2010-10-07 Thursday - New direction

I am exhilarated by the new directions my clay exploration is taking me.  I am still doing the slip/sodium silicate process, but now I am using phoenix and black slip and pushing the clay to it's limit (and sometimes beyond).  I call these pots my "balloon pots" since they are so thin.  Sometimes just taking them off the bat is dangerous.

As you can see in the pictures the teapot form was so thin it  just collapsed straight down from its own weight.  I was thinking about tossing it into the slop bucket when Greg told me I should make it a teapot.  Thanks Greg!  I think it came out pretty well.  More to come.

Heady times, these.

 New batch.

 Sometimes form trumps function.

 Meteor strike.

Alien?

Somewhat more subdued.

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2010-09-23 Thursday - Makin' pots

Thursday night saw me trying to continue my streak since I was "in the zone" on Saturday making some nice, medium-sized pots.  I trimmed some and slipped some and threw some more.  I am pleased to tell you that the current run of pots does not carry the extra weight that is (unfortunately) often my trademark.  These pots are feather light and I'm elated about it.  I attribute it to my special, highly customized throwing stick --a ninety-nine cent wooden spoon.  Whatever works, right?  Can I get an "amen"?

I'm tempted to call them my Rudyard Kipling pots since they are "Just So".

Works for me.

More of a series.
(orangestone)

Nic was there doing the floors among his other chores.

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2009-09-16 Wednesday - Kiln Opening

We unloaded the big gas kiln tonight. I was pleased with most of my pieces and can't wait to tweak my glazes by what I learned tonight. A couple of my bottles had marbles on them and the glass ran more than I had planned. I will be grinding a shelf in the near future --something I've never had to do before now. Another learning experience.

Remember the "crackled pot" w/black slip?

Remember the "crackled pot" w/chrome green slip?

From the bag wall.