Here's Black Bamboo Pitcher, porcelain clay, Cone 10 reduction, 6.5 by 6.5 inches excluding handle. This is the pitcher everyone said was too large, too cumbersome, not functional, handle won't hold, too large, scrap it, recycle it, make a planter out of it, put a hole in the bottom of it, etc. Since I spent so much time constructing the piece, I decided to spend a bit of effort on the glazing. Well I am glad I did. I am finding I learn something from each piece I make, each piece that's fired and each piece I glaze - and all of this is valuable information.
Don't get me wrong, the pitcher is too large and would weigh a ton if I filled it full of liquid. But the glazing experiment I tried was a success. I glazed with teadust on the bamboo leaves, stems, and handle, and used a green celadon over the rest of the pitcher without using any wax resist. I also added yellow iron oxide to the green celadon which was drab olive green. Now the green celadon is much more pleasing to my eye. Next time I'll make the pitcher smaller and glaze the inside more evenly.
I've learned I can't always listen to those around me even if their voices are loud or negative, I have to listen to myself and keep on my own path of creativity and determination. I'm realizing other folks have different goals and ideas and they don't always mesh with what I am want to learn or achieve.
Above is my Creamy Matt Free Form Bowl, Black Mountain clay, 10 inches diameter by 3.5 inches tall. This bowl was sitting on the top shelf of the kiln and so the interior glaze turned more creamy rather than blue.
Here's Molten Blue Free Form Bowl, Black Mountain clay, Cone 10 reduction, 8 inches diameter and 4.5 inches tall. I intended the blue glaze to drizzle into the mahogany interior.
I also had a couple of reglazed pieces from last semester I finally got into the glaze firing, but they didn't turn out well, so I decided to give up on them.
looking goood to me!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, seems you're not only coming a long way with your pieces but you're coming a long way in the self evaluation process & creative process as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty new at all of this. But your words strike wise to me. I look at every piece I make as a test tile. Everything teaches me something. Results may not always be good or what's expected/hoped for...but every lesson is appreciated. And I'm grateful for them.
Your celadon is soooo pretty. And I really like the free form bowls. Will you be making any spirit birds again?
Happy Thanksgiving, Linda!
Hi Gary, unfortunately I see a small stress crack at the seam line of the pitcher - it doesn't go all the way through - I'll be using it in my own house for a plant holder or perhaps a utencil holder in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky, thanks for your insight. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude with the failures. Ceramics is difficult to master, but the challenge keeps me going too.
I mostly work when inspiration strikes me and haven't been repeating any designs except with functional ware. I think the spirit bird came to me from my Native American roots. I do see more pieces coming from that part of my being in the future. Thanks for the encouragement, sometimes that's whats needed an an impetus to pursue certain veins of exploration.
The deco on the pitcher is great. Make more!
ReplyDeleteThank you Patricia, I made some botanical panels and I hope to glaze them similarly.
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