S.C. Large Pots Workshop 2013

Here are some of the results of my work in the Large Vessel Ceramics Workshop last week. This is a workshop through Santa Cruz Adult School, George Dymesich being our teacher, leader, mentor--and the life force behind the Adult school ceramics for so many years. He has inspired or started so many local and non-local potters on their way into ceramics.

This is my largest pot this year, maybe ever by weight for sure--though might have had one an inch taller before. It started out as a hand thrown base about 15 pounds that I through up to about 18 inches. Then was added to with one inch coils, each well attached and thrown further to form.

The table in the background is tall enough to require stools not chairs, but I didn't take a final measurement and it is still at the studio.

Up next is one of my couple favorites of my work this year. It will be a succulent planter.

It works sort of like a strawberry planter, with plants planted in the side cups/openings. The piece is three cylinders connected for the main body and then two other forms thrown to make the side pockets.

I was also inspired by another potter there to try out some surface decorating and designs and learned a nice way to do starfish... though I did them on a small pot, a bowl planter for succulents.  I'll need to pick some the go with the reef or tide pool theme.

And a lot more planters--large then small with left over clay late in the week...I am doing lots of planters of late.  The first one with a cracked balck surface is dome with black slip put on with the form is tall and narrow.  Then as it is pulled out wider and wider is cracks open showing the clay underneath.

Back to Making Birdhouses

Just coming off a week and change vacation (University Christmas closure) and got the garage pottery studio opened up again.   Here is a just assembled birdhouse, a bit heavy this one, but came out nicely.

There meant to be mostly garden art, but the right size that a bird could move in.   I have done a couple lighthouse birdhouses last summer, and one two story.   They would have to be hing in a high safe place to really get a family to nest, but they look nice in any garden.

S.C. Large Pots 2012

Another great workshop.  I almost didn't do another large pots after already doing one in Jan for teapots, but I am glad I did.

The large pots this time:

S.C. Teapot Workshop 2012

This was my second teapot workshop.  I really enjoyed it and got a lot further into form and techniques than the first time.  This kind skill for me goes far beyond teapots.  It has given me the know how to make all sorts of thrown pieces that evolve into assembled works that can't be made as one piece. Such as jars with lids, lidded coffee mugs, handles, strawberry planters, and even more sculptural stuff.

Here are some of my results:

And here are all the pieces that have to be made separately and then assembled.

Preparing for the Monach Craft Fair

It has been almost a year since my last posts but there have been several firings since. Most recently I have been making more soap dishes and other items for my first sale at the Monarch Craft Fair on November 27th at the Louden Nelson Center.

See pictures here of what has come out of the kiln so far...

Glaze Number 2

My second glaze firing finished up just before Christmas. The pictures are here.

I am getting a bit more intimate with the little kiln. I have done another firing after this one and as many bisque firings over the winter furlough from work. More pictures of those firings soon.

This firing tried out a sienna/red glaze and some napkin rings. More hands and feet dishes and some pendants. Same clays and glazes as before. This was also a another cone 6 firing, although the cones placed in the kiln didn't but barely start to drop, a solid cone 5, but weak cone 6. I let the kiln stay off after the kiln sitter cone/bar (a cone 6) fell.

First Glaze Firing at Home

My first home glaze firing took place on or about 12/21. I have a small Cress 14" by 14" kiln (B1414) that I picked up used. It's stand was altered to add wheels and whom ever did it seems to have done a good job. They did a very solid welding and bracing job.

I have run several bisque firings to cone 06, but this is the first pushing cone 6. The hands and feet pieces in this firing were done for soap dishes as Christmas gifts. They were gifted with handmade soaps. The clays among the pieces at Hawaiian Red, Bravo Buff, Danish White.

Pictures are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewstout/sets/72157623055681646/";