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

Wolf Gift

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I love receiving feedback from friends, family and coworkers. This mug was inspired by a story shared about a coworker’s family member who loves wolves.

Here is another inspired wolf mug:

Grateful for the inspiration

Hues of Red, White, and Blue

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Wood fired pieces always blow me away mainly due to the natural effects of flame, heat, and earthly elements. This cup is from the most recent wood-kiln firing.

Happy Memorial Day! Thanks to the brave men and women who died in service of the U.S.A.

Free Range

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This years’ woodfiring was postponed slightly due to flooding.  Two weeks ago the wood firing team commenced the process with storing of wood and loading the kiln. Loading the kiln is definitely a fun event due to the number of good folks who come to help.  I missed the loading because of my 9-5.  For several days, 4 hours a day, the team fed thewood-kiln and last Thursday the kiln was unloaded.  Now the unloading part is the one phase that I haven’t experienced yet so I was “stoked” to get that chance… but as it turns out my hot water tank wanted our full attention that day.  C’est la vie. Now I can change the elements of those suckers! LOL. I vow to experience the unloading at the next wood firing event and then some!   

Christmas Wishes

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A very good family friend loves soup.

I thought I’d design some bowls with a Ukrainian Easter Egg inspired theme.  After researching the meaning of the symbols I realized that maybe less is more? So I focused on good health (wheat, pine needles, grapes), Christ (rose star, fish, fishing nets), and spiritual growth/prayer (ladder), and everlasting life (wave/curls). I even included stars.  Hopefully these bowls turn out well, as the intent of the decorations are my Christmas Wishes for my friend and for everyone.

Merry Christmas!

The bowls pictured have the designs in black, red, and yellow underglaze, all covered in Crystal Clear glaze. They should be ready in time for a holiday delivery. I’ll post the resulting photos once they come out of the kiln.

The bowls came out in time for a Christmas delivery! Two bowls were chosen: the cross of red in center (top left) and the cross of yellow in center (bottom)

I researched the symbols used on Ukrainian Easter Eggs and settled on just a handful that resonated (and that I could try my hand at). One of the resources used was a lovely find, “Pysanky Symbols“: http://bookczuk.blogspot.com/2015/02/2015-version-of-pysanky-symbols-chart.html, created by Amy Romanczuk. According to the blogspot, “Amy Romanczuk is an artist and retired pediatric nurse in Charleston, SC. She is self-taught pysanky writer of Ukrainian heritage. Several of her original design pysanky were accepted into the collection of Museum of Ukrainian Decorative Folk Arts in Kyiv, as representational from artists outside Ukraine.”

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