Thursday, July 13, 2017

Nikki Serra, Ceramicist, Tells Her Story




I grew up in Nebraska and spent a lot of time on my grandparent’s ranch a few miles from my home. There, I played in the barn with the kittens and in the yard with Grandpa’s Airedales, watched cattle, rode on the old tractor with my Grandpa and adored walking through my Grandma’s garden full of county fair prize-winning blooms.  


She also had a gorgeous vegetable garden where I would sit in the dirt, eating tomatoes like apples with a saltshaker readily in hand.  When I was older, I helped her can her sour cherries for the winter pies. I could sit for hours and marvel at the incredible insects on the farm and on some evenings, sitting on the back porch steps, watch little dust twisters on the horizon. I was the typical barefoot, grimy, scabby kneed, freckle-faced tomboy who lived to be outside, either at my childhood home playing with the other kids or at one of my grandparent’s or uncles’ ranches, roaming like a little savage. Whenever I was indoors, I was constantly drawing . . . on anything I could find. When I was very small, my Grandma gave me a set of colored pencils for my birthday and that set was my most cherished possession.




We now live in rural Pennsylvania and as an adult, I’ve observed the decline of some of the insect and plant life I took for granted, back in the old Nebraska days. The decline of weeds, plants, and insects also affects bird and bat populations, which we’ve seen disappearing in our own yard and gardens. 

My appreciation of nature and the lush atmospheric floral and vegetative images which appear on my pottery is ingrained from childhood and sustained in adulthood. My functional pottery explores the beauty, whimsy and genuine concern inspired by my “nature girl” childhood. The colorful coneflowers, tulips, poppies, sunflowers, milkweed, random leaves, vegetables, fruit, the spiders, snails, my protective garden goblins all find space on my pots. The themes, although planned, seem to have a life of their own once implemented and often sustain the wistful atmospheric quality of a long ago dewy day. 

When my husband and I left graduate school we moved to D.C. and no longer had a place to make pots. We got entry-level day jobs and eventually discovered Glen Echo Pottery, where we were lucky enough to teach classes and work on our own pots on weekends. After about 5 years, we left the gridlock of The City and moved to our farmhouse in Pennsylvania. But my access to a place to make pots disappeared. We taught at the local community college for awhile, but found the teaching load was too much on top of the necessary but dreaded “day jobs”, so we left teaching.



Bisqued Example of Gestural Slip Trailing - 5” W x 9 “ W


Eventually, after about 20 years, I found an old wheel and an even older kiln (both of which I still use!) and began working on pots whenever I could find a free weekend . . . like so many potters – sadly, with very limited time. Happily, I retired about 3 years ago and have thus enjoyed the luxury of having days upon days to focus on my “real work.”

And also, like so many potters, the transition from the academic gas fired kilns to the little garage electric kiln was stark. Eventually, I stopped trying to recreate the look of the reduction atmosphere and taught myself how to handle underglaze and brushes. Now my work is focused on one of the things oxidation does best: color and imagery.

Floral Series Coneflower Pilsner Mug -  7” H x 3” W


Almost everything I make is wheel thrown. Sometimes, after trimming, I’ll apply slip (made from my clay body) from a Clairol bottle, gesturally. After the pots have dried, I bisque them and subsequently do all the decorating on bisqued ware.  The underglaze images are painted by hand. I sketch a design on the pots with a pencil and then, painstakingly, add the underglaze with brushes and with slip trailers to create the floral imagery. Sometimes I fill in an underglaze background around the imagery.



Crab Apple Bowl - 6” H x 7” W


Rather than mixing underglazes to find the exact color I want, I layer the different colors on top of each other on the pot. So, there are many layers of underglaze for each developed color. When all the imagery has been completed, I usually add a border around rims, handles and the base, either in black or in one of the darker colors of the designs. 


Garden Series Assorted Tumblers and Mugs

The under-glazed pieces are re-bisqued to harden the underglaze, before the glaze is applied. I usually use a clear glaze for the first firing. There are usually more glaze firings to follow to develop color over the decorations. I like the initial clear glaze firing because I can see the design and it helps to figure out where to add the colored transparent glazes. I glaze each pot up to 4 times.  


Garden Series Plates - 3” H x 10” W

Frequently, a luster firing will be added at the end so potentially each of my pieces is fired up to 7 times. All work is food safe, however luster work should not be washed in a dishwasher and cannot be microwaved. The investment of time and resources is quite large, as it is for most potters, and along the way, unique for potters, is the lurking potential for a devastating failure. I think many potters never “count chicks!”


Garden Series Floral Pitchers - 11” H x 4” W

Like most makers, what I create constantly evolves and it’s a wonderful journey, seeing where the creative process goes. Making things has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember, and making pottery is the one thing that never ceases to be fulfilling, challenging, and yes, frustrating. For me, pottery never disappoints and frequently delights. I hope my pots can bring smiles and hope to others, along the way. 



Garden Series Shadows Mug - 3.75” H x 3” W


This is Week 27 of 52 Artists in 52 Weeks. Thank you for reading and sharing Nikki’s story today. To connect with her and see more of her work, please visit the following links:



10 comments:

  1. Luxe Trim 1 When you start taking the supplement regularly, you’ll notice that it’s started out displaying its outcomes. To see the right outcomes and what sort of weight you’ve were given shed, display your weight report or make a fitness magazine to stay aware of your own development.

    Features of Luxe Trim 1
    The following functions of Luxe Trim 1 are worth citing for the reason that they’re the ones who positioned this complement besides many others which might be made to work the precise identical way but aren’t as powerful.

    Read More About It >>> https://www.completefoods.co/diy/recipes/luxe-trim-1-to-buy-weight-loss

    ReplyDelete

  2. Use Sunscreen – Apply it Evianne Cream generously before you go outdoor to hold your pores and skin looking youthful.

    Eat Better – Healthier ingesting takes into consideration extra wonderful pores and skin. Your fitness will rely upon the sort of meals you devour.

    Go Bare – Go makeupless every on occasion to provide your pores and skin a threat to be unfastened.
    Read News >> https://www.quora.com/unanswered/Is-Evianne-cream-legit

    ReplyDelete
  3. Debbiesmiraclespieces, HCA and chlorogenic hurting are wake of surfing the web, I came to consider this magnificent thing. It really shaded away my colossal muscle to fat stays without giving use. That is the reason, I oblige you to utilize it at any rate once. Sam tells, I ought to have been super thin and to a mind boggling degree fit and that is the reason, I started to utilize this cerebrum boggling , cure. At first I thought, it won't not give the fancied results yet rather in the wake of utilizing it for around 2 months, it truly hack down my tummy fat and gave me what I in light of current conditions required. You can in like way take its uncommon central obsession interests.
    https://debbiesmiracles.com/

    https://debbiesmiacles.blogspot.com/2020/02/debbiesmiracles.html

    https://tvm14814.hatenablog.com/entry/debbiesmiracles

    ReplyDelete
  4. sharktankpedia unsettled and dull life into the life of an optimist.The unavoidable eventual outcomes of the , may falter as showed up by the age sex and flourishing of various people.One more area that can have or reducing the impact of ,, is the affirmation of the individual who truly needs to thin down.Julia an educator was at one time a tremendously affecting woman, yet when she found a couple of techniques concerning Slim Fit 180 she just got the open part and utilized the , and moreover took after a strict workout standard and after the use of the , for four weeks have lost 25 pounds. Most by a wide edge of the clearing get-together who have utilized , paying little respect to their sex have discovered it the best , structure they have ever used,when they were offered some other , procedure they just declined to change to it. What Is ,? , is the possible conceivable aftereffect of the endeavors done by the specialists to help the mind

    https://sharktankpedia.org/

    https://jeliy65964.hatenablog.com/entry/sharktankpedia
    https://sharktaed2020.blogspot.com/2020/02/sharktankpedia.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. this skincare pride facilitates in rejuvenating and rebuilding the pores and pores and skin. Bioviderma Serum Furthermore, the extra expansive substances approximately the elements and different compounds delivered not found to most of the people. Result, you want to observe the label of the p.Smooth. Timorous before you start making use of this pores and skin problem cream. Does Bioviderma Serum Anti Aging Skin Cream bid a Good Consumer Reputation and Credibility?
    Read More>>> https://www.completefoods.co/diy/recipes/bioviderma-serum-does-it-really-work-read-review-before-buy

    https://sites.google.com/site/biovidermaserum/

    ReplyDelete

  6. Any Side Effect from Advanced Keto Plus
    Advanced Keto Plus Advanced Keto Plus is the herbal weight reduction supplement as you spot the composition information it has no harmful agent or the chemical substances on the way to supply any side impact to your frame. So never, suppose that this complement is loose from all kinds of extreme issues. Get your lifestyles returned or begin the usage of this system.


    READ MORE >>>>> https://www.completefoods.co/diy/recipes/advanced-keto-plus-does-its-really-works-truth-here

    http://advancedketoplus.mystrikingly.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. What is Ascension Keto?
    Ascension Keto This is one of the exceptional weight reduction dietary supplements for effective weight loss. You don’t have to bypass thru an intensive meal plan and the surgical procedures when you operate this meal plan. If you're searching out the fine weight loss system to get the favored shape, you need to use this components. It is full of rich components, and it is not harmful to everybody. The formulation improves your stamina and bone mass. This nutritional complement is likewise lower priced as compared to different weight reduction products. It is a much less expensive however very effective product. It promotes healthy weight loss by using burning unwanted fat in the frame. The formula speedy shifts the frame from a carb cycle to fats cycle.


    READ MORE >>>> https://www.completefoods.co/diy/recipes/ascension-keto-reviews-2020-does-it-really-work

    http://ascensionketo.mystrikingly.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Primal Grow Pro This components will increase the extent of testosterone. Testosterone – the male hormone that reveals male tendencies in men. This system will increase the concentration of this hormone. It will increase testosterone stages, which ultimately therapies erection and increases sexual desire. Natural components on this components increases your energy degree, which further improves staying power at some point of sexual intercourse.


    READ MORE >>>> https://www.completefoods.co/diy/recipes/what-is-primal-grow-pro-read-benefits

    https://sacolekqualwas.hatenablog.com/entry/Primal_Grow_Pro

    ReplyDelete

  9. Taking Rapid Boost Keto start the usage of the fat reserves of your body to energy the each and every tool Rapid Boost Keto taking location within the frame. In this way, your body does no longer need carbs for energy. Rapid Boost Keto has the guarantee that it awesome provoke and raise the ketosis method inside the frame and does not acquire inside the fat tissues. It allows your body to build up ketosis away. It allows your body in regulating insulin production, whichis beneficial in controlling diabetes. This product burns your frame fat away with the beneficial aid of controlling your fat cells.



    Ingredients completed in Rapid Boost Keto
    BHB’s
    One of the principle element that complements the herbal ketosis manner inside the frame and outcomes Rapid Boost Keto in a brief loss in weight. It permits in the burning of fat and to accumulate electricity for the body.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I trusted Zuma Zuk totally from the time I spoke with him during the period my husband Left me after 7 years of our marriage, He started the spell work on my husband, and gave me so much assurance and guaranteed me that he was going to bring my husband back to my feet in just 48 hours of the spell casting. I was so confident in his work and just as he said in the beginning, my husband is finally back to me again, yes he is back with all his hearts, Love, care, emotions and flowers and things are better now. I would have no hesitation to recommend this powerful spell caster to anybody who is in need of help.. E-mail; spiritualherbalisthealing@gmail.com or whatsapp him on +15068001647

    ReplyDelete