...and After!

Hmm. The stuff I thought would work didn't and the stuff I thought wouldn't did. Must be ceramics! Here are some images of my hanging pieces piece.

Barrel of Monkeys Style!

So my latest project involves hanging glazed pieces from each other from a base supported by bricks. Crazy, I know. I took some progress shots as I was building it up...errr...down. Some of the images are a little blurry, sorry about that.

                                                     View from underneath.

                                                        Underneath #2

                                     Printed on "melting clay" balanced over the top.

                       I'll be unloading sometime tonight. I'll get pictures. Wish me luck!

Before...

Here is my latest "before" shot. Tomorrow I will post the construction of it in the kiln, and later of course will come the "after."

Searching for "Golden Crackle"

I been testing glazes lately, searching for a crawling metallic glaze at cone 10. The middle image here is the best I've done so far, I like the reflective goldish in the cracks. The problem with it is that is got over-fired, so it needs to be fluxed down further. Unfortunately, it's a touchy glaze and only a certain percentage of it can be flux, so it's not as simple as just increasing the % of flux. The top image is my last batch of tests, where I switched to a more powerful flux. Melted at the right temperature, but I lost the gold in the cracks. Bottom image is my latest tests going into the kiln now. Wish me luck.

Looking at Artists

I'm trying to spend more time looking at other ceramic artists and their approach to ceramics. Here is one Steve Belz, who's work I admire.  Website

...and After (ish).

So of course it didn't all go according to plan. The simpler parts of the project died and are currently being reconstructed. The good news is that my hollow orb forms of pieces came out ok. I will update again when all is finished properly and assembled. I also think I will do this again soon with some alterations.

How Many Failures Does it Take to Screw in a Lightbulb...

I was going to devote this post to the other piece I've been working on. It involved hanging pieces from each other barrel-o-monkey style from a larger base suspended upside-down in the kiln on stacks of bricks. The base cracked in the bisque bad enough that I deemed it unsafe to attempt such a construction and risk it all tumbling down.

So I am remaking the base from a stronger clay, and reflecting on how many failures it takes to do something right. I will post step by step as I construct the new one in the kiln, so keep an eye out for a couple of weeks!