Tonight I did a lot of stamping on some plates & platters. Some got a lot, some got a few. Some will be glazed, and some will be soda-fired. But all of them now have decorative edges from multiple stamps… each pressed in one by one by one… round & round & round…

Just when you thought that stamping, carving, sgraffito and other surface decoration techniques were a bit too fussy and a bit too much work… imagine this?!!!!

Precisely incised porcelain. Also, difficult to say three times fast!!!

Click here for the video.

Last night in my pottery class we made a LOT of bowls!!! We started with a demo of how to make a good basic bowl. A bowl on purpose instead of a cylinder gone bad. We talked about gaining control of the clay and having a plan when you start. Sit down at the wheel and know what you’re going to make before you even start centering the clay.

So I threw one bowl for my students… and then “released them” back to their own wheels. While they practiced, I threw 15 more bowls… all basically the same. Simple. Round. Plain. Then we reconvened for Part Two of the evening’s demo.

We discussed the importance of playing with the clay and making it your own. Anyone can make a simple bowl. But making it “special” is a lot more fun. So I went through some quick tricks they can all do to make their bowls a little more fun. And begin to express themselves past the plain, round bowl. And the importance of being diligent and committing to a design. Don’t be tentative… no one likes an “iffy” pot. To start making their bowls with a purpose.

Bowl #1 – Four simple finger twists giving four fluted details.

Bowl #2 – And if four is good, eight flutes might be better.

Bowl #3 – A thin flange flared out to create a wider, decorative rim.

Bowl #4 – And if thin is good, thicker might be better. A wide flanged bowl… kinda like the ones you get at a fancy restaurant. Large bowl with one little bite of food in the bottom.

Bowl #5 – So why not combine the two – flanged & fluted rim.

Bowl #6 – A hollow rolled rim to give a bit of visual “bulk” and a grooved spiral.

Bowl #7 – A simple flower made in the bottom of the bowl with a dragonscale tool.

Bowl #8 – A split rim, then pinched back together in four places.

Bowl #9 – A sweet split rim “fluted” out with a round stick tool.

Bowl #10 – Another split rim with four flouted OUTs, and four fluted IN’s!

Then we discussed the fun option of colored slips. Basically a layer of colored clay “skin” that they can paint onto their pots. It’s a quick & easy way to add some flair to the pots. And sure, you can paint them with slip and leave them plain… or…

Bowl #11 – A thick layer of white slip and a spiral created by dragging a wood tool through it while the bowl was still rotating on the wheel.

Bowl #12 – Another layer of white slip. A paintbrush spiral in the bottom. Then some horiziontal banding along the top made with a wood tool pressing through while rotating. Then a little “basket weave” pattern by simply dragging through the bands.

Bowl #13 – A little bit thicker layer of slip, maybe double the normal amount, and then some fun finger squiggles… yep, my finger!

Bowl #14 – Another layer of white slip- then some decorative chattering through to reveal the clay color. Chattering is just rhythmic tapping of my rib through the slip while the bowl was spinning.

Bowl #15 – The plan here was to make a wide flange, paint it with slip and then do some decorative “fun” on the flange. But my students (err, Catherine) talked me into leaving it as it is for now… and then doing some stamping on the white slip. Their hope is that the stamps would reveal the clay color when pressed in. I doubt that it will. I think the white slip will just press in along with the stamp. But we’ll see…

Bowl #16 – A little colored ombre effect by blending two colors.

So for now they’re under wraps in my studio.
Part Three of the demo will happen there when I start stamping & detailing them all a little bit more. I’ll add more photos here as they progress.

I threw the basic cylinders a bit ago… and finally got around to finishing them. I trimmed and added handles on Saturday, and then did some detailing with colored slips tonight. It has been a fun project… trying out some new shapes for some new mugs. Some of them I’m liking… some loving… and others not so much. I’m always open for opinions, so please add your Comments below. I’m actually thinking I might tackle another batch of new shapes… and force myself to go even further the next time!!!

Spent the night in my studio tonight playing with some new shapes for new mugs.
Of course some stamping, trimming, refining & handles will make a world of difference.
We’ll see where these go from here…

Another batch of porcelain reclaim on the plaster bat setting up a bit…
wedging to commence soon!

Here’s a great time-lapse video of a very large pot from start to finish. From throwing the base, building it up layer by layer, a coating of slip and then some pretty impressive carving. I love to watch people working. And apparently these large, beautifully decorated pots are the hallmark of North Carolina potter Kate Johnston. Her work looks incredible… might just “need” to make the trip down to Seagrove soon for all of its pottery riches!!!

And a quick side-note to my students…
We will NOT be using blow torches in class!!! Just sayin’…

Click here for the video on Facebook.
And click HERE to see more works by Kate Johnston of Seagrove, North Carolina.

And done… for now anyways. I’m sure there is still some glazing to come?!

Spent the evening waxing bottoms of some new porcelain pieces
as I’m pulling together another kiln firing just in time for my
Second Holiday Home Show in Saturday, December 12th.