Glazing

Yesterday was an intense day glazing, glazing, glazing. I find it to be stressful, particularly at UMass.  There are huge buckets of mixed chemical creations that you think will come out one way and come out another.   I probably stared at this piece or that one for sometime before committing. I am really looking forward to the time after this semester is over to really focus on making a bunch of yunomis specifically for testing glaze combinations.

I don’t trust my ‘special’ pieces to their glaze recipes and will be taking several to my partner-in-clay crime’s studio Claydance today.  Here is one of my babies I posted a close up of a few weeks ago that’s ready for glazing.

Exploring and kabitzing

There has been so much happening around here as far as life in the summer! One of the most joyous parts for me has been spending time with my friend Dawn Fessenden of Claydance Pottery.  Going to her studio in bucolic Ashfield has been a sheer pleasure. First Obi greets me and sometimes a sheep or two and who doesn’t love a puppy hello?

There is also the amazing view and gardens smells on the breeze that just really make me relax despite any resistance I may have.  I get to enjoy hearing the birds visit the many feeders Dawn has made right outside and talk about art, music and what we are thinking about in our work. We are both exploring various new forms and I really find it feeds my creative process to share ideas and techniques.

Another true blessing is learning about Dawn’s glazes. She is willing to take risks, try new things, and is open to sharing with me where she is at with it. Here is an example of arecent piece of mine. I am working out the best glaze choices for showcasing the detail on the inside of the bowl and having the interior and exterior tie together.

As I’ve been glazing my Sweetheart Creamers I have been thinking about pattern, texture and what I would like to see happen in my glazing. I am also reflecting on how the handle feels in my hand and how much it changes throughout the firing.

Doing a little research today I came across this beautiful pitcher by Christy Knox.  I like the varied textures, the definition created by the underlying glaze around each of the stems on the body. The sweep of the handle is nice, too. A lot study and consider…

Current work out of the kiln

I am particularly pleased about these two pieces fresh out of the kiln.

The piece on the left is a white on white glaze combo using my frost glaze. It has the elegance I am going for. Unfortunately some of the color of the one next to it transferred over and there is a pale green on one of the sides making it a second. It is beautiful nonetheless.

I love the vessel on the left! What’s hard to see here are the three glazes at work.Under the shoulder the green mingles with the frost creating an interesting effect. From the top lip to the green the clear glaze an illusion of watercolor is creating in the washiness of one glaze atop another. The same is true on the lid knob.