Sunday, September 1, 2013

Glaze

I've been glazing and painting a few pots to go in the firing I'm planning to do Tuesday night.



It's difficult to see my very light sketch lines but this one is an amalgam of two childhood poems:  The Gingham Dog and Calico Cat and The Sugarplum Tree.

I  may have mentioned that I only use a few glazes....Linda Arbuckle Majolica, Andrea Gill's WOM, Ian Symons Clear.  I also use several Spectrum glazes, Majolica white, Clear, White Matte.  I add a little rutile to all my white glazes to give them a more mellow look.  The clears I use over white earthenware.  I don't do a lot of white work so the clears last a long time.  All my glazes are mature at ^04.

Commercial glazes have a lot of sizing in them; I use super hold hair spray on my studio glazes to give me a sturdy surface to work on.  I used to put acrylic medium in the glaze which gave a great surface but left too many bubbles when mixing.

Once pots are glazed they have to be completely dry before I start working on them.

I use Mason Stains for all my colors.  I mix them 50-50 with frit 3124.  Sometimes I mix them with paste (50% 3124; 50% Gerstley Borate...I usually keep a mixed pot of it around)  Mixed with frit the stains are more like water colors, mixed with paste, again 50:50, they are more like gouache.

I am a true brush freak.  I'm always buying them.  I use only natural bristle; synthetic is not as responsive.  Liners, sumi brushes, and mops are among my favorites.


For the first time in ages I threw some small kitty and dog bowls.  It was kind of pleasant to sit at the wheel and throw the same thing ten times.  It's been gray and dank lately so these are taking forever to get to a trimming stage.

There are thunderstorms and rain in the forecast, but the weather does not preclude have a great Labor Day celebration.

I'm putting this over on Mud Colony.  Take a look; there's always something new.

Enjoy the holiday or if you are not in the U.S.A. have a good week end.

As always, thanks for stopping by............*s*



12 comments:

  1. I really enjoy reading about your process because it is so different from firing ^10 reduction. I still don't understand a lot of it, but I am still fascinated.

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    1. Hi Michele.....It's mutual. I am fascinated by your ^10 reduction. Talk about polar opposites!

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  2. Dearest Suzi,
    When enlarging the photo, you can see the faint sketch lines!
    Love your ten kitty and dog bowls.
    Even with the forecast of daily thunderstorms, we had an entire DRY week with lots of sunshine. So we can dry out. Finally. Hope your weather stays stable and sunny for Labor Day weekend.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Hi Mariette....Glad you could see at least a few indications of design.
      Hopefully the bowls will be ready to trim today.
      We had lots of rain overnight. It's misty and soft right now.....not so good for outdoor grilling, but color really pop in this light.
      Stay dry! ;-D

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  3. How interesting to read how you work with decoration. Thank you for sharing. I also love Japanese brushes for sumi. : )

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    1. Hi Midori....Thanks for stopping by. There's something about brushes isn't there?

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  4. Thank you for sharing the technical information about how you work, it is really interesting and helpful. I must try the hair spray method some time, if only for the amusement it will give me to actually own hair spray! The freshly made kitty/dog bowls look edible... like yummy chocolate cake! :)

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    1. Hi Peter....Thanks. Isn't it strange that working with totally different methods can still give useful information.....such a gurgle jugs.
      I buy the cheapest strongest unscented hair spray I can find. Perfumed stuff will drive you out of your studio.

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  5. Hi Suzi,

    Interesting to read about your pottery and love the dog and kitty bowls.
    Aren't natural brushes so much nicer than synthetic.

    Hope you enjoyed the holiday weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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    1. Hi Carolyn....Thanks for the visit. I find that synthetic brushes tend to twist and spring in odd ways.
      Enjoy your day.

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  6. Very nice with the small legs. This is "skånsk äpplekaka" http://www.arla.se/recept/skansk-appelkaka/?gclid=CNLC2tmsrbkCFSR6cAods1kAuQ

    Hugs

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  7. Hi Elna....They almost walk don't they? Thanks for the recipe.

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