I'll be ordering some new kiln shelves(knock on wood) later this week so I'm hoping to get a firing out at the end of this month. I will spend the majority of the Thanksgiving break readying the kiln. So for now more shots of greenware will have to suffice.
I make a lot of mugs as most potters do. I weigh out all my clay but don't use any kind of measuring gauge except on pots that stack(plates, soup bowls, etc.) Something interesting that happens a lot is that the a lot of the time the pots all end up the same anyways. It makes sense, if you start with the same weight and are doing a certain shape the clay will only go so far, theoretically the same every time. Since I'm not strict about reproducing shapes there are many small variations.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAfO1fg7iI/AAAAAAAACVs/9UgOhelv9kE/s320/mugs.jpg)
Jugs or pitchers.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAfLumHvOI/AAAAAAAACVk/EHvnLRJ-ulQ/s320/pitchers.jpg)
Lidded jars with a couple of leaf patterns. These patterns seem to border on kitsch, they have a naive quality to them. I think the fired quality of the pattern will be much stronger and more in keeping with what I am after, I hope anyways.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAfI5ORwgI/AAAAAAAACVc/bNCZLlxYXeQ/s320/jars.jpg)
Tall jug. I did several pots with this pattern that isn't really anything. I suppose it could be some sort of flora, but what? It's probably a subconscious interpretation of weeds from my backyard.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAfERIlvKI/AAAAAAAACVU/ceSEbZhgi3w/s320/talljug.jpg)
I can only make 12 plates at a time because that's all the bats I have of that size. Someday I'll make some more.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAfB3SWVzI/AAAAAAAACVM/FGAe9wzhemo/s320/plates.jpg)
Plate foot detail. I usually leave a little bump of clay(some call it a nipple) in the middle of my footrings. Many historical pots, particularly from the asian culture have these. I've heard a variety of reasons for it so I'm not entirely sure of it's exact origin but it's one of those things that I incorporate as a sort of tip of the hat to those past cultures that have influenced my work. I can't leave them on the bottoms of plates because if it sags in the firing the nipple can actually extend beyond the footring if the feet are wadded.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAe_UZBX9I/AAAAAAAACVE/i1g-k34r07E/s320/plate+foot.jpg)
Here is an example of the nipple. Kline likes the anti-nipple, or maybe we should just call it an innie.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAe82y6xpI/AAAAAAAACU8/spANaSpPQtU/s320/nipple.jpg)
My ceramics 2 students are working on 18" pieces so I made a couple of demos. This was a sectional piece.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAe3kZl2-I/AAAAAAAACU0/aZZn4xVmxQQ/s320/capjar.jpg)
Here is the coil & throw demo piece for that class.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YKqkX5fzu5E/TNAe0m5jKSI/AAAAAAAACUs/vfCm6LKyyoA/s320/tall-studio.jpg)
This is the work of one of my advanced students, I think he's on to something here. I have a couple of students who make work like mine which is okay for now but they'll have to grow out of it. I really enjoy it when students strike out on their own right away, this guy is a good example of that. His work is typical of 3rd semester quality but the concepts are strong and it will be interesting to see where it goes.
Cheers!
4 comments:
You have been busy! I don't use a gauge for mugs either, I think my customers enjoy the subtle differences.
why no deco on the mugs?
Re the nipple: David Leach called it a pip, the notion being that it's a seed that the whole pot seemingly grows out of. I've made more than one pot that turned into a lazy susan because of that pip.
I appreciate you posting your students' work - always good to see new ideas and new abilities bursting through.
solution....wad the nipple/pip too-I make it a feature on platters and put my stamp there
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