RUTH BALL DESIGN | enamel blog: January 2008

Milton Bridge Visit

! Hot stuff and cool colours !

Yesterday, visited Milton Bridge Ceramics Ltd in Stoke on Trent, manufactures of enamel colours. They have an extensive range of enamels and it was truly amazing watching the molten enamel being poured onto the slabs ready for fritting and grinding !

To view Milton Bridge enamels click here http://www.milton-bridge.co.uk/about.htm

Milton Bridge enamel is also available from Vitrum Signum http://www.vitrumsignum.com/

Inspired by the Winter Landscape

My original photos - Jan 2008

The weather in Finland is warm and wet for their time of year - it seems all over the world the weather is the topic of discussion. I had hoped to see Snow several feet deep ! however the landscape and snow had it's own beauty anyway.

I loved the stark contrast of branches against the snow. The light was grey, due to overcast skies and the weather changed surprisingly quickly, from the promise of snow to the reality of rain. Light is less at this time of year, but come late afternoon a blue cast gives added nuance to the atmosphere.

The photos below show how I'm starting to abstracting the branch shapes ready in readiness to start on some more panels........

Detail clips from photos - copyright Ruth Ball 2008

Digital image developed from the photos - Copyright Ruth Ball 2008

The images below are just a start in enamel - I need to experiment some more, but hope eventually to create a series of panels, inspired by my winter trip....

10 x 10cm Enamel on Copper - Panel - Copyright Ruth Ball 2008

The aim is to complete a large panel made up of seperate elements - this shows various stages - I'll post again once this is finished !

Enamel on Copper - panel - Copyright Ruth Ball 2008

15x15cm Enamel on Copper - panel - Copyright Ruth Ball 2008

ULLA & ARTO's workshop & show rooms

Display areas.

Ulla's workshop

Front porch (This image was taken just before dark when in Finland there is a typical blue cast to the sky.)

Ulla and Arto's home and workplace is in a converted school which gives them a wonderful light and airy space in which to work.

More images from Ulla's Exhibition in FINLAND

Display of Ulla & Arto's works

" Beauty is in the eye of the reader" - Panel - Ulla Huttunen.

This piece has copper beads fused into the enamel spelling out the title in braille format.

Believe it or not, these beautiful objects are containers to be used as Urns !

The Crafts Museum is a large open space with several viewing areas. Ulla's work was magnificently displayed on the middle gallery. There are too many pieces to show here, but amongst her many works I 've picked out a couple of pieces, which intrigue me. See Above.

The work of 17 British Enamellers was given an equally large space on the upper gallery. Many people attended the private view and lots of pieces were sold !

Ulla was incredibly busy all day with press and radio interviews ! There was much attention given to the international works, even the British Ambassador sent a video welcome message !