Ceramics

Another night of practicing throwing, something that I'm slowly getting the hang of! I recently bought a sample pack of black clay, which is strangely deep red in colour before firing, and threw a larger version of a little porcelain bottle I made a few weeks back. It's got a tonne of grog in it and so became somewhat painful to work with. Here's the result.

I'm keeping the lip ragged as the original one followed along the same lines. I am thinking however, of taking away some of the clay around the opening as it's looking a little top heavy.

The same night I turned an urn thrown the previous week. You can also see my new initials stamped into the side at the bottom. This was done by using letterpress type from an old Adana press. I'm thinking of using the same method to sign my prints.

And finally, the starting point for a new house number plate for my parents-in-law to adorn their new porch. It's way too dished at the moment so I'll flatten it slightly and then cut the numbers out of the clay. More photos to come.

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!