Hi everyone,
I’m Kerasan, a craftman by passion, I have a lab of artistic ceramics, it was founded by my grandmother in 1946, she is 94 and still makes sculptures. {an anecdote about the name: Kéra from kéramos (ceramic) and mix (by research to integrate ceramics with different materials)}.
since I approached world of mechanical keyboards in 2015-2016 I have always wanted to unify these two passions, therefore, I'm here to present - First Project.
an artistic manual production. In this case, the variations between the products are representing the uniqueness and beauty of this products, especially with some coatings or with some processing techniques - for example "pit firing" (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/be/f1/49/bef1499f3d2f2ffa5bc40d8b246bc5b0.jpg), "Copper Matt" (https://scontent-mxp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/19801037_1426741600746044_2809719599335842814_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=yf7IdNcmAmoAX8mDIiL&_nc_ht=scontent-mxp1-1.xx&oh=38c573f7b17264f34a0c92ab9a2c3669&oe=5F9308E3) or "Metal Glaze" (https://www.tablinstore.info/data/tablin/product/IMG_6632.JPG) to get a better idea. The art of ceramics involves working the clay directly with your hands or with casting using slip casting techniques: in both cases, modeling, sanding, decoration, painting and all existing coatings are done manually. This is our philosophy, taking nothing away from industrial production.
:blank: :blank: :blank: IC FORM (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19vbsxoKt1jy6qGBqR7mpOFDWz0ssNv8uI4hToxYoFIc/edit) :blank: :blank: :blank:
PRESENTATION
We have a small family business near Rome and we work on commission for other small businesses and people who know us.
Our products are completely handcrafted and made in Italy (as this is our core business): we create our ceramics from Florentine and Roman compounds added with alumina and other materials to make the final product as resistant as possible regadless of the techniques we used during the making process.
Other types of materials we use for our creations are porcelain, copper, brass and we engrave on wood and glass.
Why Ceramic?
the manufacturers usually work with 600 atmospheres pressing machines, they directly use powders (not clays) and create geometrically perfect objects such as tiles or plates, but the raw materials are not excellent and the coatings rather limited compared to
REALIZATION
Let's deal with the topic: the ceramic wrist pad. We'll initially offer a single buying group divided into two lots; currently we cannot deal with larger productions, therefore both lots will be rather limited due to the time needed to produce a single piece ( every piece undergoes different phases: modeling, drying, smoothing, first firing at about 1000 degrees, decorations / engravings / paints, second firing for glazing or crystallization or other special techniques requested from the customer). All this requires a lot of attention in order to limit problems, especially the firings: often to produce 5 pieces it is necessary to do twice as many pieces because there are several drawbacks such as breaking close to 573 degrees and close to 980 degrees (the most delicate ranges); this, unfortunately, increases production costs, especially on unique or highly decorated pieces that require several hours of work.
PAY ATTENTION: Ceramic is a living material, during drying and firing into the klin it undergoes a completely arbitrary volume shrinkage that oscillates between 8~12%. This makes it impossible to produce identical objects in both shape and size... Each piece is unique!
FIRST SAMPLE
*These are samples, they are not for sale but only for demonstration*
(https://i.imgur.com/PdRDyVG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xBkBvRD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hLTWiSo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MB0lk5t.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RGVvF87.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HLVP7HDm/IMG-9598.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bGfRK7wV)
WRISTPAD FINAL SAMPLE
*These are final samples, only 4 artwork will be selected for GB. choose carefully in IC FORM*
(https://i.imgur.com/s80LOVm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/grXa2gL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6fJm5pY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ipzlujr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HQBwHyL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VedJsoF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rFzHDYa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8i7e2Gh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cU3aYSG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Q923IuT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8oXUaZH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wRWUfdy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9Xt36If.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xv77O8N.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jIZiotH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zinR3tb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vIc7ym1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/epM5If7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lFT7bxj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FAwImoQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SMnuJJl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/raTyjqm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/a6TFYv6.jpg)
Rama m60 Sage + Fuji pad (only 1 fuji sample will be choise for GB, go to the IC form and you make your choises)
(https://i.imgur.com/6bZ0mTn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kMyleC1.jpg)
CA66 dark red + fuji 2 pad (only 1 fuji sample will be choise for GB, go to the IC form and you make your choises)
(https://i.imgur.com/uEGplcy.jpg)
TRAY FINAL SAMPLE
(https://i.imgur.com/Xhs22qu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7nTq4DL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HrUv1A1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CiDiLdn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/P0XFPrh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f3p8N2i.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9QJWgVu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/czCJsNu.jpg)
GB (sumi themed wristpads will only be available in this group buy)
Round 1:
GB (sumi themed wristpads and tray will only be available in this group buy)
Wristpad Specs Standard edition (total white or sand):
- 20 units: 10 TKL, 10 60/65%
- Materials: Ceramic/ terracotta
- Coating: Crystallization Clear Coating (Waterproof, Oleophobic, Anti-Scratch)
- Bottom raw with logo engrave: TBA
- Price: Small: 75 eur/ Large: 80 eur + shipping worldwide and paypal fees
Specs Crackle edition: 120 100 eur + shipping worldwideand paypal fees
Specs Limited edition Sumi theme:
- Units: 40 (10 for artwork, choose your favorites HERE! ONLY 4 WILL BE SELECTED )
- Materials: Ceramic- Hand painting- Coating: Crystallization Clear Coating
- Price: 150 eur= 120 eur + shipping worldwide and paypal fees (we kept the declared price initially, but the artworks are much more complex and take longer, in the future the price of full prints will be 150)
- numbered
Round 1:
Tray specs Standard Edition (total white):
- unlimited
- Materials: Ceramic
- Coating: Crystallization Clear Coating (Waterproof, Oleophobic, Anti-Scratch)
- Price: 30 eur + shipping
Specs Crackle edition:
- unlimited
- Price: 35 eur + shipping
Specs Limited edition Sumi theme:
- Units: max 100
- Materials: Ceramic- Hand painting- Coating: Crystallization Clear Coating
- Price: 40 eur + shipping worldwide
- Specs Glaze edition:
- unlimited
- Papavero (Gloss Red): 40 eur + shipping worldwide
- Pece (Gloss Black): 40 eur + shipping world wide
N.B. painting on ceramic is performed with oxidizing pigments or drawing glazes, it is very complex and has limits compared to the classic painting on drawing canvas, there are people specialized in this task, as in this case, among the drawings there will always be slight variations. Each piece is unique!
TO DO LIST
- Website (this is the first time that we go online, for this reason we dont have a website yet)
- Logo (work in progress)
- Improve photo (we currently havent photography equipment, same reason as the website)
- More details and pics
- Experiment with special glaze for amazing effect
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keramix.labs/ (here we’ll make all our annuncements)
SPECIAL THANKS
- Click Clack Club italian community mechanical keyboard for the support
you are perfectly right mate, as I wrote these samples are demonstrative only, we don't want to steal anyone's work. I showed these because they are the first I made for me. There are 4 main sumi themes, I am working on the artwork. but you can rest assured, I will not sell if this can cause problems.
What did you plan for the artwork? I'm just curious because you already listed 4 themes of the wrist wrest in the sumi scheme with further details. Creating an IC with 4 seemingly finished products with their individual pricing/name seems like you did already finish your "designing" process. Otherwise this IC could cause a lot of confusion for the potential buyer.
Generally I'm open for new Ideas, collaborations and so on, but I prefer to know that my work is used somewhere else in a commercial way.
i think you may have misunderstand my way of doing things. As you surely know, some elements (like the sun, the carp and the cherry blossoms) are recurrent in the sumi-e style.
such as this photo taken from the web:
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/TH38DHG.jpg)
if there is something that bothers you, I can change it, this is an interest check I just want to take feedback, I don't want to confuse anyone, I can also change the theme, but honestly I would be very sorry
Yes, you are completly right, artworks like the one you showed did also inspire me for my deskmat designs. It's not my intention to claim the copyrights of the whole sumi-e artstyle, I was just wondering because the specific designs you've choosen do get close to my deskmats.
As mentioned in another comment, it's also my goal that this conversation evolvs to a positive. I won't stop you from selling the designs neither do I want this cool project to be interuppted by me. My only advice for the future would be that you start the conversation with the Designers of a certain Keyset/Theme (because this is obviously inspired by the Keyset) before publishing it. It's just a well-intended advice and I think that it will save you from trouble.
Regardless do I wish you all the best for the future and also for this IC. I'm going to follow it closely because I think that the concept behind this is really unique.
which design/color/technique is the brown colored bamboo? that really catches my eye!
also, i mean no disrespect to any maker when i point out that similar designs have existed for literally thousands of years, and koi and sakura (cherry branch) are as iconic as mt fuji
Show Image
(http://www.wen-yi.net/images/flr004maxi.jpg)
subcrystalline color, they are mineral pigments suitable for painting on ceramic which are then covered with crystalline and baked into kiln above 900 C
which design/color/technique is the brown colored bamboo? that really catches my eye!
also, i mean no disrespect to any maker when i point out that similar designs have existed for literally thousands of years, and koi and sakura (cherry branch) are as iconic as mt fuji
Show Image
(http://www.wen-yi.net/images/flr004maxi.jpg)
That sumi gb runner is so overly confident he thinks any Japanese-looking mountain MK related art crafts must have taken inspiration from his keyset. Get off your high horse.