Monday, 18 January 2016

Ceramic Health and Safety

Health & Safety using Ceramics:

Long-term exposure to clay dust can be very detrimental to your health as it is carcinogenic; all tools and surfaces need to be thoroughly cleaned with water after use with clay .

1) Use protective clothing including non-latex gloves and apron, and tie back hair.

2) Work on top of paper that can be disposed of at the end of the session. This is to keep mess and clay dust to a minimum.

3) Always use the ceramic tools for their intended use and reduce ceramic dust by washing tools thoroughly after use.

4) If any paints, glazes or clay gets left on the tables you should wash them off to reduce clay dust.

5) To further reduce clay dust, wash your hands appropriately throughout the lesson and at the end.

6) Clean up spillages immediately to prevent; potential contamination or risk to others consuming or slipping on it.

7) Don’t eat or drink in the classroom - only sealable bottles of water.

8) When carving into clay, have a bowl of water to brush off any clay dust into.


9) Do not throw clay tools at any time or run in the classroom – act sensibly.

Artist Comparison

In this post I will discuss the work of two independently selected artist who explore self, Ali Cavanaugh and Christo Dagorov, and I will compare their work.

A prominent theme in Ali Cavanaugh's is her daughter, she shows her lover for her daughter through a series of intimate paintings of her at different stages in her life. This gave me the Idea of incorporating my little cousin Maisie into my initial thumbnail ideas because she is very special to me. The painting right 'listening in silence' is from her series 'Immerse' the technique she uses is to layer watercolor paint on a surface of wet kaolin clay.I really like the white clay background as it gives a luminosity to the painting and emphasizes the purity of childish innocence I could experiment with clay painting to see what effects I can achieve.

Christo Dagorov produces detailed drawings and freehand engravings on steel plates. The drawing below was made made using silver point on paper, The name of this work it 'unity' and shows the figures of a man and woman within the lips, the figures are laying down in relaxed and sensual positions, there is nothing loud and in your fave about this drawing, it is very subtle, I think Dagorov used silver point as the medium for this drawing because it produces very fine and delicate finish which I think this accentuates the gentle relationship between the two lovers. I really like the detail in this drawing and could experiment with pencil drawings (as silver point is an expensive).

Both art works have inviting qualities about them, the focal point of Cavanaugh's painting is the girls eyes, they are bright and inquisitive and the calm blues and pale flesh tones gives the painting a captivating fairy-tale like feeling.This expression on the girls face 'invites you into' the painting and makes the viewer want to know what has captured her attention. In contrast Dagoeov's drawing is also inviting, but it 'invites you to watch' rather than 'invites you in'. The highly detailed drawing invites the viewer to closely study the entire drawing and to 'find' the two figures. Both pieces are 'silent' the concentration on the girls face makes it feel like she is focusing intently on one thing and allowing her mouth to open slightly whereas in the drawing 'Unity' the man looks peacefully asleep and the woman looks as though she is gently stirring, the viewer can relate to this quiet morning serenity.



http://www.christodagorov.com/lips.php

http://www.alicavanaugh.com/