While I can’t really say this was my first firing, these are my first pots I’ve ever had fired in the gas kiln. I should get to help fire the kiln (ie. learn) some time at the end of March, but this load, the teacher, Michael Connelly fired himself.
Most of the glazes were experiments (think crapshoot 
) as I was unfamiliar with the glazes they had, and went by the test tiles on the wall. I limited myself to 4 glazes (primarily layered shinos), just so I would be able to view the outcome easier. Some I like, and some, well…meh. Here goes…first, the mugs
Disclaimer 1: None of the mugs are really very exciting. Not awful, but just kind of plain and flat. The mug on the left is a shino overall and another layered on the top third.
I like the lower glaze on the mug on the right… A Mamo Yellow layered over a shino. Toasty and warm. Disclaimer 2: I have to say I was coerced into doing this handle I wanted to try new things in this class so I thought I’d give it a shot. I still don’t like it, but I figure someone out there will!
This mug was supposed to get a light blue/green wash over the shino, but apparently it was too light. Plain old brown although a nice finish to the sheen overall. Good for those who like an ‘earthy’ mug!
Onto bigger and better things…
Platters!
I like all three of the platters that came out of the kiln. The platter on the left, was wheel thrown, textured on the wheel, then accented with hand built ‘thumb rest’ decorations to allow the glaze to pool on the edges. The platter on the right was an Orange Shino, wax resist and overglazed with Mamo Yellow with incised lines scratched in.
This last platter from this firing was a thrown and altered platter that is glazed in a ‘Peach-Black’. On my clay body, it looks more like an iridescent Iron Red. It is highlighted in the center with a rutile wash. I like the warmness of the rutile wash and have been experimenting with it in my cone 6 oxidation firings quite a bit.
Some of you may remember seeing some of my pitchers on Facebook, shortly after they were thrown. Here are four of them. The darker red pitcher actually is quite nice, although I’m having a hard time getting the glaze qualities to show up in the photograph. It has a lovely iridescent, metallic quality to the Iron Red. The taller, thin pitcher is one of my ‘meh’ pots. It surely could have done without the added gray/white shino pour over the top, but I’ll remember for next time!
I think I probably like that first combed pitcher the best. Layered poured shino, then scratched through where the original combing was done on the jug.
All in all, not a bad bunch of pots – I’ll hopefully repeat the good things and discard the bad for the next firing. Thanks for looking!
I operate a working pottery studio in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania specializing in wheel thrown and altered functional stoneware pottery. Stoneware clay is durable enough for ovenware, yet just as beautiful to display. My pots are created with form, function and beauty in mind. The glazes you see are hand mixed and formulated for food safety, as well as being microwave and dishwasher friendly. Current pots may be purchased through the store or local pickup, and custom orders are encouraged.
That sounds exciting and challenging to be learning to fire a gas kiln. Good for you!!!
I really like the 3rd mug. Is that a mark at the bottom from your finger tip? I think that really adds a little something special when that mark is left there.
Thank you! That’s the way the glaze broke over my stamp which I usually leave unglazed – although I’m not opposed to creatively placed fingerprints!
I really like the combed jug shape the best, but the teardrop inside the handle of the shino pitcher is marvelous. The Millard Sheets style handle on the mug looks adventurous…but takes away from the lovely glazing as it is too hard to avoid the distraction. But, like you say, someone will like it. Nice first gas firing.