It has been a while since an update. So here goes...
I continue to make pots as time allows, but work at the newspaper has picked up lately. That, coupled with the thought that maybe a touch of flu (or dare I say, swine flu) may have hit us, has kept me from throwing as much as I'd like to. Usually I will get home and not have any energy to even sit at the wheel. The desire is definitely there, but I can't seem to resist the draw of the sofa when I get home.
A bisque load went into the kiln tonight, including mugs, some covered containers, a large bowl, large vase, and a hodge-podge of other pots. Hopefully it will all turn out fine and ready to glaze over the weekend. I have run out of raku clay, much to my distress, but I have 50 lbs. of earthen red clay standing by. It will be interesting to go back to that clay body and see if it handles any differently than before.
I will be setting up as a craft vendor on October 2nd and 3rd in Laurens for Squealin' on the Square, a two-day BBQ contest/event. If I remember correctly, it has drawn upwards of 12,000 people over the two days in previous years. So hopefully some folks will be interested in handmade pots.
Hopefully I will have more pictures to post right before Squealin', so stay tuned.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
More work coming soon
It has been pretty busy around here. With work and other things going on, I don't have as much time to throw as I might like. But I have gotten through 50 lbs. of earthen red clay and have finished with 25 lbs. of the raku clay. I like the raku...it has a good feel between my fingers while throwing and for some reason, I seem to be able to make the pieces lighter. Maybe it is just getting back into it with the practice.
Today I made the plunge and bought four glazes in 5 gallon buckets for dipping. I am pretty excited to see what the colors look like on both the earthen red and raku. I am also getting close to glaze fire the first raku pieces. They should turn out a bit different than the earthen red because of the lack of iron in the clay body.
I have been making some different forms, including a few vases (rounder shapes), some garlic jars, a couple of mixing bowls (one with a handle and a pouring spout), and some assorted others.
Pieces are now available in Laurens at both The Village Cup and The Artist's Coop.
Today I made the plunge and bought four glazes in 5 gallon buckets for dipping. I am pretty excited to see what the colors look like on both the earthen red and raku. I am also getting close to glaze fire the first raku pieces. They should turn out a bit different than the earthen red because of the lack of iron in the clay body.
I have been making some different forms, including a few vases (rounder shapes), some garlic jars, a couple of mixing bowls (one with a handle and a pouring spout), and some assorted others.
Pieces are now available in Laurens at both The Village Cup and The Artist's Coop.
Favorites
These were our two favorite pieces to come out of the first firing. The top planter is one coat of Toshi Brown with the rim dipped in Ice Blue. I was particularly happy with the way the glaze dripped and then ran in the firing.
This planter currently has an orchid growing out of it.
This bowl is an example of all three glazes (Toshi Brown, Ice Blue, and Light Green Shino) on one piece. If I got my colors correct, the inside is the Toshi, while the outside consists of Ice Blue with the Shino over the top on the rim. Brooke has decided she likes this bowl and will only give it up if I make something better.
This planter currently has an orchid growing out of it.
This bowl is an example of all three glazes (Toshi Brown, Ice Blue, and Light Green Shino) on one piece. If I got my colors correct, the inside is the Toshi, while the outside consists of Ice Blue with the Shino over the top on the rim. Brooke has decided she likes this bowl and will only give it up if I make something better.
Bowls and a vase
The following two bowls and vase were also a learning experience. I have always liked making bowls and experimented with these two, putting some texture on the first one. The second was a glaze experiment, mixing two glazes together before applying it to the inside and rim.
I had forgotten how nice it was to dip the pieces into the glaze, rather than applying the glaze with a paint brush. It took quite a while to brush all the pieces, and we eventually quit, leaving two pieces unglazed for a later date.
I had forgotten how nice it was to dip the pieces into the glaze, rather than applying the glaze with a paint brush. It took quite a while to brush all the pieces, and we eventually quit, leaving two pieces unglazed for a later date.
Recent Mugs
This is my first experiment with the earthen red clay. It took a bit for me to feel comfortable with centering clay again and making the pieces thin enough. Handles also presented a challenge, as I never was very proficient at pulling handles. For these mugs, I rolled out a thin slab and cut it into strips. However, that caused the edges to be sharper than I liked, and I had to do some carving and smoothing before the handles dried completely.
I bought three pints of Coyote glaze, using different combinations of Toshi Brown, Ice Blue, and Light Green Shino. I wasn't sure about the Toshi when the first pieces came out of the kiln, but when it is used in combination with another color, it looks pretty good.
Enjoy these pieces. There are more to come.
I bought three pints of Coyote glaze, using different combinations of Toshi Brown, Ice Blue, and Light Green Shino. I wasn't sure about the Toshi when the first pieces came out of the kiln, but when it is used in combination with another color, it looks pretty good.
Enjoy these pieces. There are more to come.
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