Vase

This is version 1 of the secret 'Project Vase'! The photo shows it prior to bisque firing, looking a little squatter than I'd hoped. It was constructed in two parts; the base, thrown as a lump and then carved down to the shape you see here and the top which was thrown up-side-down and a conical form, then closed and finally turned to create the opening at the top. The two were then joined with slip and some final smoothing to give the impression of a one-piece vase.

Et violas!

The finished, glazed vase photo will follow shortly.

Ceramics

Bit late on the blog for this, but Tuesday was my first open access at South Hill Park, on top of the course I'm doing on Thursdays. I couldn't wait seven days to get my hands on some clay! The photos below are of the pieces I'm currently working on that were thrown last week.

My first foray into terracotta, which is lovely to work with, but not as stable as Stoneware as there's no grog in it....and the red stuff gets everywhere as I'm a messy beginner. Two pots, turned and ready for biscuit firing.

The following pics show four items thrown on Tuesday evening. I have had a request for a pot from my mum, so this chap should do the trick.

And this one will probably end up in the house somewhere. Fruit bowl anyone?

I've been putting it off, but Tuesday night saw my first attempt at throwing porcelain. It's a bit like working with wet plasticine and gives a beautifully smooth finish. Another pot. I seem to being doing nothing but pots!

So I tried something a little different, a bottle. It started off as a large mug, but it collapsed as I went too high and too thin. So with what was left, this little chap appeared out of the clay. Think I might keep the wobbly top as it offsets the hard lines of the body.

Tonight is the course again and I will attempt to turn the vase I'm making for my wife. A surprise, so it will only appear on here when it's finished and in her hands. Besides, plenty could go wrong tonight!