Glaze Calc.

Over the course of the past semester I have been running tests in order to create a glaze.  By running many different tests and line blends I was able to come up with a fairly stable base glaze that takes colors well.   Running all the tests and line blends has really helped me understand the materials a lot better.  Here is an example of the glaze on a test piece.

Base Glaze   Cone 6

Neph. Sy.           60 

Wollastonite       20

Frit 3124            20

EPK                  12

Zircopax            12

Some Stuff

Starting to move my work in a new direction by giving these guys more life and having them interacting with other wild beasts.

Possibly finished work

This little fellow here is a piece that may possibly be finished but I have not yet decided in my mind. Lately I have been just working away trying to work through some ideas and make work for a show in December.

New work and studio visitor

Here is an almost finished piece that is in need of some sort of display 

This little fellow was prancing around the studio so I decided that I would befriend him and have him hang out with me.

Soda Fired Treats

I did a soda firing a few weeks ago in order to supply our annual Clay Club cups and bowls sale with cups and bowls. The firing turned out really well except for some of the pots made with the EUP stoneware turned pretty brown with not much color variation.

Adventure in Porcelain

This is my latest work that I have been working on.  This is my first attempt at hand building a piece out of porcelain. I already really enjoy how it it looking and working with the new clay. If all goes according to plan then this piece will be battling another similar fellow both of which will have caste legs.

Some new treats

It has been a long while since I have posted anything but here is some pieces I have been on working on. I owe my inspiration for these latest works to the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  

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Things I've Been Doing

Here is an image of my self portrait as it is completely finished and hallowed out. Really enjoyed the process of doing this piece.

This is the latest piece that I have just started. With this I have decided to build the form solid and then go back into it and hallow it out much like my self portrait.  I think this is going to be a great way to work my forms and really be able to get more interesting pieces.

Figure Modeling

This is a self portrait that I have been working on for my figure modeling class. Although I feel it doesn't look anything like me, I had a lot of fun trying to sculpt a bust.  Though most of the time this class has stressed me out because of my lack of ability to make figurative work, I feel that working in a completely different manner then I am accustomed to has greatly improved my work and ability to work with the material.

Latest work in progress

This is the latest piece I have been currently working on. With this piece I think as if I have figured out how to eliminate seam lines. Instead of throwing these sections, I have thrown each segment in one piece and trimmed and paddled them into shape.

Tests

Underglazes fired to cone 6 and sandblasted

Underglazes fired to cone 04 one on right with clear glaze and left without and sandblasted

Here are some more tests that I have done using underglazes.  With all three of these I have applied layers of underglaze and either sanded or sandblasted to let the layers of color come through.

Working along

This is the latest piece I have been working with. I am attempting to make it as if this creature is engulfing this other egg like object.

Collaboration!

These are some teapots I made over the two days.  My room mate Robert came to me with the idea of doing a collaborative piece with him as he is a metals grad.  We came to a decision make a teapot and tea steeper combination.  I have made the tea pot and now he is going to construct a chain that hangs inside the pot with a tea steeper attached to the end. 

New Work in Progress

This is a new piece that I have just started. I am really beginning to enjoy the forms that I'm getting and figuring out new ways to push them farther and get the form I want.

Clay Print

This is a technique I have learned in undergrad but have never really used. I am going to show the class how to do this for my lesson.  This is a really fun process and I thoroughly enjoyed doing it, even though it isn't the best print or drawing.

Working progress

This is a current piece I am working on.  I am trying something a little different from my last pieces my leaving the seam line where I have joined the pieces.  Im not quite sure how I feel about it yet maybe I'll love it or hate it.

More Functional Treats

Here is some bowls and vessels from the last soda firing. Not the best results ever but it is what is is.

Testing and work in progress

Here is another test I did by using layers of underglaze. With this one in particular it is on a porcelain clay body fired to cone 04 then sandblasted through the layers of underglaze.  I still have not achieved the look I have imagined in my mind, but this had some interesting results.

A few photos on my latest work in progress that will be going to some lucky person for the exchange.

Function Soda Fired Goodies

Here are some of what came out of the soda kiln from this past saturday.  I really enjoy how the english porcelain looks when it is soda fired, but I had a few problems with some of the handles cracking.

Latest work in progress

This is one of my latest works in progress and is coming along nicely.

Some Finishings

 These are some terra sig test that I have been working on, which consist of 4 different bases each mixed with different stains and oxides.

I have also been testing layering underglazes and then sanding using a dremel to reveal the different layers.