April Pots

I just finished a cycle and this batch was special to me. . .
My journey through various methods and styles has slowly but surely led to a style that I can confidently state is mine.  I've enjoyed the experience and now am producing pots that have my style and do what I want them to do.  It's just clay . . . mud, if you will, and the effects on the world are minimal.  But if a life needs passion to be a full life, and this medium is a catalyst that allows my passions to emerge, then it's effect is well worth the time and efforts involved.

Here's the latest batch, fresh from the kiln -
The phone-cam photos are a bit rough, but you get an idea - click on the images for more detail.

Great outcome - no glaze runs, no stuck lids, a solid ＾5 firing. . .

This teapot is very light

Cookie jar with design relief

Genie Lamp Teapot

Udon Bowl

Experiment with Tenmoku glaze on inside, very nice results

Covered Casserole

A couple of the mugs -

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A 15" Platter

Kiln-load of Glazed Pots

I've been working on a few new glazes and this is the first load of pots thrown and trimmed using a "chattering" technique.  Some experiments really turned out well.  Others, not so much. . .
Here are some shots of my favorites.  Click on the photos to see slideshow.

Green Celedon w/ Gold Tenmoku

Green Celedon w/ Gold Tenmoku

Tea Bowl w/ Speckled Green mat

Green Celedon w/ Gold Tenmoku

Lidded Pot w/ Red Iron Oxide treatment

Lidded Pot w/ Red Iron Oxide treatment

Tea Bowl w/ Gold Tenmoku

Tea Pot with Clear Crackle Glaze

Tea Pot with Clear Crackle Glaze

Lidded Pot w/ Variegated Blue Glaze

Lidded Pot w/ Variegated Blue Glaze

Kiln Load 12/16/2010 All Glaze

This load included some of my bigger pieces, thrown with fresh clay that allowed some experimentation.  After throwing nothing but smaller pieces with my recycled (and less bodied) clay, this was a lot of fun. Click on photos for larger view.

Slab-built Tea Pot.  16" tall

The pot at left is built of slabs with a pulled handle.  It stands about 16" tall.  I just love this form - it looks sexy from all angles.  This one survived the rigors of drying in my busy studio. A similar form lost its handle last year.

Thrown vase with black slip. 12" tall

The vase on the right was thrown and coated with black slip.  A coating of Sodium Silicate was applied and allowed to dry.  Then the pot was expanded to its final form, creating the surface texture you see.  A verigated blue glaze was applied with great results.

This is a 16" tall carafe with red iron oxide accents under a Nutmeg semi-matt glaze.

7" tall pot using the same technique as the larger pot.
Waterfall Brown glaze over clear over black slip.

A very nice & light 10" mixing bowl with verigated blue glaze providing nice color breaks.

This slab-built piece is for our daughter's coffee house in San Luis Obispo.  Sally Loo asking people not to put stuff on the pot-belly stove.

This is a nice vase about 10" tall.  I had good results with Waterfall Brown over Verigated Blue over clear.  Some crawling on the rim (not sure why) but it's a good effect.

I had a few more coffee mugs to fire.  These will probably go to the coffee house for sale.