Off the Porch and Growling

Start with four and one half pounds miller sixty-five. Slam the clay down on the bat and get the wheel going. Create a medium sized bowl and trim using a fifteen dollar tool. Now fold three sections of the bowl making a sort of tri-corner hat. Stick it under the fan. Slab up some clay, pound it down to about one quarter of an inch and start cutting some petals. Make sure to cut the center as well. Once the flowers are created retrieve the bowl and attach. Pull here six inch handles and allow them to lose the glossy sheen. Attach the loops to the pen corner of the "hat" and the flowers to the folded sections.

Felt really good to be back in the studio again after being absent for some time. The hands and heart remember even when the mind does not, although it is what I think about most often besides family.

I thought I'd show the method in which I glaze a pot. It's a multi-step process; one which starts with a bisque item. For this I chose the Barbaric goblet of which I referenced in the last communique.

Step One: Take red iron oxide and coat the item, allowing it to penetrate the pot and then dry.

This is the longest part of the process, allow the pot to dry. If you move too fast to step two you can wipe off all the work you just did and you'll saturate the pot with water which will affect how well the soda ash will absorb.




Step Two: The antiquing. Basically take a sponge with clean water and wipe off the pot lightly. Don't get over zealous. If you do you won't have much red iron oxide left unless that's the look you need. For example the horns.

Allow the pot to dry again, it will not take as long this time.





Step Three: Pick a glaze, any glaze (preferably one you like) which works well as a liner. The object is to find a glaze which compliments the red iron oxide. I have found darker colors work best, with blue (yes the dreaded blue) working admirably although red works well too. Line the inside of the cup. The soda ash the end result.

Allow the pot to dry again and place in the firing room and/or kiln.





Step Four: Make the appropriate sacrifices to the Kiln Goddess and pray for said pot's survival.