Off the Porch and Growling

And lo, the spirit of clay relented and took pity on the potter bent above the wheel.

So today was a fairly good day. I say fairly because I am not sure I will keep the pots I threw today, maybe ... I need to let them set up and have a little time to think about them before I decide one way or the other. They aren't bad per se and I had a particular idea in mind, but ... yeah it's always the but that gets in the way. Really, I was going for a carafe style to use as pitcher bodies. Not quite sure I achieved exactly what I wanted. We'll see ...

Anyway I also did some trimming, and that turned out great. The Saga of the Platter has moved on to a new chapter. Yes! after many weeks and two previous abortive attempts I was able to trim both, yes both! So it's not five, nor six but eight pounds of clay per platter. Someone else, Andrews wife, I can't spell her name so I won't because I don't want to mangle it said she did ten pounds for a platter. So the concensus is more is better than less in this case.

I also put pulled a triune of handles and tried a new treatment. Basically I split the handle at the ends for the last inch, and used my fingers to smooth them round a bit. Next, I marked the pot into three sections and notched the pot where I wanted the top of the "X" to go. Score, Slip (can't forget the slip) and then stamp to secure. Notice -- I used one of the lines I trimmed into the base pot as a guideline. Down below I did the same thing. Once this was done, I added a larger notch in the rim so that when filled with water it will overflow. I also added a stamp directly below the notch as added decoration, I think this is a very nice shape and am very, very happy with it so far. Now if the Kiln Goddess smiles then we'll be in business. If not, well it won't be the first or last pot I've sacrificed on the altar. I learn something everytime I throw a pot.

The platter's are a good example; The platters would not look as good if I had been able to keep version one and two, each time I failed I had a new idea or theory if you will to work from. The fancy bits are a good example of this, I happened to see some handbuilders (no it's not a dirty word) and they were altering pots by adding the odd bit here and there, and it struck me why not? Learn what you can learn and incorporate what you learn. Jane taught me that, and has pounded it in my thick skull for the past twelve years. Maybe its starting to stick. Anyway here is platter number two.


peace,

Checked on the platter's today at class, as well as trimmed the "plugged" clay vase and urn thrown last week. Remember I mentioned making two platter's since I have single handedly destroyed two in as many weeks of trying. Sloooowwww drying is the name of the game here.

Platter One

Plugging clay is when you take say three pounds of clay, center it, then take a loop tool and carve a vertical chunk out, then take another clay of contrasting color and cut a similar chunk out placing the contrasting color into the centered clay, you can do this as many times as you like - I did two, of different sizes. It turned out well I think, and I have to admit I was suprised at how the clay actually moves.

Urn

I will say it's very difficult to do, more difficult than throwing agate ware. What is agate ware? Agate ware is when you take slices of different colored clay, stack them together and slam wedge it into a square. Then cut the square take one part and rotate ninety degrees and wedge into a square again. Double wrap in plastic and set up for a week before throwing. Alright now that you know what agate ware is and plugged clay lets get back to why its difficult. The thing is ... and this is my thoughts on it ... clay of differing types has different densities making it have a different balance. This can make a pot go all Catty-whomp-ass, yes wobbly ... lol

Heart Vase

Notice how the contrasting color moved in a jagged spiral, I added three lug handles like older ancient jars and urns. I am not sure of the significance of three handles but I sure do like the look of it and I incorporate it into my pots whenever I can. To do the foot I used a trick we normally use when trimming bowls. Take a couple of push pins and stick them in the clay from the inside, and then when you trim you wll be sure not to trim too deep as you will here the clicking of the pins against the tool. Becareful not to stick your fingers there while the pot is spinning - good way to get cut, been there done that.


I also did a heart vase using plugged clay which needs steel wooled once bone dry, like the urn which should be this next weekend. Steel wooling will brighten the lines, remove excess trim marks and generally make it awesome.  For the heart vase I also threw a foot on the pot once it was trimmed, so a combination of techniques came into play here.

Platter Two

Yeah, having fun. Finally ... here is platter two. Oh yeah - also thew an agate ware bowl today with a fold over rim. Meh, we'll see - so far not impressed with my rim. I like the agate ware but not sure I like the rim, and I threw a four pound egg shaped pot.

- Peace

 ... the Goddess of the Kiln spake inviting the spirits of earth, air and fire to fuse with the waiting spirits of clay creating wonderous works ...

I love when pots come out of the kiln. Last week I finished up several pots from the previous week where there was no soda ash, I mixed the soda ash which is fairly easy its a 1:7 ration 1 part soda ash to 7 parts water.

Got back the bird house ... "Wow" I love how it turned out, I had an idea the bermuda green would make for nice leaves, and would contrast nice with the red iron oxide ... I also got back a bowl, and a mug. The bowl is B-Mix 5 a porcelaneous stoneware, there is also Laguna Frost which I really love as well but, I chose B-Mix. The nice part about B-Mix, any porcelaneous stoneware really is it takes a shine from sada ash really, really well. Bad part is red iron oxide doesn't like it so well sometimes, and that is rather ard to predict - you also tend to get brown's and black versus red and orange colors.


Anyway, here is the bowl. I used Ellens Blue as a liner, and incised a flower on the outer curve to make it part of the set I have been building at home - nominally of course. Notice how the porcelian burns really white through the red-iron oxide, actually burning off I suspect in the kiln. I've said it before but, I really love how the Ellen's Blue floats. It's a nice effect I think.

The Mug is also B-Mix, it is a little heavy been awhile since I've thrown B-Mix. Like most porcelian clays you throw thicker and trim "light", it does take the Deep Firebrick nice like Miller 65 which is my preferred clay these days. I used to throw "Shenandoah Limestone" which I love, its an awesome clay. Unfortuately its apparently hard to get these days. I incised an eye into the front of the mug and did my preferred treatment for handles.