Starving for Clay

These few days I'm taking a holiday and missing my appointment with clay. If it is even possible, starving myself creatively is making me want it even more.

I want to be back in the studio pretty badly. I have....for lack of better words.....ideas floating around while sitting in the sun, riding my bike through heavy wind and rain, and staring at the blue sky through palm tree leaves.

A few holiday pis for now.

Unplanned

Much like life, today was totally unplanned. I knew I wanted to throw something and for sure I would use porcelain slip to give it texture and make it white.

Ended up with a happily thrown vase and a large bowl.  One with about 1.5 lbs of clay and the other used 2 lbs.

I love how the slip drip a little on the big bowl. I like to capture the natural movement of things.  By popular demand ( i.e. by my Mom), I may paint some flowers and dots.  She loves flowers but I like dots more.

Friends from the studio so happened to have a free night. So we did some quick steak and salad shopping and put together a very delicious dinner at her home with her dog, BeBe, watching.  He did get a few scrap of steak. Happy night for all. 

Paper Clay - Porcelain

First time throwing paper clay today.  I used it for hand building before but not throwing.

I threw on the wheel right after the clay, porcelain in this case, was kneaded with tissue paper pulp. The clay was too moist for throwing.  The first pot sagged and I kneaded it back into clay. The second one got a bit better and I only wetted my finger tips. But it's bottom was also saggy which I chose to live with. You can see what I mean in the below picture. By the way, I am still into the whole "Wind in my hands" thing.

Then I made a big coffee mug with handle. The third one should be a keeper.  A good studio day, all in all, let's check out other studios.

Freshly made

Slip and me hit it off. It is opening a new door for me.

Paper Clay?

Impression of kitchen paper on clay. Throwing as usual, then apply a super thick layer of slip. I'm using porcelain slip. Carefully smooth paper on top. Tear off paper when it is dry enough.

Paper flying on spinning wheel while drying with hot air from heater.  I need to get it dry enough so that I can get it off the wheel.

Paper "face-off" mode........ 

This is the first one I did today. Interesting texture. Not sure what I want to do with it next. Will see next week.  Let's check out some interesting stuff other talented potters did this week at Mud Colony.

Wind in my hands collection

I've done four so far. Each one was made with lesson learnt from the previous one.

I want to go crazy here. Just have an idea for the next one.

So look forward to firing them upside down and let gravity, porcelain and heat take over control.

Slip Marbling works beautifully!

Yesterday was a good day at Clayland for me.  Remember my earlier posts on Marbling with Slip and Marble.  

This one shown here is the very first I've done and it is now out of the kiln, freshly baked.   It turns out perfectly fine. It is what I wanted and touching it makes me love it even more.  

The blending of colour..........the result of mixing slip and underglaze......blue melts my heart......

The texture from the slip.........I love to touchhhhhhhhh...............

The subtle contrast of the two clays, yellowish spotty clay and porcelain............showing through the porcelain slip........making it even more 3 dimensional on the surface...........

Am I making sense here???  It doesn't need to make sense. It just need to feel right. Have a great day everyone

Me on a Kick Wheel

I threw on a kick wheel for the first time today. Wow! That's what I have to say. Just to show you how limited my vocabulary is.

It has a different kind of rhythm, but it is definitely a beautiful kind. It took us a few minutes to get to know each other. I think he doesn't mind me. I actually like throwing standing up. I feel there is more control and my energy flows more naturally standing up. But the kicking thing really kick me off my game. I can't kick and throw at the same time. Movement in my leg also moves my upper body, i.e. my arms. I need to learn to keep my arms steady.

But it was totally fun. I want to do it again. :)

By the way, it is loud and it makes those funny ancient sewing machine sound.

Check out other potters action at Mud Colony. 

In class with Philippe Barde

I'm reporting live from Philippe Barde workshop in Macau. Learning about plaster and silicon moulding. Details later.

Can you feel the wind?

It's about the feeling of being care-free. I want whoever hold these in their hands feel the vibe of movement, like sea breeze caressing one's face gently. My friend said these are flares to her. It could be that too. Yes, flares also move.

I am not done with this "wind in my hands" thing yet. Yes, this is what I'm calling it, "wind in my hands".  You will definitely see more.

Do go over to Mud Colony to check out my friends.