Send via SMS

Words of action and thoughts from the potter in the woods of southern Wisconsin.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Winter work


This winter has been hectic. I haven't been able to throw as much as I would have wanted, but what I have thrown, I am pleased with. This vase is about 19 inches tall, and was made in two parts. I also made a paddle which I have been experimenting with. I used it to create the texture you can see.



Also, I have been making planters which I am hoping to be able to market to greenhouses in the area, and possibly sell at home and garden shows.



Click on any of the above pictures to see more of what I have been making these past few months. I hope to be able to fire this stuff in about a month. Bring on the warm weather!

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Weekend open house


This past weekend went well. About 50 people came through on Saturday, but only six came through on Sunday. It was raining all day, and the Packer game was on. Overall, I call it a success.

On Saturday, a neighbor came by with her son and daughter, and a bucket of clay that the little girl had dug from a creek bank in Monroe. The mother said, "She needs to talk to someone about clay." I let her throw a lump of it on the wheel, and she made a little cup. She is going to bring it back when it dries. Hopefully, when I fire it, it doesn't melt completely.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Ups and downs

My excitement when I opened the kiln was short-lived. When I got the front stacks unloaded, I found that most of the back was bloated badly. Pretty frustrating. I'm not sure why it happened, either. I may have not burned the carbon and/or the sulfur out completely, or I overfired. If anyone has expertise, please take a look and tell me what you think.

I did get some really nice stuff out of the kiln, though, and I really like how the test glazes turned out. The Shaner Oribe has especially caught my fancy. Half a success is better than none.

Recipes

I tested some glazes in my kiln this firing:

Shaner Turquoise Oribe (from Sam Hoffman's June/July/August 2005 Ceramic Monthly article):
Strontium Carbonate ... 9
Talc ... 4
Whiting ... 19
Custer Feldspar ... 28
EPK ... 3
Silica ... 37
___
100%
Add: Copper Carbonate 3%
Bentonite 2%

Euan Craig/Lee Love/my variation Oribe (from a ClayCraft post July 13, 2005):
Feldspar, NC-4 (Soda) ... 6
Nepheline Syenite ... 6
Calcium Carbonate ... 3
Kaolin ... 5
Woodash (from fireplace, mixed wood, unwashed, 30 mesh) ... 50
Silica ... 30
___
100%
Add: Copper Carbonate 5%

Rob's Green
Cornwall Stone ... 75
Whiting ... 18
Gerstley Borate ... 5
Copper Carbonate ... 10
Strontium Carbonate ... 7
Bentonite ... 2

Monday, September 19, 2005

Second firing done.

We fired the kiln again this past weekend. It is still cooling down, but we should be able to open it tomorrow evening. All are welcome to come to the opening and feel the still warm pots. I just peaked in and things look good. Many thanks to those who came and helped.

I picked up the new sign for Elemental Pottery today, just in time for the 14 South Artist Tour this weekend. Saturday and Sunday I will be giving demonstrations and tours, and the new pottery will be available for purchase. Even though I am the only artist involved in the tour in Brodhead, there are dozens of other artists within 30 miles of here. Visit www.14southartists.com for more information.

Hope to see you all this weekend!

I've been published!

This is from the Brodhead Independent Register, Sept. 14, 2005. Click on the picture for a larger version.