Abstract art - behind the scenes

Abstract art - behind the scenes. Watch the video at: Martin Harman Art TV Youtube

In this video I would like to share with you my current artworks in the making and why I am making them. I thought I would create this video to give you guys some more insight into the art that I create. You can buy the PVA Glue here! Amazon: Washable Blue Label Pva Glue 5 Litre by Brian Clegg Enjoy

Welcome to Curiosity Gallery!

Welcome to Curiosity Gallery! Watch the video at: Martin Harman Art TV Youtube

In this video I would like to share with you the inspiration behind some of my recent artworks created in 2020 as well as some older ones on display at Curiosity Gallery? Enjoy

Artist Interview - Wen Hsi Harman

 

Artist Interview - Wen Hsi Harman. Watch the video at: Martin Harman Art TV Youtube

In todays video I would like to share with you the art of Wen-Hsi Harman. She is an artist based in the UK and she uses clay to create art. Her ceramic practice investigates the concept of ‘in-betweenness’ between Taiwan and Britain. Living away from her homeland gives her a clearer perspective of the culture in which she grew up. The cross-cultural experience provides a platform, from which I can address the questions of expressing, and communicating her experience of in-betweenness as a place where she can survive. She wants to draw breath to help her cope with the challenges of living in two cultures.

Abstract art painting - The making of It's deeper than you think

Watch the video here

Come with me on a journey, behind the scenes, the making of my latest abstract painting It's deeper than you think.

Find out more about this artwork at: martinharmanart.com

Abstract art painting - The making of The philosophy of barcodes

Watch the video at: Martin Harman Art TV Youtube

Come with me on a journey, behind the scenes, the making of my latest abstract painting The philosophy of barcodes. Find more about this artwork at: martinharmanart.com

Abstract art painting - The making of O

Abstract art painting - The making of O. Watch the video here Come with me on a journey, behind the scenes, the making of my latest abstract painting O. Find more about this artwork at: martinharmanart.com Enjoy

How to hang a painting

Watch the video at: Martin Harman art Youtube 

In this video I would like to share with how I go about hanging my 2d artworks like my paintings. I hope this video can help you in some way.

Abstract art - quality and quantity

Abstract art - quality and quantity. 

Watch the video at: Martin Harman Art Youtube

In this video I would like to share with you my thoughts about pursuing quality and quantity in the creation of artworks. Enjoy

How to display art in the home

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7xnSAi3E4

In this video I would like to share with my thoughts about ways in which you can display sculpture and 2d art in the home. I am using my own art as an example although I would like to think it will maybe get you thinking about how display art from other artists artworks in the home as well. It's a basic introduction from my own perspective and who knows you might have your own ideas. Hopefully it can help you on your journey. Oh and, for people who don't want to put nails or screws into the wall to hang 2d artworks I found these sticky hooks on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-1704... Personally I have not used them before, but it seems like it could work? Enjoy!

My artistic journey, how it all began

With the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQPC0DLzbss&t=1s

In this video I would like to share with how I started my artistic journey, and what led me to were I am today.

Bundanon Trust artist residency

 Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeDHNYSfbSA&t=546s

In this video I would like to share with you my experience of doing an artist residency at Bundanon Trust in New South Wales Australia. I am going to talk about: Why I went there? About the project What did I learn from the project Would I recommend doing an artist residency? What could I prepare to do an artist residency? Enjoy!

Do artists need validation?

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsvw4wy61NQ&t=2s

In this video I would like to share with you my thoughts on validation as an artist. I used to seek approval for my art from the external environment. Everything from competitions, exhibitions and social media. However I realise now that the most important thing is that I am happy with what I am producing. If I am not happy with it and only making it for approval then I guess what is the point of making art in the first place. Hopefully if I enjoy making the art and I feel strongly about it, I would like to think that value should transfer over to other people with similar interests.

Are Artists Crazy?

Are Artists Crazy? 

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y77Dnc-HTgw

Sometimes I think I am crazy to create my art. I like to create things to evoke new experiences and I enjoy creating my own reality. It has taken me on a journey of discovery and new possibilities. In this video I will share with you why I sometimes think I am crazy to do this.

Transcendence- abstract/surreal art drawing

Watch the video at: Martin Harman Art Youtube In this video I would like to share with you my latest original artwork drawing "Transcendence" Enjoy!

Ceramic Art Europe

Watch the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=velumfFiIB8

In this video I would like to share with you my thoughts on ceramic art styles in Europe and the UK. This video was recorded to respond to my experience during the International Bone China Symposium at the Department of Ceramics and Porcelain at Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts in Lithuania. Myself and my wife Wen-His Harman were both grateful to be invited to attend the event. The symposium runs from the 3rd of August to the 21st of August 2020. The International Bone China Symposium 2020 Kaunas Exhibition at the Kaunas Picture Gallery of M.K. Ciulionis National Art Museum runs until the 13th of September 2020. The exhibition is also taking place at the Stone Galley in Kaunas.

Discover more about the artists at: http://www.porcelianosimpoziumas.lt/en/participants-2020/

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 5

Watch the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQqGeH_eZKE&t=1099s

In this video I would like to share with you my finished artworks as well as the artworks created by the other artists.

The International Bone China Symposium 2020 Kaunas Exhibition at the Kaunas Picture Gallery of M.K. Ciulionis National Art Museum runs until the 13th of September 2020. The exhibition is also taking place at the Stone Galley in Kaunas.

This vlog is part of a series of videos recording my experience during the International Bone China Symposium at the Department of Ceramics and Porcelain at Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts in Lithuania. Myself and my wife Wen-His Harman were both grateful to be invited to attend the event. The symposium runs from the 3rd of August to the 21st of August 2020.

Discover more about the artists at: http://www.porcelianosimpoziumas.lt/en/participants-2020/

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 4

 

Watch the Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyDVbdyAmhw

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 4

In this video I thought I would share with you the progress from the studio so far. Bubble sculpture, fresh pieces out from the kiln, glazing and outdoor ceramic sculpture. This vlog is part of a series of videos recording my experience during the International Bone China Symposium at the Department of Ceramics and Porcelain at Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts in Lithuania. Myself and my wife Wen-His Harman were both grateful to be invited to attend the event. The symposium runs from the 3rd of August to the 21st of August 2020.

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 3

 Watch the Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiNY6ixoGDc

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 3 In this video I thought I would share with you what I have been making recently at the studio. This vlog is part of a series of videos recording my experience during the International Bone China Symposium at the Department of Ceramics and Porcelain at Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts in Lithuania. Myself and my wife Wen-His Harman were both grateful to be invited to attend the event. The symposium runs from the 3rd of August to the 21st of August 2020.

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 2

Watch the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KAYwSQHcMM&t=311s

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 2 In this video I thought I would give you an insight into my travels around Kaunas and Vilnius in Lithuania before the start of the Symposium. This vlog is part of a series of videos recording my experience during the International Bone China Symposium at the Department of Ceramics and Porcelain at Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts in Lithuania. Myself and my wife Wen-His Harman were both grateful to be invited to attend the event. The symposium runs from the 3rd of August to the 21st of August 2020.

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 1

Watch the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG42WNolcFI&t=548s

International Bone China Symposium 2020 - Kaunas Lithuania Vlog 1 In this video I thought I would give you an update, a little early than the usual Saturday! I am very grateful to have been invited to attend the International Bone China Symposium at the Department of Ceramics and Porcelain at Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts in Lithuania. Myself and my wife were both selected so we be going out there together. The symposium runs from the 3rd of August to the 21st of August 2020. As the event will be focused on bone china porcelain the plan will be to investigate its possibilities from a sculptural approach. I am going to try and record the journey and keep you posted with new videos.

Abstract Art Painting - The Making of Signs of the Times. New Youtube Video

Watch the full video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nj9cctXQQE

Abstract Art Painting - The Making of Signs of the Times A memory captured in time "Signs of the times" in which I am living through. This collage painting was created in response to the coronavirus pandemic, civil unrest and political issues, this is all captured in the newspapers of that time 2020. I cut out these newspaper images and assembled them onto the canvas. For me newspapers present a memory of the times we live in but it also provokes images and words to grab the readers attention. In some ways it is chaotic and full of different kinds of human behaviour and emotions. I then created this circle with a black on the outside to pull the eye into the space. Its also a signal of belief, or way of crossing over into another space or time. I was thinking that perhaps I should add more layers of colour to the surface but I realised I liked the simplicity.

Abstract Art - Handmade Ceramic Sculpture

I would just like to say thank you for everyone watching my videos and thank you to those of you who have subscribed to my Youtube channel. I hope you are finding the videos enjoyable and that it is giving you a better understanding of my art and art in general.

Looks like the channel is shaping up to be some kind of video blog. 

In this video I thought I would talk about how people often see my ceramic sculptures as being made from plaster moulds. 

Plaster moulds basically act as a tool to make multiple ceramic forms. For example, factory’s can often use them as you can pour liquid clay into the mould/shape like a teapot to produce multiple items quickly without them being made on the potter’s wheel. As this process has less physical interaction between the makers hand and the clay object, the resulting objects are usually very geometric and clean from makers marks. 

People usually think my ceramic sculptures are made from plaster moulds because they are so precise. But acutely they are not as they have all been made using the potter’s wheel. I often throw simple shapes like cones, cylinders and spheres which I then cut up and join together to create these abstract ceramic sculptures.

If you are new to my videos feel free to check out my Youtube channel at Martin Harman Art at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAMuxXDDYDibyUd1MHqK-Jg?view_as=subscriber

Feel free to subscribe to the channel if you enjoy the content.

International Ceramics Studio Kecskemet Hungary Symposium 2019 🇭🇺

In this video I thought it would be interesting to talk about my experience of being invited to attend the International Ceramics Studio Kecskemét Hungary Symposium 2019.

It’s a place where ceramic artists from all over the world can go to experiment and try new things. In total there were 12 artists who participated in this event. Most of them working with sculpture and one person working with tableware. If you want to check out those artists feel free to watch my video “International Ceramics Studio Kecskemét Hungary” recommended at the end of this video.

It was my first visit to Hungary. I always like the opportunity to visit a country as I can immerse myself in a new way of life.

I went to this symposium with an open mind to create experimental ceramic sculpture.

Thank you very much to the organisers of this event for inviting me I really appreciated the opportunity to learn.

Abstract Art - Why Create Art

Abstract Art – Why Create Art In this video I thought it would be interesting to talk about why I create art and what is the point of it. For me, I want to bring something new into the world and provide new experiences. The world can often seem driven on the status quo, what is normal and what is acceptable in which different things have its place or based upon popular culture. I would like to see a better world of new possibilities expressed by human potential. These are some of the reasons Why I Create Art.

6 Key Meanings of Abstract Art

In this video you will learn about 6 Key meanings about what is abstract art and how this relates to my own art. What is the definition of abstract art? I guess it can mean many different things for different people. I thought it would be interesting to look at information online so I looked at one definition from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstrac...) and one definition from the Tate.org (https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms...). From these definitions I pulled out clips of information to compare these statements.

Abstract Art Painting The Making of Magical

Are you feeling funky! In this video I share the making of my large abstract painting "Magical". After watching acrylic pouring techniques it automatically got me on the hock and I could not resist but give it a go myself. Acrylic pouring is a technique of mixing paint with a medium and then pouring onto a surface. Each result takes on a life of its own. However I wanted to adapt this artistic style to my own language. I pured the paints ontop of newspaper-cutouts. I wanted this painting to represent the society around me and I felt newspaper-cutouts would be ideal for this. I wanted to make this painting in a way in a way I can describe as being a chemical cocktail of sorts with a space in the middle for the eye to enter. Perhaps the resulting artwork is meditative, contemplative and Magical. Medium: Collage of newspaper-cutouts, white gloss paint, acrylic paint and medium on canvas. Dimensions: H80 W80 D3.7cm

Find this artwork at: https://www.martinharmanart.com/store/p124/magical.html

How to Photograph Sculpture

In this video I am going to show you how to photograph sculpture. From experience I have realised how important it is to present sculpture, whether it’s through a website or social media platforms. I realised how useful this is to highlight the key features of the sculpture. Here are the five things you need to photograph your sculpture. 1. The sculpture 2. Space to photograph your work. I like to use a space that has natural lighting coming through a window.  

Gradient background photography paper is also helpful to photograph the sculpture on top of. 3. Lighting. Professional photography lighting. 4. Camera. Digital/Dslr 5. Computer to transfer images onto. This is useful to adjust the image to match the real thing. These are the 5 main things I use to photograph my sculpture. In this video I will show you how to use these 5 key points to photograph your sculpture. I hope this video will help you. If you would like to know were I purchased some of the equipment used in this video please see the links bellow. The photography paper (Varitone Medium Grey to White (1.1 x 1.6m) Vertical Format Vinyl Photography Background) was purchased from https://www.photography-backgrounds.c... (This link is not affiliated) DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. I only create links to products I truly enjoy using. This will help to support my channel and allow me to continue to make more videos like this. Thank you for your support! ESDDI 20"X28" Softbox Portable Photography Lighting Kit Photo Equipment Studio Light 20"X28" for Portrait Video and Advertising Shooting https://amzn.to/2UDVUAG (Affiliate) Phot-R 625W (125W) 220V 5500K E27 Socket CFL Spiral Continuous Daylight Balanced Fluorescent Energy Saving Light Bulbs for Professional Photography Photo Video Studio Lighting https://amzn.to/3e7cocc (Affiliate)

What is Abstract Art?

What is Abstract Art? What does it mean for you? In this video I attempt to answer that question from my own perspective to try and shed some light on the subject.  

Let’s start the video with a cup of coffee. I enjoy making a fresh cup of coffee in the morning and serving it in my Bubbleware handmade mug. For me there is no separation between art and life. They both inspire each other. What is abstract art? For me abstract art can cross over into different areas. It can provide new ways of seeing and experiencing. It provides me the freedom to explore and not limit myself. An example of a ceramic abstract artist who got me thinking about abstract art is Ron Nagel. He got me thinking diffidently about it. His ceramic sculptures seem to cross over between sculpture and painting. There is no recognizable image, his work is there for you to create your own imagination about what you are seeing. It makes me create my own interpretation and ways of seeing and experiencing his art. Abstract art for me is about leaving questions for the viewer, this is one of the main reasons why I create abstract art. I enjoy the possibilities of working with clay to make ceramic sculpture. My sculptures are made from shapes thrown on the potter’s wheel. They are cut up and joined together to create these open forms. I then use colour and paten to draw the eye to different parts of the form and break up the space. Glazed and unglazed surfaces are used to reflect and absorb light. Abstract art can remind me of things and experiences seen in the real world, it gets me thinking. I think abstract art is about provoking people’s imagination and providing new ways of seeing and experiencing. That’s why I like working with abstract art as its open for the viewer to make their own decisions, create their own meaning from it, that for me is the power of abstract art. What does abstract art mean for you? How does it make you feel? Are there any abstract artists you admire? It would be interesting to see people’s comments. Feel free to leave a comment bellow. I think it is good we all have our own interpretations. Thank you for watching! Find more information about Ron Nagle at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaNYmg9B6bw

Stone Circles England Inspired Sculptures

What I find fascinating about places like Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles are things like why they were built and how they were built. It is this ultimate mystery that sits in the landscape. When I go to these places I am reminded of the potential humans have. I am left to decide how I want to see and experience them. People are left to bring their own imagination to them. This is a big inspiration for my ceramic sculptures. I wanted to translate my own interpretation of stone circles to my artworks. I want to make artworks that invite curiosity and imagination and new ways of experiencing. These ceramic sculptures are made using simple shape like cones and cylinders that are thrown on the potter’s wheel. They are then cut up and joined together to create these open forms. I then apply colour by spraying it to the surface. I like to build up multiple layers and create line and pattern. The sculptures go through multiple firings then finally a clear glaze is applied. Why do people come to see Avebury Stone Circle? “Lots of history, Something magical about the place” “Everybody is very open here, lots of people from different parts of society” Thank you for watching and thank you for the insight from people who participated in the interviews. Listen to the full interviews at Martin Harman Art on Youtube

How do I make my ceramic free standing open sculptures

Like most of my ceramic sculptures the making of my free standing open sculptures process starts on the potters wheel. For me the wheel is a tool to help create artistic creations. It can be used to create tableware but it can also be used to create sculpture. There are many possibilities.

I usually throw individual objects on the potters wheel like cylinders, cones and spheres. I use stoneware as it is good for throwing and hand-building. It is strong once fired and assists in depth of colour and glaze.

I then cut up these shapes and join them together, it is all a constructive process of cutting and joining.

Once the desired shape is complete I then use tools to refine the shape such as the edge. When making open sculptures the edge is very important as this defines the shape and the inside and outside space.

I then bisque fire the forms to 1000c to remove the water and harden the clay for the next process. All firings are done in an electric kiln to control the temperature and in most cases the results. Then I will refine them again with sand paper to remove any rough textures. I am looking for clean defined forms.

An example from a previous open sculpture.

Next stage is to spray on a white vitreous slip using the spray gun. As the colour of the clay is bage in colour, white provides a good base coat to work with. In most cases I use the white slip to highlight the rim or to create pattens. Once the white vitreous slip has been applied I then fire the sculpture again to 1100c.

 At this stage I apply masking tape to the form. The aim is to create lines and patten to highlight the form and drew the eye to the inside and outside space. I will usually use different colours to draw the eye to different parts of the form like the inside and outside. Sometimes I use gradients of colour to also help brake up the form. The spray gun is an ideal tool for this as I can achieve these effects and control the application of colour.

Depending on the complexity of the colour applied to the forms I will sometimes do multiple firings up to 1140c. At this stage I am then ready to tape up the form again and apply a clear glaze. The clear glaze is sometimes used on just the outside of the form to reflect the light so that the inside remains unglazed to absorb light. Sometimes both the inside and outside of the forms can be glazed. I like to use glaze to enhance the forms and harness the way light interacts with it. The glazed sculptures then get fired again between 1220-1260c.

Finished Results

Candy. H20 W21 D12

Follow the line. H20 W21 D12

Rising Sun. H20 W21 D11