rewind

Now that I'm not in a rush to get things ready for a show maybe I can go back and talk a little about the process that went into some of the pieces.  Most of what I made for the show were forms I've never tried before.  Some of the surface treatments were new for me also.  Hey, why not up the stress level by experimenting?  One of the materials I tried out with very little testing was a couple of variations on a slip that is wonderfully versatile.  It can be applied to greenware, bisque, and even over glaze. It does not rub off easily, so handling the piece after applying the slip will not result in smears.  It can be applied like paint so that it is opaque, or thinned to use as a wash. Maybe you clay people out there already know all about it, but if not, and if you're interested, here is the recipe-

George's Black Drawing Slip

Kaolin (EPK) 64.2
Gerstley Borate 13.4
Black Mason (#6600) 22.3

I use it at cone 6, but the recipe states it can be use at 04-6.  Like I said, very versatile, and I've used it for a few years.  When I wanted to try the animal heads and was mulling over how I was going to get the colors I wanted I figured why not use the same recipe with other Mason Stains?

It's not difficult to come up with browns.  Iron oxide is a very common material to the potter.  Mix it with water for a wash, throw into your clay slip, use it in an engobe, but to come up with the shades of golden browns I wanted without a lot of  time-consuming tests was another story.  Paint was briefly considered as an option.  But, I sometimes sell knob hangers which I suggest can be used to hang pendants, scarves...etc.  I was thinking of suggesting that the animal heads could be used, like the knob hangers, to display favorite necklaces, in which case a fired-on pigment would offer durability that paint could not match.

I mixed up two batches subbing 20 grams of 6107 (dark golden brown) in place of the black in one, and 20 grams 6190 (deep brown), likewise in place of black, for the other.  I thought that I could probably use a little less than the black since getting a black may require more density.  I did some mixing and overlapping with these slips, and added more water where I wanted a lighter pigment.  I also used some of my usuals- white slip applied when the pieces were in the greenware state, and some iron oxide wash rubbed into texture after they were bisqued.  I will say that unless the Drawing Slip is watered down it will overpower the Fe wash.  Though the Drawing Slip may be used on  greenware as well as bisque, I only used it after the pieces were bisque fired as the bisque allows for better absorption.

Well, that's about it.  These heads were left unglazed.  My other pieces in the show were glazed.  I mostly used glazes I already had but ventured into some new layering combinations I will not go into here, since I'm getting a bit lengthy as it is.

One more thing...The piece shown here was sold the night of the opening to a very nice couple who were buying it as a gift.  They described to me how it would go with the recipient's  home.  They were happy, and it's going to someone who will appreciate it. Nice to hear.

random thoughts about the show

I'm in show recovery mode today.  Having not been outside for two days, I got in a nice long walk, then caught up with some mundane things that got left behind last week in the show preparation craze.  Wouldn't be such a big deal if I did shows regularily, but this is the first I've participated in for a long time. 

I've got some pictures of the set-up, though I did change a few things the second day.  That loading pallet I used to display the knob wall hangers was bugging me because it walled me off too much from the customers so I took it down. The wall hangers all sold. Nobody bought the little hanging bottle vases, though.  I figured at least one customer that bought a wall hanger would want one to use with it.

 

The pumpkins almost sold out Saturday.  Several customers bought two or three at a time.  The hand built bud vases also sold well. Overall, people seemed pretty decisive about what they wanted. But Sunday- different story.  I brought more pumpkins and bud vases, anticipating more sales, but none sold.  Sales were way off from Saturday. Another potter said people were picking things up Sunday and looking like they were about to buy then they'd put it back down.  Exactly my experience, too.  I wondered if the music groups Saturday attracted more buyer types than what was offered Sunday. Who knows? 

 

A young woman who used to live in Seagrove bought a berry bowl.  She said even with all the pottery shops there she never saw one.  I said they're a bit tedious to make.  Didn't say what I was thinking- I guess those Seagrove potters are smarter than me.  You can't charge enough for those things. After this last batch I vowed never to make them again unless maybe it's a commission.

Although I had decent enough sales to make it worth it, I had expected better.  Several other vendors who have done this show multiple years said sales increase as people start looking for you the second and third years you attend.  Good to know.

 

 Two weird moments Sunday:  First of all, I'd like to say this was not at all representative of the crowd, but this t-shirt saying really bugged me- "It's not that I forget, it's just that I don't care".  And it was worn by a woman who looked to be in her forties.  I guess it wouldn't have struck me as so bizarre if it were worn by someone younger who might have the excuse of immaturity.

Second thing was someone asked me if the sign was for sale.  Huh?  I said, um, no that's my sign.  Being that sales were so slow Sunday I guess I should have said, Yes, fifty bucks.

I really talked up the farmer's market in Marietta, both to say I'm usually there Saturdays and to tell people about some of the other artisans at the market.  Maybe a few new faces at the market?

letting the glaze speak for itself

There are so many ways to decorate pottery that sometimes I find it difficult deciding what approach to take.  This time I decided to let the glaze speak for itself.  This is actually two glazes- off-white semi glossy glaze with some speckles and a transparent glaze with a little iron oxide layered over. 

 The combination has some nice depth and subtle visual texture. 

 

It's a simple bowl. Holds at least six cups. Pass the mashed potatoes.
 



Same glaze combo with a little added extras this time on this french butter crock.

 



Now, the bad- What happened?!!! This is the lid of the french butter crock mentioned in my last post that had a few pinholes. I touched it up, refired and now it looks like the lunar landscape. Will have to do some research and testing. Oddly, the bottom of the jar was O.K., although there are some pinholes on the interior sides of the jar. Almost no pinholes on outside surfaces of jar or lid.

 

 

The list. Actually, the getting-ready-for-a-show list has grown since I took this picture. 

 



 Some weathered boards for my previously named "driftwood hangers". I'll have to call these something else since they are scavenged from loading pallets, a.k.a. skids. Lately, I haven't been lucky enough to find driftwood lumber, which is unfortunate because it's a lot easier to pick up a piece of driftwood than pry these boards off a pallet. I noticed (painfully) they have about ten nails where one screw would have done the job. Got nail gun?

 Finished products after a trip to True Value Hardware.  I just bring the boards and knobs into the store with me since both vary in height, then I try out various screws to get the right fit.  I can do that there since they have that stuff in bins.

The knobs stand out like jewels on the rustic wood.  "Rustic" might be how I'll label these hangers since my driftwood board supply is undependable.  I don't know about pulling apart more of those pallets though.
I just have a few more things to do to get ready for the Harvest Moon Festival.  I figured I'd get to some more glazing this week.  I still have enough bisque ware for another kiln load. Might have to wait until after the show.  This display stuff, pricing, packing wares, etc. has taken a lot more time than I expected.  Still have some display tweaking to do.