Miles Nielsen: Munktiki and Japan

2009-07-05T22:29:00.000-07:00

I miss Black clay. After August I'm going to make an effort to do some sculptural pieces again.

A departure from Myspace

2009-05-03T23:19:00.000-07:00

So I thought I'd revitalize my Japan blog. Continue it along with my current journey of trying to get back over there for a longer period of time and as well Munktiki updates, news, thoughts, whatever.

With that said..... buy lots of stuff so I can go back to Japan!

Another New Munk-E mug is due out soon. Very very excited about the stylized direction of this one. Same Munk-E head shape as the most recent but modified.

-m

Glow

2008-06-22T21:17:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

First glow glaze test.

Right now!

2008-06-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

I am firing a Glow in the dark test. I will do another firing with it on Wednesday. Really excited.
Today I found out that the glaze just increased in price up to around $480 a kilo. Though I think its still worth it. Airbrushing it was real easy but painting it was a pain.
I'll post pics tomorrow.

Gotta go buy chocolate now for the "Choco Pa-ti" tonight.

Kinnikuman, Sato Chan and Ame Obake Finished

2008-06-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

Sato still needs some green trimming on his ears but its gonna have to wait until I get back home

Updated Matango scores

2008-06-21T21:16:00.001-07:00

Updated Matango scores
Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Picked up both Matangos in a bargain bin at the Nagoya Mandarake. Yellow was 1100 yen, brown marmit(which I needed) was only 1,750 yen.

Can I go home now?!?

2008-06-20T03:12:00.000-07:00

Doki Doki!

Shigaraki style

One of my Favs
Black still needs to be fired in but... Hells yes, I Love It!

Sato chan still need a firing as well for his eyes

Close 2nd favorite
Another firing needed as well... its supposed to be candy corn but I f'd up the color sequence.

White, ORANGE, Yellow... Duhh
I will not part with this one

My attempt at a Nue(Obake: monkey head, racoon dog body, tiger legs and a snake tail)

StarBanana

Needs alot of work still

The Haul

2008-06-06T06:14:00.001-07:00

Best Haul ever!

A couple new things

2008-06-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

Animal of the day

2008-05-30T19:28:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

This little guy hangs around the studio all the time. I was just about to get an even better photo then my camera battery died.

2008-05-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

Some early Trick or Treat action. The one on the right will be Candy Corn.. Orange, Yellow and White. Initially the only reason I made these was becuase I spent about $50 on an orange glaze for Sato Chan and I figured I should make some other stuff that would be good with orange. Though now I dig these 2 the most.

Sato chan

2008-05-28T00:28:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

My first toy purchase!
I go to tokyo next week... sucks Im running out of money as Im planing to go to many a toy shop.

2008-05-27T22:06:00.000-07:00

The finished "Kinoko WaWa" and "Obake WaWa". Both are a black clay.

Finished Konaki Jijii

2008-05-27T22:02:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Finished but not so happy with it. Was a rush job.

New Stuff....

2008-05-27T22:01:00.000-07:00

Munk-E mugs and Sato chan

Kyoto Monkeys

2008-05-27T21:54:00.001-07:00

These guys are running totally free on this mountain. There is a facility at the top in which "you" are the monkey in the cage. Monkeys are hanging all over the fence outside with their hands dangling through begging for food. When you are outside though they know not to beg as its forbidden to give them food outside the facility. It was pretty wild to be outside with them with no fences.

Addicted to menthol eyedrops

2008-05-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

Cooling Menthol eyedrops. First it burns then it cools. It makes your eyes smell nice too.

matango chihuahua

2008-05-13T22:04:00.001-07:00

matango chihuahua
Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-05-13T22:03:00.005-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-05-13T22:03:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

kinnikuman finished

2008-05-13T22:03:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

The pack

2008-05-11T05:03:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-05-11T05:02:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Boku ha-Hua

2008-05-11T05:02:00.001-07:00

Yah thats me as I see myself.... I sculpted it without a mirror or photos
.Looks kinda like me right?You better fucking say so!... So far the response here is ... Mel Gibson

Chi-nuki

2008-05-11T05:01:00.003-07:00

Chi-nuki
Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Chi-nuki is hung

Saru-huahua

2008-05-11T05:01:00.001-07:00

Saru-huahua
Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-05-11T05:00:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Kinnikuman!

2008-05-11T05:00:00.001-07:00

Kinnikuman!
Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Its been strange

2008-04-24T23:00:00.001-07:00

So its been awhile since I posted...... Its been strange. Good and Bad.

It really is like being a monkey in a cage here. Constant vistors coming through gawking at you.
Last week there were 100 middle school girls that came through. I had to not once but twice sit there with 30 at a time and try to explain what I am doing. Though they were more interested in me than my work. "kakoii kakoii" (cooool cool). I often question if I was accepted here for my work or for the fact that I am young and from California. I often seem to be the one the staff pinpoints to be the center of attention. "He's from California" While it was cool at first its gotten very very old.
Today I got on TV. ....... Again I am questioning why I was chosen and not the others. I almost certainly know the least here as for technicality.

It is beautifull here and there is an extreme appreciation for ceramics which is cool. But there is nothing else to do that work. Im looking forward to next month and getting out and about and seeing new sites, new cities.

I miss my dogs.. So Im making new ones.

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2008-04-24T22:58:00.005-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

New sculpt

2008-04-24T22:58:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

My test pieces

2008-04-24T22:58:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Kara Kasa

2008-04-24T22:57:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-24T22:57:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Konaki Jijii

2008-04-24T22:56:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-11T03:13:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-11T03:13:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

heres my table.... not much to show for yet :(

the best shot

2008-04-11T03:12:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Hell yah.....

Kasa Obake

2008-04-11T03:11:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Heres my Kara Kasa Obake sculpt. Its all tore up from pulling out of the mold. Hope to have some fresh poured ones in another week.
It also has a tongue but it was distroyed

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2008-04-06T15:44:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-06T15:44:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

unloading an amagama kiln

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2008-04-06T15:43:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-06T15:43:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

in town

2008-04-06T15:42:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Work in Progress

2008-04-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

So I finished sculpting my first piece here. I decided a few days before I arrived that I was going to do only Yokai Monsters during my stay here. If you unfamilair with yokai check 'em out here http://www.obakemono.com/. My first is a large Kara kasa Obake. Unfortunately Im at a stand still now as I forgot to get mold soap, so onto other things until Tuesday.

artist residency area

2008-04-05T15:56:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-05T15:55:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-05T15:55:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

climbing kiln

2008-04-05T15:54:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-05T15:54:00.001-07:00

Anagama kiln behind closed doors

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-04T15:34:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

jumbo tanuki

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2008-04-04T15:34:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-04T15:33:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

just down the street. There are ceramics shops all over the place. Most have hundreds of Tanuki out front on display.

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2008-04-04T15:32:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

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2008-04-04T15:32:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Outside shigaraki ceramic park dorm area

First walk down to the Konbini(convenience store)

2008-04-04T15:23:00.001-07:00

and here was my breakfast for today.....

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Originally uploaded by stuckmunke

Breakfast of champions!