Mugs that Relate

Mugs that Relate 

Assignment: “Double Trouble” Mug Assignment a.k.a. building two mugs that “relate” to each other. “Relate” doesn’t mean “carbon copy” as in a set. These mugs can be part of a “family”, an idea, concept, theme that you develop. They can mirror each other or formally oppose each other -but relate to each other or be in relationship to each other is a must.Mugs are usually a type or variation of a cylindrical shape with an addition of a handle for drinking hot liquids. Be inventive, develop a concept, use a formal issue, carve, add embellish or dart.  

Requirements:

1)   Watch videos – darting is optional video

2)   Do at least 10 drawings of pairs -and submit them on your Blog 

3)   Then finalize idea and post proposal on Blog

4)   Build prototypes from paper or cardboard submit for critique discussion

5)   Build 2 mug forms from coil or slab 6)   Document forms in process and final to Blog.Final Objects: The two mugs in a relationship to each other.  They can be coil built or slab built from the earthenware. 

Research / Inspiration:

Initial ideas:

After some peer critique, the couple on the top-left had the most visual appeal, the most dynamic relation, and the most interesting silhouette.  I had initially liked the idea of two mugs that had an angle that swept between them, making them two parts of a larger whole.  

I've tried to emphasize this feeling of counter-weight and the formal issue of balance by planning to use alternating values for my surface treatment.  The goal will be to use coil building, as this method will give me the most control over the curves and silhouette of the two mugs.  I had imagined these as being on the thicker side of the mug world, so I would expect coils to help achieve that look as well.  I've planned on making the handle horizontal on the squat mug, to push them apart and emphasize that one mug is focussed on a horizontal stretch, while the other on a vertical stretch.  I'm imagining this squat mug on the left as being held in one's palm, with their thumb tucked into the handle like an artist's pallet.  

Initial building:

Right from the start I cut one base slightly wider than the other to establish an initial difference between the two mugs.  Using coils, it only took a few layers to start getting the rough form built up.  The tricky part was keeping both the outside and the inside smooth of any coiled ridges, trying to get the surfaces smoothed over with water and rib tools.  

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Handles:

I created the handles by rolling out wedged coils shaped like carrots, and then using a damp sponge to pull them out into elongated shapes which could be adhered to the mug with slip and serrated ribs.  As a visual accent I decided to add faux rivets to imply a sort of hinge.  As per my drawing, I wanted the cups to have contrasting orientation for their handles, so the wide cup has a horizontal handle like something one would see on a bucket.  You can hold the mug in the palm of your hand with the thumb tucked in without too much issue.  

Applying Textures:

In order to get the angled textures lining the top and bottom of the mugs, I used wet newsprint cut into strips and adhered them to the surface before painting over the mug with white slip.  After two layers applied with a medium sized brush, I was able to tear away the strips to reveal crisp angles.  One wants to wait until the slip has begun to dry, but not wait so long that the slip cracks when pulled.  

Final pictures:

Glazing Process:

1. Using a pair of tongs, submerge cup fully into clear glaze container side first so that it covers all surfaces.
2. Empty container and remove, so that process takes about four seconds total
3. Use a sponge to remove glaze from bottom 1/4th inch of mug

What were the objectives?

To create two mugs that interact with each-other in terms of pure aesthetic relationship making use of a specific principle/element of design in terms of both the form and the surface treatment. 

Does the research and ideation fully explore the idea of relationship? How?

 Research looks mostly for unique aspects of mugs that I could utilize for relationships.  We're so used to handling and looking at mugs, sometimes I need to see some really odd ones before I'm able to realize what I might be taking for granted and what I can actually adjust.  

Ideation explores use of handle, form, and silhouette to explore how two mugs can come together to create a unified composition through balance.

How do the mugs relate to each other?

The mugs both dominate one dimension, one wide and one tall.  The depth of the mug and the alignment of the handle serve to emphasize this. They utilize similar textures, and share a silhouette that shows the upward curve of vertical scale between the two.

What elements within the forms create visual relationships? How successful are these forms as a pair, unit or family?

 The patterns lining the lip and the base of the mugs help to emphasize these gestural lines between the two mugs, while their contrasting colors force the eye to recognize the similarities but accept the differences in both texture and form.  

Consider craftsmanship. How well formed are these pieces?

 The coil building process was used here so that I could have more control over the exact silhouette of the mugs, although I believe the overall surface could be more consistent.  Despite efforts to keep things smooth, there are bulges and breaks from a conforming surface across the lips of each.  The mugs are thicker than most, although this is just out of personal preference.  The application of white-slip could have used an additional coat, although it was solid before firing so it wasn't evident to me at the time.

How do proportions, positive/negative space, transitions and handles visually create a relationship between the pieces?

  If they were part of a single sculpture, one could imagine the form twisting 90 degrees in the center, but between the two this relationship exists purely in negative space.The mugs create an implied line between the two, and each dominates their own axis with one being tall and one being squat.  The handles have been positioned so that the tall mug's handle guides the 'Y' axis while the squat mug's handle straddles the 'X' axis.

How is the Blog Entry? Do you have all drawings, research images, process pictures and final images?

The blog entry is complete.