A Couple Of New Pots

[Waldo Street Pottery]

2 more Octopots are in the making, I hope a few make it to the winter show.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

2 freshies from the gas firing this week. The semi cascade will be in Kannapolis, the slab pot is my first slab built construction so it will probably live on my shelf, at least for a while. The arrow feet represent forward motion in my clay work...

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

I would like to invite you all to check out my brand new Facebook page Waldo Street Pottery. In honor of this "groundbreaking", I offer this round unglazed pot in beautiful Earthen Red clay.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Here's a few shots of me trying a larger form. I have tried one other large form, at 18 lbs of clay on the wheel. That pot was an oval that failed and I learned some great lessons. I have hopes of this one making it through the bisque! This one was 25 lbs of clay on the wheel and I decided to keep it round. The bottom and feet were an additional 14-16 lbs of clay. As you can see, I finished it up with feet, holes and chop yesterday and now it rests until bisque firing. In additional social media marketing efforts, please check me out on Instagram at waldo_street_pottery.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

2 more to finish...

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Here's a couple of small pots from the latest firing...

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Number two...

 

[Stan Kengai]

Really nice glazes on these last two. The second (post 87) is akin to Yamafusa "frog skin". I also love the artistic feet, which is like a little secret for the pot owner that viewers will never see. Keep up the good work.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Really nice glazes on these last two. The second (post 87) is akin to Yamafusa "frog skin". I also love the artistic feet, which is like a little secret for the pot owner that viewers will never see. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Stan, I do love a good Yamafusa pot!

 

[Eric Group]

Great stuff!

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Who's ready for The Winter Silhouette Show in Kannapolis, NC? This guy (almost)!

 

[JoeR]

Do you do square/ rectangular pots too?

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

I'm just getting started working with slabs. I'm planning to expand to more and bigger slab built forms in the coming year.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

All in a days work...

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Continuing from the last post... I let the pots set up for a few days and added the bottoms. Today I finished them with the drainage and wire holes and added the feet. Now they are left to dry over the holiday week and beyond, depending on everything. These will probably not be with me in Kannapolis, not enough time. Good news for the FB auctions??? I'm not sure if I'm into the whole shipping game just yet, not until I know I can do it right... Thanks for looking.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

More...

 

[johng]

Looking better and better all the time! Can't wait to see some in person!

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Thanks John G! 2 weeks my friend...

 

[Eric Group]

Eli- love your pots! Could you break down a little about the process of making one? For those of us who don't make pots it might be interesting. Specifically- how long does it take you on average, how much clay for an average sized pot, where do you get it from, differences between making a rectangle and a circle, how long do you have to fire it, what are glazes made out of...?

That sort of stuff... I just think it looks really interesting and I'd like to learn more about it.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Thanks Eric. My process is self taught so I don't know how dangerous my info is. I start on the wheel and cut clay in proportion to the bat I am using, from 1/2 pound to 25 pounds of clay. Ok, so I've only done 25 lbs once, the pot is still drying. Anyway, I center and open the clay all the way to the wheel head, leaving no "floor" and the option for altering the shape later. In 2-3 days I add the thrown piece to a slab and allow them to marry for another 2-3 days. Moisture distribution and drying is everything. After a few days I put the holes and attach feet, then the pot stays covered until dry. This can take weeks, depending on humidity. Next the pot is bisque fired. Then I wax the bottom and inside and apply glaze by dipping, brushing, spraying, etc. firing is 7-8 hours followed by cooling time and fingers crossed for good results. I think 3 weeks, give or take a week, start to finish. Longer for bigger pots. That 25 lb pot is still drying well over a month later and might have another month to go before bisque. The last large one I tried was 18 lbs and took equally as long and cracked in the bisque firing. Fingers crossed for this one. That's the cliffs notes, glad to share more in Kannapolis. Here's pics of the 25 pounder.