Open Sesame...

WHEW! The kiln load of sgraffito fired beautifully. The underglaze colors really popped –I was happily surprised, especially with the red and yellow. Very fun and vivid. I know I shouldn’t be so doubtful, but I’m one impatient artist, especially for EVERY phase of working in clay. The hardest part is waiting for the kiln to properly cool before I pop the top. Which I did, I actually waited until my controller said it was below 150 degrees –I think that’s a waiting record for me. On several of the sgraffito trays I used highly textured borders that I may or may not have attached very well –but it turns out I did attach them well and when I slab rolled the clay, I may or may not have wedged it properly or long enough –but it turns out I did. No explosions or breakage yet… Up next is my most UNfavorite part –glazing –arrrggh. I’m using a Amaco Clear Matte ^04 which unfortunately needs to be brushed on as I don’t have enough for dipping –dipping seems like my kind of glazing!

Oh well. The goal of trying the higher fire clays and glazes will be buying bulk glaze and putting it in DIPABLE 5 gallon buckets. Keeping with the mood of patience my mantra will be; “I will apply three coats as the instructions recommend, I will apply three coats, I will apply three coats, AND LET EACH COAT DRY BEFORE THE NEXT COAT IS APPLIED… O o ohhhmmm!

Mixed Use Areas

Bringing clay into my studio has meant a lot of additional and varied types of clean-up. Mixing my mediums between clay and metal has meant mixing up my production schedule, work areas and tool use. I don't have the hang of it yet. I was so excited to glaze the new "Woobie Souls" but couldn't because my main work table was covered in other pieces in various stages of production. I had pieces that were getting finish patinas, wired and tagged. Earlier the table was my packaging and shipping station, then cleaned up and loaded with bisque items waiting to glazed. But before I could glaze I had more finishing to do on some wall sculptures that were due to a Gallery, so the bisque went back to the clay shelves...and so it goes. I haven't even brought any of the large steel wall sculptures in from the shop to get their enamel finishes yet because I want to do some slab work and I have clay everywhere...

Heating Up

No volcano eruption yet but things were hot in the Shop! With the radio frequency issue resolved (thank you Jay!) on my digital kiln controller, I was able to have a successful bisque firing -yeah! I unloaded some of my "Woobie Souls" that I have pictured. I'm not sure how I am going to glaze them but I did get a new set of Majolica glazes in...hmmmmm, so many artful possibilities. I'm still experimenting with various facial features and different heights of each sculpture. I enjoy making them because it's soothing creating individual face details then being able to wrap each one in it's own comforting blanket.

My Private Octogon Ocean

At 21 below zero I was better prepared for the extreme cold and had a warm kiln day! The metal work is going to have to wait until it is at least a balmy 10 above or even zero degrees. It is just way to miserable wearing my respirator and fogging my eye protection with my own breath or having my nose run inside of my welding helmet.

The bisque load I so patiently waited for turned out beautiful. Whew! My New Year’s goal of seeking “Nature’s patience” paid off. I was so tempted to lift the lid of the kiln early and take a peek, but I forced myself back into the studio to make some more fish and clay Shine-a-rellas that are now on the drying racks. The pictures are of the clay sea scape tiles with some of my Nature elements in the background. When I got to the last shelf, the fish looked like my private octagon ocean. The rough scriffito technique on the fish pair was my first attempt. I love the look but the sound and feeling of the marking through the glaze is uncomfortable for me to feel and hear…not sure what I’m going to do about that. One of the first pieces I formed was “Tired Old Moon.” I’m not sure how I am going to finish him but I’m so glad he survived the firing. There are several test tiles that I want to experiment with before I decide how to finish Mr. Moon.