Shallow-Dish
Finger markings and glaze combinations
Date: 03/03/2009
First of all, I don't make plates and anybody that does deserves a lot of money for doing them. I do, however like to flatten out the bottoms of some of my larger bowls until the become more like platters. This one is not very big, as you can see in the picture.
The glaze is a combination of two of my standard glazes. This batch of firings had a lot of iron earthen colors in it.
The glaze is a combination of two of my standard glazes. This batch of firings had a lot of iron earthen colors in it.
3.2.09.bowl.1
standard bowl, richness or transparency in glaze, mark in wet clay
Date: 03/03/2009
One shape I've been getting good reports on is the use of a slightly curved-in lip. This allows for "scooping up" to complete consumption of bowl contents. This is best for meals like cereal, soups, chili, ice cream and deserts. Things you want to get to the last drop. However, you cannot pour liquids out of this bowl without making a big mess. Not so good for dry or bulky storage; not easy to balance limes or tomatoes on the rim, etc.
This bowl shows double glaze coating of BBB and VB (explain later). The VB causes the BBB to become more transparent and it is this combination I play with to get multiple variations on brown gold and earthen greens. On dark clay it becomes almost black with blue streaking (see other samples).
Oh yeah, there's a small dimple in this pictured side of the bowl that was made in the wet clay by accident but does not affect the functioning and in some cases may be a desirable flaw that verifies the "hand-made" quality.
Oh, I make dip and salsa bowls this shape but heavier.
This bowl shows double glaze coating of BBB and VB (explain later). The VB causes the BBB to become more transparent and it is this combination I play with to get multiple variations on brown gold and earthen greens. On dark clay it becomes almost black with blue streaking (see other samples).
Oh yeah, there's a small dimple in this pictured side of the bowl that was made in the wet clay by accident but does not affect the functioning and in some cases may be a desirable flaw that verifies the "hand-made" quality.
Oh, I make dip and salsa bowls this shape but heavier.
Pleasant but FlawedBowl
Date: 03/03/2009
I'll be trying to get better at these small bowls. We like to use them for condiments and rich sauces. I like to use them for dried peas or seeds. Not good for ice-cream unless you're trying to make it look like a bigger proportion.
In this picture, I am trying to also show you the small clay pit (is glazed fully, not a bubble) which flaws my efforts to get a smooth surfaced small bowl. Also, the rim is thin which allows the glaze to pull away in the heat and is slightly rougher than the satin smooth glaze. I'll keep working however this is actually a very nice bowl and won't be cheap if someone is interested in buying. As I make more and get better, the price will go down.
In this picture, I am trying to also show you the small clay pit (is glazed fully, not a bubble) which flaws my efforts to get a smooth surfaced small bowl. Also, the rim is thin which allows the glaze to pull away in the heat and is slightly rougher than the satin smooth glaze. I'll keep working however this is actually a very nice bowl and won't be cheap if someone is interested in buying. As I make more and get better, the price will go down.
flaw-sample-2
bubbling in thin BBB glaze
Date: 03/03/2009
Beer-Bottle Brown (thanks Esa!) is a 50-50 glaze that has a high percentage of iron in it. With one coat, it looks real cool but sometimes produces these little bubbles in it. Usually just one or two, somewhere, never know where, I can re-glaze it and it will smooth out beautifully, but you loose some of the rich brown. So sometimes I will leave the little bubble in the glaze as long as it is not inside the pot, so the colors and richness are not lost.
Eh? . . . handmade, again.
Eh? . . . handmade, again.
chili-bowl.1
Date: 03/03/2009
Several of these bowls have been sold too, but I plan to make more next fall. Several folks have asked for some even larger, so, I'll do that too. Check back in the Fall.
iron-glaze-mug
Date: 03/07/2009
This very nice mug was a gift to Mark and his wife for all his help on making my site a cool one. Thanks Mark. This mug shows a double dipped and fired BBB glaze and I plan to make more like it. It may get hot in the micro with all the iron in it. Also, I plan to make some black iron oxide glazes just to try them out; thanks to Tim and Sean at good ol' RHS.