Mads - Multimedia Artist

About

Hi all! The name is MADS. I'm an Arizona based ceramic artist but I do a little of everything.

Ceramics

(Click images for info!)

(2023-2024)

Even though I have been working in ceramic arts for about five years now, I still feel like I am endlessly experimenting. I am usually not satisfied with a piece unless I can put some illustrative work on it. I've found a love for using ceramic slips at cone 6, which are much more economical than underglazes. Once a piece is slipped, I can then carve with my Diamond Core "V" tool, or apply illustrations with my Xiem bulb applicator. I've become pretty familiar with my favorite set of cone 6 glazes, but I want to expand my knowledge to cone 10 glazes as well.

Cat and fish plate, sgraffito/slip cone 6

(2020-2022)

My early experimentation in ceramic surface decoration stems from my love for drawing humans and animals. 2020-2022 were years where I tested different glaze techniques, including low fire majolica, luster overglazes, and sgraffito (scrafting the surface to create an image or design). I also dipped my toes into underglazes, a challenging task for the cone 10 kilns at the studio I was working at, at the time. Often, my colors would come out muted or melt with the glazes in an undesirable way.

This Angel Platter was made using underglaze pigments painted on greenware, then fired to bisque, and cone 6 fired with a clear glaze.

Illustration

I've made graphics for the ASU State Press (2017-2020), Faith and Quinn Fabrics (2020-2022), and a handful of personal projects. My favorite things to draw are characters and creatures!

Programs and equipment used: Paint Tool Sai, Adobe Photoshop, Dithering effects tools, and good ol pen and paper.