Out of the Kiln and Back in Again

Thought I’d just post a few photos of what I took out of the glaze kiln today. If you read my previous blog posting, you saw a few shots of some of the pots ‘raw’.

Square Plate with Thrown Foot

A white slip was poured over this plate, finger swiped through, then set up and a spray of water sprayed on to ‘speckle’ the slip. I then slip trailed the design, let dry, then rubbed a black stain into the slip. After bisque firing, it was dipped in New Tyler Amber glaze. There is some pitting within the glaze that is not apparent on the other same glazed pots but I’m not sure why. More experiments needed!

The next two mugs were done in a similar fashion, with the tall, thin faceted mug being in black clay, and the tankard style mug being earthenware. The tankard was also glazed with a slightly darker glaze.

This bowl is made using the earthenware clay body with slip brushed on just after it was leather hard. After bisque firing, it was then dipped in Amber glaze. I like the movement within the bowl, although again, hard to tell the difference with the clay bodies in the final result.

In my class with Michael Connelly on Tuesdays, we’re currently doing platters. Ten 7 lb. platters to start. As he said, you’re more likely to experiment with glazes if you throw ten of the same piece than if you’re very precious with two or three. Can’t argue with that. We’re going to learn to fire them in the gas kiln – 5 in oxidation and 5 in reduction firing. Deliriously happy about that as I have no idea how I would learn to do that otherwise. As some of you know, I have a love-hate relationship with my electric kiln. I love that I have a kiln and hate that it’s electric! Very much looking forward to firing in a gas reduction atmosphere. Here are just a few of the platters thrown for the class – thanks for reading!