My ceramic pieces - learning to turn

I've been trying my hand in turning. I've been even trying my both hands in turning. ( i know it's a lame joke, I've just could not stop myself). May I just say... I hate centring. I hate it and despise it and then hate it some more. But the rest is fun! I do not have pictures from my first session. The pictures below are from last two sessions. I am quite chuffed with myself, after three sessions I can turn by myself. I know these are not perfect. I know I have loads to learn, but still... well done silly old me!

My ceramic pieces - mish mash

Surprise, surprise... I am not happy. This is not pink I have wanted, and the shading is nonexistent. On the other hand, a shape works a charm for brollies!

My lovely rhubarb forcer. The contrast between a glaze and terracotta works well. I wanted the glaze to run more, so I have sprayed extra layer of clear, but it did not work really. I need another two of those!



First attempt at nachos bowl. The olive glaze looks quite flat here, but in fact it stands out quite well. I need to work on smoother connection of two bowls. Also after speaking with Argillae, I will start to sand my work before if will go for first firing. This should eventually allow me for smooth and even edges.



And last but not least! This is what I am working on at the moment - beside learning how to turn (!) I wanted to make series of vases with wide oval base and tall necks. I have used bowls moulds, but the shapes did not work at all. So, I could either be left with 4 bowls, or totally change my concept. So here it is. It is a work in progress, so bare with me :D

My ceramic pieces - plate disaster - part 2

I give up. This mould obviously will not work. No chance in hell. It went pancake again, even though this time I made it from crank and made sure a layer is really thick. OK, I admit that my "thick" is often not thick enough, but still... a pancake?! To top that the oxides went brown... and why did they went brown?... because I have used matt instead of gloss. I am the only one in a studio that uses matt, so only my dandelion test showed that oxide with matt just do not work. So here it is, brown tacky colour instead of strong greens and blues. Great! Oh joy of ceramics!

My ceramic pieces - Umbrella stand, take 2

I had decided that my first umbrella stand was too wide and too small, so I have to make a new one. I am quite happy with it, although next time I would spend more time smoothing a crank (memo to me; wet rubber kidney works like a charm!). I have managed to smooth most of the bumps and make it quite symmetrical - and trust me, this is a huge achievement for me; for some reason me and symmetry do not go together. The tool I used to shave off extra clay, I think is usually used by builders. It looks and works as grater. I absolutely love it, the only minus is it leaves a surface quite ... rustic for better word. Nice texture really, just not what I was looking for in this project. I was hoping a spraying with white slip would help the matters, but improvement wasn't great.


So far I did not really decorate my pieces, going for more of the shape, than a colour, but now I wanted something pink. After a bit more investigation into mixing glazes - oh blessed naivety! - I had to forfeit. I will definitely want to learn more about glazing and mixing glazes, but definitely not on raspberry pink. The amount of elements that had to be prepared from scratch is just frightening. And I haven't even asked if it was a reduction or oxidation, what temperatures should apply.

Luckily my test piece turned out almost as I wanted, so I've compromised. I have used chrome oxide on white slip and then sprayed it with white gloss glaze - I have to admit, I do not remember its proper name (memo to me - ask Stephen!). I would much rather go for the matt option, but matt does not work out... or rather turns everything to brown. The thickness of the chrome mixture has no true impact on an intensity of colour.


So here it is, looking great... so far. On a second test piece I made, I have noticed, that a white gloss, needs to be quite thick or chrome will turn brownish colour. I am going to cry, if it gets ruined!

My ceramic pieces - plate disaster

One of these days I will make gorgeous perfect plate which will proudly hang on a wall in my dinning room. I just do not think it will be any time soon.

Edges need working, not too happy with glazing either

and it is warped like hell.

My ceramic pieces - Christmas snowflakes

I have to say last ceramic session was a disaster; plates warped and cracked, lamp stand cracked, pumpkins' glazing ... do not even ask. Half decent are my Christmas decorations, although I am not too happy with a colour and a thicknes... but there is always a next session. It starts 10th Janaury... cannot wait!

and as we are talking about Christmas and snowflakes...

My ceramic pieces - green pumpkins

I just finished making my pumpkins. Quite chuffed with myself :D

My ceramics pieces

Inspired by the The Green Lotus Leaf Collection from Chintz & Company, here is my spin on the idea. Retro doilies.
I am very happy with initial effect. They look great after bisque firing. I am not sure about the colour scheme yet. I am thinking about greens or whites, or maybe a mixture of these two. I do not know. I have spent whole today session on glazing and colouring and used all of those doilies as the test pieces with different oxides, glazes and slips, hopefully I will be able to see some results next week!

Also need to think about the way of fixing them to the wall. I tried some Velcro thingy... but I do not trust the stuff... I fixed my daughter's memo board with it and it fell. I do not want to risk that!






The proces of doily making:

Bisque fired pieces, coloured prior to firing.

My ceramics pieces

The butterfly bowl. The green is too vivid for my liking and the undarglaze pencil colouring got tottaly lost, but I am happy. This is my ever piece I made, my first bowl and I am proud of it.

My brolly stand. The colours worked well, although I am not overjoyed with the dripping effect. The long drips should be thicker, than it would look better. Also the stand itself should be taller.

My first ceramic pieces

Pod - earthenware, mould form and hand formed, cobalt and copper oxides and clear glass. I wanted a bit more contrast between the glass and clay, I think I should have painted copper oxide, not just sprinkle it. Next time ;)

Shell - earthenware, mould form, sprayed with blue-pink and white glazes. I was hoping for better gradient and more pink, but I cannot compain, I was told that blue-pink glaze is quite temperamental, could be worse.

Test piece - just playing with some sludge. I want to create some more organic form. I noticed one has to be very, very patiant with this technique, as rush work just goes haywire. I think next time, I will try more dense sludge though.