Diving into pottery

[mwar15]

I dove into pottery a few weeks ago. I took a class at a local co-op. You have to take a class before being able to use the co-op. I took pottery classes in high school and college, I know enough to be dangerous. Some of these pots are from the class so they are pots using techniques during the class that I turned Into pots.

I used a pine cone for texture

I used a iron oxide stain, to me I really like it as a more natural look for the

 

[mwar15]

I finished my class and now can do my own thing
This is a chocolate clay that won’t be glazed.just a simple straight walled rectangle

 

[mwar15]

A couple out of the kiln

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Nice work!

 

[Mapleminx]

Oh WOW! Loving the green scaled one that’s awesome!!!

 

[mwar15]

Decided to work on a more traditional pot
I’ll it dry and get them in the kiln next week hopefully. 5x7x3”tall

 

[mwar15]

Made a 22”x10” slab today. I used a bowl to mold a better space for a tree to sit.

 

[mwar15]

mixed 2 clays for a swirl effect. 11x14x4” with 15degree slant

 

[W3rk]

mixed 2 clays for a swirl effect. 11x14x4” with 15degree slant

That could get you a really cool marbling effect. Please share the results after you bisque fire!

 

[mwar15]

a couple pots went in the kiln today. I will go tomorrow and put some feet on it and then it probably will be a couple weeks. But I will share!!
This is the first time mixing clays. I think I went 60/40 dark to light clay and next time will go more 30/70.

 

[mwar15]

Got some feet today

 

[Pitoon]

Are you using a slab roller or two strips of wood and a rolling pin to get the clay flattened?

 

[mwar15]

Are you using a slab roller or two strips of wood and a rolling pin to get the clay flattened?

Strips of 1/4” of wood and a large dowl. The slab roller they have doesn’t work well for me and this method is quicker. Plus less clean up

 

[mwar15]

This is a rectangle from earlier. TheSides were warped in the first firing. I decided to put a glaze on it and see how it turned out.
The second pot is it iron oxide that I sprayed on. There were some minor cracks that came up in the second firing. I have no idea why but I think they’ll be OK.

 

[mwar15]

Decided to practice a cut corner small pot today(6”x8”2.5”). It also has two different clays that have been blended together. I will put a lip on it and clean it up tomorrow.

 

[sorce]

It also has two different clays

I think any two clays are better than any one, do you agree?

Nice.

Sorce

 

[mwar15]

I think any two clays are better than any one, do you agree?

Nice.

Sorce

Not when they shrink at different rates and crack...

 

[Mapleminx]

Loving the cutcorner already and it’s not even fired yet.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Those are badasssss!

 

[sorce]

Not when they shrink at different rates and crack...

If they are fully blended shrink will be equal, so that shouldn't cause the cracking. Even if blended somewhere between 60/80% homogenized, you probably won't get cracking specifically from shrink differences.

It's almost impossible to blend 2 commercial clays for the same reason it's almost impossible to wedge them, they're shipped too dry. So if you try blending by wedging alone, it's likely it will be too dry before it is fully mixed. I been "slap wedging" in the air, so the clay never touches a surface that will remove moisture. Twist apart a log, and slap it back together, pat it into a smoothish log again, twist and slap. After about 30-50 slaps, it should be fully blended. Then you can wedge it a little before it is too dry.

It's easier to make blends with reclaim. Wet.

Sorce