Tea cup, slip, thrown and faceted, recycled clay

I started to practice altering thrown forms this semester, beginning with faceting.  This requires throwing pieces with thicker walls (~1/2") and then using a wire to carve away facets.  In this case, I rotated the wire as I cut away clay so that the facets would be twisted.  I made 3 layers of cuts to create this pattern around the outside of the cup with octogonal symmetry. I brushed white slip inside and outside the cup and then bisque fired.  I then used choxils and soda ash, similar to the pitcher from last semester for the glaxing.  I think this is a very elegant and modern look for a tea cup and plan to make more.

2 cups, dundee, reduction, wheel thrown

I threw another 2 cups to match the two from last semester.  These 2 show some improvement in shape, and are somewhat lighter.  Although I used the same amt of clay this pair is about 1/2 inch shorter than the original pair. The glazing also turned out a bit different with more of the pearl showing through and the temmoku over glaze seems thinner and less drippy.  I like!

Large casserole - wheel thrown, recycled clay, oxidation fired, carbon transfered crane painted with dk red and black underglaze with celadon, temmoku under pearl, masked with tape, slate over green crystal interior

This is the first time tried making a lidded vessel.  I decided to make it as the piece took shape - I'll plan better next time.  You need to throw a slightly thicker rim so that you can throw a gallery for the lid.  I threw a couple of upside-down bowls for the lid, and the first one I trimmed worked out.  The main challenge is using the right amount of clay to get the lid the proper size and also to match the curves and shape of the lid to those of the body.  Both pieces need to integrate well together.  I was running out of time and so had to fashion the lugs in a short amt of time, hence they are not completely symmetrical nor very pretty to look at.

For the glazing, I traced the crane image from an illustration and transferred it to the pot on both sides and then painted with dk red and black underglaze.  Then I masked the area with tape and glazed the rest of the body interior and exterior.  Interior is slate over green? and outer is pearl over temmoku - the pearl went on thick, I think it was the bottom of the bucket which is why the piece is so white.  Then I waxed the body and removed the mask and dipped in celadon.  The brushwork turned out ok, although I could definitely refine my skills there!

Large bowl -wheel thrown, recycled clay, oxidation fired, green with toffee over rim, temmoku with green crystal outer and wax resist brushed

This is a pretty ordinary bowl, with some interesting glazing.  The interior is green with toffee over the rim.  The green pools nicely at the bottom of the bowl, where it becomes a beautiful bluish green in the thicker area.  The toffee rim is super smooth, almost giving the rim a burnished quality.  The exterior is green crystal over temmoku, I brushed on wax after the temmoku to give the patterned aesthetic.

Garlic and ginger jar - wheel thrown, recycled clay, oxidation fired, gerstley borate and alberta slip brushed, ox blood and woo yellow glazes

I started throwing the body for this piece and decided to put a gallery on the rim and then throw a matching lid.  As you can see the lid is a bit small in size with a chunky hand formed handle - but not bad for first try. I was hoping the glaze would be brighter, but the oxblood is too thin.  I brushed on some alberta and gerstley borate slip underneath - both show up rather faintly as well.  Inside is woo.  A functional piece...