Crazy… Crazy for feeling so crazing

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Pondering, mulling, thinking, analyzing, planning, hoping, etc.  Stay with me on this brief venture through exploration & pottery research.

While juggling two clay bodies and exploring my intent for each clay for this year’s creation lots, I ventured down the rabbit hole of researching SLIPS & mason stains in hopes of decorating or enhancing my pieces in a cool new way. During this time my memories included brief mentions from Master Potters Millie (St. John) Schmidt (https://www.ipacny.org/millie-st-john) and Tim See (http://www.timseeceramics.com, https://www.youtube.com/user/timseepots). But I had a twist to include, which was “would mason stains work well on bmix wood clay body for wood-firing“…which I plan to research more of course…

So then I happen to pop over to the issue of CRAZING, which for some reason led my curiosity to body cracking and glaze popping …

Do you see how my mind trails? LOL

So today though, I research and find a resting area in the rabbit hole I’m venturing where I exclaim (silently of course), “Ahhh! My college chem courses have just laughed at me!” (see picture below “Figure 2”).  What a good moment for some humor!

Okay, here is the illustration that helped me realize it was time for another cup of coffee:

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Body Cracking and Glaze Popping – Kgs.Ku.edu

1 Key Point of this blog vent(uring) is:

Give THANKS for each breath, both in and out.  For each of moment can bless you with #yet-to-be-realized wisdom and love.

Supplemental points include:

–Willie Nelson wrote the song, “Crazy”
–Patsy Cline sang the song, “Crazy”.

Glazing Techniques Exploration

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Left & Middle Cups = Starry Night Base, Coastal Blue dip 1/2 way down, topped with Cream.
Right Cup = Starry Night Base, Cream dip 1/2 down, topped and 1/2 angle dip of Coastal Blue

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It was a nice exploration of the glaze effects – albeit with the tiny variables of how long it is heated in the kiln, how high the kiln temperature is, and where it sits in the kiln.

I brought the cup on the right to work to test it out – the drinkability (i.e. how it rests on my lips as I drink my coffee, how balanced does a full cup of coffee sit, how do my fingers feel and lay while holding the cup with the handle, etc). I love the smooth roundness of the cup. But I am seeking a more blue effect, a #CosmicBlue effect that reminds me of space, space gas, exploration, evolution, God’s creation, etc.

Recent inspiration came from a Pintrest whereas the middle of the pottery piece had a distinctive band of glaze that was then accentuated by cosmic glaze on the upper and lower parts.  What a fun exploration of glaze play I thought! I wondered how they did it (more than one potter had examples).

BUT at studio I had to hurry hurry to complete my little goal – oooh dear. Not the technique I was hoping to do BUT I got an atypical technique completed.

Here is the current set using a ‘new’ technique – brushed on Coastal Blue in the mid section, dipped in Starry Night on top and bottom – – and then I nearly forgot about the INSIDES! So my Starry Night kind of went all over on 2 pieces for sure. And the last minute cream shower along the rim and the sides….

RESULTS – Part One

Okay so I ended up placing these 4 pieces on pieces of broken shelving JUST IN CASE the glazes ran – and thankfully I did.  Three of the four ran. I thank my fellow Clayscapes Pottery potter friends with oodles of more experience than I for suggesting the shelving bits!

Results – Part Two

Success can be achieved while #Learning!

-Oneida Shark Pottery

Run Run Run. For this attempt I’d give myself a C- for the results. If I choose to explore the mid-section Coastal Blue glaze I may put it on taller pieces, reduce the # of seconds i hold the Starry Night glaze on the bottom and glaze the interior first. I’d give myself an A+ for effort!

  • Squared Handle
  • Flowy Skirt
  • Large Handle