Here is what it turned into. MOBY DICK! And I made it too long -24"- to fit in my kiln! That's what happens when you get carried away by a whale.
I am a big fan of Melville's novel of the white whale. Read it many times. Listened to the book on tape many times. I also spend three weeks every other summer on the beach just north of Boston. New Bedford, the Cape and Nantucket all close by. In fact, I have oft thought of somehow spending the summer on Nantucket and selling pots! I wonder if that will ever happen? Now there would be a market for whale pots and sculptures. This sculpture is inspired by a carved wooden whale that was on a bookcase in the fine arts room of the St. Louis Public Library. It has been moved and is not on view. I missed it so much........
Above is the view from Captian Ahab's eye....
Actually, this is the second whale I make in the last two weeks. The first was joined with a bowl to create this piece.... It came before the big whale.
Don't ask me why, I just make these things. Maybe it can actually be used as a shrimp bowl. Cocktail sauce on the inside bowl and shrimp in the outside bowl.
I also made a couple of the more traditional pots. Well, actually, one pot I made this week is unusual in that it is decorated inside and out. And both the inside and out are decorated pretty tight. I made the pot with a wide neck so I could get my hands and tools inside. It has a snow scene on the outside and a rain scene on the inside. Now that I think of it, this might somehow be related to Moby Dick and the sea culture. It is sort of like building a ship in a bottle.
And another bulbous Aliuym pot with a couple birds, a full moon and snow.
