Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Here, But Not There, Yet

Both of these vases Are there yet. I like the shapes and the way the glaze fits.

Below is a shot of the interior so you can see how the glaze breaks over the layers
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For various reasons the next few are Not there, yet. But I have plans to fix them.

This is the oblong pedestal bowl with three feet. The feet aren't wide enough and if something is placed on the side of the center of the bowl it tends to tip sideways. Next time I'll make the feet wider and taller. I think the feet are two short for the size of the bowl.

I do like the lined texture going on a diagonal across the bowl.

Not sure about this shape of this bowl but I do like the pedestal shape. The two end pieces have a little roughness in the glaze not sure why that is. Perhaps I didn't wipe it down good neough.

This is the watercolor mason stained plate I glazed with turquoise, the turquoise all but covered up the brown and green stains. There's also a little drip of something at the top of the plate. I wish I had glazed this in the clear so my watercolor effect would have shown up better. I'll have to re-do this experiment.

The cheese board is flat as a pancake but I don't like the watercolor effect of the background or the leaves. It's not pleasing to my eye. But I will make more of these, perhaps with a single leaf on the side. I can experiment with the leather strap and plastic nubs on the underside though. Thanks for reading and for all your comments and advice.

16 comments:

  1. Excellent work...and good critique with your own standards...which is so important to us artists. I wondered how the turquoise would work over the mason stains...but it does provide an interesting coloration, however it's not transparent enough for your goals. The cheese tray came out pretty nicely, though I don't know what the watercolor effect you were going for might have been. I'm glad you're producing so I can see your work!

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  2. Hi Barb, thanks, I learn something with every firing, and I guess I couldn't expect to have perfect results with just one experiment on the mason stains, onward and upward. Glad you're enjoying my results; I have learned so much from other bloggers so happy to share what I discover too.

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  3. If you place your three larger feet in tripod position, next time, it might be more stable.
    I like the glaze on the square plate. I know it's not what you were expecting, but I think it looks great.
    As for the "rough" edge of the glaze, try light sanding with super fine sandpaper. The black color sandpaper that is designed to be used wet or dry, I can't remember the number. I have pretty good luck with that.

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  4. Hi Michele, thanks, several clay buddies recommended the tripod shape but I think they need to be larger too as this bowl was rather wide for such small feet. The edge of the plates aren't rough, it's the flat part of the last strip, cause I did sand the edges of the plate, not sure why that is, I think I may have had some grit on that edge but thought it was funny it was only on the two edges.

    I like the turquoise plate just not what I thought it would be, I'll make this same one again with clear and also with the turqouise but not with the stain so one plate experiment will end up making two useful pieces for the future making. not all that bad.

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  5. An artist's work is never done. Nor are they ever satisfied...

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  6. Hi Sue, thanks, you are so right, but at least I'm getting somewhere fast. Ha.

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  7. Hello Linda,

    Ceramics are a combination of Science and Art and there are so many variables to consider to get the perfect outcome. You are very critical of your own work but, this probably is a good thing. With each item that is made your depth of knowledge must grow.

    We like the pale watercolour effect of some of these glazes. Just like a Victorian painting.

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  8. Nothing I don't like here, including your problem children.

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    1. Hi Joanne, thanks it's those problem children that turn out to be gems in the old age, isn't it. ha.

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  9. Hi Jane and Lance, thanks, good to hear about tastes and opinions from across the pond, one must always strive to move forward or they become stagnant and bored, not good. ha.

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  10. I like that top one with the darker glaze on the inside and the curly detail on the front..

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    1. Hi Anna, thanks, I've done that glaze combo before and liked it then so I thought I'd try it again.

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  11. Don't you love how experiments lead to more experiments? You've got some really nice pieces there.

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    1. Hi Lori, thanks, there's always more with clay that's for sure. Ha.

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  12. They all look great. I have a large blue "urn" that I made years ago by coiling the clay. I still like it. :)

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    1. Hi Lee, thanks, maybe some day you'll post your urn so I can see it

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