Freedom Isn't Free

After the thunderstorm yesterday evening I was wondering why I moved to Florida. The cats were really scared, heck I was too. I was sure any minute a lightening bolt would come straight through the house and strike me where I stood. The cats and I all got in an interior room and waited while lightening struck all around us.


The electricity went out and the pinch pot I was making had to wait. I covered it up with plastic and hoped it wouldn't dry out too much. This morning the birds are chirping as if to say, enjoy the calm before the storm again this afternoon.


I'll have to arrange my clay making and firing schedules to avoid thunderstorm time of late afternoon. Might have to start firing at midnight and finish up in the morning because the afternoons seem to bring the thunderstorms.


These pots are small pinch pots I made from sculpture clay. The glazes seem to like this clay. Folding the edges together allowed for pooling of the glaze in the crevices, I'll have to remember to do that more often. The first pot (front view, then interior) is 2 x 1.5 inches. The second is 1 x 3 inches and the third is 1.5 x 2.75. My photography seems to be regressing instead of progressing. For convenience and storage I've decided on an easy cube to go with my graduated backdrop for photographing my work. So hopefully I'll receive the one I ordered soon and I'll find that graduated backdrop. One of the things I hate about moving, it seems like it takes months to get stuff sorted out where you can find it easily.


After attending a party at the neighbor's Saturday night I woke up to sciatica so I haven't gotten as much done as I wanted. Gary is in California now and will be heading out with the treasure bus in a day or two. When he gets back I hope to have some photos from his trip to show you since he remembered to bring his camera with him. Up next I'll show you some pieces I've been working on experimenting with some new colors of mason stains mixed in slips.


Today I'm appreciating those who serve to keep our country free; freedom isn't free. Choices often come at a cost; I'm thankful for my freedoms. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Pinch Me, I'm Dreaming !

Pinch me, I'm dreaming ! As I'm writing this I can feel what it's like to pinch the clay. Of all the techniques I utilize in working with clay, pinching puts me in a dream-like state. I can let my mind wander while pinching the clay and I love it. Not that I can't with other techniques, but with pinching I feel I'm really connecting to the clay. It's the closest my mind comes to touching the clay through my hands. With other methods I may use a cutting tool, perhaps a rolling pin, a sculpting tool, a slab roller, a drape mold, but with pinching my fingers are actually forming the clay and it's a direct connection to my mind's eye. I love how the multiple glazes I used, ran down the pinched sculpture above.


Our college studio seems (is) really crowded this semester. It's always crowded at the beginning of each semester before some students decide to drop class. But this semester it is particularly crowded because half of the classes were dropped. There are two long tables and they are filled with those working on sculptures. Backed up to those tables is the wedging table with only a small space around it. Next are two rows of wheels and on the other side of the classroom is the jewelry section with metal tables. I pinched the two bowls above from Soldate 60 stoneware clay the first day of class and now they're in a cabinet drying.


Previous semesters I got to the classroom early and had several projects going at once. I was able to spread out before anyone got to class. This semester we don't have access to the classroom except during class time, so I've had to change my working habits and adapt to my surroundings. I've chosen to work in the jewelry section of the classroom because I can work at the end of the table without someone bumping my elbows. It's also less noisy in that corner of the classroom. Above is a stoneware pinched paperweight I made and glazed with Tom Coleman's green to black satin matt glaze, Cone 10 reduction.


Notice the pinch pots above are sitting on a metal table? That's the jewelry table. The first day I was pinching a few pots and I noticed metal flakes in the clay. Oops! Now I'm sure to wipe down the table real well and I work on a bat. Since I have about a two foot square section to work in, I thought pinch pots would be the perfect solution to the limited space. My goal is to concentrate on making pinch pots of all types and sizes this semester and see where this takes me. I made a very rough texture on the little red pinch pot below. Anyway, if you happen to visit the classroom studio some evening and I don't glance up or notice you, just Pinch Me, I'm Dreaming !

Pinch Pot Warm Up

It's been almost three weeks since my hands touched clay, so I thought I'd warm up today with some pinch pots. First I turned on the electric space heater in my studio and did a bit of organizing, storing supplies, and generally psyching myself up to get back into the clay groove. Normally my studio stays warm due to passive solar, but the sun never showed it's face today. It was misty, overcast and darn cold; in the lower 40's all day long. I know that may seem warm to some folks, but for here it's cold.


I thought I would make a few pots for a barrel firing I plan on having soon. But, as sometimes happens, this pot took it's own course. I used Laguna B-Mix Cone 10 clay. The pot is 3 inches tall, 5 inches wide at the top, and 1.25 inches at the base. What do you think, can a thin-walled porcelain pot make it through the rigors of a barrel firing? Does anyone know the best shaped pot to make for barrel firings?


Tomorrow I'll smooth out the surfaces on this pot and warm up a bit more. I also plan on gathering more supplies for my upcoming barrel firings, more about those plans later this week.