A night in the office

Just finished seeing my last patient of the evening. Hoping to get home to glaze some bisque ware that I pulled over the week-end. Spent part of the day between patients studying a Bernard Leach vase that I wanted to try to imitate in form. I tried to do it by memory, and it was all wrong. I went back to the original picture and realized that I had been completely "fooled" by the form into thinking that it was wider at the base than at the throat, but in fact, the diameters were essentially the same! The illusion was created by the form gently undulating. Also the undulation is farther up the form than I remembered. The point of all this (besides my memory problems) is that the artistry of form is actually the ability to create a simple illusion even to one who is a somewhat careful observer. The form was "right." I exaggerated the dimensions in my mind's eye.

Raku bottle with copper glaze

Copper raku glaze. The "hot side" turned out well. The lesson I learned was to rotate the pots in the kiln. (Duh!) Anyway, I'm still learning these things.

Newer pots

Latest firing

Still having trouble figuring out how to edit this blog, but I am undeterred.
I am grateful for all the people on blogs that I follow for taking the time to post pictures of their work and stories. Very inspirational but also comforting to hear of both artists' struggles and successes.

I reclaimed a batch of clay and have been wedging it and using it to make press molded dishes. (It is not quite good enough in consistency to throw, but it is fine for hand-building.) My son is taking a hand-building course at Millersville University this Spring, so I am hoping to learn some techniques from him as he progresses.

I'll post some pictures when the kiln finishes in a few days.

Thanks!

New Mugs and Bowls