forks throws pottery (and maybe you do too?) - An ILX Ceramics Thread

i been doing pottery on a wheel for the past year.

gonna start with the first stuff I did, from my first semester. It's all amateur work soup to nuts but i'm sharing and i'd be curious to see your work if you do this too.
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/forksclovetofu/14621323977/1/tumblr_lwm72qUR0J1qzyx8y
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/forksclovetofu/14620957639/1/tumblr_lwm6luTNab1qzyx8y
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/forksclovetofu/14620939019/1/tumblr_lwm6kzvSGf1qzyx8y
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/forksclovetofu/14620859443/1/tumblr_lwm6hazMaG1qzyx8y
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/forksclovetofu/14620946933/1/tumblr_lwm6lcDcJs1qzyx8y
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/forksclovetofu/14620884610/1/tumblr_lwm6igT7VN1qzyx8y
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/forksclovetofu/14620876303/1/tumblr_lwm6i3rX1b1qzyx8y
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/forksclovetofu/14620867894/1/tumblr_lwm6hpoX221qzyx8y

I love the 2nd piece, and the last 2 especially.

Haven't done pottery in so long, this makes me miss it! arrr I need to find me some classes

wtf no lionel richie head? ;)

it is very hard to throw lionel ritchie's head

but you could try... :D

What a difference an apostrophe s makes

slam pottery

♫♪ ba-da-ba-ba-baaaa i'm lovin forks' pottery ♫♪

will post more from later semesters soon but here's a pair from this afternoon with foot for scale. i'm getting a bit better.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz9ddzBKKh1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

Very nice!

ilx users whose interior lives i basically don't understand at all

My wife bought a kiln a few years ago, used it twice, and promptly gave up pottery. I've thought about getting a wheel and seeing what might emerge.

oh man, do it! it's very freeing and empowering to make something with your hands from pretty much literally nothing. You will be shitty for awhile, but you will get better!

maybe i should explain how u throw a pot in this thread.
how much do people understand about the process by which a hunk of clay becomes a glazed bowl?

teach us how to (vicariously) live

i want the forks 411 on pot throwing

I sorta vaguely know about wheel-sculpting but ive only ever done hand scultping meself. Its fun! I made a sort of Venus di Milo with an apple for a head, once.

My mum was a professional potter for most of my life, though she mostly teaches now.

okay so step one is you start out with a big block o clay. you take a garotte and use it to slice off a chunk. The heavier the clay the harder it is to shape and center so beginners tend to stick with between 1 1/2 and 2 pounds. Serious potters can take a ten pound hunk of clay or more. I max out around five pounds. Once you get the hunk out, you need to reshape it into a globe, both to handle it better and to get all the air bubbles (which can disfigure the final piece). There's a process of kneading and reshaping called wedging that takes like three to five minutes per chunk. When you throw clay, you're likely to fuck up so you wanna have a few of these globes of clay to work with so you don't have to stop and clean up and re-wedge. So you start out by chopping off these chunks of clay, wedging them and chucking them into a plastic bag so they don't dry out... the clay should be soft and slightly wet to the touch but not goopy and not hard as say, meat.

There's several types of clay you can use and the main difference from a beginners standpoint is how much sand or grog there is in the clay. The more particulate, the easier it is to give the piece body. Porcelain has less grog and is like sculpting with cream cheese. Stoneware, which I use, has solid body. Later on, the type of clay you use affects what colors you can get from glazes and other stuff. Chances are, you'll start with stoneware.

Later: Approaching the wheel

guys, i'm picking up TWENTY SEVEN PIECES on Saturday
and a few of my stuff made th' wall of fame!
http://web.me.com/nynjaca/nynjceramics/academy_students/Pages/student_work_w_12.html
this is me, i'm pretty proud. Should be about a foot tall?
http://web.me.com/nynjaca/nynjceramics/academy_students/Pages/student_work_w_12.html%2324

ah well.
This is the one i meant.
http://web.me.com/nynjaca/nynjceramics/academy_students/Pages/student_work_w_12.html#24

also this teacup
http://web.me.com/nynjaca/nynjceramics/academy_students/Pages/student_work_w_12.html#17

i also wanna hear about emily's mum.

nice work!!

thanks!
my ex, who i still do pottery with, did some AMAZING stuff:

http://web.me.com/nynjaca/nynjceramics/academy_students/Pages/student_work_w_12.html#31
http://web.me.com/nynjaca/nynjceramics/academy_students/Pages/student_work_w_12.html#4
http://web.me.com/nynjaca/nynjceramics/academy_students/Pages/student_work_w_12.html#27
http://web.me.com/nynjaca/nynjceramics/academy_students/Pages/student_work_w_12.html#36

i will be posting ten gazillion pictures in here over the weekend fo sho

and yet, still no lionel ritchie head...

nice work forks!

love those colors

my ex, who i still do pottery with

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a3QgRpt7bUM/S6DmKUobWiI/AAAAAAAABJI/PouVYOptuMA/s400/ghost-pottery-wheel.jpg

hey, what movie is that?

please tell me you're joking forks

as a person who does pottery i have never heard of such a movie

"Ghost" starring patrick swayze and demi moore

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27y6yrLhG1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

192 stoneware.
Reduction firing. Davis Shino glaze on body. Davis Red Shino glaze on handle.
4 inches tall. About 4 inches wide at lip, 6 1/2 wide with handle.

This is one in an ongoing series of attempts to make a working stein. The bumpy "crawling" texture is a hallmark of the Shino glazes ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shino_(glaze) ). They break up once they're applied to pottery and can lump up like acne or break apart like psoriasis. In any case, it's bad skin replicated as a covering on clay and that makes for some bizarre effects on something you're meant to drink out of. Thankfully the glaze "breaks" differently along edges; it runs off steep angles and leaves a rock-colored but smooth-to-the-touch finish.

Unfortunately, this cup got an extremely common bit of damage when throwing: the "s-crack". This happens when the clay at the bottom of a piece isn't properly compressed or there's water left in the bottom after you throw it; you end up with a serpentine or curved crack in the base of the pot. Some s-cracks don't penetrate all the way through and are simply cosmetic flaws that are more or less sealed during glazing and some render a piece practically useless. This one is the latter; you can see daylight straight through. Ah well, back to the drawing board.

;_;

pity about the s-crack, it's a great looking mug! and the glaze looks A+

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27yjxdzAK1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

As an exercise this semester, I threw about eight teacups in succession that started out roughly 4 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches tall and then trimmed and glazed them drastically different. This is one of the more successful pieces in my opinion: it's eminently functional, the color is nice, the crackle in the glaze is pretty and the general construction looks almost factory built (which appeals to the perfectionist elements of my aesthetic).

182 white clay.
Reduction. Blue Ying Ching glaze.
3 3/4 inches wide at lip. About 2 1/2 inches tall.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27ykudSUq1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
Another piece from my now-four-deep, faux-Japanese, green and white serving set. The exposed raw-clay dagger shapes are achieved by applying wax to the bisque-fired clay prior to glazing. The glaze runs off the wax and, after the piece is fired, the wax vaporizes to leave exposed stoneware.

192 stoneware.
Reduction firing. Buttermilk glaze on interior. Randy's Oribe glaze on exterior.
4 inches wide at lip. 3 1/4 inches tall.

I was particularly pleased by the spotting up by the rim with this piece; this is as refined as I've gotten this particular motif thus far.

moved this outta 77 because i can't see if the images are lolhuge when i log out

also not especially 77'y.

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27ylrk5Pg1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

Process here was that I took a teacup, then painted the entire exterior with black "slip", which is a liquid colored clay with the consistency of thick syrup. Once it dries, you can treat it the same way as you would the clay body and once the pot is fired, it bonds permanently. Having applied the slip, I went in with a wire tool and carefully crosshatched out tiny strips of slip, exposing the white clay beneath. After it bisque fired (that's where you take the wet clay and bake it so that it turns into porous pottery, like a rough flowerpot), I dipped the entire thing in a glaze called Ox Blood that tends to leave the surface translucent and jadelike so that the cup is smooth to the touch. Kinda proud of the end result.

182 white clay with black slip cover.
Oxidation firing. Ox Blood glaze.
4 inches wide at lip. 2 1/2 inches tall.

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27ymxcjgj1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

I painted the rim with black "slip", a liquid colored clay, and carved wormlike gouges out of the body. I like the way the black slip and the blue glaze play off each other.

182 white clay with black slip on rim.
Reduction. Blue Ying Ching glaze.
3 3/4 inches wide at lip. About 2 1/2 inches tall.

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27yorKCBx1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

192 stoneware.
Reduction. Charlie D Black glaze on interior and lip. Norton Red glaze on exterior.
4 inches wide at lip. 3 inches tall.

This flowerpot mushroomed out a bit and is notably less clean looking in person. The inside got sanguine from the incisions at the bottom. Don't really think I needed to wax those irrigation holes; will avoid doing that in the future.

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27ypzAtso1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

So when you fire "Ox Blood" glaze under a level of heat and intensity known as oxidation, it comes out translucent. Fire it at a higher rate called "reduction" and it turns shiny apple red. Yellow Salt "breaks" in such a way that it tends to leave a tan line across a raised surface so I wanted to use it on a piece with a great deal of carved striation.

182 white clay.
Reduction. Yellow Salt glaze. Ox Blood glaze accents.
4 inches wide at lip. About 3 inches tall.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27yraePWz1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

Here's a case where an accident turned out to produce one of my favorite pots: when you are trimming your pieces to remove excess clay, the potter affixes the pot to the spinning wheel head and then judiciously carves off unwanted thickness. Sometimes the pot can come off the wheel head and when it does the pot is generally destroyed. That's what happened with this piece, but it was salvageable to the extent that one side was mashed completely flat. I took a wooden paddle to the other sides to flatten them out in the same way and the pot was thankfully thick enough that it didn't break apart. It fired up pleasingly square and in one piece.

182 white clay.
Reduction. Academy Mix glaze. Yellow Salt glaze accents.
4 inches wide by 3 inches wide. 2 1/2 inches tall.

The depth of the Academy Mix glaze in reduction is really interesting; there's brown and black and cranberry and orange in there. The foamy wash of Yellow Salt on either side of this square little sugarbowl was applied by Robin; the effect is really quite pretty.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27ysi3USn1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

The Candace Oil Spot glaze in oxidation fires up shiny and, well, oil spotted. If, after you put the glaze on, you paint over the top with a cover glaze, you can get some neat effects. I gave the exterior a thin coat of Harding cover and, under direct light, it filled in the space between the oil spots to make it look almost cheetah-ish. Bear in mind that when it's _not_ under direct light, it just looks black. It's a cool effect.

182 white clay.
Oxidation. Candace Black Oil Spot glaze with Harding cover.
4 inches wide at lip. 2 1/2 inches tall.

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27ytnSDrp1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
This knobby little vase was first dipped in a blue glaze and then had a white glaze ladled over it.

192 stoneware.
Oxidation. Lapis Blue glaze accented with Mamo White glaze drizzle.
3 1/4 inches wide, 1 3/4 inch wide at lip. 3 3/4 inches tall.

The interactions of the glazes when they touch varies widely and intensely depending on the temperature the pottery is fired and the composition of the glaze. It can be violent or pretty and either destroy or make a piece complete. Better living through chemistry!

omg forks, these are fantastic

thank ye! they're all less interesting in person.

pretty doubtful!

I love the ox blood glaze upthread, such a great color

Wow forks, you've got some really good work here.

appreciated! guess I'll go ahead and throw em all up.
http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27yudNwxd1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
The white smudges on this vase are dollops of slip (liquid clay) daubed on prior to the first firing.

182 white clay.
Oxidation. Ox Blood glaze.
3 3/4 inches wide at rim, 2 1/3 inches wide at lip. About 3 1/2 inches tall.

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27yv9kUyK1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
My first go at a candlestick. The glaze gave it a hammered bronze look and dulled some of the too-sharp division lines. The interior is hollow, so I guess you could use this as a very odd cup if you wanted?

192 stoneware.
Reduction. Dolly's Hotel Russian Shino glaze.
3 3/4 inches wide at base, 1 inch wide at lip. 3 3/4 inches tall.

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27yw4sMmH1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
This is my second go with this particular color combination and I don't think it was as successful as a similar, smaller piece I did before.

192 stoneware.
Reduction. Shaner Gold glaze oninterior and top exterior. Glick Red glaze on exterior.
6 inches at widest point, 4 1/4 inches at lip, about 4 inches at foot. About 3 3/4 inches tall.

The Shaner Gold and Glick Red can overlap to create a dark stripe where they meet; I was hoping for something more cleanly delineated.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27yxmnSEr1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
Rustic. I like the throwing of the piece but the glazing didn't really reflect what I had in mind.

182 white clay.
Oxidation. Hamada Green glaze with Iron Oxide underglaze.
5 1/2 inches wide at lip, 3 1/2 inches wide at foot. 3 1/4 inches tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27z3xKKOP1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
Playing with profiles. This pot has a heavy and thick base; would counterbalance any heavyweight arrangements easily enough.

192 stoneware.
Oxidation. Potter's Turquoise glaze on interior and top exterior. Lapis Blue glaze on exterior.
About 3 1/4 inches wide at lip. 4 3/4 inches tall.

I was enjoying the pics on your tumblr but a little more info is nice. Off to a fine start forks! You've made leaps and bounds since the first semester work. kudos.

Thanks man! I'm starting again on Thursday; really wanna do some big bowls and focus on strong pieces as opposed to a gazillion works like I did this last semester.

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zbjUvgL1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

This vase was striped with white slip but the density of color on the glaze obscured it entirely. Blue Chun on these taller pieces can, weirdly, produce an odd bubbling that doesn't much change the look but does leave it pockmarked to the touch. You can pick out those rough spots in the photo if you try.

182 stoneware.
Reduction. Blue Chun glaze.
About 4 3/4 inches at rim, about 3 inches at base. About 5 1/2 inches tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zczxb9v1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

That "Y" motif" in this flowerpot is one that I am continuing to experiment with as a quick shorthand for growth. Less is more in carving sometimes.

192 stoneware.
Oxidation. Reitz Green glaze.
About 4 inches wide. 4 1/2 inches tall.

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zepDXKr1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
When you throw, your hands tend to naturally suggest certain shapes. This bottom-heavy diamond shaped is one I keep finding on my wheel. Accentuating the fold in on the upper lip is one way of making it more aesthetically pleasing and challenging for me.

182 stoneware.
Reduction. Peachbloom glaze.
About 5 1/2 inches at widest point. 4 1/4 inches wide at lip. 3 3/4 inches tall.

Peachbloom lays on a muted, strawberry skin with a healthy glow; it's a warm and organic looking glaze.

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zfkuk241qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
The shino overglaze here runs like sargasso for an feathery, liquid effect.

I painted the overglaze on in a uniform pattern around the bottom of the vase but it fired a little different all over. Some of the accents look a bit like Irish Setters... or is that just me? Lots of Rorschach at play here, no doubt.

192 stoneware.
Oxidation. Ox Blood glaze with Shino overglaze.
About 5 inches wide at rim, 3 3/4 inches wide at rim. About 3 3/4 inches tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zg8q4lb1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
My very first plate!

192 stoneware.
Reduction. Seacrest Celadon glaze with iron oxide concentric circles.
8 inches wide at rim. 1 inch tall.

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zgtF2141qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
This was the first class that I threw white clay; it's all been stoneware till now. Stoneware has more sand in the clay and, though it holds a shape under greater pressure, it can be a real pain to center and to mold. White clay relaxes and moves around easier but can collapse under its own weight. It also holds a glaze differently.

182 white clay.
Reduction. Civil War glaze.
About 5 1/2 inches wide at rim, about 3 1/3 inches wide at base. About 2 3/4 inches tall.

Civil War's lavender pastels are just this side of easter egg, but I find them awful pretty.

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27ziaCcar1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

This is my third try at a "desert bowl": a piece that's meant to look as if it were made of scorched earth, sand and blood.

192 stoneware.
Reduction. Davis Red Shino glaze on interior. Shaner Gold glaze on exterior. Ox Blood glaze accents and rim.
About 6 inches wide at rim, 3 1/4 inches wide at foot. 3 inches tall.

I think doing a million pieces when you're still learning is the way to go. It really shows in the consistency of shape and glaze finish you've achieved.

Im excited to see what you can do with some larger work too.

ooh - really like the green vase with the Y.

Yeah, I love the carving work you've done in some of these, I think that really brings it up an extra level.

EZ, i LIKE doing a million pieces; the act of throwing is still very enticing and exciting. So I'll see what my mind/body draws me to... I might not be at the point where I should be superimposing critical thinking just yet. It's far more exciting just to make and learn and not have any "this is good"/"this is bad" overriding desire just yet. Pottery is the closest I get to a meditative exercise just now; I try very hard not to attach ego to the work and the more I focus on action the better the work becomes. It's a powerful lesson.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zj22aku1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

I was tremendously proud of the profile and delicacy of the foot of this bowl and then I went and glazed it so lightly that it came out strangely patina'd and antique. My teacher informs me I need to adjust to what the glaze does rather than demanding it meet my expectations; I imagine there's another lesson in there somewhere too. In any case, it's a good flat display bowl. Should do a good job for fruit.

192 stoneware.
Oxidation. Carmine's Turquoise glaze.
7 inches wide at rim, 2 1/4 inches wide at foot. 2 3/4 inches tall.

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zk6cJHw1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

Exposed clay stripe is a wax accent that left an interesting bloom surrounding it. I like the effect.

182 white clay.
Reduction. Ice Trap Celadon glaze.
6 inches wide at rim, 2 inches wide at foot. 3 1/2 inches tall.

The crackle is all underneath the glaze so the bowl is still glossy to the touch. You can see where the "Ice Trap" glaze gets its name.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zl0MRig1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
192 stoneware.
Oxidation. Candace Black Oil Spot glaze.
7 1/4 inches wide at rim, 2 3/4 inches wide at foot. About 3 2/3 inches tall.

I'm getting a bit better at making nearly balanced and weighted bowls, but this one is still just a bit asymmetrical.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zlv8w1V1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
192 stoneware.
Oxidation. Randy's Oribe glaze and Glick Red glaze.
7 1/4 inches wide at rim, 3 1/2 inches wide at foot. 3 1/2 inches tall.

This is probably my favorite piece from this semester. It was one of the very few where I was comfortable with the throwing, trimming and glazing. Depending on where you view the piece from, the overlap of glazes offer a very different profile and color palette.

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zrxfUTf1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

Another in an ongoing series of purple and white bowls with waxed figures painted onto the body. The piece torqued somewhat in the firing and went from perfectly round to ever so slightly ovoid. The inside is painted with white slip. There's a pesky "S-crack" at the bottom here but the glaze filled it entirely so it's only a visual imperfection and not a functional one.

182 white clay.
Oxidations. Buttermilk glaze on rim and accents. Davidson Purple glaze on exterior.
Between 6 and 6 1/4 inches wide at rim, 3 1/4 inches wide at foot. 4 3/4 inches tall.

Wow! That two-tone green and red piece is a stunner!

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27zteANOd1qzyx8yo1_500.jpg
The whole kit and kaboodle. I've got additional pictures of all these if anyone's clamoring for some reason. Finding them places around the home is a hassle; I need to find folks to give some of these to. A year of doing this adds up in terms of finding space!

Thanks EZ. It's holding my wallet/keys etc at the moment on a shelf. I think it's a keeper.

I hope you don't mind but I reblogged that one. It's striking.

go to town! someday it would be fun to get to the point where i could sell these goddamn things to defray the CONSIDERABLE cost of this hobby.
with studio costs, clay costs, firing and glaze costs I think I ran about $500 this semester... each piece averages out at like $20. Of course I'm not doing this for the pieces, I'm doing it to make a piece that matters to me many years down the line, but there's no way to do it but to do it and it ain't cheap to do!

I really love the Blue Chun vase, forks --- and the Civil War glaze is SO pretty!

everything you said about the learning process is so otm with my own experience in art classes, is to let go of the value judgement and just get zen with the technique. once you stop mentally pumping the brakes, it frees you up to really enjoy and be rewarded by what you're making.

My fifth three-month season's output is coming out of the kiln yesterday today and tomorrow. I'm picking up 24 pieces at tomorrow's studio showing but my teacher posted a few shots of classwork on his site.
My work this season for me was focused on making stuff generally larger and throwing bowls especially.
Obsessive discussion on this stuff shortly once I get it, photograph it and write it up, but here's the stuff that my prof liked that I can definitely claim:

http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2775/_FCB2775.jpg
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2777/_FCB2777.jpg
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2788/_FCB2788.jpg
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2836/_FCB2836.jpg
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2841/_FCB2841.jpg
^this one is big enough to fit on my head and completely cover my ears or at least it was after the first firing

Everything folks did this season:
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12.html

we had a nanophysicist in my class this semester; he's been doing this about as long as I have but the dude is already an amateur carpenter and a fucking genius and over the past three months he produced like fifteen pieces that were all experiments and daring attempts at exciting forms.
His skill at this is really nutty, to say nothing of the balls it takes to keep trying drastically different forms and methods. He bought a wheel for his home and says he's throwing a piece when he wakes up and when he goes to sleep.
Here's some of his stuff:
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2776/_FCB2776.jpg
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2799/_FCB2799.jpg
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2847/_FCB2847.jpg
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2860/_FCB2860.jpg

your new pieces all look v good. this seems like a really fun hobby.

Nice forks! Each batch shows serious improvement. I also have to say that other guy has some chops.

otm the first one in that post is something i'd put in my crib in a heartbeat

one more that turned out to be mine:
http://www.nynjceramics.com/academy_students/Pages/student_work_sp_12_files/Media/_FCB2790/_FCB2790.jpg

beautiful work, forks!

practical question: where the heck do you keep all of them?

practical answer: all the ones except the one that fits over his head are approx one inch wide

lol

i have some shelves. But this new set of 24 has gotta be put away. basically i need to give them away or tuck them away on top of shelves. gonna do that after i photograph.

i give away the older,less interesting stuff as i upgrade to work i'm more proud of

by 'upgrade' do u mean lionel richie head, y/n

okay are you ready for the apotcalypse?

https://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpcqs3y91qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Seacrest Celadon glaze.
5 and 3/4 inches tall. 3 1/2 inches at base. 8 inches wide across handle and spout. 5 inches wide at rim.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpcqs3y91qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg
This is my first pitcher. I'm reasonably pleased with the spout and the shape, even though it torqued a tad. Firing straightened the bottom out considerably. The handle is a little sloppy but the whole thing is entirely usable, which is (as I understand it) something of a triumph when it comes to making a pitcher.
The glaze is warm and honeyed and intended to not distract the eye from the form or to make it stand out. I may actually park this by my bedside table as a legit ewer... or I would if I had thrown a lid. That's a challenge for the next class.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpcqs3y91qzyx8yo5_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Buttermilk glaze on interior and rim. Davidson Purple glaze on exterior.
7 inches diameter. 2 1/2 inches tall.
Part of an ongoing set of faux-Japanese bowls that I'm doing in both purple and green. The exposed raw-clay faux-kanji shapes are achieved by applying wax to the bisque-fired clay prior to glazing. The glaze runs off the wax and, after the piece is fired, the wax vaporizes to leave exposed stoneware.
I discovered that the shallower shorter bowls don't lend themselves as well to this technique; it's a little overly busy. Plus the drippy white rim that runs down and that generally looks good doesn't work too great when there's no room for it to run. Learning.
On the plus side, this was thrown fairly well; the walls are thin and the piece is fairly light. You don't HAVE to throw pottery with thin walls and bottom or make the piece feel balanced; I threw some pieces intentionally heavy. As a general rule though, light pieces are harder to make and a sign of some skill.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpcqs3y91qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Lapis Blue glaze with Mamo White glaze ladled over.
4 1/2 inches tall. 2 3/4 inches at rim. 3 1/4 inches at foot. About 5 1/2 inches at widest midpoint.
I'm very pleased with how this turned out; it's a thick, squat vase good for single blooms. This glaze combo is a definite winner and one I'll want to come back to in the near future.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpcqs3y91qzyx8yo7_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Ox Blood glaze exterior over Teadust Tenmoku glaze interior.
4 inches at rim. 3 1/4 at foot. About 4 1/2 inches at widest midpoint.
The photos here don't really do justice to the depth of the red; when this isn't under direct light, it's a very moody and fiery piece and the interior cracks in the glaze are basically invisible. This glaze combo feels really good to me. I'm also happy with the throwing on this: there's not much excess clay, the foot is really clean and the bottom is flat. Pretty proud of this one.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpcqs3y91qzyx8yo8_1280.jpg

nice. Love that blue & white one. I like your progress reports that accompany each piece.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpcqs3y91qzyx8yo9_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Blue Ying Ching glaze.
4 3/4 inches tall. 3 3/4 at rim. 3 inches at rim. About 4 1/4 inches at widest midpoint.
A possible sake decanter? The carving at the base is meant to evoke mountains. Blue Ying Ching does a neat thing where it bubbles up under the glaze in a way that can make the pottery seem effervescent and can create distance from the surface to the clay underneath.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpcqs3y91qzyx8yo10_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpfnYxQg1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Ice Trap Celadon glaze.
4 inches tall. 7 inches diameter at rim. About 3 1/4 at foot.
The focus of this session of class for me was to make usable, attractive, nicely weighted bowls that would be big enough to handle a can of soup or a pint of ice cream. This was one of about eight finished pieces that meet those standards and it might be my favorite. More and more, I'm discovering that I prefer simply glazed pieces or, at most, two color glazings. It's likely just that I'm not skilled enough to pull off more but the simplicity and cleanliness of the glaze nicely accentuates the bowl itself... and I did a pretty good job throwing this one! Clean lines, good balance, effective foot, thin walls.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpfnYxQg1qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Academy Mix glaze.
6 inches wide at greatest diameter. 3 3/4 inches tall. About 3 1/2 inches at foot
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpfnYxQg1qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg
Once the clay dries to leather-hard, you can mold it with your hands. That's how you get the scalloped top here. The etched lines were carved out while the pot was in the same state. I was going for a verdant Miro feel with a dominant spider holding the forest together. The photos make this read much greener than it actually is; in person, the piece is a mix of blue, olive and black.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpfnYxQg1qzyx8yo5_1280.jpg
"Academy Mix" is a proprietary mix of our studio; it's basically all the glaze runoff mixed together. The results are very unpredictable; I'm glad this came out the way it did.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpfnYxQg1qzyx8yo7_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpfnYxQg1qzyx8yo8_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Candace Black Oil Spot glaze with Harding Cover.
7 inch diameter at rim. 3 inches at foot. 4 1/4 inches tall.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpfnYxQg1qzyx8yo9_1280.jpg
The Candace Oil Spot glaze in oxidation fires up shiny and, well, oil spotted. If, after you put the glaze on, you paint over the top with a cover glaze, you can get some neat effects. I gave the exterior a thin coat of Harding cover and, under direct light, it filled in the space between the oil spots to make it look almost cheetah-ish. Bear in mind that when it's _not_ under direct light, it just looks black. It's a cool effect. I made a similar piece at roughly half the size last semester; it's nice to be able to replicate a specific look and feel when you go back to the drawing board.
I'm really happy with the throwing on this, especially the work I was able to do with the foot. Unfortunately, the glaze gunked up on the gap separating the rim of the foot and the body of the bowl. It's not really noticeable unless you know what you're looking for but it's a minor bummer on a piece I'm otherwise happy with. Oil Spot is thick and not especially well suited to accentuate details, so there's a lesson learned.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpfnYxQg1qzyx8yo10_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpjibMbR1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Peach Bloom glaze with Norton Red glaze accents.
4 1/4 inches tall. 3 3/4 inches diameter at rim. 3 inches at foot. About 4 3/4 inches at widest midpoint.
I was going for a very hefty piece here and thats what I got. This could put a hole in a piece of sheetrock.
Stoneware pottery is surprisingly dense and versatile; all of these pieces are dishwashable, microwavable and if you break them (which would take a bit of work generally) the pieces don't come apart. It's effectively rock under glass. That's why you can still find pottery sherds in fields and on playgrounds; this stuff lasts forever. It certainly CHIPS easily enough though; I've discovered that several times over... most recently when I was moving some old pieces to make room for new ones and an old clunky vase whacked against the body of a newer piece and badly fragmented the rim.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpjibMbR1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpjibMbR1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Shaner Gold glaze top and interior over Glick Red glaze bottom and overlap.
3 3/4 inches tall. 5 inches diameter at rim. 3 1/4 inches at foot. About 5 1/2 inches at widest midpoint.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpjibMbR1qzyx8yo5_1280.jpg
This is my third and most successful attempt with this glaze combination; the Shaner Gold and Glick Red can overlap to create a dark stripe where they meet. I managed to get this dead on where there was a lip on the clay so the break emphasizes the shape nicely. Very pleased with the throwing, the foot, the weight and the colors here. I believe this is over white clay and not stoneware, which likely had some impact on the final look of the glaze. You'd be surprised how much of this work is luck.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpjibMbR1qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Ox Blood glaze.
3 3/4 inches tall. About 6 3/4 inches wide in diameter at rim. About 3 1/2 inches at foot.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpjibMbR1qzyx8yo7_1280.jpg
Reduction firing heats the pot up to a notably higher temperature than oxidation firing. This causes neat chemical things to occur. Ox Blood glaze, for instance, turns scarlet in reduction but pale green in oxidation.
This bowl is slightly lumpy on both the interior and exterior but nothing that would stop it from being useful. The glaze draws attention away from those imperfections with its slightly mottled strawberry jam color; everything is dark and dense. Both the weight and the foot are decent; I'm pretty pleased with this piece.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpjibMbR1qzyx8yo8_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpjibMbR1qzyx8yo9_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Bauer Clear glaze on interior over blue and red slip. Cushing Red glaze on exterior.
3 3/4 inches diameter at foot. About 6 1/2 inches wide at rim. 2 inches tall.
Having thrown this bowl with white clay and then trimmed a series of thin grooves on the side, I painted the entire interior with blue "slip", which is a liquid colored clay with the consistency of thick syrup. Once it dries, you can treat it the same way as you would the clay body and once the pot is fired, it bonds permanently. Having applied the blue slip, I painted on a red sunburst over the center and then trimmed out radiant lines. After all that fired, I didn't want to lose it, so I covered the interior with Bauer Clear, the glaze equivalent of clear nail polish. I did the outside up in a bright red to make it all pop. The final product is a tad juvenile and cutesy but I think this should make a nice kid's plate for some nine year old out there.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpmiUKxm1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Civil War glaze.
5 3/4 inches diameter at rim. 3 inches tall. 3 3/4 inches diameter at foot.
White clay and Civil War resuls in a pastel purple flecked with black that makes me think of this as an Easter egg bowl. I'm pleased with the throwing, trimming and glazing here; it's a purely functional piece.

That gold & red is wonderful!

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpmiUKxm1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Davis Red Shino glaze interior under Shaner Gold glaze exterior with Ox Blood glaze accents and rim.
2 3/4 inches tall. 7 1/2 inches wide at rim. 3 1/2 inches wide at foot.
This is my most recent try at a "desert bowl": a piece that's meant to look as if it were made of scorched earth, sand and blood. The Shino glaze puddles and creeps so much that it actually leaves the clay uncovered in between the cracks it leaves. Robin pointed out this would work better if I inverted the glazes, but I like the idea of purposely making a change bowl in this look. Maybe I'll take her suggestion next go round.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpmiUKxm1qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg

gracias. I really like the acorn bowl.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpmiUKxm1qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Blue Chun glaze with iron oxide accents.
3 3/4 inches diameter at rim. 3 1/2 inches diameter at foot. About 5 1/4 inches at widest midpoint. 5 1/2 inches tall.
Ongoing experiments with both form and color. Somehow this doesn't work for me though I've gotten some positive feedback. Iron oxide painted directly on to the glaze results in unmistakable rust colored streaks; that plus the pock marks that Blue Chun leaves behind make for a weirdly tarnished piece that I almost like? I may be done with both this form and this color combo.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpmiUKxm1qzyx8yo7_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpmiUKxm1qzyx8yo9_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Potters Turquoise glaze on top and interior under Civil War glaze on bottom exterior.
4 inches diameter at lip. 2 3/4 inches at foot. 2 3/4 inches tall.
These two glazes mix to make a blue foamy line. It's a neat effect but one that I wasted on a less than exciting and/or usable pot. I want to try this again on a taller vase or cup in the future and get a thicker overlapping line.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpozVojX1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Ox Blood glaze with Shino Overglaze accents.
4 1/2 inches diameter at lip. 3 inches at foot.
Shino overglaze is painted on like a watercolor but when it's fired it blurs and runs like crazy. These markings were applied as extended "Z"s and "S"s that were intended to spread into lightning bolts but they melted into a spray instead. Wrong tool for the job. The pot itself is more of a planter than anything.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpozVojX1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpozVojX1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Buttermilk glaze with Lorio's Ash accents.
7 inches long. 3 inches wide at rim. 2 1/2 inches diameter at foot.
This was an attempt to throw a tall, thin vase for long stemmed flowers in roughly a bone shape and color. Lorio's Ash is an overglaze that runs like crazy; having never used it before, I went light and the emphasis is really not quite there. I was hoping for something that looked worn and rainwashed with a brown/black stain running from the lip. It didn't quite come together. Still looking forward to seeing what this looks like holding a few roses though. I'm inclined to think it'll be pretty decent even if it did get a little off balance in the firing.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpozVojX1qzyx8yo5_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpozVojX1qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Davis Shino glaze exterior under Mamo White glazed interior and rim.
6 1/2 inch diameter at rim. 2 3/4 diameter at foot. 4 inches tall.
This creamsicle colored piece is one I'm particularly proud of. The colors, the weight, the sculpting, the foot and the thickness of the walls are all pretty solid. I'm planning on actually using this one around the house to eat out of. The shino glazes have clay in them and they create really violent reactions; this one bubbled and roiled around the exterior to make a really interesting texture.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpozVojX1qzyx8yo8_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Reitz Green glaze.
5 1/2 inches tall. 5 1/4 inches diameter at rim. 3 3/4 inches diameter at foot.
Continuing to explore this form, color and the application of a sigil of sorts. In the past, I carved out a symbol; this was a try at laying down an image in wax. I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cpozVojX1qzyx8yo10_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cprrp5oE1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Glick Red glaze under Randy's Oribe glaze.
5 1/2 inches tall. 8 1/4 inches diameter at the rim. About 3 1/2 inches wide at foot.
This is by far the largest piece I've ever thrown; before it fired, it fit comfortably over my head. Now it's a decent sized salad bowl but still reasonably light. It's my second time with this glaze combination and I'm really enjoying working with it. Depending on where you view the piece from, it offers a very different profile and color palette; the two glazes overlapping is what gave this the lacuna of speckled brown and green in the center.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cprrp5oE1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cprrp5oE1qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg
Oxidation firing.
Glick Red glaze.
7 1/2 inches diameter at rim. 4 1/4 inches tall.
I think I did a good job throwing this and the glaze is pretty solid too; I just didn't need to leave that stripe of untouched clay around the center. It's still totally usable and looks fine; I only wish I'd left well enough alone. More and more, less is more.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cprrp5oE1qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg
Reduction firing.
Buttermilk glaze interior, Randy's Oribe glaze exterior.
4 1/4 inches wide at foot. 7 1/4 inches diameter at rim. 5 1/2 inches tall.
This was the second largest piece I made. It's the fourth time I've tried this color combo and it's continuing to be an enjoyable mix. The exposed runic shapes are achieved by applying wax to the bisque-fired clay prior to glazing. The glaze runs off the wax and, after the piece is fired, the wax vaporizes to leave exposed stoneware. I was particularly pleased by the spotting up by the rim and the refinement of the foot and bottom of the bowl's interior.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cprrp5oE1qzyx8yo7_1280.jpg

Lots of good stuff here. I think my favourites are the olive/black/blue (or, well, green on my screen) and the gold and red.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6cprrp5oE1qzyx8yo9_1280.jpg
And here's the whole gang hanging out on my kitchen counter with a water bottle for scale. Now they all need to find a home.
I've got a busy-working summer ahead so am taking a break for three months from pottery. I'm regretful about the time apart but excited to come back to it in the fall with renewed focus and excitement. I'm getting closer to achieving the confluence of ideas in head to execution through hands. Someday.

Really great stuff forks.

thanks! it's a hobby!

really good class tonight; trimmed six pieces and only lost one. Feeling confident and happy with this just now.

Picking up my work from my JC studio tonight. Excited! It was a rough semester; Sandy destroyed the dude's kilns and put us out of class for like two weeks... I probably only attended half as often as I normally do.
Recently spent a week throwing at a studio in Queens with more open studio time that I may transfer to... worked the wheel for like twelve or fourteen hours this week and threw maybe 18 pieces, trimmed 15 and kept 7 to fire. Unremorseful posting of photos with detailed notes to follow shortly.

yeah! Pottery pics pending for us to peruse.

This thread inspired me to look into pottery classes a while ago, but the timing of them all sucked

nice stuff forks!

One of these days I'll take photos of my one semester of pottery making.

please do and post them here! It's lonely in this thread...
Got my stuff, gonna need to photograph in a bit.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/260b981c916b47c368535ac0aec78d7c/tumblr_mfge55w2cq1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

A fully functional cup. This is a glaze combo I've worked in the past. The two glazes tend to blend into a tan dividing line and the Glick Red "breaks" (lies on a ridge or a recession) into a thick earthy brown. I like the drippy overlap quite a bit; it's very attractive to me.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/024a4d5c03d0adbfd2c307d5ba6d6830/tumblr_mfge5huswG1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

182 White Clay. Reduction.
Glazing: Shaner Gold under Glick Red in slight overlap.
4 1/4 inches diameter at rim, 3 inches diameter at base, 3 1/2 inches tall.

you should post the descriptions on your tumblr too.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/bf779130d694b5157013bfd52258101d/tumblr_mfge5uVESm1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

192 Stoneware. Reduction.
Glazing: Buttermilk interior and exterior, Randy's Oribe exterior, wax accents.
3 3/4 inches diameter at rim, 3 1/4 inches diameter at base, 3 1/4 inches tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/9cb7087e0b34f30f2fff1b30adc1201d/tumblr_mfge68ag271qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

Another glaze combo I've tried a few times before to evoke a faux Japanese traditional tea cup. The diagonal wax accents are spaced out at a inch apiece. There's greater symmetry and precision in the glazing here than in past attempts and I'm not sure if that's a good or an indifferent thing. Chance makes for interesting design.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/5f7321840e11861a1e53d15544e8b6a0/tumblr_mfge72nDLS1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

182 White Clay with black slip and white slip accents. Oxidation.
Glazing: Ox Blood.
8 3/4 inches diameter at rim, 6 1/2 inches diameter at eating area, 5 1/4 inches diameter at base, 1 inch tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/902ecc15ff6295fe8be95d779f05b882/tumblr_mfge72nDLS1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

I learned how to properly make plates this semester on a bat. I threw about eight plates and this is the only one that made it through in usable condition.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/4671345e6cba327cd9377ce257b36972/tumblr_mfge72nDLS1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

I covered the front of this plate with black clay slip (liquid, colored clay the consistency of thick syrup) and then made some markings in white slip across the surface with my fingers. Once it bisque fired, I coated the whole thing in Ox Blood which can fire up in red. The White slip concentrated that red and pulled some metal out of the glaze and the black pooled up cloudy.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/084339222be62b11145e0da22a709bb5/tumblr_mfge88xeBA1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

182 White Clay with etched black slip. Oxidation.
Glazing: Bauer Clear.
5 1/2 inches diameter at rim, 3 1/4 inches diameter at base, 2 1/4 inches tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/13d8d24efd04810da3b458555df76897/tumblr_mfge88xeBA1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

I covered the exterior of this bowl with black "slip", which is a liquid, colored clay the consistency of thick syrup. Once it dries, you can treat it the same way as you would the clay body and once the pot is fired, it bonds permanently. Having applied the slip, I went in with a wire tool and carefully crosshatched out tiny strips of slip, exposing the white clay beneath. After it bisque fired (that's where you take the wet clay and bake it so that it turns into porous pottery, like a rough flowerpot), I dipped the entire thing in a glaze called Bauer Clear so that the bowl is smooth to the touch.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/61c959562c8770a3ba0fa1050562ad7f/tumblr_mfge88xeBA1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

This is my second attempt trying this design and I wanted to form a focal point for the crosshatching this go round in the form of a sunburst. Variances in the heat of the kiln scorched the sides a tetch along the sunburst but it's virtually invisible unless you're doing flash photography.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/fe9ddfc36b55a50a76e4192fb6af81f9/tumblr_mfge88xeBA1qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg

Signed and dated for posterity.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/5ead39064fc96c9c1bfaf13ad785a3b0/tumblr_mfge92hVM91qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

192 Stoneware. Reduction.
Glazing: Teadust Tenmoku interior and exterior, Ox Blood exterior in slight overlap.
6 1/2 inches diameter at rim, 4 1/4 inches diameter at base, 3 3/4 inches tall.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/bba0b4890c5759b2c3ae4159d247ecc5/tumblr_mfge92hVM91qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

Originally, this was intended as a candy bowl, maybe for Atomic Fireballs. The Ox Blood at the base was intended to fire up strawberry red instead of purple. The interior is solid, dusky black and the rim reveals a thin and sharp stripe of brick.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/f4d5d3255e7d44853ca4ba68bb0437aa/tumblr_mfgea5vkfK1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

192 Stoneware. Oxidation.
Glazing: Randy's Oribe over Glick Red in overlap.
7 inches diameter at rim, 4 1/2 inches diameter at base, 3 3/4 inches tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/bdf11a5dacbd4b79ec99c8b1e1537b17/tumblr_mfgea5vkfK1qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg

The giraffe skin lacuna here outlines where the two glazes overlapped in the dipping.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c95c47ffc9542ba2cecbae455e593ace/tumblr_mfgea5vkfK1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

Depending on where you view the piece from, it offers a very different profile and color palette. That imperfection at the bottom was an intentional wax blob to show my signature... in retrospect, I should've avoided it.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/0b49fd4b6f4fbcbbc82775609d9db329/tumblr_mfgea5vkfK1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

I've thrown variants of this glaze combo before and what's come out sky blue here generally emerges dark green. It's an inexact science!

http://25.media.tumblr.com/20ff28c3048dbebd58a14a6fcf5adb0b/tumblr_mfgebpoGm01qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

182 White Clay. Oxidation.
Glazing: Potter's Turquoise under Civil War in overlap.
5 1/2 inches diameter at rim, 4 3/4 inches diameter at base, 3 3/4 inches tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/aa0ca7dd3a8629538e7de14b8dfdc8ad/tumblr_mfgebpoGm01qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

This is another experiment with a glaze combo I've done before to see what it would look like on a wider canvas.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/dc6f73c15823561afa35ce0542d6ee83/tumblr_mfgebpoGm01qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

The foamy blue band between turquoise and lavender is the overlap of each glaze. Fun with chemistry.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/9cee3e3f15cced4902e1f34985d03bea/tumblr_mfged3Ql471qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

182 White Clay. Reduction.
Glazing: Ice Trap Celadon.
4 3/4 inches diameter at rim, 2 3/4 inches diameter at base, 2 1/2 inches tall.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/b5f83e641eaa96425dc5d2e4e8595aac/tumblr_mfged3Ql471qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg

Ice Trap produces a funky crackle under the skin but this is smooth to the touch.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/6bad1db4b918bc59d14e11cefef4ecae/tumblr_mfged3Ql471qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

Glaze slipped a bit off the edge, revealing this swatch of exposed clay and creating a deeper diamond-blue pool of glaze in the body.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/65894da99444c4b1a314296f620f5b8a/tumblr_mfged3Ql471qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

In a style that's out of character for the glaze, the rim bloomed black, shadowy and imperial. I like it!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/99f93dfcd6d20e66c843288c0c41067d/tumblr_mfgeepzRND1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

182 White Clay. Oxidation.
Glazing: Lapis Blue with Mamo White accents.
6 1/4 inches diameter at rim, 3 1/2 inches diameter at base, 3 1/4 inches tall.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/7575fc1ead8eeeea1ead0c2cf7ce553c/tumblr_mfgeepzRND1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

This bowl torqued a bit in firing but the color combo feels strong and saves it for me.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/3b038e8596d86d7a801cd532b404d686/tumblr_mfgeepzRND1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

As you can see here, the glaze on this piece dripped down and needed to be ground down at the base.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/f099d653d77245003221dd923536805e/tumblr_mfgeftiDJc1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

182 White Clay. Oxidation.
Glazing: Reitz Green, wax accents.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/b43201deb3c98fbd7cd5e71b33e4fed9/tumblr_mfgeftiDJc1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

3 1/4 inches diameter at rim, 3 1/2 inches diameter at base, @ 6 1/2 inches with handle, 4 1/2 inches tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/44331437cdf079c7265bd41e97702c01/tumblr_mfgeftiDJc1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

The exposed snaking ivy shapes are achieved by applying wax to the bisque-fired clay prior to glazing. The glaze runs off the wax and, after the piece is fired, the wax vaporizes to leave exposed stoneware.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/7c14edd13496da7c41871b2bbb9b43ea/tumblr_mfgeftiDJc1qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg

Not quite elegant but quite functional for both hot and cold drinks.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/4130bf5c336776b401a5b25588c4ed5d/tumblr_mfgeh7svsJ1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

182 White Clay. Oxidation.
Glazing: Carmine's Turquoise with Cushing Red accents.
5 3/4 inches diameter at rim, 4 inches diameter at eating area, 3 3/4 inches diameter at base, 1 1/4 inches tall.

Well, sometimes it just doesn't work out. This was an attempt at making a gunmetal grey plate with red discs of color in varying size. Instead, the glaze puddled into weird granulated beads and the red pools leached green color from the bottom glaze. It's a bit of a shame in that I was happy with the throwing. It happens.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/a3a246b155d52a067d46911b9fa5ab35/tumblr_mfgeimeg1R1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

The next step for me is at a studio in Queens that I put a week of work in at. They're back open mid January and able to accommodate extended throwing time of four to five hours at a sitting in midday. This first headed-to-bisque batch is the result of twelve hours of work... maybe twenty finished pieces and seven worth keeping. The clay is different, the glazes are different, the space and tools are different. It's all pretty exciting to try totally new things and to have the time to stretch out and throw and throw and throw and throw... the impression I've got at this point is that the only way to get better is to keep making work until I make a couple thousand pieces and then I'll be a reasonable potter. I'm at about a hundred pieces now. Best to get hustling.

Tumblr isn't really anything more for me than an image hosting spot EZ; the only people I give a damn about looking at this stuff are Facebook/ILXors.

totally cool.

182 White Clay with etched black slip & the randy's oribe one are so so nice

Thanks! I'm happy with both those combinations as well and would like to make a few more in the same vein.

these are all really beautiful, forks

wow, forks! such nice work!
i really like the crosshatched one and the orange+teal bowl too

latest batch from my new studio; mostly just figuring out the new glazes and getting used to the house clay and exploring. I'm enrolled for the next month. Been putting in about twelve hours a week throwing this month, same for Feb I hope.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/5436237c9f2bf226f54aa83bcff0c4b9/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Bowl. Denton Green glaze. 5 1/4 inch wide at rim. 3 inches tall. 3 1/2 inches wide at foot.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/c42516d7f38f55989a58b9c25dba7216/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/550500b8c435c155602fba9b875d9c17/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg
Decorative urn. Faux Celadon glaze. 3 1/2 inches tall. 4 1/2 inches wide at lip. 3 1/2 inches wide at foot.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/fd860be0eca5d3b2359059a858af9aa3/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg
Teacup with graduated bottom. Oribe glaze over Cornwall glaze.
3 1/4 inches tall. 4 inches wide at lip. 2 3/4 wide at foot.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/bee4af375e825f4fc07a4cb8792e6da0/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo5_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/0b3b772f6ce904be4cbdfa03e5c69ce1/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo7_1280.jpg
Vase. French Green glaze over Gloss White glaze.
5 inches tall. 3 3/4 inches wide at rim. 2 3/4 inches wide at foot.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/f3958f49afce26e7244a84c17ff2f074/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/77874735dcc579e21ff9a15070818c7a/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo8_1280.jpg
Sake cup. Tenmoku glaze. 2 1/2 inches tall. 3 3/4 inches at rim. 3 inches at foot.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c7ae72422b09f43247c1de2e8aa42abc/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo9_1280.jpg
Teacup with flared bottom. Gloss White glaze over Albany Green slip.
2 1/2 inches tall. 3 3/4 inches wide at rim. 2 3/4 inches wide at foot.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/b648e4b0f87b2c5de35fbb29ed03ab36/tumblr_mhopigXWcX1qzyx8yo10_1280.jpg

I have about thirteen pieces trimmed and ready for some detail work at my NJ studio, five pieces fired and ready to glaze in queens and another eight pieces that need trimming in queens. Lotta work in progress.

Each batch gets more impressive. Again, kudos.

Thanks! These are very much experiments (as a batch) in getting used to new circumstances... going to a new studio is a little like attending a new church. Very disorienting and challenging but it's more or less the same god to please.
i'm hoping to up to around thirty hours a week this month as I have little work coming in till march and have budgeted with that in mind. hopefully it won't bite me in the ass later.

okay, this is ridiculous but i'm weirdly proud of it. lotta carving and painting on of clay slip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmjEp3Fc-E4

oooh oooh oooh oooh oooh! Can you make me a pair? Seriously.

awesome!

make me an offer! This one already has a home but I can make more that are similar on consignment.

You have my email, so send me a quote and I'll let you know if it works. I have no idea where to start so I'm putting it in your court.

hm. let me think on it; i'm not sure how i would charge? Or what I would do about mailing?
may be a future thing.

I have no clue either! I was thinking of Christmas presents so seriously no hurry. MAybe you can talk to some of the people in class or the teachers/artists that are around about pricing, packaging, etc.

personal delivery: you walk it to his house, holding it v carefully

I'll start a kickstarter to fund "forks walks to Texas" .

forksclovetexas

heh.

disney is going to come down hard on this transaction

shhhh

you just don't get it, do you? the mouse has eyes and ears everywhere. there's no keeping secrets from the mouse.

yeah well TALKING ABOUT IT isn't going to help

do you WANT forks to go to mouse prison?

Now I'm picturing forks as one of the Beagle Boys. Which is kind of awesome.

there is some resemblance, yes.

It's the hat.

i'm trying to do a set of these things with minor/obscure/meaningful/not heavily toyetic cartoon characters to
1)get better at throwing this size/shape consistently and with a thick wall.
2)practice my carving skills
3)test out all the glaze colors at the new studio I'm at by brushing them on as the background for the character
4)create things that people aren't just happy to be given but fucking freak out about; everyone who I've shown the totoro video too says I WANNIT

so far, i'm gonna try to do a moomin, a mordechai (from regular show), marlys, another totoro... what else?

this could take a month or two.

it's gonna be a side project along with other pieces but could be a fun one.

<img src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/395611_537371156302402_2123598950_n.jpg";>

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/395611_537371156302402_2123598950_n.jpg

action photography!

hey forks, do you/can you make things with lids?

i'm learning now! just getting acquainted with calipers and how all that good stuff works.

ok, cool. if you were in fact interested in taking commissions at some point i have been wanting a shallow, straight-sided dish with a lid for a while now, and would happily pay someone to make that for me.

hm! well, i think my potting partner robin might be able to do it for sure; i'm still a little iffy about doing work on consignment just yet... still got some polish to go.
But hit me via ilx mail and i can connect you!

me: poured hot water into that cup i just made
Robin: What happened
me: glaze cracked under the surface all over!
Robin: Interesting
me: dozens of place inside and out but it didn't break.
Robin: I think I know why
me: not quite thick enough to pick up with boiling water either. :/ why u think
Robin: You did the slip layer after the bisque?
me: no.
Robin: Hm not sure then
me: it's not a bad cup to drink tea out of. right size but you gotta let it cool. u really can't feel the cracks! but holy shit it cracked all over
Robin: Read up on crazing and why it happens
me: i kinda like it better now. looks lived in almost intentional
Robin: It generally does not affect integrity or usability. If u look at anything oxblood in oxidation its usually crazed all over. Those transparent glazes are more likely to.
me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazing
omg i am hearing it crack! it's like little chipping noises
me: it's got to be two things: one is thermic shock but the other thing is weird: because it was doing it when i brought it to pottery remember i said i didn't remember those cracks? they weren't there before, i'm sure of it. so the fucking thing appears to be shifting after it's already fired. but the boiling water is def affecting it. it keeps making PING noises and then there are more cracks. super odd.
Robin: I think it is all the layers that is making that happen. Slip + glaze + glaze all over a diff clay body
me: yah
Robin: Is creating tensions with the thermal shift. You know that chinese and korean pottery traditions cultivated that effect.
me: yeah, but this is less concentrated
Robin: And rubbed ink in to bring out the pattern
me: more like striations than lattice
Robin: Hm ill have to see it
me: this is the nerdiest im exchange ever

i made my first urn with a lid today. will report back.
also working in miniature. learned how to throw off the hump to make tiny lil' bowls. immensely satisfying and rewarding.
I have no immediate work and a lil' bit of cash socked away and a month until work is supposed to resume so i'm spending about twenty to twenty five hours a week in the studio for the past two/next two weeks. Taking on lots of short and long projects and basically practicing practicing practicing

even by my standards this is pretty fucking geeky BUT here is my first go at a "Journey" cup.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/105873bff72d575aeb70d047d3524911/tumblr_milfaa4ovO1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
still need to add background, firm up the figure a bit and then put in black and white colored slip, then fire and put in real colors for the glaze.

awesome!

I just got seven new pieces back, including the totoro cup, most of which are (dare i say it) pretty good!
I'll post here shortly.
Oh and I've been working on a Moomin/Hattifattener cup for a friend that I just finished throwing/carving/adding slip to and is now ready for the bisque fire. Here it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8_kNFzpb1E

that looks great, forks. kudos.

thanks man!

http://25.media.tumblr.com/55193b6868ee5124f13bf79235b4b882/tumblr_mimut6ZCV81qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This cup is red stoneware, coated in porcelain slip with a coat of Cornwall glaze over New Tyler Amber glaze. The Cornwall brings out a light electric blue streaking that’s only barely visible. What’s interesting about this cup is that the multiple layers have caused serious “crazing”: sub-cutaneous cracks that form all around the piece. They’re not structurally damaging (in fact they actually help keep the piece from breaking by providing release from infinitesimal expansion and contracting of the multiple clay bodies) and they aren't anything you can even feel on the surface but they are ongoing! Every time I pour hot water for tea in this, you hear little TINK and PING noises as a spiderweb of cracks expands on the in and outside of the cup. It’s kinda awesome; like drinking out of something alive and changing. It’s much much much more cracked up at the moment than this picture shows.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/ff3f8eca682637fd5f954d7c9854b37e/tumblr_mimutv68dt1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

4 inch tall, 4 inch diameter at lip, 3 inch diameter at foot.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/c8c46e4bd98956293906fa384d4d8f76/tumblr_mimuullpQ11qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This little urn is red stoneware, coated in porcelain slip and then covered in a Pharsalia glaze. The bubbling on the surface is from the porcelain slip; I'm not much of a fan of how this stuff reacts when it completely coats the surface. Also not thrilled with the shape, to be honest.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/600bb58877c27313bbc32f2e64e2df08/tumblr_mimuv0rfi01qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

2 3/4 inch diameter at lip, 3 1/2 inch diameter at foot, 5 inch diameter at widest point. 4 inch tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/4c43b0dba58cd72cce86c50d71182f07/tumblr_mimuvjPmGY1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This plate is coated with New Tyler Amber glaze; very dusky and opaque.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/6e1219993f12e9906bd7941520f9548d/tumblr_mimuvyah3T1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

8 inch diameter at rim, 6 1/2 inch diameter at foot, 1 inch tall.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/70be79f5ac32b7284897a6fdd02a808e/tumblr_mimux2liyW1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This little vessel is coated with French Blue glaze. It breaks black on the ridges and lip and presents some intriguing drip in between the levels of the piece.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/2d5e77eb421484e76835547c70716c24/tumblr_mimuxp1e0u1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

2 3/4 inch diameter at rim and base, 4 inch tall, 4 1/2 inch diameter at widest point.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/1e55ab9ec4097ea5c6c4065fc2caab0c/tumblr_mimuytpRGX1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

I was fairly meticulous with the glazing and got the foot completely clean.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/425ae4a01d5bb86a7ecca6c4e00d478c/tumblr_mimuzkklwQ1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This little flower vase has some porcelain slip decoration surrounding the spout; the whole piece was covered with French Green glaze and then the porcelain decoration had Cornwall glaze accents painted on.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/fb3301d1362d4f1613b696bac04cba72/tumblr_mimv00hJOD1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Definitely some fun interplay of the glazes and the porcelain; maybe an experiment I'll come back to.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/2b1bb9175ed6e8f0e70fd04bf7637417/tumblr_mimv0lXSyp1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

4 1/2 inch tall, 2 inch diameter at lip, 3 3/4 inch diameter at base.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/f108521ed0d370e839a3a554cfea4b8b/tumblr_mimv39prMj1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This is my "Totoro Cup", the first of a series of ten to twelve thick-walled, carved and detailed character pieces that I'm working on in loving memory of the Burger King/McDonalds/7-11 movie and comic book premium cups from the 80's. I always had a soft spot for getting a cup of a character that shouldn't have a dedicated bit of merch... a Tusken Raider or a Smee cup was a declaration of independence. Sure, it was independence provided by a corporation branding another corporation's merchandise, but simpler times.

Anyways the real danger in making fan-built nerd art is that it can be spectacularly embarrassing and lame if done poorly. That's the risk I'm running on this project; I also have a Moomin and a Journey (the game, not the band) cup in play. Suggestions for more are welcome; I'm currently considering a few more Totoro cups (people like them!), Deery Lou (via Sanrio for my sister), a Marlys (via Linda Barry), a Mordechai (from Regular Show), a stylized Pee Wee Herman face...

http://25.media.tumblr.com/b1b1589b81422cefc64296d3e1a30f25/tumblr_mimv3z1eAX1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

The lines for Totoro were carved into the clay body, then filled with liquid black clay. I painted in the eyes with white porcelain slip. Then I created a rough pattern around the rest of the outside of the cup to provide visual and haptic contrast and make the cup nicer to pick up. After the bisque fire, I painted the Totoro face with a layer of Cornwall glaze and painted outside the black lines with Faux Celadon glaze and washed the inside of the cup with the Celadon to provide a sky blue background.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/21aa3f5dc4df3e36ae1763bcc4278c20/tumblr_mimv4sFZdS1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

I was scared either of the glazes might run in the firing; turns out I applied a bit too light of a coat. It's not too much of a mess but I'll know for the future to go a little thicker so it's not quite so splotchy.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/27fddd8cd51354fc8f8ff30e953ad7f7/tumblr_mimv57LUX21qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

3 1/2 inch tall, 4 inch diameter at lip, 2 1/2 inch diameter at foot.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/73af1d48718015f82b9a058061c5d4ac/tumblr_mimv5uX9KY1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This bowl is red stoneware coated, again, in porcelain and then coated in French Green glaze. The French Green runs thick and tends to pool at the foot. This required a little grinding to remove some of those drips.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/9bed4def8c18313afd8e592de35fc731/tumblr_mimv6eEdHu1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

5 3/4 inch diameter at lip, 3 inch tall, 3 1/2 inch diameter at foot.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/08225a91d5ea9435665ccf4887d8db6e/tumblr_mimv7x1aK11qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This sloping bowl was an experiment with a mix of glazes. I coated the inside with Gloss White glaze and then dipped the whole thing in Silky Black glaze. The black glaze has a lot of sediment, which adhered to the outer wall of the bowl. But on the inside, it streaked drastically, producing an odd and colorfully oily mix of silver streaks, green blue accents, unctuous blacks and exposed clay body.
The end result has a bit too much raised pattern to work as, say, a soup bowl; the clay ridges and bumps are likely to trap tiny food particles. But this should be fine as a display piece for dry foods or fruit and the colors and (entirely natural) design are quite lovely.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/febdae67f90f00ec37681be7e4e6b2e7/tumblr_mimv8c57oU1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

8 inch diameter at lip, 3 3/4 inch tall and diameter at foot.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c0d1c77c561ff9840b6510b52d28d288/tumblr_mimv8udW451qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

8 inch diameter at lip, 3 3/4 inch tall and diameter at foot.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/d7bdb37d46c8c9c3db6e52b9c1f24d1f/tumblr_mimv9ag4k61qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

Here's a closeup of the inside, with the hare's fur effect clearly visible. It looks like a forest silhouette. Really amazing what the glaze and clay does on its own.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/dd355ee1f5415a73afdcbea4984b6fec/tumblr_mimvanoy5e1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

This large bowl was coated in Albany Blue glaze, a clay heavy glaze that fires up black if left alone and then covered in Gloss White Glaze. That produced a cloudy purple-blue-black speckle and patter inside and out.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/7937ae5c5983a315bf2d5a8797a06889/tumblr_mimvb7KCBh1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

4 1/2 inch tall, 9 inch diameter at rim, 5 1/2 inch diameter at foot

http://25.media.tumblr.com/d198dbd958779f7748f7e148ebcd92f2/tumblr_mimvbv7aum1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

It's absolutely my largest fully realized piece to date and I'm a bit proud of that. Here's the bowl with an apple for scale.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/8162e59a12630959fd4acbdbf58d6089/tumblr_mimvcrUkpE1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

I'm very pleased with the interior colors; I think they're pretty striking.

and that's this month's pile.

Nicely done sir. Skill is growing in leaps and bounds.

gracias! and yes, i am fishing for compliments.

busy day; worked on like ten pieces for the final bisque.
did some carving last night
http://25.media.tumblr.com/e3a70efe747c74429d15005a13fef78e/tumblr_mjerzqFvm21qzyx8yo1_500.jpg

huh, i tried this app and it's hella boring but now you can pay exorbitant sums of cash (though likely not more than what I've paid in studio fees) and make "your own" pottery with a 3-d printer
http://www.potterygame.com/help/pot-shop

"We do not recommend to combine 3D printed pots with the water or other liquids."

http://25.media.tumblr.com/35672a964dbc55826d77b03f7b9e4504/tumblr_mjot082F8b1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
Dude in my pottery studio is coil building Vaughn Bode-style maquettes of creatures, totally freestanding, based on his old graf from back in the day. Cool guy, we talked about hip hop for fifteen minutes. Turns out his brother runs Santos Party House and was with Def Jux back in the day. This sculpture is awesome. Took him about two days from scratch to glazing!
http://24.media.tumblr.com/081d1cf50187dff774e1617bdb0896da/tumblr_mjot082F8b1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

hollow interior makes the eyes really pop. looked even better in person.

That looks pretty damn cool.

Holocaust deniers make pottery too, apparently: http://www.salon.com/2013/03/11/we_let_charles_krafft_fool_us_partner/

Oh yeah the krafft story is very lolzy
"how could we have known?"

okay so that's some 23 pieces i just got back today. photographing and annotating now.

Okay, so here's the current haul.
it's a lot.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/97f5dd95efb4427cef5d532bc4b7e5eb/tumblr_mkwhjv7aQf1qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/ceb3c60b9c32158ed4d30e8ab32c8f5c/tumblr_mkwhjv7aQf1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/4979823ece3bc7d24f51fe031b6fe848/tumblr_mkwhjv7aQf1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/b80f61d4b03582327cba84f32424a28b/tumblr_mkwhjv7aQf1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

red stoneware clay with porcelain accents - French Blue glaze

3 1/2” tall, 3 1/2” diameter at rim, 2 1/4” diameter at foot

The second in a series of carved cartoon mugs, this one features the Finnish cartoonist Tove Jansson’s famous Moomin on one side and a minor character from the same series, a Hattifattener, on the other. I was awfully happy with the way the color and the carving came out here. I didn't glaze the exposed porcelain figures at all so they are somewhat exposed and have greater potential for staining. That was intentional so that the figures would pop and look more newsprint-y but it does increase the potential for them to get stained. My hope is that they'll take on a darker, tea color with age and get more distinguished.

To make the characters stand out more, I carve in a dappled pattern in the background. It’s time-consuming work but effective.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/7c49660bfd104f820bf6163fb239fe14/tumblr_mkwhhpMnu91qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/9d2dbcefcdda438e8bb9f51ba4b7fafb/tumblr_mkwhhpMnu91qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/ee225cc3e5c0666a362cef6069c93c9e/tumblr_mkwhhpMnu91qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/314984d5cc7b4dec7050c63e953b6be3/tumblr_mkwhhpMnu91qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/22369cd3e00974e80df4b4a44f2a1e62/tumblr_mkwhhpMnu91qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/4e90117d4a47fa10e58fcc61d1be5523/tumblr_mkwhhpMnu91qzyx8yo5_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/17e4a8070338ed51a0c701fb760395d8/tumblr_mkwhhpMnu91qzyx8yo7_1280.jpg

white clay - Glick Red glaze underlapping Randy’s Oribe glaze - oxidation firing

Cups: 4” tall, 4” diameter at rim (6 1/2” at handle), 2 3/4” diameter at foot

Bowl 1: 3 1/2” tall, 7 1/2” diameter at rim, 4” diameter at foot

Bowl 2: 3 1/4” tall, 8 1/4” diameter at rim, 3 3/4” diameter at foot

Bowl 3: 3 1/4” tall, 8 3/4” diameter at rim, 4 3/4” diameter at foot

Plate: 1” tall, 9 1/4” diameter at rim, 7” diameter on eating space, 7” diameter at foot

This is my present for my sister’s wedding. It was a first in many ways: first attempt at making a set, first attempt at making identical pieces (I did better with the cups and plates than with the bowls as you can see by the measurements… on the plus side, the bowls stack), first group glazing based on a combination I came up with awhile back. The handles are very delicate here but they should hold up to weight. A small S-crack (just an aesthetic glitch) in the largest bowl aside, the major catastrophe was that one of the two plates broke in the glazing. So it’s a one plate, two cup, three bowl set. That’s a set, right? Kinda? Next step is figuring out how to pack and mail these to the other side of the country.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/ab6a4ed5b9d68bd184e52c9e8fb28aa8/tumblr_mkwhfw6t371qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/b802be1b6bc622d620d7fcb2ddaf264d/tumblr_mkwhfw6t371qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/49ec75531ee6593403f5ca875775a750/tumblr_mkwhfw6t371qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/5ffcd4157c92449d315ca939185d8f46/tumblr_mkwhfw6t371qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

white clay - Academy Mix glaze with Yellow Salt glaze accent - reduction firing

1 3/4” tall, 8 1/4” diameter at rim, 4 1/2” diameter at foot

This is a solid display plate… maybe _too_ solid; it’s a bit heavy. That caveat aside, I’m pleased with it. It’s a form that I enjoy making.

The glaze pattern on the interior of the piece came out nicely I think.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/bb55ca86a1e1f58106a373dd3a00d971/tumblr_mkwhevsVcG1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/58b7c186e116ee45d31762771bd78cdf/tumblr_mkwhevsVcG1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

white clay with black slip and carved design - Bauer Clear glaze - oxidation firing

3 1/4” tall, 6 1/4” diameter at rim, 3 1/2” diameter at rim

Another attempt at making a reptile skin pattern by carving into a slip over a clay body prior to firing. The exterior is a little smudgy but this feels pretty good to me.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c0935979ec1e495c1e207cdf581a171e/tumblr_mkwhe7Jzjz1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/48df8d7d4bf8e7becdb728564f3b52bc/tumblr_mkwhe7Jzjz1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

white clay with black slip on top surface - Randy’s Oribe glaze - oxidation firing

1 1/2” tall, 8 1/2” diameter at rim, 6 3/4” diameter on eating space, 7 1/2” diameter at foot

The black slip applied here shows up more in the photo than in person; it makes the top of the plate slightly darker but there’s not a great deal of difference. The foot is way too broad, but otherwise a fairly successful piece that I’ll likely eat off myself.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/1d67e3bab3d816ee6a7965b0ee9bb3df/tumblr_mkwhdll8r71qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/8af2830c05251d52998149dc5d15aa9c/tumblr_mkwhdll8r71qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

white clay - Shaner Gold glaze - reduction firing

3 1/4” tall at peak, 3 1/4” across at widest point, roughly 2 1/2” wide at foot

This was a go at a completely enclosed vessel that I could drill a hole into for use as a bud vase but when I botched it badly, my instructor suggested paddling the sides into a geometric figure and then applying a bit of striation to the walls. Voila: I gotta rock. The glaze came out more peanut butter than granite unfortunately and though it’s an interesting experiment (one I’ll likely come back to) and functional to hold single flowers or pens (as shown), I wish I had gone with a tenmoku glaze instead.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/2479f3487a9ed85ffe4d81443453f94e/tumblr_mkwhcwcwi01qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/f8a4d6a19cb3b2536485846dc8e55552/tumblr_mkwhcwcwi01qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

white clay - Civil War glaze - reduction firing

2 1/2” tall, 3” diameter at lip, 2” diameter at foot

This tiny decorative hoonja-doonja would likely work well to hold sea salt or any other uncovered spice. It also features a “secret smile”, an interior crescent of raw clay that somehow escaped the glazing process.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/e67500c32c6a925ed850656939982ff2/tumblr_mkwhbgsls31qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/6cb02c69da892346ca596260ff9a02c7/tumblr_mkwhbgsls31qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

white clay - Potter’s Turquoise glaze on top and interior overlapping under Civil War glaze - oxidation firing

3” tall, 3 1/2” wide at lip, 2” wide at foot

When these two glazes meet, they form a blue foamy barrier. It’s an attractive and easy effect that is quite satisfying.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/13a66414c30f022e5a516474f842036f/tumblr_mkwhalqWl71qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

white clay - Charlie D Black glaze on interior and exterior rim, Norton Red glaze exterior - reduction firing

3 1/2” tall, 4 1/2” diameter at lip, 3” diameter at foot

This is probably the fifth flowerpot I’ve made for my old boss and mentor Bill; it’s a regular and simple exercise I keep coming back to. I just never have any luck with it. I think it’s the glaze combination; it always runs. This time the water run-off hole in the center got clogged by glaze. Ah well. I’ll keep trying; he’ll keep putting plants in the less exciting ones.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/af2640461390285001a9270ff0dfebe1/tumblr_mkwh9f5Pew1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/ab52484fe9c3395880559dce6e90854c/tumblr_mkwh9f5Pew1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

white clay with blue slip and carved design - Bauer Clear glaze with Buttermilk glaze accents - oxidation firing

3 3/4” tall, 7” diameter at lip, 4 1/4” diameter at foot

The goal was to make a flock of birds (“V” shapes carved into the blue slip coating of the bowl) taking off from behind clouds but the Buttermilk covered by the clear glaze streaked and smudged the cover into cirrus rather than cumulus. I think it kinda still works? I like the way the interior of the bowl is crackle white and clean.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/b62cae88bbabc81ce1871fc3e2b0329b/tumblr_mkwh8iXnFJ1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/d1acdfcd05d080b5fafd210949048f02/tumblr_mkwh8iXnFJ1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

white clay with wax accents - Randy’s Oribe glaze on bottom exterior under Buttermilk glaze interior and top exterior - oxidation firing

3” tall, 4” diameter at lip, 3 1/2” diameter at foot

The exposed raw-clay ascii-shapes are achieved by applying wax to the bisque-fired clay prior to glazing. The glaze runs off the wax and, after the piece is fired, the wax vaporizes to leave exposed stoneware. The white glaze ran a bit more than I’d like, so it got a tad messy but the water run-off holes in the bottom stayed intact.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/eed2b3979c273639ab6e3c35c94d6e86/tumblr_mkwh4tcWnQ1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/d8fcb1bf7474727e25bc588a6325c766/tumblr_mkwh4tcWnQ1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/5de451d1d52c99f1703056cc2448fd74/tumblr_mkwh4tcWnQ1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

white clay with green slip and carved design - Seacrest Celadon glaze - reduction firing

4” tall, 1 1/4” diameter at lip, 1 3/4” diameter at foot

Reptile skin effect is fairly easy to achieve, though I could certainly work on precision of form and execution for future tries. I’m pleased with how this came out.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/019625c6b04c9868cd1c33270ea5c161/tumblr_mkwh3sDdft1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/d4586fd6b5281a83665d58e815ecdd02/tumblr_mkwh3sDdft1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

white clay with black slip and carved design - Ox Blood glaze - oxidation firing (oxidation is lower heat than reduction and that creates different effects… ox blood is strawberry red when reduction {high} fired and a transparent jade when oxidation {low} fired)

2 1/2” tall, 3 1/2” diameter at lip, 2 3/4” diameter at foot

My second go at this form; this one came out a bit more smudged in the glazing than last time. The surface is glossy and uniform, not incised. All the carving takes place before the glazing.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/a089fafb3a351ae75cfb3ef10dbb8418/tumblr_mkwh2hEFis1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/3d33b02c8068f4b1a4a5ec1bc68ce10f/tumblr_mkwh2hEFis1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/a3c90e8a7499750b9fedc20fa0034f36/tumblr_mkwh2hEFis1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

white clay - Ice Trap Celadon glaze - reduction firing

5 1/4” tall, 9” diameter at lip, 4 3/4” diameter at foot

Another in the “largest bowl I’ve yet thrown” collection, with apple for scale. This glaze crackles like crazy; the darker color at the rim and base is picked up from”bloom”: direct heat from the kiln or blow-off glaze from pieces next to it in the kiln. A one-inch long, 1/16 inch deep S crack in the bottom of the bowl (doesn’t go all the way through so doesn’t really effectively damage it) is the bummer for me; but it’s a surface imperfection and I may pack with a bit of silicone to finish. I’m pleased with it nonetheless.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/6d42f8c3d227dd1d16dac16217835ed2/tumblr_mkwh33OfWp1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/277366299f3062c10c521f9f81209724/tumblr_mkwh33OfWp1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/c3fc3f9d558b325e12cc99a03434f959/tumblr_mkwh33OfWp1qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg

white clay - two part constructed lid - Blue Chun glaze with Buttermilk glaze accent in center of lid handle - reduction firing

7 1/2” tall with lid (5 3/4” tall without), 3 1/2” diameter at lip, 2 1/2” diameter at foot, about 5 1/2” diameter at widest point in center

My first lidded piece, made with considerable help from my instructor. I build the lid with two pieces; the ‘knob’ is a miniature thrown bowl, joined at the base to the top of the lid. The lid fits comfortably but not loosely, enough so that it was fired as a separate piece… tight joins are often fired as one piece so that you don’t end up with something that won’t insert. I’m pleased with the lines and the form; the pitting in the surface is just a function of the glaze which was selected because it’s one that my mom likes a lot and the piece was made with her in mind. Definitely need to keep practicing and working with lids and expect to do a lot of experimentation with that in the summer once I’m done with some other projects.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/d012a71b30ba92e244a2254970e14904/tumblr_mkwh1oOAUu1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/89f58543d0e87f0eae6e6dd51ce400b1/tumblr_mkwh1oOAUu1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

White clay with black slip on exterior - Blue Ying Ching glaze - reduction firing

3 1/4” tall, 8” diameter at lip, 4 1/2” diameter at foot

Colored slip on the exterior made only a minimal difference here; there’s a slightly darker blue on the outside, but you have to go looking for it. Good crackle on the glaze, a small and regrettable 1/4 inch wide and 1/16 inch deep “S crack” (a surface imperfection where the water in the clay opened a fissure in the body when it dried/fired/glaze took it apart, so named because they tend to form an ”S” shape) at the center. It’s tiny and doesn’t affect the usage really; S cracks that don’t go through the form entirely don’t do anything except make the piece a bit harder to clean as food particles can get stuck in the fissure. So maybe just not so great for soup. S cracks are primarily frustrating aesthetically and are somewhat preventable by paying attention to tamping down the clay more tightly during the throwing process and removing excess moisture both while throwing and as the piece is drying. I ended this session with three pieces that got hit this way, all larger bowls (which tend to pick up the problem more easily). It’s the little things that particularly bug me with basic forms now.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/d8987aeaf5c843df2359eea5861ab56c/tumblr_mkwh0rFXCl1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/1694e48c95638dba3689b442f7192338/tumblr_mkwh0rFXCl1qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

White clay with black slip and carved design - Ice Trap Celadon glaze - reduction firing

4 3/4” tall, 1 inch diameter at lip, 2 1/2” diameter at foot, 3 1/2” diameter at widest point in center

Another sgraffito job where I carved into a dried clay slip covering white clay to expose a pattern and then glazed the whole piece. The glaze brought out green notes and preserved the carving nicely. The body is a bit ungainly and squat but it’s not a terrible decorative piece and good practice for my current project: throwing some thirty or so bud vases.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/8eb97adf868756a9a145c585ce2cd476/tumblr_mkwh032ti81qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/1c521b275ebc72060fcfe16f4f6a7fc9/tumblr_mkwh032ti81qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg

white clay with blue slip and carved design - Blue Ying Ching glaze - reduction firing (reduction firing is at a higher temperature than oxidation and produces different, and generally more glossy and bright, effects)

5” tall, 1 inch diameter at lip, 3” diameter at foot

I spent a fair amount of time carving out a branching, chain-like design into the blue slip on this to create a complex pattern and the glaze pretty much muted that to a barely perceptible subtlety. Bummer. Form is okay, though very bottom heavy; in a pinch, you could use this bottle to mash potatoes.

about six more pieces in bisque now, three coming out from glazing.
I'm working on a project for my sister's wedding where I'm making about thirty small bud vases and glazing them all the same color.
getting somewhat better with practice I think.

Another nice batch forks.

Thanks boss. I should drop you a line come the fall about those Miyazaki cups. Just remind me.

Will do.

I moved to a new studio not so long ago and took on a few specific projects, the biggest of which was making a collection of 25 small vases for my sister's wedding, all about 2 1/2 pounds of clay, all with a single glaze with some porcelain details. That's taken the better part of three months and I've done a bunch of bowls and such in between but I've moved to the point where not everything is for display so much as it is for experience. I did finish that Journey cup though. I'm not totally pleased with it; the carving was too intricate for my capability to glaze properly and the studio I'm in didn't really have the right color glazes.
Anyways.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/6895a67233f4185ba98e36d67d022f54/tumblr_mo625f8ui11qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/fab50290bd8147b57888fd2a3a39b737/tumblr_mo625f8ui11qzyx8yo3_1280.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/2d5ec4bb7aaef23bdd189de2464d89f3/tumblr_mo625f8ui11qzyx8yo4_1280.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/9e65c8cdbefb37a3b554aee350df9e2f/tumblr_mo625f8ui11qzyx8yo5_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/11587cb29cf0497b49946daa1d6233fa/tumblr_mo625f8ui11qzyx8yo6_1280.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/2be57e14664b390d058e30a0af95a5f9/tumblr_mo625f8ui11qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

I also got around to making a Regular Show cup with Mordechai on one side and Rigby on the other. Considering these are carved freehand after some experimentation, I'm fairly pleased. The colors are from clay slip and the cup has yet to get a bisque firing or a glazing so there's still a high probability I'll fuck it up.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/096fbf7ac4dafae59ecbbebb3f43cc4e/tumblr_mo627ieYc91qzyx8yo2_1280.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/08c136b74d6ef1db78551768fc68b861/tumblr_mo627ieYc91qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

then there's the 25 vases. i'll just post a group shot before they get packed up once they're all outta the kiln.

I like the Journey cup. It came out pretty well.

gracias!

dude. that is awesome.

admit it though, you were waiting for someone's mom to get insulted

i wasn't! it's always on my mind!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/4d3c52f93a93bb39595344b033d780cc/tumblr_mosv4x2GcE1snfsquo2_r1_400.gif

that is one terrifying GIF

how about a mug with Rigby screaming FRIEND ZONE! FRIEND ZONE! FRIEND ZONE!

heh. maybe. i have a muppet beaker one in the works.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/74c227e0a90bc5b23634a7dee2276fb6/tumblr_moeqs4C4ny1qzd9ino1_400.jpg

i don't remember that scene in Howard the Duck

Porn version, iirc.

http://johnsontsang.wordpress.com/
concepts are occasionally painfully obvious but the execution is amazing next level
http://johnsontsang.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/dsc_7595.jpg%3Fw%3D640%26h%3D963

huh, i kind of stopped obsessively taking photos of my work at a certain point and just make stuff now.

Which is probably why I forgot to order some mugs. Doh!

but here's one from that batch of small vases I made for my sis
http://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/945689_10201567486447994_1254171632_n.jpg

EZ, I'm thinking about making a few more mugs. You wanted a Totoro like the above?

i used to live with a ceramacist/potter and our house was full of pottery. the different glazes interested me a lot, esp the difference when they came out of the kiln c/w how they went in. he made a lot of stuff that was that minty green color that i see a lot of in this thread.

I'm debating now. You want to try a Buttercup from the Powerpuff Girls mug? Maybe a green & black color scheme, with her on the side? It'd be a cool present.

hm. green background with a carved buttercup huh. i could try?

i was gonna make a jake and finn mug with their heads popping up from the bottom. starting sketching

Nice! If you want to give the Buttercup cup a try I'd be honored.

ahma put it in the mental queue.

i've been playing with votive/tealight candleholders in the shape of heads, monsters, tiki types. Ceramic JackoLanterns of sorts. the first is still in the carving stage, the second is fired and hanging out.
http://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1622673_10203111096837289_304043893_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1/1618492_10203111103237449_1855005651_n.jpg

okay, i'm a little proud of how this guy is turning out.
http://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31/q85/s720x720/1911153_10203145383894444_2134917354_o.jpg

these are rad
http://neomexicanismos.tumblr.com/post/80645208888/iseo58-master-ceramic-artist-irma-garcia

ah me: http://neomexicanismos.tumblr.com/post/80645208888/iseo58-master-ceramic-artist-irma-garcia

Anyway, it's been awhile. I've fallen out of assiduously documenting this stuff but took a few photos last evening.
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t1.0-9/p600x600/1978871_10203496630515390_549230163_n.jpg%3Foh%3D61460cfef229d5710bd03e8ec12b83e1%26oe%3D53A53BBB
Playing with carving through slip.
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/p600x600/1622615_10203496630435388_1720816154_n.jpg
My first handbuilt joined piece. I gave this to a lady who lives down the hall who lives in an amazing sugarplum palace and I hope she loves it. I got a hug.
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/p600x600/1613948_10203496630355386_1840854613_n.jpg
Bowl that turned out better than I planned.
http://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/p600x600/10178088_10203496630995402_1667521791_n.jpg
One of three little brothers who guard the front door and hold down votive candles. This guy's based loosely on the Kodama from Princess Mononoke, hence the cockeyed stare.
http://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/p600x600/10153247_10203496631035403_2069493285_n.jpg
The finished grinning head that I call Claude.
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/p600x600/1173802_10203496631315410_769883922_n.jpg
My little volcano-headed tiki guy.
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/p600x600/1505474_10203496631515415_1751048264_n.jpg
I'm proud of the detail work on the inside of the tiki head... painted and sculpted teeth!
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/p600x600/1904017_10203496631675419_1726147229_n.jpg%3Foh%3Da2c9640f27a960b178aae4a0dad298e1%26oe%3D53B80852
Claude with candle lit.
http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/p600x600/1779927_10203496632035428_855801183_n.jpg
Tiki aflame.
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/p600x600/10176124_10203496631795422_615617173_n.jpg
BRRRROOOTHERS
/otter jugband xmas

Continued experimentation with small bowls to give away as gifts. I'm enjoying leaving the base raw so that the clay is tactile and pleasant to touch but smooth.

The current batch of small bowls (these average about two to three inches tall, 5 inches at the rim and 2 inches at the base) from my current practice; I have another ten of these due out of the kiln in the next two weeks and am aiming to make about twenty or twenty-five of them to give to friends and folks I'm getting to know. Next up should be practicing making handles for coffee cups, which I'm no good at. That'll be a good excuse to make more doofus-y cartoon cups and hopefully do a powerpuff gal for you as well EZ.

dang. stuff that got lost:
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/p600x600/1904017_10203496631675419_1726147229_n.jpg%3Foh%3Da2c9640f27a960b178aae4a0dad298e1%26oe%3D53B80852
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t1.0-9/p600x600/1978871_10203496630515390_549230163_n.jpg%3Foh%3D61460cfef229d5710bd03e8ec12b83e1%26oe%3D53A53BBB
http://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/p600x600/10169274_10203496632195432_95353910_n.jpg
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t1.0-9/1978871_10203496630515390_549230163_n.jpg%3Foh%3De8cdb51e7d5ea56318495747a8424785%26oe%3D53B48F87

aw fuggit.

last try:
http://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/1176304_10203496632435438_630499565_n.jpg
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t1.0-9/p600x600/1978871_10203496630515390_549230163_n.jpg%3Foh%3D61460cfef229d5710bd03e8ec12b83e1%26oe%3D53A53BBB
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/p600x600/1904017_10203496631675419_1726147229_n.jpg%3Foh%3Da2c9640f27a960b178aae4a0dad298e1%26oe%3D53B80852

use something like this, looks like FB has cooked outside refs

gracias, will in future.

i like those tiki dudes

i want to hear more about this sugarplum palace tbh

it's a little old octogenarian who lives on my floor and decorates the door of her apartment with an array of holiday and season-related flair. it's in regular rotation and always makes me smile. I was taking out my garbage when she poked her head out to add water to the plants that were part of that creche and i told her how much i liked her style. She's an ex nursery school teacher, still heavily made up with coiffed frost white hair even in a housecoat. Her door was open and the inside of her house was like a cake topping, everything was pink and spotless white. Super shag carpet and doilies and hummels and curio cabinets. She was like the kind witch from Hansel and Gretel only harmless. Love that lady.

aw, she sounds awesome

These came out great, Forks.

working on lil' animal headed vessels. not sure if this is twee or what but it's kinda fun to do the hand sculpting. this is the batch going into bisque firing.
http://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10296886_10203864040740416_8089789217590186825_n.jpg
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/12698_10203864075261279_473081432871628075_n.jpg
rat cup
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10372768_10203864075221278_8361757787635270348_n.jpg
rabbit bowl
http://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10262019_10203864075341281_1824690545270744094_n.jpg
still figuring what this guy is. pig maybe?

Zantee Misfit? Angry dog (boxer)? Satan?

Those look great!

well EZS, it only took four months but I just put your buttercupcup in the kilnkiln
http://i58.tinypic.com/2jfkeap.jpg
I'm gonna paint in the eyes and blouse green, put a clear glaze over the rest of the figure and then do the rest in a light blue. Whattayathink?

Woohoo! I'm stoked. That looks amazing.

i'll post here when it gets through glazing and we'll see if it's to yr taste

I'm sure it will be. Thank you sir!

and here's a few new pieces i got today including the finished and glazed animal head bowls/cups
http://oi58.tinypic.com/3343mgg.jpg
http://oi59.tinypic.com/2a7uazb.jpg
http://oi58.tinypic.com/ojld6s.jpg
http://oi60.tinypic.com/1585khv.jpg
http://oi59.tinypic.com/2hwgr5k.jpg

and three more headed into the kiln that took some work, including an octopus tentacle-handle mug, a pebbled coffee stein of sorts and a large spiral vase
http://oi61.tinypic.com/25k3ofr.jpg
http://oi60.tinypic.com/11lse93.jpg
http://oi59.tinypic.com/vwtqfn.jpg

i've been putting in an average of about ten hours a week for the past month on this stuff and did a six hour session today. feels good man

I'm really glad (even if no one else is) that I've been posting work in this thread for so long. It's helpful to see work I've done from two years ago to compare growth and recognize my improvement... working in a studio alongside professional art and production potters can be pretty intimidating so i need occasional reminders that I've been getting better at this. Also I've given away about ninety percent of the work in this thread and it's nice to have some reference record.

Finished product EZS, whattayathink? It's about 4 inches tall and wide with another two inches for the handle.
http://oi58.tinypic.com/2hwe8ls.jpg

here's some of the above in final form as well
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t1.0-9/10301197_10204092474531118_652020785924655137_n.jpg

pere ubu vase, take 1
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t1.0-9/10494763_10204092473531093_5846266093868315380_n.jpg
octopus cup
http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10383567_10204092475091132_2973197568011514983_n.jpg
large multicolor bowl, take 1
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10434319_10204092473491092_1221080131393685116_n.jpg%3Foh%3D22b366de86166123f4c7aa4017ad5b21%26oe%3D5421B4E3
large multicolor bowl, take 2
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t1.0-9/10500554_10204092473931103_5246288722034634907_n.jpg

second adventure time cup prior to firing in bisque; sides 1 and 2
http://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10462664_10204092472571069_5304818830302400407_n.jpg
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/l/t1.0-9/1907704_10204092472531068_7669547293418829786_n.jpg

Awesome! Drop me a line and let me know what I owe you.

You rock, forks.

just hitcha

http://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10488051_10204322352837932_1572263321138566657_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/p600x600/10547901_10204322352637927_3761645559276735306_o.jpg
http://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/p600x600/10506641_10204322351797906_1330826784983654814_o.jpg

Two Adventure Time cups, sides A and B there.

The aardvark cup is part of a much more involved piece of work that will likely keep me busy to the end of 2015 so I'll comment a bit more about what that's on later.

One cup, four sides and a bottom:
http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/p600x600/1890328_10204439074275895_5799307201093747763_o.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/p600x600/10535668_10204439074315896_3571923764244374329_o.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10606497_10204439074955912_805745917087272094_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dc6f235bc6e5cb18a8371798a8f8ec104%26oe%3D5462E79D%26__gda__%3D1417121271_dd793a0b415e59a1979eebfa2afcba84
http://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10603294_10204439075315921_1822406397865109456_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dedf689c8cea037e6d6ad0d35066c9ed6%26oe%3D5468A813%26__gda__%3D1416770668_8cf7347c17ed06b33e8e3cb0a77bf87f
http://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10565068_10204439075355922_2762826348732737735_n.jpg

eh, let's call it two sides then.

and here are some cats
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10561661_10204439075915936_7230053924515803832_n.jpg
http://https%3A//fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t1.0-9/10606152_10204439076155942_9043717387733482393_n.jpg

once more?
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10561661_10204439075915936_7230053924515803832_n.jpg
http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t1.0-9/10606152_10204439076155942_9043717387733482393_n.jpg

http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10561661_10204439075915936_7230053924515803832_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dbdea57ab5ac33829e4075a8aa151e778%26oe%3D547AE82D%26__gda__%3D1416957849_c90e085807cef561ac7965020ee5f6d7

okay, giving up

churned out about fifteen pieces in the past two months, including this sizable incised bowl. Kinda proud of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk3d8-pwRTs

i've gotten into doing some incised porcelain and hand building. Here's a bunch more stuff headed into the kiln for a bisque fire.
http://i.imgur.com/ged8HMw.jpg

a first take on an insect for a more complex animal cup project:
http://i.imgur.com/yHhDYFj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/sQnIIxD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hKiukNa.jpg

a pair of incised bowls
http://i.imgur.com/Niq1yJ8.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/kEqzR86.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ne7J3q6.jpg

some vases i've been working on
http://i.imgur.com/2QkUN5s.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MHiH6Fs.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tgBGJL7.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uaStoOD.jpg

Are the vases made by dipping them in slip and then scraping the patterns in when it's dry?

nice work!

thanks!
yeah, with all those I take raw clay, dip it in porcelain slip and then sgrafitto with loop tools and needles
the vase is in quarters: crosses, grey matter, chain links and keith haring homage

Still planning on posting my ~30 year old ceramics pieces.

continuing to explore personal style; this is a halfway done cubist influenced piece depicting a vulture feeding a fledgling on a mountaintop

http://40.media.tumblr.com/e8949d872aeabf65eaacf5462297c8b1/tumblr_nm00vlfkV81qzyx8yo1_540.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/83ebf4c2f29b02455f842bd7c5caa5ae/tumblr_nm00hlr6541qzyx8yo2_540.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/5486140c5d6333535ab28b2e1322789b/tumblr_nm00hlr6541qzyx8yo3_540.jpg

Kinda proud of this turtle urn... going into the kiln next week when it dries out a bit.
http://36.media.tumblr.com/2f0347aa70cda080a8b0eca2addcecfa/tumblr_nn14fktmBi1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/0dd0d90a70136391d2ffc5f83466fb19/tumblr_nn14fyUeoM1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/c2ca851579e617c1e4cf5e0dfc27f356/tumblr_nn14gbGWyk1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg
http://40.media.tumblr.com/f832bfc0e16b3ed2010dcb106591d351/tumblr_nn14gnMVft1qzyx8yo1_1280.jpg

so this is a brit thing now huh?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06nwm8g/the-great-pottery-throw-down-episode-1
any suggestions of how to watch this? I suppose I'll learn vpn now.

oh attic shape

you're freakishly good at this

"attic shape"?

oh, keats. thanks! I'm trying to get better.

This is the most recent thing worth noting that I've made; painting literally thousands of tiny effervescent bubbles in porcelain on the exterior of this bowl drove me half fucking crazy but it came out nice. With apple for scale.

http://i.imgur.com/Vy7AKki.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/xWxsEZw.jpg

i gotta cop to having compulsively watched this; it's sorta like seeing every potter in every studio everywhere. Very standard types.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC1vPxmx9nc

Anyways, this is the latest thing I've invested a fair amount of effort in.

https://youtu.be/paRBnr3fPZ0

ah, goddammit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paRBnr3fPZ0

rather proud that i got the pattern on the top and on the lid to be one contiguous path apiece.

dang yo
http://cfileonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/32-julian-bond-ceramic-design.jpg
https://cfileonline.org/julian-f-bond-ceramic-design-2/

yowza
https://vimeo.com/61130398

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIKyIjz_hhk

This material can not be other than soil. The project focuses on the natural properties of soil. Earth, or Soil, as a construction material has been used since Neolithic times. The advantages of an earth – soil structure are primarily related to both the environment and economy, being secure and friendly to our environment. Soil also offers the benefits of natural insulation, fire protection, air circulation, low first cost, 100% recyclable structures, stiffness, great strength, thermal flywheel effect, low greenhouse emissions, regulating the climate and providing a healthy Indoor environment.

Some new work finished and in progress:

http://i.imgur.com/XfY4SK9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/iac4hO3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/w0ChRpH.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2I8tECn.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gJRRBt5.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6sSkak9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/z1jNc0m.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fmhr2zY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/W96VtDl.jpg
the latter being a take on this:
http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/463595

my girlfriend's mom asked for something with a moose on it, so I made this for her:
side a
http://i.imgur.com/66lFwHQ.jpg
side b
http://i.imgur.com/FAPQ8Vh.jpg

dope

i've had something of a breakthrough in my trimming technique that's allowed me to make much lighter bowls. These are the things that make me happy.
Just spent six hours at the studio detailing some recent stuff. Here's the most recent batch, including my first paid requisition: the hash mark bowl in the back there. I also made a little "DRINK ME" vial as a gift for my gf's sister's kid. you can also put your weed in there.
http://i.imgur.com/fBVzQs0.jpg
this thing took me almost two hours to carve; I purposely left a lot of thickness on the body and then traced out a freehand flowing abstract pattern, then carved it out in relief and gave the raised portion a light drybrushing with porcelain. It looks a lot cooler in person
http://i.imgur.com/c4olSGR.jpg
The pangolin pattern, the ripple pattern and hashmark pattern are all things I've gotten practiced and better at over time. The big ears cup is a first time thing.
http://i.imgur.com/1G9zk5S.jpg

an art brut freeform vase
http://i.imgur.com/mLSoq6X.jpg
a more rigorously designed and executed vase with top; this thing was a bitch to build and I'm pleased with the way the glaze interacted with the meticulous detail work I put on.
http://i.imgur.com/Vb8jWxG.jpg
a few shot glasses and a lil' tiki guy (you can put a votive candle in back and light him up)
http://i.imgur.com/N5AqRMy.jpg

(here's what that vase looked like before glazing... doing this shit takes forever btw)
http://i.imgur.com/90LvYb2.jpg

Omg those vases are incredible! What type of glaze did you use on the second one?

I wish I had access to pottery equipment now. Growing up, my mum was always making stuff and we had a little kiln in the kitchen that would make the house unliveabley hot in the summer.

thanks; it's a mix of glazes on the "circles" vase, blue base and an accent to get the runniness. I wish it had been more translucent to keep the detail but you gotta deal with what they give ya.

https://cfileonline.org/oddity-aganetha-dyck-coaxes-bees-to-mend-broken-ceramics-contemporary-ceramic-art-cfile/

http://cfileonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2-oddity-aganetha-dyck-contemporary-ceramic-art-cfile.jpg

o hi ilx i made you a mug

http://i.imgur.com/n4tBL1O.jpg

haven't checked this thread in a while, your evolution is cool to see!

i think like three years ago i asked if you could make things with lids, clearly you are doing that now.

lol, yes. i know this thread may seem bloggy and self obsessed but i really wanted a place i could share, as you put it, "my evolution".
i'm fully intending to keep doing this until I die. Hopefully i will get better!

so are you taking commissions now? i still want a thing.

describe this thing in twenty words or less.

(also, as long as you're encouraging me)
http://i.imgur.com/TccsxSt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ok9cCqA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2Qxjd3T.jpg

describe this thing in twenty words or less.

― thrusted pelvis-first back (ulysses), Thursday, September 1, 2016 11:50 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

a shallow dish (say 4.5" diameter, 1"-1.5" tall) with a lid that would be used to salt glass rims for making margaritas

cool. describe the decoration in twenty words or less?

whatever you like! go nuts.

hm. okay! give me a month or so. i will post here when i'm done

awesome!

No sombrero though!

aw

Six hours at the studio last night doing detail work before putting this in the kiln.

I will work on yr salt dish and a few other things shortly... would welcome other requests? I find doing requested work challenging and interesting; gives me the opportunity to learn new skills and test others.

Sorry if huge:

http://i.imgur.com/w4dA1Mq.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/m2jQFtK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8NC03QW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CUCDC65.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1znFXU3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Oh91zWJ.jpg

nice work!

thanks!

here's what happened:

http://i.imgur.com/SQXyACkg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lbyCAXr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1tNl6f8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/nKAHkCs.jpg

^last one is what these look like if you see them from the back

http://i.imgur.com/gMSFkHn.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8NV0rca.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tXvxTJ7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/exJoDYt.jpg

still waiting on the mouth cup to come out. I owe you a salting plate. getting there.

new cups in progress

http://i.imgur.com/6u1gcs3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0DsPAxF.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Fq0jLPx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/zcRoYa2.jpg

gotta ask why do you always make these giant handles

just something I'm experimenting with these two or three batches; interested in the trickiness of expanding the surface design to the handle.
also it all shrinks in the kiln so it makes sense to make everything larger than you would think in the throwing.

now with hand painted glazes; jesus christ, this took me twelve hours. seriously. It might not work. I'll find out next week.

http://i.imgur.com/5jhwZpm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CzsChaV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/QClL4sX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7dsk2TE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ti4lHQX.jpg

wine glass for my boo

http://i.imgur.com/0XVs5w0.jpg

Not gonna front, I'm proud of how these turned out.

http://i.imgur.com/BjYxhNS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4QQ5twA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/nloaISl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Vcq3J1R.jpg

thumbs up

three new cups done on consignment as wedding gifts for a friend

http://i.imgur.com/0rYNnfK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9CrObYa.jpg

cad, I'm afraid that salt bowl is gonna have to wait; i'm gonna try a piece of political art that may take a month or two. Will report back.

no prob, i'll be around

i mean
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNqHvIIgpC-/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNqHvIIgpC-/

weird. alright:
https://vimeo.com/94667191

https://vimeo.com/195532231

and since I'm here I might as well share some recent work in progress. These are all not yet bisqued.

http://i.imgur.com/9b8hH6k.jpg

^ mostly done interior of a platter/bowl

http://i.imgur.com/pmsr2Hz.jpg

^ small vase

and then these two are my first attempts at making trump vases. it's harder than i thought; think i'll be working on this for awhile.

http://i.imgur.com/XXajm60.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5xJ7LSM.jpg

Forks, there's a new series of The Great Pottery Throwdown on the BBC. A really good group this year. If you can't find it then send me a private message if you can torrent.

Love that platter!

the city plate = super dope

thanks! I am still finishing the painting on the plate... it's probably thirty hours of work.
Trumps came out glazed. will post images later.

http://i.imgur.com/ltFrXQU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/iN5pU6h.jpg

^ Trump 1: slight profile and rear.

http://i.imgur.com/3pyu3av.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7UTOhAA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6wvaW8E.jpg

^ Trump 2: front (i kinda like the face cracking), profile and rear.
The quote is from Lincoln: "If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a ntaion of freemen, we must live through all time or die by suicide."

http://i.imgur.com/KrYSbgx.jpg

^ Abstract synapse vase

http://i.imgur.com/47LYydd.jpg

Definitely the most complex thing I've made yet. About thirteen or so inches in diameter. Created by throwing the bowl, coating the interior in white slip, carving the design into the slip, firing the bowl, then delicately painting every surface with glaze. Took a good two or three months; probably about thirty hours or so. Made this for a fellow ilxor and good friend. Will likely try more in this vein in the year ahead.

Some detail shots:

http://i.imgur.com/5FhJBV5.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ibiRF5h.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/luMijbu.jpg

damn man

and here's a new trump vase + carved cup in progress

http://i.imgur.com/xcMwrkz.jpg

Incredible

lol, the current episode of pottery throwdown featured a toilet creation challenge

http://i.imgur.com/MGUpIWf.jpg

was in the studio from noon to midnight today.
so here's a thing i figured out: any potter who's made a few pieces knows that when glazes touch each other, there's often a chemical reaction and they run, mix, bubble... something goes down. because of that, people use underglazes, which are essentially paint that works on ceramic, followed by a clear glaze on top. the problem with underglazes is that they're a bit dull, so to get them to show up sharp, you have to put them on three or four coats. because of this, little fiddly work is not fun or sometimes even possible with underglazes if you want the colors to pop. so i started experimenting with painting glazes directly on to the pottery... the bowl up top is the result of that experimentation. what i discovered was the only thing that causes unplanned issues is when the glazes come into contact with each other. so you can do RIDICULOUSLY fiddly work with tiny details as long as you make sure the glazes never touch. So I figured I'd try something in that vein that was a little less work intense that I might be able to quickly replicate, maybe even sell if it turned out to be fast to make.

So here's this:

http://i.imgur.com/jyTvRKU.jpg

The throwing takes maybe a half hour start to finish, the carving takes an hour... i had hoped that the glazing would only take two hours but SURPRISE, when you have to do the painting that small (that bowl is big enough to hold a decent size grapefruit but that's it) and to be meticulous about the glazes never touching, it takes somewhere between six to eight hours. so that's a seven to ten hour bowl when all's said and done, probably would need about $200 as a price tag to make it reasonable to sell. And that's assuming it actually comes out okay! I have two or three more in the works with different patterns.
Exploration continues.

http://i.imgur.com/4kpywx9.jpg
http://imgur.com/FOdESIj
http://i.imgur.com/rzXXIjn.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0s4wytX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ZJDNYrU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ieudSP9.jpg

back of the new trump pot
http://i.imgur.com/FOdESIj.jpg

these take forever but they are really delectable when they're done.

http://i.imgur.com/mqsIf4W.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EF1NZmU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yeac4Iz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sdWOS1L.jpg

exploring different ways to do them more efficiently. working on another more complex interior bowl design (though the clay may be too dry for me to do this and I may just need to start over with a fresh piece) and a potential collaborative piece with another potter in the studio.

really really enjoying this work right now; would do this all day every day if someone would just pay me to do it. next lifetime.

New bowl based on a subway experience: "Kid Universe on the F"

http://i.imgur.com/lhuwqDX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/E4ty11d.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/f5geKs3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VRFcyLP.jpg

ken price vibes

did not know the guy, but liking what i'm seeing online! thanks for the compliment!

you're welcome, your pottery is making me feel like I want to sign up for a couple of classes and fill my flat with hot pink memphis milano knockoffs

my local deli guy makes a crazy good meatball sub and I promised him i would make him something so i channelled r crumb

http://i.imgur.com/PMaPdIM.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ziRWEU5g.jpg

yes!!

last night
https://www.instagram.com/p/BT8Fa6FF-jx/
i'm afraid i might just become a potter or something and quit everything else. being in the studio and carving for five hours straight feels deeply meditative, if a bit crampy. this shit brings out my zen.

kinda having fun with this
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUYA-QGFdE_/

i just saw some early work from yayoi kusama (specifically the infinity nets) and it broke my mind. OCD based fine art! It's out there!

anyways, here's some recent work and collaborations:

http://i.imgur.com/bAtR5xh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e3T92rZ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Y6YSFDP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/T3YVXwi.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KZMrhLO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3ca7WQw.jpg

http://imgur.com/C3i25cf
http://imgur.com/XDlrTAg

whoops
http://i.imgur.com/XDlrTAg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/C3i25cf.jpg

Love these, forks, especially the pot with the cut outs.

Would like to see more of the one with the legs. I can only see one pic ATM.

one with the legs has moved on with someone else. that house got finished though I haven't gotten around to photographing as of yet.

some immediate work:

http://i.imgur.com/S0IPPf4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BiPYVwb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/i0Mfmxb.jpg

here's some poorly filmed iphone video for you as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJdPzcJrP8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-_MWmbtVU4

and this, which was a monster to do:

http://i.imgur.com/TAPW0xK.jpg

Plenty of other work too! I just reached a point where I'm just posting to insta moreso than anything else with this stuff.

Over the past year, I got a bit more serious about this and - for the past two months - started a three-day-a-week studio practice. I've also been doing a lot of collaborative work. Kinda feels like I've made some breakthroughs so I'm likely gonna start sharing here again.

This is a collaborative vase (me on carving and glaze, her on form) with my friend Joan H.
http://i.imgur.com/Zl4hMW2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YC1o1BF.png
bowl currently in progress

buddy of mine came by and took some pix of my stuff both old and new . here's a few.

http://imgur.com/syAnBej.jpg
http://imgur.com/B3OCYmY.jpg
http://imgur.com/nBamasw.jpg
http://imgur.com/LFSFfjF.jpg
http://imgur.com/iMzdS9l.jpg

some recent work; form by two different friends, decorative work by me.

Carving a kiln god into the vase. This one is going in for a glaze firing and will look much different when it's out of the fire, will repost later.
http://i.imgur.com/11G4n3d.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/i54yKjG.jpg

Coil-built double vase, still green. I have some ideas for glazing that are going to take some time.
http://i.imgur.com/dbUMelo.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JxxvmUZ.jpg

I don't throw pots but worked in a pottery studio until covid. Most of my favorite pieces were slabs and pinch pots that the kids' classes frankensteined together.

Some very creative stuff itt

Ulysses, that first one is especially amazing. I would love a tokkuri that looked like that.

I’ve never really considered ceramics before, but my online sake nerd group has expanded beyond virtual visits to breweries to virtual visits to Japanese potters and it’s absolutely fascinating. I really want to go and see one of these immense wood fired tunnel kilns being fired.

a sake bottle spirit sounds like a fun project!
i don't hand build much so i like to work with people who do (that second piece) and with folks who get shapes and sizes that are harder for me to achieve (the first). i enjoy the creative conversation through work a lot.

re: immense tunnel kilns - there's an amazing example of an anagama kiln in this special... totally inspiring and worth a watch.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7nvcwu

deflator did you work for a school group or something? watching kids create with clay is endlessly fascinating.

It was a neighborhood pottery studio that offered classes both for kids and adults. It was mostly older and elderly women, especially during open studio hours. They've been slow to reopen for the obvious reasons.

As a generalization, the kids are very into the process and want to enjoy it but don't necessarily care about the outcome. The pieces they handbuilt were way more interesting than the ones they threw on the wheel usually. I loved watching them work so much that I came by on my days off just to hang out. I even tried to make stuff that looked like what they did a few times.

My parents live near this guy in Eastern PA who studied in Mashiko, Japan for a number of years. He built his own very large wood-fired kiln that is similar to what is in your link. He only fires a couple of times a year because has to stay up for like 3-4 days straight to keep the fire going. He also uses mostly local clays and materials for his glazes.

Xp I have photos of some favorite pieces but i'd have to really dig. I think my all time favorite was this rudiculous slab urn with enormous handles made by one of the oldest kids (12 or 13 yo) that looked like a trophy. It was a very rough piece and I took it for the work of a much younger child until one of my co-workers told me which kid was responsible.

that singleton guy's work is pretty nice! I respect anyone who gets into the process in such a way that they make their own glazes, source their own clay, build their own kiln... that shit is ridiculously impressive and difficult! I am less motivated by specific colors and harmonious forms and more into the manic/obsessive decorative process. Mostly, i feel like i'm making easels to draw on.

making "interesting" wheel built pieces takes such a long time. Centering and lifting the clay and trimming is time-consuming and requires practice and even then you're limited by the symmetry and your willingness to alter afterward. For kids, i find wheel work is generally more about them discovering if they can maintain the focus and patience necessary to get the basic chops. either way it's super fun to watch them connect with the medium.

Yeah, I love the decorative patterning on your pieces - it's distinctive. Also, it is really amazing to see the progression in your work from the start of the thread until now. I hope you are very proud!

I'm curious how that first piece in this revive is going to change in the kiln.

Thanks for the kind words! I'm excited that i have a medium to work with that allows me to be creative and present a vision that feels very much like it's mine.

Will start posting work in here more often. I have no job! Might as well focus on clay for a few months until i know that it's time to look for a new life.

I'm always impressed by your stuff, forks. I got to do some making/glazing with my mum last year (including a raku firing, yesssss) - I very much did not inherit any talent for it, but it was still fun.

boy i'd like to try raku sometime. share pix of your stuff? i'm curious.

I love Raku stuff, I think I can trace back my (fairly new) interest in ceramic art to a trip a couple of years ago to the Sagawa Art museum near Kyoto. They have a pretty extensive collection of tea bowls by the fifteenth Raku presented in this really atmospheric underground vault, underneath a tea room the he also designed. I recently saw something in an auctions catalogue by the 10th Raku which was even more breathtaking. However its only recently I've been starting to appreciate the art form more and there is some truly amazing stuff in this thread.

I'm getting really excited by the wood firing and ash glazing stuff I've been seeing recently. Its; such an interesting way of working, there's so much that is a mixture of experience and chance.

Super excited to see how your kiln god turns out.

Thanks! Here's a few other pieces I've done relatively recently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIkhKDaLHU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-ic1hsuUVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfuiR1E5Z5A

The first two are completely finished. The head jug was just fooling around and promptly discarded but it made for a fun afternoon of play.

and here's a few views of a piece i made as part of a set in collaboration with a friend who was making replicas of ancient pigeon figurines that I dressed up in different suits. Lemme know if you're curious about the other five or so i did with her?
http://i.imgur.com/dPRq02v.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qKjbeZO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ZJGtNvi.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Va26hkF.jpg

anyways i have plenty more pieces i could put up here but i guess one more will do for now.
This was very intentionally Haring inspired and done in collaboration with the same guy who did the coil built double vase above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7x834dCjsk

share pix of your stuff? i'm curious.

Oh lord no, I only did a few sessions and they were all just the basics of different practices (pinch pot, wheel and glazing), so my results were very much of an embarrassing first-timer. I used my mum's pots to glaze for the raku firing and I was kind of pleased with some of the expressionist daubing I did, but even that still wasn't great!

i love seeing first time results! and if you scroll to the top of this thread, you'll see piles of mine! It's useful to share and keep; that's how ideas get around.

I love that bowl and the alien apple, your carved stuff is truly amazing.

Right now I am obsessing over this style of natural glazing, this green glass over white clay is really striking

http://japaneseceramicart.com/shopdetail/000000001209/yui_tsujimura/page1/order/
https://www.yui-tsujimura.com/about

I'm really growing in an appreciation for ceramics as an art form. Like a lot of the art I like there is a really interesting intersection between art, craft, deep knowledge of the materials, engineering, artifice and science, plus some degree of magic when you don't quite know how something will transform when it is fired.

Yeah, the weird thing about pottery compared to painting or sculpture is that element: almost like baking bread, you don't truly know how a piece will turn out until it comes out of the oven/kiln.

I think that is what excites me about the big tunnel kilns, 6 month or a year throwing pots, weeks of loading, choosing spots in the kiln, days and nights of firing, weeks of cooling and unloading and only then do you know if your tea bowl is a masterpiece or a heap of fragments.