Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Chagrin


If I was a kid again, I'd like this plate, because each type of food will stay separate from the other. The plate has four depressions in each corner and it raises up between each square and in the middle. This is my square sushi plate which I've revived here with a turkey oak leaf motif. When I impressed the leaves, the veins were barely visible, so I decided to paint them with stained slip. The gold is supposed to be chartreuse. I'm anxious to see how the color fires.


The electrician is coming tomorrow to install breakers and plugs for my new Skutt kiln and for my old kiln. I figure I might as well wire for both since having two will be handy. I can probably use the old one for bisque and the new one for glaze firings. That reminds me I've got to find out if I can get corelite shelves to fit this kiln.


If you recall I had some cracking issues with the frost porcelain I was using for a couple of pieces. I decided to remake them in a stoneware clay. I painted white slip over the bowl and then the design, but I wish I had used more than one coat of white slip. I wanted the background to be whiter.


I redid the fish on a platter instead of a plate. The fish is supposed to be an orange color and I used a lot of stain in the slip. Another color mystery waiting to be fired.

Now that I've settled in a new location, I find my horizons are broadening. In keeping with my seemingly unquenchable quest, I've added a separate blogroll titled Art, Design, Food, Literature, Garden and More. I also add to the ceramics blogroll. If you want to be added or have an interesting blog to recommend, please let me know. As I'm writing, I'm thinking, I need to organize the blogrolls and I could shorten the new title to 'Other Horizons' which would cover all topics. What do you think?


I found some beautiful heart shaped leaves as we were leaving an outdoor art faire this past weekend. I came home and made this square platter and four matching appetizer plates to go with it. Again the leaf pattern was barely visible, so I painted it with the two tone slip.

Then I saw this same vine somewhere else. All of a sudden I thought to myself, I hope this isn't kudzu I am giving homage to on a platter and matching plates. Much to my chagrin, I did some research and these leaves are indeed from the kudzu vine. Oh well, perhaps I can consider the plates educational. If you see this aggressive noxious vine growing, pull it out and make sure you get the crown to help prevent it from coming back.

Come back next time for a post about the wood turning demonstration I attended. After that Gary will be back with his motel from h*** story. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

12 comments:

  1. Ooo. Very interesting and beautiful work. I love how you say that as a kid you would have liked the plate that kept your food separated. Thanks for connecting with me. Play on!

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  3. those are fun!
    I love the one with kudzu leaves!
    It is nice to see the vines, leaves have some use.

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  4. Cool sushi plate, and I love the orange marlin. I've always wanted to catch one of those. I fired my new Skutt yesterday. What a joy to lift the lid.

    Michael

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  5. All of them are so beautiful! I love the top and the last especially. Of pottery I love slipware!

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  6. I know kudzu is an awful plant, but I think it is so pretty, very lush.

    I love your plates!

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  7. Hi Mary, thanks and welcome. Isn't it funny how kids are.

    Hi MinB2139, thanks, kudzu is edible.

    Hi Meredith, thanks, I read they are researching using the leaves for ethanol.

    Hi Michael, thanks about the plates, I want to go fishing around here one of these days when all our home projects are done, chipping out tile today. I can't wait to use my Skutt.

    Hi Sapphire, thanks so much. I am having fun with the slip that's for sure; painting on clay.

    Hi Natalie, thanks, it is very pretty, that's why I picked a few, just was surprised when I got home and discovered what they were. I don't think I can make a dent on the population of the plant, but I don't have to feel guilty about picking it now. Ha!

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  8. what a joy to have a new kiln! using the old one for bisque firing is a good idea. you may as well use it until it is dead and then turn it into a raku kiln :o)!

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  9. i'm so far behind reading my blogs! i really like everything show here. the flower plate that you only put one coat of slip on- i like it how it is. it's different than what you usually see and i thought you did it on purpose. can't wait to see how it all turns out. contgrats on the new kiln!

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  10. HI Linda,
    Writing from the north where we have some different plants perhaps. Coleus leaves, maple leaves, rhubarb are wonderful "veiny" plants that are beautiful in combination with clay.
    Thanks for your photos.

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  11. Hi Michele, thanks, I do want a raku kiln. I am thinking of making the one that Ang has made on her blog; she is sending me the details.

    Hi Kim, thanks, the plates that go with the bowl are from porcelain so I was hoping to camoflauge the fact that this is a different clay; I suppose I'll have to make another one that has a more white background. I was hoping to have a matched set.

    Hi Nancy, thanks, there are so many leaves with good texture. those sound great. I might have to get some rhubarb at the grocery or swiss chard and try it. Good idea.

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  12. Hi Nancy, I added your blog to my blog roll and went to your blog, but I don't see a place to make a comment there, perhaps that's the hidden items you were talking about?

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment