About Me
Saturday, September 29
Today
So today in addition to recieving kiln gifts from the Goddess of the Kiln, I also but a pot in for bisque which will be crystalline glazed and another pot, its more native looking from the America's whether down Mexico way or on a reservation somewhere. I included a small raised collar and put it in relief for effect, additionally I gave the pot some lift through trimming, finally I added animal heads to the pot for lifting, now I don't want to influence anyone but I would love to know what animal you think it is ... 
Here's close up picture of one of the heads. Just post below on what you think it might be. I am curious as to what you think. Call it an expiriment -
The Great Experiment
The great experiment, I have to admit - I had trouble finding my pot in the kiln room. Apparently I've done red iron oxide for so long I go on auto-pilot mentally even when I know I'm looking for something else. I walked by my pot and probably even stared at it for 20 minutes before Jane was kind enough to "find" it for me.
This is one of the two french butter keepers I deemed acceptable for the next stage, glazing. I initially made three, but one didn't make the cut. These did however; after some evaluation and critique by me mostly and the few people I asked opinions of, there are some things I need to keep in mind when I do them again, and I will. I used Miller 65 as is my wont to do, and measured carefully for width. (They actually fit rather well - both of them) Although the second one went in today, after seeing the first which was the base expiriment. Instead of red iron oxide I used a french green mason stain, and put it on just like I would have done for the red iron oxide, and then soda ashed it as per my usual process. For a liner I used Smoky Brown.
The picture on the right in the center is the butter keeper closed and right side up, this would be its position when not in use on the table. The picture at the beginning of this pararaph shows the butter keeper in its "serve" position. Just remember to drain the water out first before turning it over or you'll have a mess on your hands. Just in case you don't know what a French Butter Keeper is; its an old world method of storing butter for use, keeping it cool to save it from going rancid and yet soft enough to spread immediately. I don't like hard butter (just fyi). To use it put about a 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of the bowl, pack the crock portion with a butter of your choice and store together. You'll need to change the water once a week, but if you use butter like I do you'll not have to worry about that so much.
I'm happy with this one, however for the second one I made the stain a little darker, more an ink consistancy as reccomended to me by Jane.
-Peace
Monday, September 17
Change winds are blowing
... the weekend was pretty good, am trying a (ahem.) new technique, lol yes I do change my ways somewhat. I guess its not really new, new. Nothing in pottery is truly new, any art for that matter in my opinion. I am not concieted enough to *think I have discovered something truly new. It could happen but I ain't counting on it ... lol, there has been a recent archeological discovery of a pot twenty thousand years old, and not some wad of clay pressed against a wicker basket and baked, but a real honest coil built advanced pot. Which begs the question ... nevermind, I'll ask it later.
Back to me, so I had a wonderful discussion with my wife on the drive to SC one of these last few times on what I would *like to do and what I am attempting to do, anyway we discussed techniques and color and a hundred different things but the main thing is I listened to what was said and I am going to attempt some of it to see how it affects what I do. Essentially, it doesn't really change what I am doing by much just its different.
Back to me, so I had a wonderful discussion with my wife on the drive to SC one of these last few times on what I would *like to do and what I am attempting to do, anyway we discussed techniques and color and a hundred different things but the main thing is I listened to what was said and I am going to attempt some of it to see how it affects what I do. Essentially, it doesn't really change what I am doing by much just its different.
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