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Test Tile 01
2023
An animated series of geometric tiles in unfired clay. 39 frames, 2160 x 2160 pixels.
In a ceramics studio test tiles are a small objects typically used to test a surface treatments such as glazes, slips, or just a bare clay body. Typically the production of test tiles is a relatively low stakes research effort that accompanies the production of more complex sculpture or pottery forms.
On a more personal note, if I have been away from the studio for a time I find that it can be difficult to restart projects and pick up where I left off. Making a test tile, or a series of them, can be a way to restart without feeling overwhelmed. With this in mind, I often wonder if it might be better to conceive of all studio work as test tiles, and to cultivate a "test tile mentality" in general. This shift could foreground experimentation and iteration and set aside for a moment the complexities of larger projects and contexts.
This animation is a series of 39 tiles in damp clay. After completing the animation my intention is to dry the tiles, bisque fire them, and apply glazes to them before remaking (re-animating) the work in color.
The tiles were designed and animated in Blender and materialized via a custom 3D printer in my studio. Many were further sculpted or surfaced using hand tools and techniques.
An animated series of geometric tiles in unfired clay. 39 frames, 2160 x 2160 pixels.
In a ceramics studio test tiles are a small objects typically used to test a surface treatments such as glazes, slips, or just a bare clay body. Typically the production of test tiles is a relatively low stakes research effort that accompanies the production of more complex sculpture or pottery forms.
On a more personal note, if I have been away from the studio for a time I find that it can be difficult to restart projects and pick up where I left off. Making a test tile, or a series of them, can be a way to restart without feeling overwhelmed. With this in mind, I often wonder if it might be better to conceive of all studio work as test tiles, and to cultivate a "test tile mentality" in general. This shift could foreground experimentation and iteration and set aside for a moment the complexities of larger projects and contexts.
This animation is a series of 39 tiles in damp clay. After completing the animation my intention is to dry the tiles, bisque fire them, and apply glazes to them before remaking (re-animating) the work in color.
The tiles were designed and animated in Blender and materialized via a custom 3D printer in my studio. Many were further sculpted or surfaced using hand tools and techniques.
Installation view
2023
"Cube 02 (Stumbling Block)" and "Surface 02" As projected at TezArt Montreal in 2023
"Cube 02 (Stumbling Block)" and "Surface 02" As projected at TezArt Montreal in 2023
Shingled 01
2023
Technical: 3D model created via a photogrammetry process from a physical ceramic sculpture. The sculpture was originally designed in Blender and materialized by 3D printing clay parts. Printed parts were then assembled and reworked with hand tools. A black terra sigillata surface was painted on the surface prior being fired in a kiln. Approximately 200 photographs of the sculpture were created for the photogrammetry process.
Concept: A heavily textured, tapered, rectangular structure perched on three pilotis. The textured surface resembles crude shingles of wood or another natural material. The structure may appear to be adorned in camouflage, as if attempting to mimic the form of a large and dense plant. The shingles may be a fortification of sorts, potentially shielding the structure's interior. It is not clear if the structure can be entered or inhabited.
View as an interactive 3D model on teia.art:
Technical: 3D model created via a photogrammetry process from a physical ceramic sculpture. The sculpture was originally designed in Blender and materialized by 3D printing clay parts. Printed parts were then assembled and reworked with hand tools. A black terra sigillata surface was painted on the surface prior being fired in a kiln. Approximately 200 photographs of the sculpture were created for the photogrammetry process.
Concept: A heavily textured, tapered, rectangular structure perched on three pilotis. The textured surface resembles crude shingles of wood or another natural material. The structure may appear to be adorned in camouflage, as if attempting to mimic the form of a large and dense plant. The shingles may be a fortification of sorts, potentially shielding the structure's interior. It is not clear if the structure can be entered or inhabited.
View as an interactive 3D model on teia.art:
Surface 02
2023
Process: Stop motion animation. Etched in damp red clay coated in white clay slip via Axidraw pen plotter fitted with a needle tool. Animation and plotting toolpaths created from hand drawn lines in Blender. After plotting, each frame is photographed, wiped clean and recoated with white slip.
Technical: 100 frames, 2160 x 2160 px. 6 second looping video.
Process: Stop motion animation. Etched in damp red clay coated in white clay slip via Axidraw pen plotter fitted with a needle tool. Animation and plotting toolpaths created from hand drawn lines in Blender. After plotting, each frame is photographed, wiped clean and recoated with white slip.
Technical: 100 frames, 2160 x 2160 px. 6 second looping video.
Portable media installation
2023
For a pop-up exhibition in Cincinnati, I made this portable, battery-powered video diptych for "Cube 01" & "Cube 02". A pair of Raspberry Pi computers, some 3D printed parts, and
Pimoroni HyperPixel screens. This can run for 7 hours or so per charge.
For a pop-up exhibition in Cincinnati, I made this portable, battery-powered video diptych for "Cube 01" & "Cube 02". A pair of Raspberry Pi computers, some 3D printed parts, and
Pimoroni HyperPixel screens. This can run for 7 hours or so per charge.
Cube 02 (Stumbling Block)
2023
A cube is being pushed, or it is falling, or it is being caught.
Stop motion animation created in Blender & Prusa Slicer, materialized as 3D printed earthenware clay. 31 frames, 2160 x 2160
A cube is being pushed, or it is falling, or it is being caught.
Stop motion animation created in Blender & Prusa Slicer, materialized as 3D printed earthenware clay. 31 frames, 2160 x 2160
145 Objects
2022
Technical: Stop motion animation in which each frame is materialized via 3D printing and photographed.
Concept: A shape tumbling over itself as it is iterated and materialized.
Technical: Stop motion animation in which each frame is materialized via 3D printing and photographed.
Concept: A shape tumbling over itself as it is iterated and materialized.
Stepwell 01
2022
Technical: 3D model created via a photogrammetry scan of a ceramic sculpture of the same name. The physical sculpture was created by 3D printing clay and applying a terra sigillata and glaze surface before firing in a kiln.
Concept: A sculptural abstraction of a traditional stepwell structure. Stepwells are series of overlapping stairs which descend to the water level, found primarily in India & Pakistan.
View as an interactive 3D model on Teia.art here:
Technical: 3D model created via a photogrammetry scan of a ceramic sculpture of the same name. The physical sculpture was created by 3D printing clay and applying a terra sigillata and glaze surface before firing in a kiln.
Concept: A sculptural abstraction of a traditional stepwell structure. Stepwells are series of overlapping stairs which descend to the water level, found primarily in India & Pakistan.
View as an interactive 3D model on Teia.art here:
Aqueduct 01
2022
Technical: 3D model created via a photogrammetry scan of a ceramic sculpture of the same name. The physical sculpture was created by 3D printing terracotta clay and applying a terra sigillata surface before firing in a kiln.
Concept: A sculptural abstraction of an aqueduct structure. Aqueducts are a system of conveying water. Simple, rhythmically repeating stone arch forms were often created, arrayed, and stacked in order to allow these structures to span a valley.
Special Thanks: Thank you Rodell Warner for creating the #HENreunion event, which provided the spark for creating this work.
View this work as an interactive 3D model at teia.art:
Technical: 3D model created via a photogrammetry scan of a ceramic sculpture of the same name. The physical sculpture was created by 3D printing terracotta clay and applying a terra sigillata surface before firing in a kiln.
Concept: A sculptural abstraction of an aqueduct structure. Aqueducts are a system of conveying water. Simple, rhythmically repeating stone arch forms were often created, arrayed, and stacked in order to allow these structures to span a valley.
Special Thanks: Thank you Rodell Warner for creating the #HENreunion event, which provided the spark for creating this work.
View this work as an interactive 3D model at teia.art:
Installation view
2022
Physical and digital versions of "Dwelling", exhibited together as part of a Ceramics Invitational Exhibition at the University of Iowa School of Art & Art History.
Physical and digital versions of "Dwelling", exhibited together as part of a Ceramics Invitational Exhibition at the University of Iowa School of Art & Art History.
Dwelling 01
2022
Process: Stop motion photographic animation or 'claymation palimpsest'. Etched in damp clay via Axidraw pen plotter fitted with an etching tool. Animation and plotting toolpaths created in Blender. After plotting, each frame is painted with white and gray clay slip, photographed, and wiped clean.
Technical: 120 frames, 15 frames per second. 1920x1920 px. 7-second looping video.
Concept: This animation evolved from a 3D scan of a physical ceramic sculpture. Both the animation and the sculpture that preceded it are abstractions of and homages to a kind of textured, earthen, vernacular architecture once popular in Northern Cameroon.
Process: Stop motion photographic animation or 'claymation palimpsest'. Etched in damp clay via Axidraw pen plotter fitted with an etching tool. Animation and plotting toolpaths created in Blender. After plotting, each frame is painted with white and gray clay slip, photographed, and wiped clean.
Technical: 120 frames, 15 frames per second. 1920x1920 px. 7-second looping video.
Concept: This animation evolved from a 3D scan of a physical ceramic sculpture. Both the animation and the sculpture that preceded it are abstractions of and homages to a kind of textured, earthen, vernacular architecture once popular in Northern Cameroon.
Surface 01
2021
Process: Animated line drawing depicting a slightly vibrating surface. Hand drawn and animated in Blender. 200 frames, 720x720 px.
Process: Animated line drawing depicting a slightly vibrating surface. Hand drawn and animated in Blender. 200 frames, 720x720 px.
Cube 01
2021
Process: Stop motion photographic animation, or 'claymation palimpsest'. 3D printed in damp white clay on a fired terracotta tile using a custom built clay printer/plotter. Animation, paths, and gcode created in Blender, Inkscape, & Prusa Slicer. Photographed frame by frame, with each plotted drawing wiped between frames.
Technical: 58 frames, 12 frames per second. 2160x2160 px. 4 second loop video.
Concept: The simple animated cube form began as the default cube in the Blender 3D modeling application. A cube can represent the reductive basis for a modular system. The cube is a brick or building block, the simplest element from which complexity might emerge. In the process of printing and erasing a contrast emerges between the defined toolpaths of printed geometry and the atmospheric residue of the wiping and erasing process.
Process: Stop motion photographic animation, or 'claymation palimpsest'. 3D printed in damp white clay on a fired terracotta tile using a custom built clay printer/plotter. Animation, paths, and gcode created in Blender, Inkscape, & Prusa Slicer. Photographed frame by frame, with each plotted drawing wiped between frames.
Technical: 58 frames, 12 frames per second. 2160x2160 px. 4 second loop video.
Concept: The simple animated cube form began as the default cube in the Blender 3D modeling application. A cube can represent the reductive basis for a modular system. The cube is a brick or building block, the simplest element from which complexity might emerge. In the process of printing and erasing a contrast emerges between the defined toolpaths of printed geometry and the atmospheric residue of the wiping and erasing process.
Stairs 01
2021
Process: Stop motion photographic animation, or 'claymation palimpsest'. Etched in damp clay via Axidraw pen plotter fitted with an etching tool. Animation and plotting toolpaths created in Blender & Axidraw. Photographed after each etching, damp clay slab wiped clean between frames. Technical: 174 frames, 24 frames per second. 1080x1080 px. 7 second loop video.
Process: Stop motion photographic animation, or 'claymation palimpsest'. Etched in damp clay via Axidraw pen plotter fitted with an etching tool. Animation and plotting toolpaths created in Blender & Axidraw. Photographed after each etching, damp clay slab wiped clean between frames. Technical: 174 frames, 24 frames per second. 1080x1080 px. 7 second loop video.
Arches 01
2021
Animated pen plotter drawing in clay. Process: Stop motion photographic animation. Etched in damp clay via Axidraw pen plotter fitted with an etching tool. Animation and plotting toolpaths created in Blender & Axidraw. Photographed after each etching, damp clay slab wiped clean between frames. Technical: 123 frames, 24 frames per second. 1000x1500 px. 5 second loop video.
Animated pen plotter drawing in clay. Process: Stop motion photographic animation. Etched in damp clay via Axidraw pen plotter fitted with an etching tool. Animation and plotting toolpaths created in Blender & Axidraw. Photographed after each etching, damp clay slab wiped clean between frames. Technical: 123 frames, 24 frames per second. 1000x1500 px. 5 second loop video.
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