I Love Her Madly

Inspired by The Doors song 'Love Her Madly' with Jim Morrison, this vase titled: 'I Love Her Madly' is dedicated to my love as she is the champion of her space, and the champion of mine. 

I Love Her Madly is a tall vase with a cylindrical neck and a round body. It was the first in which I attempted to depict figurative artwork directly onto the vase itself in the form of live model observational drawing. In a single attempt, I created the composition and drew out the proportions of the figure in a way that would most dynamically use the shape and contour of the vessel.

Influenced by Ancient Greek ceramics, I Love Her Madly is a modern take on the classical hydria form and the Black- and Red-Figure techniques of Athenian vase painting. Black- and Red-Figure techniques were used by the Athenians to decorate fine ceramics, whereas simple undecorated wares would fulfil everyday household needs. Black-figure vase painting is when figures and motifs are depicted with a slip that goes black when fired, these figures are articulated by scratching in the definition; verses Red-figure vase painting where motifs and figures are left the colour of the clay and definition is achieved through variations of brushwork.

Like unfaded chapters in a history book, it's in these ancient depictions where we learn about what the intended use of the vessel was. The hydria was a vessel of similar shape seen with handles to carry water from the fountain, often with depictions of women filling up their hydriai and chatting by the fountain. These ancient drawings teach us that it was a part of the daily duties of women to collect and carry water from the fountain. The fountain in return became an important social hub for women in a time period when Greek citizens expected women to stay at home as much as possible.

The vase I Love Her Madly has no handles, removing the laborious duties in the function of the vessel and freeing the depicted persons from their societal roles. This change is symbiotic to the breaking down of classical Athenian vase painting being used here on I Love Her Madly. The slip is applied to the vase with brash confident brushstrokes and fluctuates between defining both the figure and its environment. Incisions scratched into the surface of the vessel while still leather-hard articulate the figure, along with motifs and surrounding space. 

Now free from ridged format, hard lines and traditional duties she sits before us in her entirety and crowns herself champion of her space.