Spent some time tonight glazing up the last batch of textured tiles for a commission piece I’ve been working on. Can’t wait to see them come together into another ClayQuilt wall piece.

Save

My wheelthrowing students keep asking how they can improve. They want better control of their clay. They want to get the shapes they’re hoping for. So in this week’s class, I offered up my “Throwing With Intention Challenge.” So we started with a discussion about how important it is to know what you want to make from the very start. As early as cutting off the right sized piece of clay. And then centering it into a good shape. I encourage a taller ball of centered clay if you’re going to throw a vertical form. Whereas a lower, flatter centered piece of clay is ideal for plates & platters. We then discussed how they should have a “design”in their mind of what they want their form to look like. And the benefit of sketching pieces first, or keeping a scrapbook of images & forms.

And then the challenge began. They each drew a piece of paper which had a challenge on it. They needed to throw the shape on the sheet as best as they could. Keeping in mind edges, curves, proportions, etc. I purposefully put a thin grid behind the drawings to help point out the geometric-ness and proportions they should strive for. They then sat down to throw their “chosen” cylinder with intention!!! With a good plan from the start… instead of slapping down some clay, spinning the wheel and seeing what you get!

Most of them enjoyed the challenge. And each of them struggled, but succeeded in their own way. It was great to see them embracing the challenge and refining their skills. Little do they know… but this challenge will most likely be repeated again… and again… and again…

Save

Save

So the past couple weeks have been CRAZY!!!
Far too many projects going on. Throwing new pots.
Stamping. Trimming. Drying. Firing. Glazing.
Times two with my recent soda kiln and the cone six firing.

Not to mention all of the terra cotta “ghouls” that I’ve been working late nights just to get them done. No time to sleep. No time to breath. I’m stretched beyond belief yet again. Not even sure if I would be able to get everything done for ART IN THE BARN this coming weekend?! And did I mention teaching Tuesday night too?! Okay, you get it right… over-committed, over-stretched.

And then this happens…
I get an e-mail Thursday mid-morning. Basically it’s a request from the TV show “EMPIRE” to make some vases for them. My Wisconsin potter friend Amanda is friends with the Props Manager on “EMPIRE” and she’s the one who connected all of us. My understanding is that they need some identical vases for them to film in a scene. Sounds like the vases are going to smashed in the scene… and they’ll have 16 times to get it right for all the necessary angles. They just need them bisque fired… as one of their Props Crew will be painting them to look like they’re expensive antiques. All sounds great… except for the fact that I still don’t have time!!!

But you know I can’t say “No” to a great opportunity like this.
So I said yes… and then I started to freak out. How can I get this done???

I made it into the studio about 4:30pm Thursday night. The plan was to throw all of the vases as fast as possible. They said they wanted the vases between 14″-16″ tall. So I started by wedging up my sixteen balls of clay.

After throwing one tall vase, I realized quickly that it was going to be too much time & effort to throw all of the vases that tall. With the incredibly fast turn-around time, I decided it would behoove me to throw them as two-part vases. So I set off to throw all of the bottom halves.

Followed by throwing all of the top pieces.

It was late by the time I finished, so I went home for a couple hours of sleep… and then returned very early in the morning to start assembling them.

After a few hours I had them all assembled, cleaned up a bit with a definitive “foot” flange and set out to dry.

Here’s the real kicker…
they wanted the vases bisque fired and ready for pick-up by Monday!!!
Yep, normally a project like this would take a week or two… not a day or two!

So I set them all on a raised plastic grid covered with a few sheets of paper. I figured the paper would help soak up & disperse the water from the clay. And then being raised up, air can get under the vases to dry more evenly. So I set a fan on them and hoped for the best. As it was, I had to get home to start packing to get to ART IN THE BARN. Good thing I could squeeze these in under such tight time restraints. I just hope the client from 20the Century Fox Television is happy with their new vases!!!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Looks like these little critters are making their way into the kiln… and then into my booth at ART IN THE BARN. The latest addition to “The Ghouls Collection” will be infesting Barrington early Saturday morning! Sure, they might still be warm from the kiln, but at least they’re almost done… and just in time!

Here’s a sad example of what can happen when you’re rushing work & sleep-deprived at the same time. Keep in mind there’s always a chance you may “forget” to dip the bottom half in the glaze bucket before putting it in the kiln. And here I thought it was so easy wiping the glaze off the bottom foot ring… now I know why. Dang. Would’ve been nice, right???

Anyone else have a good “sleep-deprived” pottery story to share?!

Save

For me, kiln firing days are always filled with studio cleaning & projects… or in my case today, glazing another whole kiln full for a cone six firing tomorrow! Pots are waxed & drying… let the glaze dipping commence!

Green wax you may ask?… nope. Not really. It comes as a clear wax which is always a little tough to see when you wax your pots. But add a few drops of food coloring and it will be a LOT easier to see!!!

It was late last night when I finished loading the soda kiln. It’s packed with a LOT of pots!!! Firing is already underway today. Lots of new work headed to ART IN THE BARN next weekend in Barrington!!!

Glazed, sprayed & wadded… let the kiln loading begin!!!

Still glazing… and using a ton of temoku!

So here’s a quick question… is it Temoku or Tenmoku???

Still glazing LOTS of pots for tomorrow’s soda kiln firing.
Just goes to show that small pots need small stamps!!!