think outside the box! (No bowls or vases for me!)
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just gotta see if you can think outside the sphere .. there is nothing boxie about your ceramics 🙂
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Okay. What if I make a dragon? Is that less spherical? More magical? Even less practical? I’m making one and I’m naming it Kate! I’ll post as soon as it comes out of the kiln!
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not sure whether to laugh or cry … are you calling me a dragon??? 😦
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Golly no! You are not a dragon – though I do think you are slightly magical! hehe!
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wow and I wasn’t even fishing for a compliment, just clarifying what you meant .. thanks 🙂
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🙂
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Well, I came here to apologize. It appears I accidentally deleted your comment from my recent post. I can usually go to Comments on my dashboard and reinstate, but I can’t find it anywhere. Stupid fat fingers and WordPress!
That being said, I really like your human echovirus. That is definitely a unique piece!
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Gosh Mary, you didn’t have to apologize – I didn’t even know it was gone! I’m tickled you like the echovirus! Not many people appreciate the intricacy and beauty of those things unseen…
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Well, I have to admit you’ve brought me over to the dark side. Your orbs used to give me the creeps but your virus is actually interesting. It must take hours to create such a detailed piece.
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Aw Judy! Thanks so very much! Your compliment means a lot! Yes they take a lot of time – usually about 3 hours to but together and then the glazing time… but to some it would be soul crushing tedium but to me it is relaxing. I’m just so happy that this little virus caught your attention!
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love the second one.
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Thanks tons Bonnie! The second one (the virus) was fun to make and a little tricky! How have you been?
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Enjoy seeing your orbs always. Love the first one especially.
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Thanks Elizabeth! The first one is very nice and the glaze came out perfectly!
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I am a bit disconcerted by the similarity between a human echovirus and a browned macaroon cookie.
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Hehehe! I never saw the similarity! Now I’m not going to be able to get the image out of my head! hehe!
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