This week in my SURFACE DECORATION class, we tackled underglaze transfers. I’m not a huge fan of the pre-made & purchased versions… so we “doodled” & made our own! Black underglaze outlines on paper… then filled in with colorful underglazes. Once they dried, we applied them to our leatherhard pieces just like a temporary tattoo! Wet with a sponge & press gently with a soft rib. Peel way the paper gently & the image had transferred to our pots. We had a lot of fun… and saw that there’s a bit of a learning-curve here. Kudos to those potters on Instagram that do this technique so flawlessly… we all have new-found respect!!!

Swirls of ombre’ blended slip…
and then some geometric sgraffito carvings.over the top.
A quick textured rim & a layer of clear glaze… voila’!!!

For tonight’s SURFACE DECORATION class, I told my students to have some leatherhard pieces ready to play with. Looks like “someone”… me… might not have done their homework on time. Any wagers on whether I can get these freshly-thrown pieces to leatherhard in time for class??? You know I love a good challenge!!!

A warm morning with nothing but beautifully rippled reflections along the lakefront.
An AMAZING way to start the day!

Woke up to rain this morning… but with April Showers come… ummm?…
DANDELIONS!!! And I’m here for it.
Might be a weed… but still a colorful sign that Spring is here!!!

Just a little fun with bricks & shadows on a sunny afternoon Texture Tuesday!!!

Clear skies, warm breezes & calm water… what could be better?!
Oh yeah, maybe a great sunrise reflection at the end???

This might be the best & funniest Facebook comment I’ve ever gotten?! I don’t think that I’ve been compared to “AI” before?… but I’m kinda flattered in a weird way!!!

Assembled… now with handles! This latest batch of hybrid mugs finally all have handles… thus making them MUGS!!! I’m a firm believer that a “mug” by this potter’s definition must have a handle!!! So they’re all attached & ready to “relax” a little under some plastic overnight… before I come back to touch them up a bit more before drying.

Here they are… a bunch of handles pulled and almost ready to go! I like to loop them over like this so they can set-up for awhile before attaching. I want them to be soft & malleable… but not sticky & squishy. Plus, the loop sets-up most of the handle’s curve for later when it goes onto the mug!