Last glaze load has been inspected, the bases polished smooth, washed, priced, and put away*. I'd picked up some Laguna Speckled Buff and IMCO Red Velvet clays to test when last traveling; I really like both of them, will get more next time! The Teal Blue glaze melts late in the firing, and does not move much. As the glaze dried after dipping, cracks formed at the handle join on all the Teal Blue mugs in this load. The other glazes I use will typically flow back together when they melt; the Teal Blue did not. All the Teal Blue mugs from this load will be drilled for use as planters. There will be more Teal Blue mugs in future! The "Helper" bowls curve inward at the rim. At last Spring's "Art in the Garden" event, a parent and adult child had inquired about a bowl design that would help the elder load their spoon and keep it loaded. These are the prototypes; when one has loaded their spoon, drag up the side of the bowl, where the back curve helps keep the spoon loaded, then tuck the bowl edge under the chin and lift that spoon straight in. The carved foot provides a secure grip for the bowl hand. The chattered texture - which adds some interest and color to the ware - adds some grip for the bowl hand. *I needed counterspace for the next load, which is in the kiln right now!
0 Comments
Back in the Studio! Load of white and buff stoneware bisque, ready for glazing. Also trying out Laguna Clay's "Speckled Buff" and IMCO "Red Velvet" clays. Red Velvet clay bowls - might as well work through the bag afore transitioning back to white...
View from the canyon rim behind our son's house, near Butte Creek, just East of Chico, CA.
We're finishing up some remodeling - full plumbing upgrade, master and guest bath full remodel/restoration, bedrooms fully restored/remodeled. Another two weeks or so, I'll be home and back in the Studio! Registered for Open Studios 2022 last week
October 8,9,15,16 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Looking forward to it! Was home for two weeks in May, built up the greenware backlog. Looking forward to getting back in the studio; first task, fire a load of greenware!
First, finished off a bag of Venus white stoneware, then that bag of Laguna speckled buff in the background, test tiles and pieces, then same in IMCO Red Velvet red stoneware. That's medium/small set of four with a server, in Venus white (one of three sets of four). Thanks to all visiting SLO Botanical Garden this last weekend! Looks like the plant sale and "Art in the Garden" events were both well attended - lots of activity.
Thanks to all working behind - and in - the scenes to make it happen. Enjoyed the music! Thanks to all who took a look and special thanks to those who stopped to chat. I looped around several times, aiming to get a good long look at the work each vendor/artist/artisan had on display, and whilst looking, briefly introduce myself; it was a pleasure. Hope to see you all again soon! SLO Botanical Garden "Art in the Garden" event starts tomorrow, 5-7 p.m. champagne and chocolate whoohaa! ...am heading out to the Studio to pack more boxes up now. I'd decided against price increases for this year - I'm pricing wares about the same as last year. That's me, lower right corner.
Thirty-five vendors/artists/artisans this year! Unloaded the kiln Sunday afternoon; finished inspection, foot polishing, and washing yesterday.
Once priced, I'll post them on the "current work" page. Recent bisque load - all liner glazing is done, chatter marks are filled. Next, sieve and mix up the red, variegated blue, teal, rutile green, maybe the reclaimed light blue, and glaze the outsides, then load the kiln. Place your cursor over the image to read the caption, or double click to scroll through the filmstrip. SLO Botanical Garden "Art in the Garden" event is coming up. I'm excited to be a part of this again.
It's a bit more trouble to get the clean and sharp line between the liner and outside glazes at the rim; I think it is worth it. The liner glaze is poured in and poured out. The outside is glazed by dipping the ware upside down in the glaze - it won't stick to the inside or the rim, as that part has been waxed. I'm filling the chatter marks with glaze or underglaze, then wiping back the excess. It's a bit more trouble, however, sometimes the glaze will "crawl" out of the chatter mark if they haven't been filled in before dipping. I like to think the chatter marking adds some interest, and also a bit of extra grip for the fingers. |
Tom MurphyArchives
June 2023
Categories |