A good throwing day with Procelain

Front row seat at my wheel

Here is the thing about me. I don't do what others tell me to do. But when something is mentioned causally, not even noticeable, I take it to heart.

A friend at work said something about why don't I film throwing on wheel. I immediately said I can't. There are no hands. But of course there is always a solution for everything.

This past Sat. I pretty much had the studio to myself.  With a camera in hand, we are in business.

It is actually useful to me to watch how I throw.  

The filming took less than 20 mins. But the editing and uploading took like 7 hrs.  Hope you enjoy it.

By the way, Mud Colony, check it out!

Nerikomi?

This is my process or version of Nerikomi. Using black stain and porcelain.

P.S. Link to Mud Colony

Slip, no slipping this time

I put in close to 6 hours at the studio today. Time flies when my hands are on clay. Accomplished tons of stuff. Made my own porcelain slip for the first time. It was a true work-out. Strong arms are in the making. Very thick consistency. It looks and feels like some delicious whip cream.  All white and creamy. Come to think of it.  I applied it on the stoneware body very much like putting cream on a cake.

Here is what I have done today. Pictures shown below are in exact order of things.

Making porcelain slip with dried porcelain powder ( reuse from previously failed works) = arm work....

Nice and thick 

Next trimming of plate made last week. Since I've left quite a bit of clay for the tall foot, it gives me room to play around with some design.  Wouldn't think of much, so I did this. 

Coated 2 freshly thrown stoneware bowls ( one medium and one large) with my self-made porcelain slip.  I even like all the marks and texture.  And I think I know how to make it all smooth and nice next time. 

This bowl got turned into a "tear-shape" because it didn't turn out perfectly round like I wanted it to be. So to go with the flow, I made it into this.  There is something about "tear-shape" and me lately.  But just when I was putting it down on the board to dry, my hand touched its side. So it becomes an interesting triangle. That's life and that's ceramics. It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to feel right at that moment in time. 

 And here is my hand after a day's work with sandy clay........

Beauty by mistake

This is some new works I have done. A totally different direction.  I love the natural folds and turns and how pretty they look with the light shines through.