Firing, Glazes & Ceramics Classmates

This semester I am learning more from my ceramics classmates than in previous years. Other years I was concentrating on developing my techniques working with clay. This year I am finding discussions with classmates is stimulating me to branch out into areas I might not have gone. Also I am looking at other students work to see what they are doing. With the greenware photo I took in the classroom, I noticed that one of the pots has a pencil drawing on it. When I get back to the classroom next week, I will be checking to see whose work this pot is so I can ask them how they plan on glazing the pot.


Unbeknownst to either of us, one classmate made test tiles and I did the same. We decided to compare our glazing notes and test tiles. Now another classmate has made up raku test tiles. On Monday, I will get my test tiles out of the kiln to see how the glazes turned out. Since I had a lot of pieces to fire I also tried some of the glazes on the pieces even though I have no idea what they will look like. At the college we only have so many firings for the semester, so I don't have the luxury of firing my test tiles to see how the glazes turn out before I glaze my work. If I waited I might not get all my glazed pieces fired. The turnaround time for bisque and glaze firings is also very short, so there isn't much time to get all my bisque glazed before the glaze firing. Yesterday I found myself looking at the kiln firing and wishing it was done so I could see all of my work.