Babette Harvey
Inspiration
The underlying narrative of my work is an exploration of the natural world, humanity, and environmental concerns. My sculptures embody these issues by combing animal and nature imagery with human centered objects. Books and music in my work represent the knowledge and creativity humans possess for understanding how to live together on our planet. Animals and plants of course reflect our connection with the natural world and our dependence on it for our health and survival.
Animals standing on books while sporting planets on their heads or women riding bears that are wearing boots are a way to keep optimism and humor alive for me while addressing world issues that I care about.
Process
I hand build each sculpture with slabs and coils using mid range white clay. When the sculpture is built and has dried to the leather hard stage I sketch and carve images into the surface. After sculptures have gone through the first kiln fire I stain and underglaze each piece to create shading and depth. Then I fire sculptures for a second time to full temperature (2200^).
After the full temperature firing is done I apply china paints. China paints are colorful over-glazes that have been used to decorate fine porcelain since the 9th century. They are traditionally applied to a glazed surface which allows the paint to take on the gloss of the glaze. I use china paints in a less traditional way by applying them to the unglazed but fully fired surface of my sculptures. This creates a semi-matt to satin colored surface. Due to the transparent nature of china paints, the stain that I applied prior to china painting shows through and creates a patina or worn look on the finished surface.
All china painted pieces are fired to a very low temperature (1300^) to set the colors into the clay body.
- Babette Harvey
The underlying narrative of my work is an exploration of the natural world, humanity, and environmental concerns. My sculptures embody these issues by combing animal and nature imagery with human centered objects. Books and music in my work represent the knowledge and creativity humans possess for understanding how to live together on our planet. Animals and plants of course reflect our connection with the natural world and our dependence on it for our health and survival.
Animals standing on books while sporting planets on their heads or women riding bears that are wearing boots are a way to keep optimism and humor alive for me while addressing world issues that I care about.
Process
I hand build each sculpture with slabs and coils using mid range white clay. When the sculpture is built and has dried to the leather hard stage I sketch and carve images into the surface. After sculptures have gone through the first kiln fire I stain and underglaze each piece to create shading and depth. Then I fire sculptures for a second time to full temperature (2200^).
After the full temperature firing is done I apply china paints. China paints are colorful over-glazes that have been used to decorate fine porcelain since the 9th century. They are traditionally applied to a glazed surface which allows the paint to take on the gloss of the glaze. I use china paints in a less traditional way by applying them to the unglazed but fully fired surface of my sculptures. This creates a semi-matt to satin colored surface. Due to the transparent nature of china paints, the stain that I applied prior to china painting shows through and creates a patina or worn look on the finished surface.
All china painted pieces are fired to a very low temperature (1300^) to set the colors into the clay body.
- Babette Harvey
