Monday, January 12, 2015

Monday

I do enjoy handbuilding over and around balloons.  I think I have shown this mug in many guises, but here it's as finished as it is going to be.

I'm trying different handles and feet.  I have some clay rolled out to try some mugs with small feet.  I will probably make three.  Three feet good, (easier to stabilize) four feet not so much!  There also needs to be some sort of stabilizer at the handle base.  Otherwise the cup tends to fall onto the handle when filled with liquid.  NOT a great selling point!  I like the idea of this handle but not the execution.  Practice!

I used Spectrum 799 Majolica white, three coasts brushed on.  In the second picture there is a detail of what happens when the glaze is applied too thickly.  Because the glaze is so stabile I could repair and refire.  I'm not going to bother as this is a test mug.

The dark green is a mix of Mason Hemlock and Florentine mixed with paste to give it an opaque look.  The rest of the design is mason stains mixed with frit.

The interior is glazed with a clear that is not really clear.  I mix a little Mason red-brown into the clear glaze.  It's just enough color to prevent the milky quality clears tend to have over terra cotta.




It's a bit warmer today, supposed to reach the forties today!  Wow!  The studio will  be warm enough to work in,,,,,HURRAH!  If it's cold and the sun is out, or if the temp is fortyish, with my extra heater it's quite nice to work there.  Anything over 62F. inside is entirely workable.  Grey and cold forget about it.  Pottery is supposed to be enjoyable not martyrdom.

Enjoy the week ahead.  The sun seems to be coming up a bit earlier; spring and summer will happen!

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

14 comments:

  1. When I first spied the little thumbnail photo of your post with the photo of your mug in miniature, my first thought was that it reminded me of Japanese Oribe ware pottery. It was something to do with the area of darkish green, and the way it played against the larger area with the white background and pattern.

    I like the "handbuilt" quality of the mug, I can imagine that it will become a real friend and favourite to use for a warm drink whilst curled up with a book somewhere!

    Thank you for the technical information, it is always of great interest to see how others deal with things such as the size, number, and position of feet on a mug or pot, and ways to overcome the milky problem of "clear" borax based glazes over terracotta.

    Happy New Year! Px

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    1. Hi Peter....Thanks for the kind and encouraging words. I've been looking at some oribe and see what your means. There must be un unconscious information influence.

      I like giving technical information when I can. It's a little nerdy, but then I am more than a little nerdy.

      Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  2. Sweet design. I like it's stand. xox

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    1. Hi Corrine....Thanks. The base was extremely ad lib in its execution!

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  3. beautiful brushwork! it was in the 40's here today as well, heavy rain and some thunder... felt like a heat wave!

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    1. Hi Michele....Thanks; It's all about time. Cold and cloudy not much above 32. At least it's not below zero!

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  4. Dearest Suzi,
    Guess we have about the same weather but it is gray and wet...
    Love that mug but as you said, the execution of such a handle takes some practice. LOVE the painting on it; very special looking.
    Hugs to you and stay cozy.
    Mariette

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    1. Hi Mariette....Gray and cold this morning!
      It takes a lot of time and experimentation to work out a new mug design.
      Stay warm!

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  5. I do love that detail at the base of the handle.

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    1. Hi Lori...Thanks. Now I just have to get everything working together!

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