How to throw a Pottery Bowl

*** For my Students


Start!



No matter what Clay body you are using or even if you are using porcelain following these steps are a sure fire way to achieve success in any size bowl.

Weights of Clay are 400grms



Step One - Cone Your Clay Up





Step 2 - Cone down, Center and clean up your base



Step 3 - Open your bowl into a V shape

 

Step 4 - Bring your clay toward the heal of your hand and then up



Step 5 - There May be excess Clay near the bottom, Push in and clean up the base

Step 6 - Pull up and out in a V shape the remainder of clay caused from pushing in the base.

Naked Raku, it’s not Porcelain but still…

The finale to my summer project, crackle glazed hollow donuts for my yard. All I need to do now is find the right tree that goes with this structure to plant along side my driveway.

What did I learn about this project? It was hard, tough, hot, fast, dangerous and exciting all rolled into one moment of reduction.

At the last minute I decided to use a white crackle glaze instead of the naked raku technique. The reason for the sudden change in this project is it is meant for outdoors. Being outdoors, I would need a glaze that can withstand the elements. If the naked raku technique is outdoors it has a greater opportunity of experiencing oxidation and losing its appeal decoratively, compared to being indoors.

The naked raku is still a desire to learn and understand so I have a project slated for the spring. Someone asked me if I would do this project again. I said I would, but the work will of course be smaller and less heavy as it does not need to withstand the winter and I am sure the naked raku will live up to its raw name and beauty.

I put together a small photo slideshow of the process for you, and thanks to everyone at Studio Link for your teachings and friendship!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Inspiration from a bottle?!

I saw this Awesome form in the magazine Ceramic Art Daily. It is truly a wealth of information and inspiration for projects you maybe be looking for as well as a great medium to give clay artists exposure such as Frank James Fisher.

Frank James Fisher was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. Frank is an American ceramic artist. Fisher’s explorations of western raku exaggerate the graphic qualities of his work. Innovative clay construction methods push the limits of complex, ultra-thin porcelain sculptures fired in a raku environment. Fisher has evolved a variety of glaze application techniques, giving his ceramic surfaces a look of controlled chaos.

His ceramic art reveals a narrative of his life or current events found in the media. His most current works not only add beauty to the world but also convey a deep sense of thought toward consumerism. Well that’s what I got from it anyway.

Take a look at his site and let me know what you think and watch for my posting of how my own personal message in a bottle project went. Will it be a work of beauty and thought or a message you do not want to ever speak of again?

Glaze - Lessal White (LESS - AL)

People have asked how I make the Winter Blue set of mugs.

I have to admit it was by trial and much frustration to find the right effect. For those of you who want to try the recipe on your own grab pen and paper or better yet save a tree and cut and copy!

Lasalle White cone 6

Custer Feldspar 30

Silica 22

Whiting 22

EPK 11
Zinc Oxide 7.4
Titanium Dioxide 7.4

If fired over cone 6 it can turn yellow and run. If fired less than cone 6 it can turn blotchy so it is a finicky glaze. Have a go at it and let me know how you did.

Porcelain Dress - Any one for Tea?

When it is Tea Time you are expected to showup in certain dress.

Well it looks as if Artist Li Xiaofeng has done it again, any one for tea?

li xiaofeng is Beijing artist who creates clothing piece made from traditional Chinese ceramics. He makes the clothing from ceramic shards coming from the song, Ming, Yuan and Ging dynasties, which are sewn together on a leather undergarment. Some of his projects include a suit jacket and tie as well as a number of mid-length women’s dresses. In xiaofeng’s studio, piles of ceramic pieces sit in bins sorted by date, colour and shape