1. A Contemporary Ceramic Artist
DAVID STABLEY
A Contemporary Ceramic Artist

2. Clay has been used as a medium to tell stories for thousands of years
Clay has been used as a medium to tell stories for thousands of years. From Ancient Greek vessels to contemporary pedestal pieces by David Stabley. Clay has been a successful media to tell stories and convey meaning to viewers.

3. Artists and cultures across time have depicted their surroundings, historical events, wars, and myths on the surfaces of their ceramics.

4. In this lesson you will...
Learn about the contemporary ceramist David Stabley and his work.
Use and apply the techniques of low relief sculpture.
Develop an original story telling plate, working in the style of the artist.
Apply new methods or non-conventional methods and techniques when applying surface decoration.

5. What will you do?
You will develop a plate that tells a story about an event in your life, a vacation spot, an imaginary place, a dream, etc.
You will develop sketches and a story- telling plate working in the style of the artist, using his surface applications and decorations.

6. DAVID STABLEY & HIS WIFE

8. About the artist, continued...
Currently lives in northeast Pennsylvania.
Has taught at many universities and workshops.
Has participated in many shows and competitions.

10. About the artist, continued...
Sells his works mainly through shops and galleries across the United States.
His work is locally displayed and for sale in Lawrence and Kansas City.

12. About the artist, continued...
Has 2 children, Erica and Jake.
David Stabley comes from a printmaking background.
His work is very narrative (tells stories).

14. About David Stabley, schooling.
He attended the University of Nebraska, in Lincoln Nebraska (1994).
Millersville University Millersville, Pennsylvania (1980).

16. About David Stabley, schooling.
and Kutztown University, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania
( ).

17. From David Stabley’s Artist Statement:
Ceramics has always been a major working force in my life. I am forever fascinated by its endless expressive possibilities as a medium.

18. From David Stabley’s Artist Statement:
All of my pieces are made from an earthenware clay body and fired to 1900 degrees Fahrenheit. I draw my imagery onto the piece in the leather hard stage and then carve and texture the surface. If areas are to be glazed, I do this in the bone dry stage and single fire in an electric kiln. After the firing, I apply a rubbed on patina to all of the unglazed areas. Even though I use similar forms, all of the imagery is unique to that particular piece.

21. From David Stabley’s Artist Statement:
My work is based on ideas about dreams and their relationship to fantasy. My most recent works deal with how we remember and perceive dreams in fragmented ways. I am exploring space, texture, surface design and the overlapping of objects to create this sense of fragmentation. My imagery reflects situations that are comfortable, mysterious and romantic in nature. I am fascinated by the unknown and the mysteries of the universe.

22. From David Stabley’s Artist Statement:
The faces emit emotions, feeling and energy that create a mood within the surrounding landscape. Each piece does not tell its own story, rather it allows the viewer to discern their own feelings and thoughts. My work is meant to evoke the viewers senses of idea and content as well as the relationships to space, texture, color, form and surface.

23. · What is different about Stabley’s style of ceramics?

24. What is different about Stabley’s style of ceramics?
Whimsical, fun, animated.
Colorful & playful.
Imaginative.
Detailed.
Looks like it is illustrated.
Looks like it is a drawing or painting, verses clay.
Surface treatment or finishing.

25. Why would Stabley’s different surface treatment be unique compared to other’s work.

26. Why would Stabley’s different surface treatment be unique compared to other’s work
Applies new and nontraditional medium.
no other artists work in the same manner.
Uses glazes, acrylic paints, and patinas (a metallic finish).
Build-up of layers of paint.
Uses glaze and paint to accent.
Uses the paint to show gradient… depth and shadow.
Extensive use of line…

27. Do you think Stabley’s background in printmaking is reflected in his ceramic work? Why or How?

30. What you are going to do...

31. DEVELOP 3 OR MORE THUMBNAILS SKETCHES. (Sketch worksheet)
Develop a design that tells a story about an event in your life, a vacation spot, an imaginary place, a dream, etc.
The images could be landscapes, moonscapes, or seascapes and should include animals, people, plant life, mountains, hills, etc.

32. Sketches continued...
You can use any images you can find in the room or from home.
You can look at art reproductions, the picture file, and art books.
You can also bring in photos that you might use to help tell your story. For example: a tropical vacation spot, a great photo of your cat, or perhaps a shot of cool clouds you took.

33. Sketches continued...
You are going to develop images based on Stabley’s style. We are going to use his methods of working and his methods of applying color and surface decoration.

34. What is the difference between the real world and fantasy or dream worlds? Lets look at some examples!

35. Your designs must include a foreground, middle ground, and background in your design.

36. What is foreground?

37. Foreground
Objects that appear closet to the viewer, most often larger than those that are behind.
Examples:

38. What is middle ground?

39. Middle ground
Objects that appear between the foreground and background.
Examples:

40. What is background?

41. Background
Objects that appear farthest from the viewer, most often smaller than those that are in front.
Examples:

42. Your design should include objects that are large, medium, and small.
All designs must have objects that overlap in some areas and should have raised or built up areas that result from adding extra clay.

43. What is relief sculpture?

44. What is relief sculpture?
Relief sculpture- a sculpted image or design whose flat background surface is carved away to a certain depth.
High relief and Low (bas) relief- depending upon the extent of projection of the image from the background.

45. Types of relief...
Additive relief- adding to the sculpture; adding coils, shapes, etc.
Subtractive relief- carving into the piece, taking away the surface
Sunken relief- when an image is molded below the original surface or the background.

46. Your designs can be simplified contour line drawings.

47. DEVELOP A LARGE FINAL SKETCH.
The large sketch should be the same size as the plate approx. 8-9”
Transfer your ideas to large white drawing paper.
Color areas that are in the background dark, to help establish the difference of relief.
Go over sketches and ideas with teacher before starting with clay.

48. ROLL OUT A SLAB OF CLAY ½” THICK.
Roll out a slab that is approximately 2” larger than plate.
PLACE SLAB ONTO PLATE MOLD.
Place a layer of wet paper towels between plate mold and clay slab.

49. TRANSFER DESIGN TO SLAB.
Place your drawn design on top of the clay. With a needle tool, use the dot-to-dot method to poke through the paper into the clay, tracing the main outlines of the design.
Trim excess clay from edges to fit plate mold.
Follow design, you may leave areas for design to continue off plate. (or you can add extensions later…)

50. ADD LAYERS AND CARVE OR MODEL SURFACE.
Attach layers of clay by scoring and slipping.
NOTE: You may want to leave some raised areas separate or not attached, not slipped and scored. Keep separate pieces on plate so they can dry with the plate. This will allow you to paint hard to reach areas easier. Pieces will be glued on at the finish of the piece.

51. SPRAY THE CLAY DOWN IN BETWEEN CLASS TIMES.
Mist surface and cover air tight to keep clay from drying out before putting plate away.

52. COMPLETE THE BACK OF THE PLATE.
When the plate is dry enough to remove from the mold (leather hard stage), remove the paper towels and smooth and clean the sides and back.
Carve name on the backside of piece. (IMPORTANT)

53. ALLOW TILES TO DRY, PLACE ON DRYING RACK.
BISQUE FIRE PIECES.
PAINT THE PLATES WITH A BASE COAT OF BLACK.
APPLY Rubb ‘n Buff PAINT THE SURFACE OF THE PLATE
We will talk more and review as the lesson progresses.