Ikons, Icons, Ex Voto, Tamata by Michael W. Moses

I have to tell you that I have not been getting much done in the way of pottery the last few weeks or blog posts.  I have been doing everything but pottery.  I have been working on a prop piece pseudo ikon of Cthulhu that will be used in some still life faux artifact art photographs.

Santa Sofia

I have been putting some of my vintage 1990's art ikons on Etsy to sell, and I have been doing a bit of stuff for South Coast Antiques. Mainly preping stuff for sell, researching, and tagging items. We have picked up a number of great items.  As I was saying I have been doing everything but pottery.  Maybe this week I will be able to get a few pieces painted.

As for my ikons I have been doing them for many years.  I did my first one which was a 1/12 inch scale miniature dollhouse sized one,  when I was 13. It has two doors and a small drawer with a silver handle.  I still have it somewhere.  I used to love doing miniatures.  I created everything that one could imagine. Even a small collection of fired miniature pottery I made back in the early 1980's.

Billy the Kid

Our Darling Girl

I recently came across some images that I took of a few years back of my ikons that I created in the mid 1990's.  I was living in Northern New Mexico at the time in a small town called Regina.  Regina was a magical place that filled my senses with art and creativity.  I loved it there but there was just no way for me to make a real living there so after a number of years there I had to give up and head back East and do an old fashioned job.  Well, I want go into that right now for fear that that might take a bit of the artistic integrity away from this blog.

Key to the Kingdom

My icons are entirely hand made. I very carefully choose the wood. Preferring aged and weathered and antique wood that I could either use as is or that I could manipulate to give the wood a bit more of an aged or appropriate look.  I then hand cut the wood using only hand tools and hand sanded and rubbed the wood to a beautiful finish.

My metal covers were usually made of sheet aluminum and in some cases sterling silver.  I preferred the sterling, but it just got to cost prohibitive over the years and ended up with my working in mainly the aluminum.  Which is good because it does not tarnish like silver. It stays about the same.

Saint Joan

Some of my Icons had nothing more that a small print underneath, some antique tin type photographs, and some I did detailed painting.

Many of them are further embellished with glass beads, real pearls, real stones, faux stones, translucent enamel paints, and of course gold leaf.

My subject matter has been everything from images of nameless unknown Saints to street kids.  Many of these Ikons are not really Icons in the traditional sense. Some might even be considered ex voto or tamata.  For the most part I just consider them art.

Defender of the Faith

The images posted here are images of ones that I sold back in the 1990's.  I did not think about taking photographs of these pieces until I had sold a fairly large number of them.  So I really do not have many images of my ikons.

Our Lady of Sorrow

Alien Orange Canopic Art Pottery Jar by Michael W. Moses

Alien Orange Canopic Jar by Michael W. Moses

I thought I would showcase one of my newest pieces of ceramic art pottery for you today.  I call this one my Alien Orange Canopic Jar. 

I found this great old heavy Italian marble jar that was probably made in the 1960's or 70's and the moment I saw it I knew that it would end up with me making a top that would bring out the beauty of this solidly made stone jar.

I purposely wanted something that was a bit different and kinda Chthonian looking, a vessel that would have an alien otherworldly air to it.  I have literally created a small hand modeled sculpture and used the white marble jar as a display stand.

The interior can hold an ancient love note, a small special objet d'art, or even a dozen or so Brasher Doubloons. It's all up to you. 

The vivid orange coloring makes this piece not only stand out, but stand out and yell to be noticed.
This is the type of thing that will be the center focal point of any room that one places it in.

Alien Orange Canopic Jar by Michael W. Moses

The Ceramic Art Pottery of Michael W. Moses Now Available Exclusivly on the Gulf Coast at Antiques Plus in D'Iberville,MS

Michael W Moses Pottery at Antiques Plus D'Iberville,MS.

 My pottery finally has a new home here on the Gulf Coast. Earlier this week we did an installation of my ceramic art pottery at Antiques Plus in D'Iberville, Ms.
My friend Joan Skinner who has been a strong supporter and collector of my pottery for many years now, who owns Antiques Plus has after much debate and deliberation provided me a large customized case to securely display my pottery. I will be using Antiques Plus as my base of operations and point of contact for my pottery sales here on the gulf coast. I will continue to show my new works on this blog and sell online as well as through Etsy.

Michael W Moses Pottery at Antiques Plus D'Iberville,MS.

 Being at Antiques Plus will allow you to stop in and inspect my ceramic art pottery in an up close and personal way. I know it sounds corny, but this is pottery that must be experienced in person to see all the detail and textures that make my pottery so touchably unique. My pottery is never done justice by any mere 2D photography that you may see online. If you are in the area stop in at Antiques Plus and experience my ceramic art pottery first hand. Antiques Plus is located at 10340 D'Iberville Blvd Ste D,D'Iberville MS. phone(228) 396-2005. The hours are Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm.

Michael W Moses Ceramic Art Pottery at Antiques Plus D'Iberville,MS.

Michael W Moses Pottery at Antiques Plus D'Iberville.

Michael W Moses Art Pottery at Antiques Plus D'Iberville,MS.

Sold Two Ceramic Art Pottery StarFish bowls by Michael W. Moses

Well, I am pleased to tell you that I sold two pieces of my ceramic art pottery  a couple of days back.  The first piece was featured in my first post on this blog back on December 3, 2010, and is called "EEEEWWW! Save Us From the Oil!".  This piece was made in remembrance of the BP oil spill.  

EEEEWWW! Save Us From the Oil! by Michael W. Moses

 The second piece that was sold was my "Taking it Easy StarFish Bowl".  This piece features a lazy little starfish basking in the early morning sun, playfully balancing a genuine cultured pearl as an adornment on the very center of it's body.  Maybe it will play a quick game of hacky sack with the pearl, or maybe have it for a light snack?

Taking it Easy StarFish Bowl by Michael W. Moses

 

 

Taking it Easy StarFish Bowl by Michael W. Moses Side View

Taking it Easy StarFish Bowl by Michael W. Moses Top View

Both pieces were sold to a very nice woman from the Los Angeles area for her circa 1930's beach house.

Ceramic Art Pottery Works in Progress by Michael W. Moses with Tyler Gibson

 The last few weeks have been going along rather swiftly. I have been getting South Coast Antiques set up at Centuries Antique Mall over in D'Iberville and working on all manner of things other than pottery. I have almost constantly been thinking about doing pottery, but I have just not been getting much done.  I am going through a Zen period where thinking about pottery has to be as good as doing the pottery. Oh, what pieces I have been working on in my mind!

About two weeks ago my apprentice Tyler Gibson came over to finish up his last projects.  He left last week to go off to do his basic training for the army. so I guess it will be awhile before he gets any more pieces made.  He will be greatly missed.  I can only wish him the very best in serving his country!

Here are a few images of the pieces I was working on and the last ones that Tyler did.

Michael W. Moses Ceramic Art Pottery Glazed Waiting to be Fired.

Michael W. Moses Ceramic Art Pottery Glazed Waiting to be Fired. Back View

 

Michael W. Moses Ceramic Art Pottery Glazed Waiting to be Fired

Michael W. Moses Ceramic Art Pottery Glazed Waiting to be Fired. Back View

Tyler Gibson Ceramic Art Pottery Painted Waiting to be Glazed

Tyler Gibson Ceramic Art Pottery Painted Waiting to be Glazed. Side View