Last Firing Pics

Here are some of my favorite pots. I made the one on the top left. The one of the right is from Tiwanaku, just outside La Paz, Bolivia. It has symbols etched onto it. One of those Incan symbols I used in some of the pots that came out of the gas kiln recently. The one on the bottom has been painted on... This post shows some of the pots from the last kiln load. I focused more on surface design. I've been so busy recently, adjusting to new work as a priest here in Charlotte, so that means less time.... :( . I am excited that I will get some time in the studio this weekend. :)

All these are phoenix clay with spotted shino glaze and also with some alfred's blue glaze. Some have spotted shino on them, such as this tumbler on the right.

The one on the left is handbuilt and half of it was dipped in Rick's Shino. The spiral was made with rick's shino and then sprinkled with granulated rutile.

On the one on the right, I used some wax resist. Also sprinkled some granulated rutile, soda ash, and also a few spots of alfred's blue on the spiral on the left which is the other side of the handbuilt cup.

The tumbler on the right has a good amount of soda ash showing. I like that.

Random thought: In the next post, I'll show a few pictures of family from my trip to Bolivia. :)

Only one yunomi in the last firing. I think that yunomis are still my favorite form to make. This one didn't have as much shino reduction color as I like... oh well! Still beautiful. Onto trip pictures....

A Few Kiln Pics

What follows are some pics taken as the kiln was cooling down earlier today. Wish I could have been there for the unloading... but that just didn't work out. The pictures only reflect part of the front stack of the kiln as it was still hot inside!
As I took these, I thought to myself...gosh, each firing is so different and unique.
This handbuilt piece was one of mine, just made a few days after I returned from Bolivia. I wanted to get back at the wheel then, but it was too early, so I made this pinchpot.
The tumbler is mine. I experimented with some new surface designs. This one has soda ash in the center of it. In the front of the pictures is Julie's plate and next to my tumbler is Ro's piece.
Another closeup of two tumblers.
One of Becky's birds at the bottom right of the front stack, next to Julie's pots. Can't see if the birds 'kissed' any of Julie's pots surrounding it, meaning where a roseish color ended up on Julie's pots.
The cones after many hours of hard work. These are indicators of the temperature in the kiln... one stack is usually placed at the bottom and another at the top. One of Becky's birds in the back watched the cones throughout the firing.
Will show some pics of the finished pots later. I'm pleased with them for the most part as I tried some new surface designs. More about why I chose what I chose later.
Oh, and I hope to post some about my recent trip this weekend. Gotta look through all those pics first!

Still ?

With all the change and busyness of life these days, I was wondering if I could still center a piece of clay and make something I liked.
Plus, I've been away from the wheel for at least two weeks....
It took a bit longer, but I was happy that I made this tonight. A yunomi in the making. Will trim it this weekend. This is a very good thing. Whew!
:) Plus, more to come.

Back in the Studio... Finally!

This past weekend marked my return to the studio after my long trip.
It always takes awhile to adjust to life back in the States.
We have running water that is safe to drink.
We have hot water coming out of the faucet.
We can wash our clothes quite easily.
We have lots of food that is safe to eat so closeby!
For these reasons and more, it always takes me awhile to adjust back to life here.
It was fun to return to the studio, talk with friends, and glaze a few pots in time for the gas kiln firing. The kiln was loaded tonight.
Above are three pots. The one with the blue rim is mine; the other two are from Bolivia. The tall one is from Tiwanaku, an old ruin located outside La Paz, Bolivia. I purchased it in Cochabamba, Bolivia though and the vendor says it was from Tiwanaku. Maybe it is not. At least it has that Bolivian look with lots of little traditional Incan symbols inscribed in it. Will do some research and a post about that later.
The small plate is typical of one that can be found in the artesania outdoor markets with the designs on it. I gave it to a friend at the studio.
Somehow, my pictures here in the U.S. are blurry. Maybe my camera doesn't like being back. :( Gotta figure that out.
This is another plate.. a saucer actually, that is from Bolivia. I like the symbols and painting on it.
Here's its match. The staircase symbols remind me of the Andean cross.
I finally had my first glass of wine about a week after I returned. Thanks, Becky! how thoughtful. Her pot on the right is a cave art one. Gorgeous!
I decided to branch out and try a little new glazing design. This swirly design is from that tall Bolivian piece from Tiwanaku. Will do some research later to find out what it means as I'm still quite tired now. Time and the kiln.... will show how these turn out.
Clay: Phoenix stoneware
Glaze: spotted shino with the rims dipped in alfred's blue. Accents in Alfred's blue. Some soda ash sprinkled onto the sides as well.
I used a little wax resist too on some, like the one in the center and on the left. These aren't my favorite forms, so I don't mind testing the surface design of them a bit. It'll be interesting to see how they turn out.
Saturday was a great one to be in the studio even though it was hot and humid. Gosh, time goes by fast once you enter Clayworks.