penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
More times than I will admit to. But I fully realize I take a lot of chances looking for that WOW pot that only happens now and again.
Pottery beginnings
- Thread starter CodeMonkey
- Start date
Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
I like the pot and the feet, but to me they don't really match up.
Good luck with the glazing. That's the part that gets me nervous when glazing really nice pots.
CodeMonkey
Mame
Thanks pitoon!
I can see where you're coming from.
I'm actually half way through another of the same pot with different feet. I like both versions but understand others won't.
Do you find yourself using "safer" glazes on certain pots or have you got used to taking the risk?
CodeMonkey
Mame
I guess thats part of the fun!
I'm definitely still in the stage of mixed emotions when opening a kiln after glaze firing.
Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
Are you making your own glaze or using commercial?
There are plenty of commercial glazes out there that stay put, but glazes act differently on different clay bodies. So if you really don't want to mess up that pot. Make a test tile with the same clay body and test some glazes in the same kiln you plan to fire the pot in. Different kilns act differently.
Sometimes I take the risk with a new glaze and clay body. Sometimes I use a stable glaze I know that will work with that clay body.
mwar15
Omono
Are the feet free hand or from a mold?
CodeMonkey
Mame
Pretty much all my own now.
Except for reds. I'm still working on a good iron red as I can't fire in reduction for copper.
I tend to ensure I include at least 10 tests in every firing so have some knowledge on what glazes fit what bodies I'm currently using.
I still get the occasional failure that comes out of the blue though. Hoping my glazing technique improves to get a more consistent result soon. That's probably the biggest worry.
CodeMonkey
Mame
Free hand. I've been toying with making a mold but am finding that more difficult than making the feet...
It would be nice for consistency.
CodeMonkey
Mame
CodeMonkey
Mame
After what feels like a long hiatus I'm finally getting back into making some pots!
I've spent a bit of time learning to throw over the last couple of months. It's pretty good fun and sure is fast to knock out basic forms.
Here's a couple of recent forms. I'm a bit rusty on the slab building so more practise needed.
One thing I'm really after is a nice natural brown firing clay. I can't see to find anything here in the UK that matches what I want so may need to start experimenting with making a clay body. Anyone got any suggestions on how to start?
I've spent a bit of time learning to throw over the last couple of months. It's pretty good fun and sure is fast to knock out basic forms.
Here's a couple of recent forms. I'm a bit rusty on the slab building so more practise needed.
One thing I'm really after is a nice natural brown firing clay. I can't see to find anything here in the UK that matches what I want so may need to start experimenting with making a clay body. Anyone got any suggestions on how to start?
Attachments
JeffS73
Shohin
They look great! One to try is Sibelco 4005 high firing terracotta. You can ~just~ get away with firing to cone 10, at cone 10.5 it will be bloating slightly. 9 to 10 it's sweet. It is quite groggy. They do one with finer chamotte, 4000 I think, but you can't get that in the UK. From my tests, absorption is 1.1% which is plenty good enough from what I've gathered in my research.
You can get it here: https://www.hot-clay.com/sibelco-high-firing-terracotta.html
If you want something for cone 6, I can't help, I haven't looked.
You can get it here: https://www.hot-clay.com/sibelco-high-firing-terracotta.html
If you want something for cone 6, I can't help, I haven't looked.
Gaea's listener
Yamadori
what a nice collection of pots you have for 2023. The slab with concave sides looks top notch, nice clay colour too.
Sorry, I don't have advice for the nice warm clay body in UK, here in Ontario we actually have a clay body available called warm brown. If you'd like to experiment to make your own, you can always do samples of mixing small amounts of different clay bodies, record the proportions you used and fire them to see the results. Good luck!
It's easier to achieve what you want than you might think. If I were to suggest just one book to start making your own clay this one is a classic
CodeMonkey
Mame
Thanks for the suggestion, I haven't tried that so I'll give it a go.
Book ordered, thanks! I remember seeing the results of your clay body. It looks great.
CodeMonkey
Mame
Managed a couple of glaze firings recently.
Mixed bag overall but heading in the right direction.
The last firing was a bit of a miss, over fired by a fair bit. Hoping it's not my elements on their way out
I'm in 2 minds whether to re-fire a couple.
The wide rim rectangle was supposed to come out like the soft edged rectangle, however, I do quite like it! It almost adds an aged patina look.
Same with the drum. It's a classic, strontium/copper/ti glaze, but it was thin on one side so fired brown. Again, I both like and dislike it.
Any thoughts on those 2? Re-fire or not? It's always a risk!
The small round with the white/grey variegated glaze is by far my favorite, nice to get at least one winner!
Mixed bag overall but heading in the right direction.
The last firing was a bit of a miss, over fired by a fair bit. Hoping it's not my elements on their way out
I'm in 2 minds whether to re-fire a couple.
The wide rim rectangle was supposed to come out like the soft edged rectangle, however, I do quite like it! It almost adds an aged patina look.
Same with the drum. It's a classic, strontium/copper/ti glaze, but it was thin on one side so fired brown. Again, I both like and dislike it.
Any thoughts on those 2? Re-fire or not? It's always a risk!
The small round with the white/grey variegated glaze is by far my favorite, nice to get at least one winner!
Attachments
Last edited:
CodeMonkey
Mame
More...
The rectangle is my favorite here. I love the glaze! Shame it ran, hoping I can clean it up by sanding the feet.
The large round ran more than I wanted and lost a lot of the effect I was going for. Likely because it over fired.
The small green/blue round was a re-fire. Initial firing produced the blue effect due to applying too thick and the iron in the clay, so I re-fired to make the most of it. Turned out pretty cool.
I'm always looking for feedback on my glazing. I really struggle with it. I hate glazing nice pots not being confident they will turn out how I want. So please, comment away!
I'm swimming in test tiles right now too, but finally have at least 5 or 6 good glazes and some promising combos that fit my firing schedule too.
The rectangle is my favorite here. I love the glaze! Shame it ran, hoping I can clean it up by sanding the feet.
The large round ran more than I wanted and lost a lot of the effect I was going for. Likely because it over fired.
The small green/blue round was a re-fire. Initial firing produced the blue effect due to applying too thick and the iron in the clay, so I re-fired to make the most of it. Turned out pretty cool.
I'm always looking for feedback on my glazing. I really struggle with it. I hate glazing nice pots not being confident they will turn out how I want. So please, comment away!
I'm swimming in test tiles right now too, but finally have at least 5 or 6 good glazes and some promising combos that fit my firing schedule too.
Attachments
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Looking good!
Your glazes are good.
Don't sweat it...
You are exploring parameters... Take good notes..
And start making more tester tiles and cranking recipes out.
Your glazes are good.
Don't sweat it...
You are exploring parameters... Take good notes..
And start making more tester tiles and cranking recipes out.
Colorado
Masterpiece
Managed a couple of glaze firings recently.
Mixed bag overall but heading in the right direction.
The last firing was a bit of a miss, over fired by a fair bit. Hoping it's not my elements on their way out
I'm in 2 minds whether to re-fire a couple.
The wide rim rectangle was supposed to come out like the soft edged rectangle, however, I do quite like it! It almost adds an aged patina look.
Same with the drum. It's a classic, strontium/copper/ti glaze, but it was thin on one side so fired brown. Again, I both like and dislike it.
Any thoughts on those 2? Re-fire or not? It's always a risk!
The small round with the white/grey variegated glaze is by far my favorite, nice to get at least one winner!
Very nice! That cut corner rectangle is especially awesome!
JeffS73
Shohin
Hey, it looks like it's going very well! If I were you, and unhappy with a result, refire. You will learn something new. It is tough, when you make a pot, think you have a glaze sussed and then it doesn't work, I have a bunch of fails from Feb that I haven't refired yet. Keep plugging away, it'll be worth it!
