The latest handbuilding project got fired and I LOVE IT. We had to make four slab built cups, a tray and (assigned to me:) a pitcher. These tripod cups are so fun to make. The pitcher is *my first one* and I was worried it wouldn't pour well...but it does! 

I love experimenting with the glazes. This is a combination of a shino, rust (the metallic showing in some spots), celadon (on the interior) and a matte clear (spashed for some design). Swoon.

Seeing things first come out of the glaze firing is usually a disappointment, but this is one of the first times I was really happy with the results. I had done some tests before this firing, but still went on a limb on some of the ideas. Here's some of work before it went through the first firing:

Things are super busy this month and will continue to be until late November. I may ending up crashing during Thanksgiving week. I'm looking forward to a relaxing Thanksgiving week and then lots of family and friend reunions in December. I can't wait for Charlie and Mari to see each other again and  and for Mari to meet my best friends' kids too. 

First handbuilding class project

Our first assignments in my clay handbuilding class were pinch pots. After we made several small pinch pots, we are assigned a pinch pot sculpture (attach two together, etc). I decided to make a sea rock and probably spent far too long making it, but I love it!

Here's the evolution of the piece:

I wasn't expecting the colors to become duller in the end, but I think it's because of how much iron is in the clay body.

 

High Fire Ceramics

Y'all I'm so excited to be able to fire some high fire ceramics! I've only had things fired to cone 5 on an electric kiln, but these are being fired in *actual flames* in a gas kiln. The glazes do much cooler things at this higher temperature.

Several years ago I took some ceramic courses and became 100% obsessed (bought a wheel, a kiln, etc). Now that Mari is a little bigger I decided I might have time to take another course again at the university. There just isn't anything like the motivation and inspiration that comes with an actual class. I'm taking a handbuilding class this semester. This vase was made on the wheel as something extra outside of the class.

This is a shino glaze fired in a gas kiln to cone 10.

I'll share my handbuilding project soon. It's the kiln right now.