Besides the artistic work Toon Thijs also designs and produces limited series of unusual, decorative objects, each with its own unique character. Not driven by functionality but by special shapes or amusing ideas. These objects make up a main part of his production nowadays.
Although Toon Thijs is very interested in ceramic techniques, the starting point for his work does not lie in the traditional techniques for ceramics like throwing, salt-glazing, slipware or special firing techniques.
Discus vaze: Apollo 35 x 28 x 15 cm
Torenvazen h. 62,5 , 50 en 41 cm
Rotsnaalden h. 46 , 40 and 27 cm
Bowl: Vitalis (set) diam. 27 and 15 cm
Blokdoosjes 24 x 10 cm h. 11 cm and 8,5 cm
Pagodes h. 35 cm diam. 11 cm
Detail Pagodes
Kanopen h. 60-40-27 cm
Vazes h. 47-35-30-26 cm
The first step for him is always thinking, searching for unusual designs with underlying concepts. He uses all the ceramic know-how he has to bring the ideas to shape. The clear basic forms of the objects are striking. Most of the time a primary mathematical form like a globe, cilindre, cubical or cone is made by slipcasting or slab-building. All bowls and plateaus are segments of a globe, for example. Then Toon Thijs brings changes to those basic forms by corrosion, penetration, outbursts etc.
He also adds organic elements like pebbles, shells, ‘seeds’, beaker mosses or small lizards, turtles, a little dead bird.
This brings forward a distinct combination of geometrical and organic forms.
Kleine schildpadschaal (Small turtle bowl) - diameter 15 cm, h 5 cm
Drie torens (Three towers) h. 50-36-25 cm
Gradually colour has become more important. At first merely ‘engobes’ (coloured slips) and metaloxides were used. See TITANS and TOWER of BABEL. At present glazes bring the colour in the objects.
Plateau Sail diameter 32 cm h. 7 cm
Plateau Spring diameter 32 cm h. 6 cm
Detail Plateau Spring
Schicht l. 60 cm. h. 12 cm
Kleine Vitalis diameter 15 cm. h. 5 cm
Pyramidevazes and obelisk h. 50, 67, 72 cm
Allat en Pages h. 31, 25, 16 cm.
The sea diameter 32 cm., h. 7 cm.
