Spring Semester

I made a whole bunch of cups earlier this semester, but hadn't glaze fired them until last week. When I opened the kiln, my whiteish glaze hadn't melted fully. Bummer right? So I refired a few in our brand new test kiln to cone 7, and got the results I was hoping for! (Luckily... and being sneaky about it as we're not supposed to fire hotter than cone 6) I've been doing a lot of either inlaid underglaze decoration or, as shown here, underglaze decoration on the surface of the piece after the bisque. I do it all free hand... I like the undulating line quality and free spirit each line brings to the overall pattern. It's so much more interesting than if each were perfect and identical to all the rest. Here are some of the best aka the ones I like most.


Okay, they're not cups... but they are kick ass platters I made last semester. They cracked a lot around the sides, and if it hadn't been for one of the grads here, they would have gone in the dumpster a long time ago. I finally finished them off with some underglaze decoration and a clear coat, and presto, beautiful platters. (But still with massive cracks... which you can see on the bottom of the left platter)

This is a darker clay body than I've typically used... one of Kirk's suggestions. I'm not sure it's exactly what I want, but it's fine for now. The whiteish glaze is a lot murkier on the darker body than the lighter, not something I'm keen on.

A little cuppy with a big crown. When I figure out what the symbolism is, I'll let you know. Also just a note; the rest of the cups in this post are with the lighter clay body.

I love this pattern on this shape because it gives it a corset-like feel. I also love the way the glaze pulls the underglaze and red glaze downward. Simply amazing.

This cup went to my glass TA because she's been so awesome helping me learn how to blow glass. I love the way that the dark glaze mimics the underglaze when it flows. It's nearly the same color when it's thin. And again, love the corset-like abilities this pattern has when it's stretched over the form.


Love, from Kent, OH.

EDIT:
Squash is a strong word... He just wanted me to switch things up a bit, which I thought about for awhile. Then I continued to make what I wanted to make. I think he's coming around, as in not fighting me on it for now. I can't NOT make pots. It's what I do, what I feel like i need to do.

As for glass... I'm just learning! And we only just learned how to add color last week. I don't want to be prejudice, but clear glass isn't much to look at most of the time. I'm having fun with it though, and also taking intermediate blowing next semester (if my hockey schedule permits it).