IT WORKED!

I'm extremely happy and excited to report that the test firing was a success, the glaze stuck, the cup looks great. Well, I only glazed the inside, so it's looks half great. I'm off to glaze the rest of it and all of the other pieces I thought I might have ruined.

I made a beautiful large jar/canister last night, I'm jazzed about going to work on it, so this is it for today, lots to do!

Ups and downs

I had my first miss-hap yesterday. My kiln over-fired, and did not shut off when it was supposed to, so it got way too hot, and I lost 16 pieces. I think. I'm firing one of those pieces right now to see if the glaze I applied sticks to it, or if the clay has become too mature, the glaze could just slide off the piece when it gets hot. WE WILL SEE! I certainly don't have my hopes up.

I did throw 16 new pieces yesterday, so at least it feels like I've already made-up for the loss. I made 8 large, curvy tumblers, 4 small wine cups, enough parts for a pair of raygun salt and pepper shakers, an espresso cup, and a bowl with a hollow rim.


I was also recently able to photograph the last project that I had my college class do. It's a bit of a version of "exquisite corpse". I had everyone make parts and pieces, without much direction other than they had to make at least 5, they could be spheres, wheel thrown pieces, coils, slabs, clay pizza, or whatever. After about 20 minutes, we put the pieces outside to firm-up. We then chose words randomly out of random books, and put together a sentence, randomly. That sentence became the title of the piece, and we then constructed the sculpture to fit the title. They learned about gesture, narrative sculpture, and team work, as well as how to collaborate and "let go" of one's work, as no one was allowed to use pieces that they had originally created.

The title of this piece is, "The Spooky Cow Danced on Florence's Tongue

Many people took one look at this piece when it was still in clay-form, and said that it could never make it through a firing, and yet, Florence persevered. After she was fired, we rummaged through the AVA Community Art Center's fridge & cupboards to find mustard, many teas, fruit punch, and coffee, which we brewed, and painted onto the sculpture, when the tea was too weak, we added watercolors. It was crazy, kind of smelly, but a lot of fun. When I get the kiln built this summer, I'd like to cement her to it.


I know the picture of the spooky cow is very blurry, but I thought it was such a funny picture, I just had to show it off.

Zap! I'm back!

After many days, many pots, and many pairs of clay-encrusted pants, I finally emerged from the studio this weekend to celebrate my birthday with family and friends. It would have been very easy to just stay in there, but there was the promise of ski-ball and a JB King performance at Coffee Friends coffee shop. One of the great gifts I received this weekend was a digital camera from my mom! THANKS MOM!!! Now I can finally show what I've been working on.

This clay raygun feels so good in your hand! I can't help but hold it and make "pew pew pew" sounds. I'm making all kinds of kitchen gadgets that are raygus, such as salt & pepper shakers, salad dressing cruets, whisks, and others that I will keep quiet about until I show them. ALSO, I've made some really funky space helmets that you can actually wear, or use for a salad bowl, though I wouldn't recommend both at the same dinner.

I've also been making some things that are completely alien to me, like a giant gem-stone-pot for a show I have next year with jewelry artist Maria Stiles. Im really looking forward to all the collaborative aspects of that exhibition, Maria is an exceptional artist and I feel extremely fortunate to be showing with her.

I've aso made a lot of large drinking cups, bowls, plates, platters, a pitcher, and a bunch of other stuff. It's all been so fun to do.

So far, life as a potter is something I could get used to.