Glazes

This picture has cobalt blue on the rim and Temoku on the bottom

               This week in the studio I spent my time glazing. At the Art Center we fire to cone 10, which is about 2500 degrees. We have a gas kiln that is in the kiln yard right outside the pottery room. Here are some pictures of me glazing.  This one is a picture of the cobalt blue.

Pieces glazed waiting to be fired!

      We also do raku firings, salt firings, and horse hair firings. Here are some pictures of me and the other ladies in my pottery class doing the various firings. A Raku firing is a low fire. We fire Raku to 1800 degrees. We do a Raku fire at the end of every class. With a raku firing we glaze the pieces with one of the three glazes offered at the Art Center, which are copper luster, dolphin, and clear crackle. After that they go in to the pre-heat chamber to make sure there is no moisture, then into the kiln to start the firing. The pots are taken out at 1800 degrees when they are red hot and put into firing chambers with combustibles, like newspaper, leaves, wood chips, etc. Then they are taken out in about 15 to 20 minutes. Raku firings can produce some gorgeous pieces and incredible effects. Horse hair firings are low fire too. When firing for horse hair we fire to around 1700 degrees then when the pots are still red hot we take them out and put them on a kiln brick and apply horse hair, feathers, and also sugar for different effects.The last picture is of a raku firing!

October First Friday

Latte Mug

My Signature Mug

               This week in the studio was mug making week. I've been working on my inventory and I also have a few orders for mugs for Christmas presents. I made latte mugs and my signature mug shape. Time to glaze bowls for the Empty Bowls fundraiser for the Catholic Outreach Soup Kitchen! I am donating twenty-three bowls this year. I am so thankful I have found pottery, so I can do something I love and help people in my community as well.

A Piece form the show "What? What?" Artist: Jake Allee

Form the Collage show Artist: John Anglim

               I also went to the First Friday at the Art Center. They are exhibiting beautiful paintings from the members of the Brush & Palette Club. The "What? What?" show was my favorite. I loved that some of the work was interactive and Jake Allee had some amazing pottery pieces. The collage show was also very enjoyable. Its interesting to see the many random items collage artists put in their work. I enjoy going to art openings so much. I love meeting all the artists and discussing their work with them. The Bonsai exhibit was gorgeous to see in the Japanese garden. Well, that sums up my week. I'll keep playing in mud until I talk to you again!