Wednesday, January 28, 2009

tortoise here

Glad there is no race! I'm slow--but hopefully I'll get there finally! I have just started a glaze firing--first in a long time! It is full of 'tests'--squares of clay to see if I can improve the vitrification of my clay by the addition of some material to lower the maturing temperature; also several small pieces with some glazes I mixed up a while back and had tested on tiles.

I also painted some designs on the small test pieces to see how the stain mixture I have will work on the glazes. Hope there is some success in this firing--I was not happy with much of anything in the last glaze firing. In the photos below the test tile shows the underlying glaze and the design I applied.





The lesson I am trying to accept and work with is that I am not going to have lots of time to be in the studio. My work is going to be piece-mill. I just have to find a way to work within the constraints I have here. I just have to be more disciplined about my time that I really want to be!

I wish I could get a handle on my glazes. I wish i had a palette of glazes that I am comfortable with, that I know how to combine/overlap. Right now I have about a dozen large tubs of glazes and about 2 dozen small tubs (2 cups) of test glazes. But there are very few of these that I feel attached to. It seems that I am a glaze junkie--always looking forward to the next great, perfect glaze!

Well, so much for apologetics!

8 comments:

Ian Mullet said...

These are beautiful, Gay.

cookingwithgas said...

keep reaching and you will get there- the reason you are doing this is to not be stuck in one rut- exploring will keep things lively for you. Some great glazes-

Judy Shreve said...

Gay - your pieces look great. I think you have to test 100's of glazes before you really have a palette to call your own. And I know some potters who test in every glaze firing.

Oh the things we potters have to do . . . .

chaetoons said...

Gay
Glad to see you back.
Your pieces are lovely and will be looking forward to seeing how they come out of the kiln.
There are 2 different links on claygallimaufry which take you to Alisa Clauson's data basis. She's quite thorough with her explanations !!! Her glazes have worked well for me. They would-a worked better if i had not modified her ^10 glazes trying for ^6 ....
When my children were young and i found that there just wasn't enough time - i used to work on my own pursuits until 3am, then sleep til they awoke in the morning . . . would that work for you?
Heaps of Hugs
Chae

Sister Creek Potter said...

Such good friends--what great support! Thanks, all!

Chae, when your kids were young you were young too--at least when my kids were young, I was young too. Different story these days! Almost all my days end with un-done to-dos just because I have not adjusted to how much less I can do in a day than I could do not so very long ago! But thanks for the suggestion. Gay

Sister Creek Potter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
chaetoons said...

Ain't that the truth Gay !!!
I was young then! and energy is definately a factor as age intrudes. I forget that sometimes. Probably a subconscious desire to believe i'm as good as i ever was.
Sometimes still, i try to push the envelope but a day later find myself in a zombie state merely functioning.
Sorry about that. My mind still comes up with youthful solutions which my bod no longer tolerates. Should-a thought that one thru ...!
Hugs
Chae

chaetoons said...

Gay
Charan just left a message on my blog about Mylar paper. Don't buy any for i'll bet you already have some around the house !!!
Hugs
Chae