I made this one last winter when I was thinking of doing a different handbuilt teapot every week as a way of staying away from the winter doldrums! Unfortunately family stuff intervened and I never got very far with the idea.
Ceramic Arts Daily did a post last year about making handbuilt teapots over a form in about an hour give or take some time. I made this one over a bowl. I did everything while it was still on the form. The form gives the clay enough stability to be able to do everything. By the time I had cut the lid opening and added the handle the clay was stiff enough to have the form taken out. I placed it immediately on a clay slab. I cut a circle a bit bigger than the base and attached it quickly using spooze. I didn't worry about the tissue paper left inside as it peeled away when the pot dried. I think I made a different lid from the one I cut out of the form.
I've glazed it with my old faithful Spectrum #799 Majolica White on unfired clay. The fish designs look odd as I cover them with a green tinted wax resist as soon as I am finished with a design. Unfired stains smear easily so this solves that problem. I think I'm going to add a little something more to the background. I don't want them to look like they are floating in air. Although, now that I think of it the fish in the pond look like they are swimming in air when the water is clear! Hmmmm, now I have to think about it.
It's a cloudy, warm, muggy day with heavy rain on the way tonight and tomorrow. Hopefully we will get several inches. We are by no means suffering from water want, but rain in summer and fall prevents drought in the winter.
We are considering Woody's Garden behind the shed. We have violets galore this year and I may get some end of season marigolds and petunias. These appear to be the great favorites. If we were starving I would not hesitate to kill and eat him, but we are not, so he can live on sufferance for now.
Lastly, I am so saddened to hear of Robin Williams death. What pain he must have been suffering to have been driven to take his own life. We knew him for all the joy he brought.....let that be his legacy.
Enjoy your day. As always, thanks for stopping by...........*s*