Tuesday, June 16, 2009

a good day

The first of the month, Jim and I went to Maine to visit my sister and her husband. We had a wonderful, restive, restorative week with them. I came home resolved to get back into a regular routine in the studio. Yesterday was my first 'working' day. I threw a couple bowls, some small vases off the hump and a small pitcher to warm up and get back into the swing of things.
Today I decided to tackle a project that I have long wanted to do but did not have the psychic energy to attempt. I am enthralled with a couple 'pagodas' that are in San Antonio Museum of Art's fabulous collection of Asian arts. I have longed to make one similar. So that was today's work--and I am very happy with it so far. Just hope I can be this happy with it after it is glazed and fired!

I worked on it from about 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, am dog tired--but it feels so good to be back in the groove again!

8 comments:

Tracey Broome said...

This is so awesome! I have a photo of one of these and have wanted to do one for the longest time, but it always seems so daunting. What a great job you did. I love it!

Judy Shreve said...

I love your pagoda house! You have captured it beautifully. I can't wait to see it glazed!

Sister Creek Potter said...

Thanks, dear friends. Of course, by now I see all the things I want to change. Don't know if I'll make another with the changes--we'll see.
Like you, Judy, I can't wait to see it glazes--but wish you were in charge of the glazing--you do just what I want done to it and don't know that I can get the look I see in my mind's eye! Gay

Judy Shreve said...

Gay - is this a ^6 clay body? Do you have the ability to ramp/hold and slow cool? I have a great recipe that you apply thinly -- it's a copper green. I'd be glad to share it with you.
What's your vision for the glaze?

(and don't look so closely -- it is truly a fabulous piece!)

Sister Creek Potter said...

Judy, Yes, to all! I will fire to ^6, my electric kiln is computerized--I do 'ramp and hold' on my firings. And I do imagine a weathered green finish. Am not sure how to get that--and glazing in all those crevices and corners is going to be a real trick. My compressor has been repaired so I assume I will use the spary gun--but maybe a brush too. I'ld love to have your recipe--you are great to offer it to me. Gay

Anonymous said...

looks like a fun project... love the erasmus quote

Linda Starr said...

Hi Gay, I love your pagoda. What a feat you have accomplished to have this so high all in one day. I can't wait to see it glazed too. I love the color of the clay, can you share the type? (I am always attracted to the darker clays for some reason).

Sister Creek Potter said...

Thanks, Linda. The clay is from East Texas (I live in San Antonio) and is called Black Jack. It is a great clay to work with but interestingly it is buff colored after firing. I don't know what gives it this color when raw but it is not iron as it fires out of the clay. I am thinking of putting a stain or engobe on before I bisque to give some depth to the final glaze.