Description

Night Sky

Inspiration

Night Sky is a landscape bowl by Adam Aaronson.

“I’m sure that anyone who is used to walking their dog in the late evening will know how beautiful the night sky is. However, it is an extremely difficult subject to photograph or paint. Most of the time we artists stick to daylight landscapes and skies, but it is very rewarding to achieve good results with night skies”.

Technique

Adam explains the process of making one of his landscape vessels:

“The late colouring technique that I have developed over the years is related to techniques used by ceramicists in glazing, enameling, print making and painting. But while I am drawing on those concepts, all the colour effects come from glass blowing techniques. The main process takes place at high temperatures”

With Night Sky, Adam began by choosing a palette of powdered glass colours. He uses these to reflect a skyscape that he finds inspiring.

He applies layers of pure silver leaf, delicately adding the powdered colour, to create a soft luminosity. So in a way the silver becomes a canvas, depicting the effects of light reflecting on seascapes or forest scenes. Perhaps a change in the seasons or dramatic skies.

The colours melt into the surface by a process of heating and reheating and this builds up unique tones and texture. The bright reds are sprinkled on at the last minute and then melted in as the last stage.

Title

Adam then gives each piece a title reflecting his own inspiration. Lastly, he signs the piece by engraving his signature, the title and the date on the base.

“Often I find the title that I choose is just a springboard. It can spark people’s memories of a moment from far flung travel or their own favourite landscape. What is so special is that different people can see different things in my work”