tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64082565486353707092024-03-17T01:16:03.970-07:00Earth WorkThis is the blog of Mark Smalley, a ceramic artist based in Cheshire, England.Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-20697474014396484342019-12-01T06:07:00.000-08:002019-12-02T01:13:28.744-08:00New "boulder vase" fired 28/11/19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was pleased with this new piece which was handbuilt from slabs of clay with an applied texture. <br />
The black slip and several matt glazes were layered in places and it's interesting to observe how they've interacted with each other. The clay body is a mix of red clay and coarse raku and on its own it tends not to be watertight. Even with a dolomite glaze over it it can sometimes leak if the glaze doesn't get into all the pits etc. So it was a nice surprise to find that this vase does hold water very well. All the glazes were brushed on which makes the finish more uneven and unpredictable, but on this rock-like form I think that works to their advantage, with some of the split and cracked surface looking rather like lichen.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boulder vase, oxidised firing cone 8</td></tr>
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Thanks for looking!<br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-45799105686041907822019-11-07T06:13:00.003-08:002019-11-07T07:58:11.575-08:00Some recent pieces and new glazes for texture.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello again, Everyone! <br />
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A quick update to show some pieces from the last two firings. I'm still moving forward with the textured surfaces and enjoying playing around with different finishes for them. Recently, I've tried to reveal and enhance the textures more by applying slips and matt glazes which can give a more natural rock-like appearance. I'm quite excited by the possibilities of these new glazes, especially ones which crack and split, but as always with ceramics it's a slow process of trial and error to discover what works best. I'm also finding that in some cases, firing lower, to cone 6, allows a little more control/predictability when layering two or three glazes as they then don't fuse and merge together as much. <br />
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This carved sake cup was electric fired twice; once in a sealed saggar with charcoal to cone 8 and then in oxidation. The china clay-ball clay slip has turned a very pale shade of pink which is something new for me!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAZdElIuhKJruHUdcNgu2OEWWb0Dzzxh6pubgrcc0FaxLeWm87Sq8MX19WuSmBmxprcNZE2rER6Bh05wN9PohzMj-pNAc-7ICa2kJhHU2wHpPxwvmRXzQ4QCOf1pD1UzVLgro0ImA8DiK/s1600/SakcupRear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="1600" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAZdElIuhKJruHUdcNgu2OEWWb0Dzzxh6pubgrcc0FaxLeWm87Sq8MX19WuSmBmxprcNZE2rER6Bh05wN9PohzMj-pNAc-7ICa2kJhHU2wHpPxwvmRXzQ4QCOf1pD1UzVLgro0ImA8DiK/s320/SakcupRear.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP54xsKWSmD3W6mXDS1UXoG0IMVNjsKeSIXVYEEUko0-GYrJXdBTzZYPt2gmiKfK5uJtvVeoJgH98uMiXgDoHqPUx4CtfDKqs8uP6fE6sg9QTqq4JYq0TzCj3mXibiqqGyWhvaBLoiMSx/s1600/SakecupFront.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP54xsKWSmD3W6mXDS1UXoG0IMVNjsKeSIXVYEEUko0-GYrJXdBTzZYPt2gmiKfK5uJtvVeoJgH98uMiXgDoHqPUx4CtfDKqs8uP6fE6sg9QTqq4JYq0TzCj3mXibiqqGyWhvaBLoiMSx/s320/SakecupFront.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks for looking! <br />
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<i>Never give up, the best is yet to come.</i></div>
<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-70712875062241464272019-03-23T04:19:00.000-07:002019-03-23T04:20:20.708-07:00Large textured vase<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few more shots of the large textured vase, height 16 inches: <br />
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I've kept the wadding underneath this piece (it was welded to flashing from shells anyway) to allow for the drip of glaze which touched the shelf. I like the way it looks as though it's hovering slightly..<br />
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Thanks for your visit.<br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-79858510917017453092019-03-18T11:08:00.002-07:002019-03-23T05:16:03.974-07:00Back to saggar firingRecently I designed a new single-piece saggar to use in the electric kiln. It doesn't require kiln fibre to seal the top so is much easier and less messy to use and seems to be airtight in use. This shino-glazed guinomi was fired twice, once in the saggar (with charcoal) to reduce the surface and once in oxidation to bring the colour back to the iron. The glaze was applied fairly thin and the iron-rich slip (china clay/ball clay plus 50% red iron oxide) has burned through, creating very dark colours and an unusual, wrinkled surface. It's still surprisingly pleasant to drink from! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7JIiIEqHMECJe59ebc5ZiRIqLDKgnXAQR-iuGXFVkfoFsObFOxjdt05NrZzZsebmv_zCAk4zIzDgidfvLWOD7emVpH3mSQN7nUjVwvwJm69xBmBlyL2JpgWGUuTKFZjv9N_VeONntk02/s1600/DSC_1428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1323" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7JIiIEqHMECJe59ebc5ZiRIqLDKgnXAQR-iuGXFVkfoFsObFOxjdt05NrZzZsebmv_zCAk4zIzDgidfvLWOD7emVpH3mSQN7nUjVwvwJm69xBmBlyL2JpgWGUuTKFZjv9N_VeONntk02/s320/DSC_1428.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here are a few closeups of a large, heavily textured vase I have fired three times with different dolomite glazes added. This
time I'm pretty happy with the glaze surface, especially the drips which contain some lovely colours. I'll post a shot of the full piece soon..<br />
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Also fired last week, another textured vase with some pleasant crawling going on:<br />
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Yesterday I tried out some carving on the outside of these small hand-pinched bowls. I've done this on sculptures before but not on a functional piece. This is in its raw clay (a smooth crank) state with slip added to the surface, and I plan to just glaze the inside: <br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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<i>Never give up, the best is yet to come</i></div>
Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-89907943022011570822019-01-06T08:56:00.000-08:002019-05-23T01:17:34.714-07:00Some recent work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm sorry it's been such a long time since I posted here. That's mainly because the last fourteen months have been the hardest and saddest of my life. I'm doing my best not to dwell on past events and am hoping that 2019 will be a better year, both personally and creatively. Having said that, I doubt I'll have alot of spare time this year for writing lengthy blog posts, so I thought I'd just focus on posting images of recent pieces with a few explanatory notes. <br />
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The following are some of the more unusual pots I made in 2018:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qT9xINxYQcjyjd031tRHkloeGU6h0tSpwY5Mcjoy6I62E4WUTqlDXJdnZU8kjZo3KCNvKgWsOxJWTTHSrlGWK1k8GWc_D6GZW_2OwW61oCw-b072BZiF7ifyk5tbHD2aQndDqyZo1udx/s1600/darkvase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1127" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qT9xINxYQcjyjd031tRHkloeGU6h0tSpwY5Mcjoy6I62E4WUTqlDXJdnZU8kjZo3KCNvKgWsOxJWTTHSrlGWK1k8GWc_D6GZW_2OwW61oCw-b072BZiF7ifyk5tbHD2aQndDqyZo1udx/s320/darkvase.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, height approx 10 inches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9fKcGBZwoFg6P1RT4Xt4hcusytfc_NTb0KKxBpH6iMcrSgI8BIJDa_RwRUHHYU8jhXb-DljyQqgAR3oEUKZjMlFMfTPjmuRPCCz1v1f0Hlm9OVhtoRJKsCp66vgjUjG0yw7wpXZD_eYh/s1600/WhiteVase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9fKcGBZwoFg6P1RT4Xt4hcusytfc_NTb0KKxBpH6iMcrSgI8BIJDa_RwRUHHYU8jhXb-DljyQqgAR3oEUKZjMlFMfTPjmuRPCCz1v1f0Hlm9OVhtoRJKsCp66vgjUjG0yw7wpXZD_eYh/s320/WhiteVase.JPG" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, height approx 9 inches</td></tr>
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The two vases above were experiments which worked surprisingly well. I discovered that pre-fired pieces of broken clay can be pushed through the soft walls of the piece and that they stay firmly in place when fired. Even more remarkable that as the pieces dried, no cracks appeared around the inclusions, neither did they appear after firing to stoneware temperature, cone 6-8. Both these pieces were built up from thrown sections, hence the somewhat asymmetrical profiles. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJ3-TVJT-nt8Gb7JNZp4rhiKdC99k6X60gIBDU0bKLVzuMUBrBwGHYnafGBe6Ws5PRcoLcJp_FYJHGPagaRKhccMwpqp6oh9AK4T1aOuTgSHST2qT6lZhsZ5ogji5xZzOW3FlaFKmi2fe/s1600/DSC_0286b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJ3-TVJT-nt8Gb7JNZp4rhiKdC99k6X60gIBDU0bKLVzuMUBrBwGHYnafGBe6Ws5PRcoLcJp_FYJHGPagaRKhccMwpqp6oh9AK4T1aOuTgSHST2qT6lZhsZ5ogji5xZzOW3FlaFKmi2fe/s320/DSC_0286b.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large, handbuilt vase, height 15 ins</td></tr>
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This large, square vase was handbuilt using small, irregular slabs of clay squeezed together and a deep texture added at leatherhard. This is a technique I would like to develop more in future as it allows a huge amount of freedom in the forms you can create.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNMTFJ2Bd0RqVQiw2mVt4xUfHb7_lEa9GbGCI_hVswqz3k6797AeICgwUOyelPyPkvxStZKYgnM8CrRHCCTWlEh8gp2ESHXWJQwMNRanEUauQDfip9Isb3ef2qJKdeDZFjvmRQV0vJG2i/s1600/bottlevase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="1600" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNMTFJ2Bd0RqVQiw2mVt4xUfHb7_lEa9GbGCI_hVswqz3k6797AeICgwUOyelPyPkvxStZKYgnM8CrRHCCTWlEh8gp2ESHXWJQwMNRanEUauQDfip9Isb3ef2qJKdeDZFjvmRQV0vJG2i/s320/bottlevase.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured bottle vase, height approx 5 inches</td></tr>
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Above is another handbuilt piece formed from hand-pinched slabs. White and black slips were brushed on and a dry, ochre ash glaze poured over. I like the effect and colours produced where the ochre glaze has accidentally strayed over the inner dolomite glaze, so I plan to layer these glazes on some future work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tljgyRb1cGStYUW9V1PY-xYZ4-cfY_COLlbZHj60C89iqyI_6eeqwwB1N7Pl5_7kKW0_Xn0xKUPf-gN__ealx05JEeHFBDzEHSdGTir7U1PJcrDB0w8-cLkUVDc4wnBHp8FVp7N_ecgd/s1600/WabiSabi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1521" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tljgyRb1cGStYUW9V1PY-xYZ4-cfY_COLlbZHj60C89iqyI_6eeqwwB1N7Pl5_7kKW0_Xn0xKUPf-gN__ealx05JEeHFBDzEHSdGTir7U1PJcrDB0w8-cLkUVDc4wnBHp8FVp7N_ecgd/s320/WabiSabi.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small bud vase</td></tr>
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I've included this little vase as I thought the shape was quite interesting.. it went slightly off centre on the hump and I liked the way the rim dips at one point..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UvTVfrsn3CUDdwSgI-jt4C62bFFYU0ujjPqmtgEgq_aN0FlTsJBijIOr_6tRGsSAx8o2HVn2E-bVp7uO5ydqaJRsRjuEaYuD0I_H7zMO-u_kGNfGFGugFMd_uObcxVj6RvNlNp21TdQb/s1600/Carvedvse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UvTVfrsn3CUDdwSgI-jt4C62bFFYU0ujjPqmtgEgq_aN0FlTsJBijIOr_6tRGsSAx8o2HVn2E-bVp7uO5ydqaJRsRjuEaYuD0I_H7zMO-u_kGNfGFGugFMd_uObcxVj6RvNlNp21TdQb/s320/Carvedvse.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small, carved vase</td></tr>
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The matt ochre ash glaze on this carved piece came out darker than I expected as it was a new batch and went on very thick. It contains about 40% raw wood ash so tends to deflocculate hugely after a few days.. I still like it alot, but I do find that brown pots aren't the easiest to sell these days! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjcAtQG8UKkWLeIF0H7_BBBSfCRgk0_YO1-dsOeXkGhigckD1aoT5UTVmwW19u594CD3ex4ceDXHPcuW5X6rlGv1Pr1z_XgyCH59Xq4_T6DzPcKq-tTixQd6Zyel-Vl7htmDHcnY9NjSn/s1600/DSC_0301b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1021" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjcAtQG8UKkWLeIF0H7_BBBSfCRgk0_YO1-dsOeXkGhigckD1aoT5UTVmwW19u594CD3ex4ceDXHPcuW5X6rlGv1Pr1z_XgyCH59Xq4_T6DzPcKq-tTixQd6Zyel-Vl7htmDHcnY9NjSn/s320/DSC_0301b.JPG" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured vase, approx 6 ins height</td></tr>
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This textured vase was fired twice and the second time (after adding more glaze), it came out exactly as I had hoped. I deliberately left alot of the deep texture with black slip showing, and it is quite difficult to judge how the piece is going to look as the glaze runs a great deal. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhqlikhc9gQ89ugfqzsrXDG1o6xemjro5kb4qXB94mCnjH60j4g1FOGWyPpnnjTu_24jrBQt7AHRrj9fI350S1-zgox0t6ipa8FKDiEXn2ndZGW_bDHuPfn-x6ydox3_25In751EhyHax/s1600/Saltpig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhqlikhc9gQ89ugfqzsrXDG1o6xemjro5kb4qXB94mCnjH60j4g1FOGWyPpnnjTu_24jrBQt7AHRrj9fI350S1-zgox0t6ipa8FKDiEXn2ndZGW_bDHuPfn-x6ydox3_25In751EhyHax/s320/Saltpig.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured salt pig</td></tr>
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This piece was also hand built using small slabs. A thick texture was applied plus black slip and a dolomite and wood ash glaze. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZIKQ3g0V5YIGsjdQs-tyAYSV1vOy5dndHIhK2tDrXDax_NdJ1rMSvzlARovegTDBhvNCdanQSAQF7LxIXhnTX6udAzt8tlDaVjiaTq7r9spU6XshQ3bt3k96MWSiTQkQ5b6qui3JJigm/s1600/DSC_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZIKQ3g0V5YIGsjdQs-tyAYSV1vOy5dndHIhK2tDrXDax_NdJ1rMSvzlARovegTDBhvNCdanQSAQF7LxIXhnTX6udAzt8tlDaVjiaTq7r9spU6XshQ3bt3k96MWSiTQkQ5b6qui3JJigm/s320/DSC_0147.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lidded jar, height approx 6 inches</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwIRnLrIX0TfT0M9WxsLWxQ_lYjEgpP1Hcd9S6-5357HQHId6uC_f5Phzw5aOEv2ahi0eJ_Vn3zF_jPOdejoM8LIP-3u5tRn0Awb_OqrR1wzdMXiZw4qY3mK0gRIGdq5qdUIzmUqbigkP/s1600/Bottle1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwIRnLrIX0TfT0M9WxsLWxQ_lYjEgpP1Hcd9S6-5357HQHId6uC_f5Phzw5aOEv2ahi0eJ_Vn3zF_jPOdejoM8LIP-3u5tRn0Awb_OqrR1wzdMXiZw4qY3mK0gRIGdq5qdUIzmUqbigkP/s320/Bottle1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured vase, height approx 6 inchews</td></tr>
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Another textured vase, this time slips and glazes were applied in bands before a final layer of dolomite and wood ash glaze. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPWRps2spPBzwvEjhyW52EMNL17Fj1j7JpcqwaLbD48URXETDVNXRTTwFqfbqBZ0xrFWqVPkC5i7_3hyphenhyphenx6l4Pufd077vcctePDtSPv_kaxy29MgYR1atloRgHVn-hOYCtVbag-NGZyItH/s1600/bottle2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1455" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPWRps2spPBzwvEjhyW52EMNL17Fj1j7JpcqwaLbD48URXETDVNXRTTwFqfbqBZ0xrFWqVPkC5i7_3hyphenhyphenx6l4Pufd077vcctePDtSPv_kaxy29MgYR1atloRgHVn-hOYCtVbag-NGZyItH/s320/bottle2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured vase, height approx 3.5 inches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtWszPAjY4sza_HpZmgy1gsCWVnAS0aCMlfN7AF4rKuXyFK_FlGmYhYVPmpPOKaJsBPa7xrhwW7HzluCS0qINaaY5RLxivYacdmlQ6XlHb3gE2glYbK31znKvx_TwOMPD2inpVrxq9SL-/s1600/Dish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtWszPAjY4sza_HpZmgy1gsCWVnAS0aCMlfN7AF4rKuXyFK_FlGmYhYVPmpPOKaJsBPa7xrhwW7HzluCS0qINaaY5RLxivYacdmlQ6XlHb3gE2glYbK31znKvx_TwOMPD2inpVrxq9SL-/s320/Dish.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pressed dish, approx 7 ins width</td></tr>
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This dish was made by pressing a slab of clay over a bisqued former. the edges of the clay were left deliberately irregular. Decoration was wax resist with black slip brushed on before a second bisque firing. A small foot was also added at the leather hard stage which just gives the form a bit of a lift and stability. <br />
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I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my work, thanks for your visit! <br /><br /><br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-88649461177610109552017-07-07T04:02:00.005-07:002017-07-07T06:01:37.707-07:00Further developments with textureHere are some recent results from my on-going experiments with surface texture.<br />
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These two vases had a layer of texture and a layer of slip added before the bisc .. six or seven different glazes were then applied before the final firing. The marks underneath the globular vase are from clam shells which act as supports and help to catch and absorb any excess glaze as it runs under the pot!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbOYPBLWhofOt6kz_zlyJIGCRiF664rvvZT447uWPvdIHHKBhPNcyZFtqs8d3UG2wZK6Nr0vasMb_kPQDHvmQoKA7bBHkI0ED_KwbjhMnhCHwgZWSmVHOtf_sFS4CgCDhVRUgSExOJww5/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbOYPBLWhofOt6kz_zlyJIGCRiF664rvvZT447uWPvdIHHKBhPNcyZFtqs8d3UG2wZK6Nr0vasMb_kPQDHvmQoKA7bBHkI0ED_KwbjhMnhCHwgZWSmVHOtf_sFS4CgCDhVRUgSExOJww5/s320/DSC_0047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkfv60jf3XIX47JKkmayCT2EN5UwCoj7snM7PFboECHpHys5T-cbSRANyeRX2YKnZ6olk83xVnwBgAUbL47_sSfW_dzWe-z3zN_QRROeEamu-y4_jvSnkWcLrxTxEJcZJj5lPGmjgnAPA/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkfv60jf3XIX47JKkmayCT2EN5UwCoj7snM7PFboECHpHys5T-cbSRANyeRX2YKnZ6olk83xVnwBgAUbL47_sSfW_dzWe-z3zN_QRROeEamu-y4_jvSnkWcLrxTxEJcZJj5lPGmjgnAPA/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPEA9H312DKeDZXkbhlOvBjhN1jxiGjc73qHJXavZrcx9DYsk_TVh1nvuG91aVO6KNd_iKsrzIjH9pDMhyphenhyphenLhaMP__LMENUhajPMK8y0o8n3uObMO-ygkg_ZRmyaJGV2v9MAOlPaKTVAU8/s1600/DSC_0076b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPEA9H312DKeDZXkbhlOvBjhN1jxiGjc73qHJXavZrcx9DYsk_TVh1nvuG91aVO6KNd_iKsrzIjH9pDMhyphenhyphenLhaMP__LMENUhajPMK8y0o8n3uObMO-ygkg_ZRmyaJGV2v9MAOlPaKTVAU8/s320/DSC_0076b.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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Depending on how thick the walls are after throwing, I may carve the surface of the piece using a loop tool .. this is because the textural slip plus a thick glaze will add considerably to the final weight. But you need to be careful not to go too thin or the wet slip can make the piece collapse, as I have found to my cost!<br />
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Next, a lidded jar, thrown as a closed form and the lid cut out. The texture was added using fingers at the leather hard stage and a crackle ash glaze brushed on after the bisc firing:<br />
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Both of these sculptural pieces were carved at the leatherhard stage and dipped in the same copper glaze (as above) once bisqued:<br />
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The following pieces have burnout materials (in this case wood chippings) incorporated into the clay body. I use a very groggy clay to help the extra moisture from the wood escape from the body during the bisc firing:<br />
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Here is another more sculptural work, made by folding and pinching small slabs of clay together, then cut in half and carefully hollowed out once leatherhard. The inside has been coated with an iron rich slip plus a dolomite and ash glaze, whilst the outside is simply a high-firing black slip brushed on after the bisc. The nice thing about this slip is that it allows the details of the clay body to shine whilst brush marks are left practically invisible:<br />
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And lastly, a couple of vases, both have layers of texture and reactive slip, but with the glaze applied a little thinner which allows the clay surface to show through more:<br />
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With the globular vase, the dolomite and ash glaze was brushed on and gaps deliberately left to reveal the dark, textural slip below .. I call that piece, "Melting Snow".<br />
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I hope you enjoyed your visit, thanks for reading. <br />
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<i>Never give up, the best is yet to come</i></div>
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-57170580472331721042017-04-06T06:57:00.000-07:002017-04-06T06:57:48.017-07:00Artfest 15th to 17th April 2017Just a quick post to say that I will be displaying and selling my ceramic work at ArtFest, part of the Chester, Food Drink and Lifestyle Festival which is being held at Chester Racecourse between the 15th and 17th April 2017. Thirty five members of Chester's Grosvenor Art Society will be there, showing and sharing their skills.<br /><br />My stand will be there only on the Sunday and Monday, 16th and 17th of April. If you're in the area why not have a look round the Festival, visit the Artfest marquee and say hello.<br />
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Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-70930897779859325912016-12-01T09:05:00.001-08:002016-12-07T08:09:30.995-08:00Latest results from the electric kilnWell, all too soon we're back to freezing temperatures here in the UK, which I have to say does make life in the workshop somewhat less enjoyable. I always know winter has properly arrived when my fingers go completely numb after washing my throwing tools in a bucket of water.<br />
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On the plus side, I was happy with most of the pieces that came out of last week's electric firing. The dolomite and wood ash glaze on the textured, globular vase crawled alot but I think in an attractive way, to reveal the first layer of glaze. The crawling wasn't a big surprise as two layers of different glazes were applied without bisquing on the first layer .. and it already had a layer of textured slip and a layer of grey slip underneath those! <br />
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This time the kiln was fired to cone 8 with a half hour soak, slightly lower than normal, aiming to get more and deeper pinholing on some of the dolomite pieces. It worked to some extent on the vases, although on the globular one, the high level of metal oxides in the first layer of glaze made the final coating of dolomite glaze flux and become quite glassy in places. This variation in texture and opacity actually appeals to me, so I plan to do more of this kind of thing in future.<br />
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I don't normally make plates, partly because they take up such alot of space in the kiln, unless you're able to stack them of course. With this one, I placed the seven-inch bowl (shown below) on top of it with clam shells in between. There were also shells supporting the plate so they've left their outlines fused into the glaze on both sides. I especially like the different ways the shells have interacted with the painted slip decoration on the top side, creating something which vaguely resembles a face. I usually buy frozen clams from the fishmongers in large bags, which is probably not the cheapest way to source shells for pottery, but it does mean I get to treat myself to spaghetti ala vongole from time to time!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate (front)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlMWrhtvxSMXSSUIRLMnk1aO-qOcpGmV_ln2I29nZKCLLQqy6A4gmcwPshhbIGRLWvD4glVjG4iSOBzk7l03JKOkcNGPRlXoVhCda91Ip25iLz2hb0gZ75TCnsyDdCYVw3_Qku2NT8EiO/s1600/DSC_0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlMWrhtvxSMXSSUIRLMnk1aO-qOcpGmV_ln2I29nZKCLLQqy6A4gmcwPshhbIGRLWvD4glVjG4iSOBzk7l03JKOkcNGPRlXoVhCda91Ip25iLz2hb0gZ75TCnsyDdCYVw3_Qku2NT8EiO/s320/DSC_0053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate (back)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle vase, height approx 6.5 inches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYgZNFfHhm5k_XxnNRuUY61uFSPET0EFhG2YcQcSLStx7rqzX_Bl1fXjr6tjlFf9DtQ-wLTQzJ6ELZEfrJdplHffGx633KdxKrQ4426cMHqCQiYwV_X2QXQwiyHpNejrjJFeZTtbU2Plv/s1600/DSC_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYgZNFfHhm5k_XxnNRuUY61uFSPET0EFhG2YcQcSLStx7rqzX_Bl1fXjr6tjlFf9DtQ-wLTQzJ6ELZEfrJdplHffGx633KdxKrQ4426cMHqCQiYwV_X2QXQwiyHpNejrjJFeZTtbU2Plv/s320/DSC_0071.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, diameter approx. 6.5 inches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWHhXaaSvGRpKyqofTn4gJie5sCQH7DKp1xQfnU0yrLX7Z_WRHpmMs0VEzg7KY_yvEJqSFlOcYZ7qhtLKBfcBtPEJacQUog7a8gX4oggAXPHcm5mFqnb9Obkt8SVThUZV03IDP4IEQ86j/s1600/DSC_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWHhXaaSvGRpKyqofTn4gJie5sCQH7DKp1xQfnU0yrLX7Z_WRHpmMs0VEzg7KY_yvEJqSFlOcYZ7qhtLKBfcBtPEJacQUog7a8gX4oggAXPHcm5mFqnb9Obkt8SVThUZV03IDP4IEQ86j/s320/DSC_0042.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee cup</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaM-ONglk4eExMRvckRREH3t3thSJbX97XZHnnNiS1f9Dm_02Uh8C1BOMzJW4RSf1gglgfAkTFFa311b0Mu1UKOnkjM1DjV4JouxyQPdP8gUOwAyGWi_59x1tOMykwOCECaEKaS63o9Rk/s1600/DSC_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaM-ONglk4eExMRvckRREH3t3thSJbX97XZHnnNiS1f9Dm_02Uh8C1BOMzJW4RSf1gglgfAkTFFa311b0Mu1UKOnkjM1DjV4JouxyQPdP8gUOwAyGWi_59x1tOMykwOCECaEKaS63o9Rk/s320/DSC_0055.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl, diameter approx 7 inches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i31Re2WKLKcfbSIxhc3rHyeEd5FvH070qj_Qe8-pa_KciIIybZKuJ6S4Lp5TaV2Bvmh2zutKcxD1fppJTVvI5MebeJaFU9I-KQMR9psmkfvAh6Usb4ahrzSSyGWAy5vEFdwFCSzm9qzy/s1600/DSC_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i31Re2WKLKcfbSIxhc3rHyeEd5FvH070qj_Qe8-pa_KciIIybZKuJ6S4Lp5TaV2Bvmh2zutKcxD1fppJTVvI5MebeJaFU9I-KQMR9psmkfvAh6Usb4ahrzSSyGWAy5vEFdwFCSzm9qzy/s320/DSC_0056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl (underside)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdpLXDoDl8VgNyJZfyM2A7yNZ61gmFF1EZShQaIdtDquW9x5QjYCR62kBFtV-bBlSVaTDfURb7pYPk9E4_W84ij0phgylza5PPkFWKhmAmrl_3FQJSi3FuKLp2s47O4JJI1rE5H6RH92P/s1600/DSC_0086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdpLXDoDl8VgNyJZfyM2A7yNZ61gmFF1EZShQaIdtDquW9x5QjYCR62kBFtV-bBlSVaTDfURb7pYPk9E4_W84ij0phgylza5PPkFWKhmAmrl_3FQJSi3FuKLp2s47O4JJI1rE5H6RH92P/s320/DSC_0086.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl closeup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHdiRXBA49B9-EUIBv2addvfGqeyYtfEw3xGmY9d6qzcQ06JJRvLztYoNaU7CyoP2g1bvGY0ly5qqOTpOvm4gVmoIVK6wWUdxmrxgJAvQObpq_8Z0jNPRkAqXAOvgJPNQwBS1ZRwQ4ShE/s1600/DSC_0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHdiRXBA49B9-EUIBv2addvfGqeyYtfEw3xGmY9d6qzcQ06JJRvLztYoNaU7CyoP2g1bvGY0ly5qqOTpOvm4gVmoIVK6wWUdxmrxgJAvQObpq_8Z0jNPRkAqXAOvgJPNQwBS1ZRwQ4ShE/s320/DSC_0101.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured vase, dolomite and wood ash glaze, height 4 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5s2pVjtMULctOXytdXDKAfUHAZkV4ZrVgIYiJjaWj8_p1pJCd-HlFyCVm3yIQNmnsMuAmDtFhyJixLUcapqrWuMO1pqnJTtzpYP3zwU_7XauXJZ-k0YnORaeRG-b3EWUDnpQnF_rDIjVl/s1600/DSC_0072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5s2pVjtMULctOXytdXDKAfUHAZkV4ZrVgIYiJjaWj8_p1pJCd-HlFyCVm3yIQNmnsMuAmDtFhyJixLUcapqrWuMO1pqnJTtzpYP3zwU_7XauXJZ-k0YnORaeRG-b3EWUDnpQnF_rDIjVl/s320/DSC_0072.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee mug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUFt-ewzAFBMmou2zkceZf60ASWLX_Q-8O68n6jG4kwR-XAJl59TzHdedfrPv844_RQW6PKuVOBgFsPe31MkHqTKtjAYyWE2KFwtAg8CJh-eH0OrEGFdk7H5Po6swngoJtLuyQN2UV0LX/s1600/DSC_0075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUFt-ewzAFBMmou2zkceZf60ASWLX_Q-8O68n6jG4kwR-XAJl59TzHdedfrPv844_RQW6PKuVOBgFsPe31MkHqTKtjAYyWE2KFwtAg8CJh-eH0OrEGFdk7H5Po6swngoJtLuyQN2UV0LX/s320/DSC_0075.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved sake cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
I'll be making some of these pieces available on <a href="http://marksmalleyceramics.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">my website</a> over the coming days.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
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<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>Never give up, the best is yet to come.</i></i></div>
<i>
</i></div>
Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-600716172785625372016-11-15T04:12:00.000-08:002016-11-15T04:12:46.011-08:00Successful experiments with dolomite glazes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I'm really growing to love the tactile, satin-smooth surfaces that dolomite glazes produce. When used over other glaze recipes and textures, they can also create interesting rivulets, pinholes and craters. Here are a few pieces from the last couple of electric firings, which on the whole were very successful:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi533ujENoCcrdadqXFcNDfaItHm1FbRpgqTtmHacUvy7XzOJJAVRIAAbCMrPL8xBLmF3nlEuWvQ3V79md_tcs1HHpaGHldiuD_pn5ivlcaoqOgQn6niCxZAYuoFOO3xAUxrsFMRpSTTm79/s1600/DSC_0461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi533ujENoCcrdadqXFcNDfaItHm1FbRpgqTtmHacUvy7XzOJJAVRIAAbCMrPL8xBLmF3nlEuWvQ3V79md_tcs1HHpaGHldiuD_pn5ivlcaoqOgQn6niCxZAYuoFOO3xAUxrsFMRpSTTm79/s320/DSC_0461.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large vase, height 9 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQObNvXXSPvIfznR6hR0QPkQ9NMukqDANuMhFiU-9ONwktpiy1XfT5Occ3IkvjbeeMAprPYySLwcCZOfJHSd-sKFZ06pfiNB8yUNwyFuxT9WcG04X5Qo9cPIjdeFoMqkUgbBQyBFoRei7I/s1600/DSC_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQObNvXXSPvIfznR6hR0QPkQ9NMukqDANuMhFiU-9ONwktpiy1XfT5Occ3IkvjbeeMAprPYySLwcCZOfJHSd-sKFZ06pfiNB8yUNwyFuxT9WcG04X5Qo9cPIjdeFoMqkUgbBQyBFoRei7I/s320/DSC_0019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, close up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZftiP_LpvI99ks6ShmtFxpb_rXERdXxr6kHqaUlYjXtIQw548sOeVeDtvxR6aDuZs8OD4lgDtbtZskbVZz68R27MWZn6Ip6PyhzO9zMiu78kWNAGp6HXNMmGQHRU5RKx-F94YMIkdI9n/s1600/DSC_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZftiP_LpvI99ks6ShmtFxpb_rXERdXxr6kHqaUlYjXtIQw548sOeVeDtvxR6aDuZs8OD4lgDtbtZskbVZz68R27MWZn6Ip6PyhzO9zMiu78kWNAGp6HXNMmGQHRU5RKx-F94YMIkdI9n/s320/DSC_0032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand-pinched dish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFsZD5cmd2ABsU341cHbakA3OTMzT4Y5to2nMVxMd3VCs3w-XKJeoTfOJics35bGerSUv4jPQ_4LWVckvhlH-wgLDnYrThN5Ss05mNbPs_Vvc9ACohEU71OtKQxhYAolq50sHXrWFHLLr/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFsZD5cmd2ABsU341cHbakA3OTMzT4Y5to2nMVxMd3VCs3w-XKJeoTfOJics35bGerSUv4jPQ_4LWVckvhlH-wgLDnYrThN5Ss05mNbPs_Vvc9ACohEU71OtKQxhYAolq50sHXrWFHLLr/s320/DSC_0034.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand-pinched dish interior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTF8KP3SontlSmKFJp549Ms8rXkvPoz23H8IgZuCuXj7BpHTASt7TCC3320f2pNOlsSwXPQilLd9d16Au9enZ1ypvxK1FTOq3uox5RAAxZ2TlP_3a1ZXjM6009lvagUG7aJwRpF_EMOAvU/s1600/DSC_0410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTF8KP3SontlSmKFJp549Ms8rXkvPoz23H8IgZuCuXj7BpHTASt7TCC3320f2pNOlsSwXPQilLd9d16Au9enZ1ypvxK1FTOq3uox5RAAxZ2TlP_3a1ZXjM6009lvagUG7aJwRpF_EMOAvU/s320/DSC_0410.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand-pinched, oval dish, approx. 5 inches long</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcH5E_qOQp2-n0meAc6rRb4tBJD8SXQqXseEVvI1XV95nCubYMJIEsHiAcFj1Q1subOFyEJmxjmrYQf1ZXtf3NeTx0oaIMiw0cM4_rOY_gTNnD0K0q2AY1vNS6cwaLuOcc6zapwp1rNpU/s1600/DSC_0454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcH5E_qOQp2-n0meAc6rRb4tBJD8SXQqXseEVvI1XV95nCubYMJIEsHiAcFj1Q1subOFyEJmxjmrYQf1ZXtf3NeTx0oaIMiw0cM4_rOY_gTNnD0K0q2AY1vNS6cwaLuOcc6zapwp1rNpU/s320/DSC_0454.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl, height approx. 3.5 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef4xAmEf-x9mk0DO7h8-g05nVjGyewwJ_qNXNV9g6dlpt3tQp7sQukXhvf6DUHzYDPg3UD0Xa3Xa32W5gkmP8-xOJpN7_o2wE6zFtZlPjQhZBqcVzESG3AsbUbjMJWYPWEqFfoeeTMRCD/s1600/DSC_0458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef4xAmEf-x9mk0DO7h8-g05nVjGyewwJ_qNXNV9g6dlpt3tQp7sQukXhvf6DUHzYDPg3UD0Xa3Xa32W5gkmP8-xOJpN7_o2wE6zFtZlPjQhZBqcVzESG3AsbUbjMJWYPWEqFfoeeTMRCD/s320/DSC_0458.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl, height approx. 3.5 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw0mNN-gTSSBEaC8HcBBXKcOuZ5oiuVHDfqA1ZYIzAsIeZQwkFb9codJk8FlrrYLga_KbL6AXXQaP0eLERC9WOrvF9Rekt6MqeVoE0s1qMlvbxnliUa_V42obSPFGOIPkCkEmmXApkg6w/s1600/DSC_0432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw0mNN-gTSSBEaC8HcBBXKcOuZ5oiuVHDfqA1ZYIzAsIeZQwkFb9codJk8FlrrYLga_KbL6AXXQaP0eLERC9WOrvF9Rekt6MqeVoE0s1qMlvbxnliUa_V42obSPFGOIPkCkEmmXApkg6w/s320/DSC_0432.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One-pint tankard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9w55CBsVWEQUOfx3TTOdKqy46Pz8Z7AvyuH6-R9SIxu4ErolpT4gN71vs3Dn0EhML0DhHKvyj2GSymgA2h63dEGw-foZlvv3BT4B5Yy_gg5nlfKVfzt_ZmAC411CxIV0OeWiJ84ZOqozR/s1600/DSC_0342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9w55CBsVWEQUOfx3TTOdKqy46Pz8Z7AvyuH6-R9SIxu4ErolpT4gN71vs3Dn0EhML0DhHKvyj2GSymgA2h63dEGw-foZlvv3BT4B5Yy_gg5nlfKVfzt_ZmAC411CxIV0OeWiJ84ZOqozR/s320/DSC_0342.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl, approx 7 inches wide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AUVEv17K7Fdc8y-lacKW3H3N5wjsjrDvpF0gTp_P_CnyLW5lTatWUh1oTNEkwolgQuNRpx9IqgBFoMRBzQgpE4Zf7bwiIn0TnmLXmdVeKVeX_452MlBLKXyeEuJljxxrQaWRNXb48MAy/s1600/DSC_0457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AUVEv17K7Fdc8y-lacKW3H3N5wjsjrDvpF0gTp_P_CnyLW5lTatWUh1oTNEkwolgQuNRpx9IqgBFoMRBzQgpE4Zf7bwiIn0TnmLXmdVeKVeX_452MlBLKXyeEuJljxxrQaWRNXb48MAy/s320/DSC_0457.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle vase, height approx. 6 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb1lOedp2SHDJ1zjeqLKHqsZe3VasQ-KDmySlfqclbVp0GeUGAPc_lIjaE3KSCqqK6JGnZ6LcbsMPty0N_DSOlSF2-coBzhcygQ1rnJbDCzn2fHg53pqwxKTPELteieBeaXbt_kvNxFct/s1600/DSC_0462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb1lOedp2SHDJ1zjeqLKHqsZe3VasQ-KDmySlfqclbVp0GeUGAPc_lIjaE3KSCqqK6JGnZ6LcbsMPty0N_DSOlSF2-coBzhcygQ1rnJbDCzn2fHg53pqwxKTPELteieBeaXbt_kvNxFct/s320/DSC_0462.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small coffee cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUXLG9e_dFxu7B7OlcZrHu2SZjXyyW4CESiXT3Cg__HImP0qDj_w6k-qMmsuht5t947PqA5LVgwfs_GPI9yzbBWs_S4Fz-UsMzCc322eXkt21CJIAHX7Tih27bWsw7ggqRQsDvsb4Njj-/s1600/DSC_0329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUXLG9e_dFxu7B7OlcZrHu2SZjXyyW4CESiXT3Cg__HImP0qDj_w6k-qMmsuht5t947PqA5LVgwfs_GPI9yzbBWs_S4Fz-UsMzCc322eXkt21CJIAHX7Tih27bWsw7ggqRQsDvsb4Njj-/s320/DSC_0329.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand-built vase, height approx 7 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ImxDGmQ981632dB3ZuJWquF1R7S1FwQXxQNwJ_cjN0ee-stYoIiHk-gPujACdBs03YqgVLCSJsX4538lTPJs9xk2_d18v67uJGXN4Uq9_thBtO3ysY8mTOoe_p2wm4wRIfUSiw9OnsFr/s1600/Copy+of+DSC_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ImxDGmQ981632dB3ZuJWquF1R7S1FwQXxQNwJ_cjN0ee-stYoIiHk-gPujACdBs03YqgVLCSJsX4538lTPJs9xk2_d18v67uJGXN4Uq9_thBtO3ysY8mTOoe_p2wm4wRIfUSiw9OnsFr/s320/Copy+of+DSC_0339.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved sake cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf_ohkTMJDi1h0t98ipytRXylI2i8iwje4a4n5POLIuzS3SlraktaBTSpw-WUbE4Dtj9kfJuvd_xTLpYBrHH_lWlxKGtR97XDjUPgW_MXpTDNe1zh6_E4BEivIBaVgz6_Y5rQYrKQaCf5/s1600/DSC_0355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf_ohkTMJDi1h0t98ipytRXylI2i8iwje4a4n5POLIuzS3SlraktaBTSpw-WUbE4Dtj9kfJuvd_xTLpYBrHH_lWlxKGtR97XDjUPgW_MXpTDNe1zh6_E4BEivIBaVgz6_Y5rQYrKQaCf5/s320/DSC_0355.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, height approx. 8.5 inches</td></tr>
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I'll be bringing these and many other pieces to the Olive and Stitch, artisan fair at the Civic Centre, Alsager, Cheshire this Saturday, 19th of November and the 17th of December:<br />
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<br />If you happen to live locally or are passing through the area, why not drop by and say hello?<br /><br />Thanks for reading!<br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------<br />
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<i>Never give up the best is yet to come</i></div>
<br /><br /><br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-77109997352747560292016-10-14T06:53:00.000-07:002017-03-02T04:41:52.435-08:00Interesting effects from a new copper glaze This year, I've spent alot of time playing around with new techniques for creating surface texture, and some of those experiments are starting to bear fruit. I'm also getting pleasing results from combinations of dolomite glazes with my black slip. Applying this glaze to a moderate thickness and firing to just the right temperature is critical in allowing the slip to show through while retaining the lovely, marble-like texture of the dolomite. Below are photos of pieces I recently fired in the electric kiln, all of which were taken up to around cone 9 with a half-hour soak.<br />
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The pots where the glaze has dripped a great deal were given a coating of a new glaze containing copper oxide and carbonate and this produces a very nice range of colours, from dark greys and greens to purple, pink and orange .. the tiny crystal-like orange spots which form in the glaze runs are rather special too. The textured orange-brown glaze on the first vase is also quite interesting as it was made from a mixture of ash from smokeless coal, plus some wood ash (50), china clay (60) plus 2% copper carbonate. The coal ash is highly refractory and doesn't flux to the same extent as wood ash .. also it seems to produce a similar colour whether fired in reduction or oxidation. I like the slightly sandy, coarse texture of this glaze as a contrast with the more shiny, runny copper glaze.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpgXKsME2bEl5T580RlMLy0txfeHVSR1lFO1dWF_6mcgmkD1RPhQhFCEqUB5l1cR2WJkbV-Oz7ryDMREIKPOBD8tllYQFGjacTvs3smVFGhsn1Enl2KlQAkZmj0aXmojQKiIRmmTJQUNF/s1600/DSC_0303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpgXKsME2bEl5T580RlMLy0txfeHVSR1lFO1dWF_6mcgmkD1RPhQhFCEqUB5l1cR2WJkbV-Oz7ryDMREIKPOBD8tllYQFGjacTvs3smVFGhsn1Enl2KlQAkZmj0aXmojQKiIRmmTJQUNF/s320/DSC_0303.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large vase with copper glazes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0hA8ZT9qnnGUT_X1vuHShEx2KgThYvfXhZS421LucyeU0z1B_nbaqXxWRK8iOo_K2wGX-zeUsHr8W_ECZ-Lk5ea97ageg3Q-tRmKevp1w6ffKcOAeBj2CdjuMJ5Xdd2nDX5-o8CBeuIP/s1600/DSC_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0hA8ZT9qnnGUT_X1vuHShEx2KgThYvfXhZS421LucyeU0z1B_nbaqXxWRK8iOo_K2wGX-zeUsHr8W_ECZ-Lk5ea97ageg3Q-tRmKevp1w6ffKcOAeBj2CdjuMJ5Xdd2nDX5-o8CBeuIP/s320/DSC_0252.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl with orange slip and copper glazes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr9vG0i3xF5f0-Pej47C7fmPItDkVOs5MYraWoPWNgGG5mwbvDTNq1T1mbaaH6sLjyukzmjNiIsxmsGErE7jagoMId4hMJVI5b2mb6E4-mBAaAriuau-Krr8oX_Wg62LW6310LCxGZIoS/s1600/DSC_0266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr9vG0i3xF5f0-Pej47C7fmPItDkVOs5MYraWoPWNgGG5mwbvDTNq1T1mbaaH6sLjyukzmjNiIsxmsGErE7jagoMId4hMJVI5b2mb6E4-mBAaAriuau-Krr8oX_Wg62LW6310LCxGZIoS/s320/DSC_0266.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cup with dolomite glaze over black slip</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LW8e61g2Ue81dEgeykeXVJhQpksYQik1ugOFb0krxXjxA8_7nZNNYyhZBUM35xpqkz_WW-xKMRnFxwL8BptRgcWthiPQ9xdABWIgGQACzTiSueOxcb-oZOnbIpUouiZ8AgqyTv5Cva4r/s1600/DSC_0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LW8e61g2Ue81dEgeykeXVJhQpksYQik1ugOFb0krxXjxA8_7nZNNYyhZBUM35xpqkz_WW-xKMRnFxwL8BptRgcWthiPQ9xdABWIgGQACzTiSueOxcb-oZOnbIpUouiZ8AgqyTv5Cva4r/s320/DSC_0247.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase with slip plus three glazes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYlj6UdrQbjCVQ7KY6yBxPeaMSgFyEqRs01vBjBLj-hxAWtj9XmY6jQ2qr1wEqI3FjQnpQRvmCImg8HW510dzcR9NBAQavjNDObDu2oqZL_PSF1kxga6GrUrNBEjSkZcoABBKxa7J6Vn_/s1600/DSC_0321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYlj6UdrQbjCVQ7KY6yBxPeaMSgFyEqRs01vBjBLj-hxAWtj9XmY6jQ2qr1wEqI3FjQnpQRvmCImg8HW510dzcR9NBAQavjNDObDu2oqZL_PSF1kxga6GrUrNBEjSkZcoABBKxa7J6Vn_/s320/DSC_0321.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured vase with dolomite glaze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNzvMaSbUJmcPW1Fl6wzVOzANN7dMQXsvh6OZWJn9nleRMquEE9U4w9LziU4qVShF_FvYgL9GiGUfDbdctTklSBwYyKPOtPkbBmEaPxVZTD65TYv_J5FxwxLJg2OOlNR0Zk1z13Y4C15b/s1600/DSC_0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNzvMaSbUJmcPW1Fl6wzVOzANN7dMQXsvh6OZWJn9nleRMquEE9U4w9LziU4qVShF_FvYgL9GiGUfDbdctTklSBwYyKPOtPkbBmEaPxVZTD65TYv_J5FxwxLJg2OOlNR0Zk1z13Y4C15b/s320/DSC_0260.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl with dolomite glaze over black slip</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIKqhSgg9I8c3pPILqDL-GPoSCtIjyyY3UnvAobQ2bI5YCrL8H-sBPnSlQCJz5u4fNzaqkU9PhPu-JAZ5pIVEl_iKh3jh45tuWy5-uan3AIjgpY7A1hEGAzsuLbSipnjqZo7fHvG_ZvhR/s1600/DSC_0314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIKqhSgg9I8c3pPILqDL-GPoSCtIjyyY3UnvAobQ2bI5YCrL8H-sBPnSlQCJz5u4fNzaqkU9PhPu-JAZ5pIVEl_iKh3jh45tuWy5-uan3AIjgpY7A1hEGAzsuLbSipnjqZo7fHvG_ZvhR/s320/DSC_0314.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cup with copper glaze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKhpGN1PFSdj34BtMJDCZzoiCTVaYKmHHdWb0qvdjJAzil_SRIUhpE25T0HU7gnmFFu85zNtoLx__OyhnlVfe2Y0m2Um9vZHKPNwTyCay_jWCAMnsMOqYYL4NK-K3Ci0ppNBYcXkPxbcc/s1600/DSC_0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKhpGN1PFSdj34BtMJDCZzoiCTVaYKmHHdWb0qvdjJAzil_SRIUhpE25T0HU7gnmFFu85zNtoLx__OyhnlVfe2Y0m2Um9vZHKPNwTyCay_jWCAMnsMOqYYL4NK-K3Ci0ppNBYcXkPxbcc/s320/DSC_0275.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large vase with dolomite and copper glazes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuk6QaDsw8BbMKgJLy06hzNCHyLPgnsQuzXUOd_SJtfsqsA6zzeIx9snWaEBf67Ig2VpiE4X5DJLQzfaC87j5E7q2leByGymw44JquaL91rirsx4MpQWxYbW2X3UE4qwukYjKIodc_G22p/s1600/DSC_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuk6QaDsw8BbMKgJLy06hzNCHyLPgnsQuzXUOd_SJtfsqsA6zzeIx9snWaEBf67Ig2VpiE4X5DJLQzfaC87j5E7q2leByGymw44JquaL91rirsx4MpQWxYbW2X3UE4qwukYjKIodc_G22p/s320/DSC_0240.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved vase with copper glaze (height 38 cms)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMZePByybuDRW1gvZorSMaJAbsGaT89wTrFWo7Sudf6hjhVy97HdbZyuM9wY4trHpsMBX0JM39M1U3i7BftYLf7R_Bb92-4JwPeXH3fFRgNS3rAHwVLcgYHVv33e-FMqmoM0g9kg36S4V/s1600/DSC_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMZePByybuDRW1gvZorSMaJAbsGaT89wTrFWo7Sudf6hjhVy97HdbZyuM9wY4trHpsMBX0JM39M1U3i7BftYLf7R_Bb92-4JwPeXH3fFRgNS3rAHwVLcgYHVv33e-FMqmoM0g9kg36S4V/s320/DSC_0234.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pebble vase with copper glaze over iron and black slips</td></tr>
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<i>Never give up, the best is yet to come</i></div>
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Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-89266282406979754212016-05-10T07:08:00.003-07:002016-05-10T07:12:43.376-07:00A new website and a good May firingWell, I can barely believe it's May already, how quickly this year is flying by! After an <i>extremely</i> cold April in the UK, things have warmed up alot over the last few days with a beautiful, sunny weekend and now the air is even feeling quite hot and muggy.That usually means rain will soon follow, if not storms!<br />
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Here's a quick plug for my new website "Mark Smalley Ceramics".. the link for which you may have already spotted in the right hand column of the blog. At the moment I'm running it alongside the shop on <a href="https://folksy.com/" target="_blank">Folksy</a>, so there are different pots listed on each. Below is a screenshot of the entry page, and clicking <a href="http://marksmalleyceramics.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">here</a> will open the site in an new window:<br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9zEmGhuHMO5IdZntbmQ-v5-QF9kJbEcc8oWFXOUbuLh9AOOiEYsvdJZfANHGgfFQ9k3XkWJu-DD8STYLEzLsCSLnc_5Sl3aI2t5H7E1bmcbZgQuBvJLIlszXsLdKGStLvfNq68P2_RtV/s320/screenshotB.jpg" width="284" /></div>
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I hope you might like to visit some time. It's still a work in progress to some extent, so if there are any problems navigating or purchasing work, I'd really appreciate your feedback via a comment or e-mail, thank you.<br />
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Anyway, new pots have been made and the first electric firing of the month was pretty successful, especially as I finally achieved a grey finish which I like very much. It's actually my hybrid dolomite glaze over the black iron engobe I developed recently, and I'm delighted with the variegated, optical hues this produces. The smooth, satin surface texture is very pleasant to touch as well. The five pieces below were dipped in the engobe and bisc fired again before applying the glaze:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSotsS0SQW0wkjdQQKHy1mwlQtZsql9giSajCRLdk2q6KkPjQLtomLZnyD2Fs5BBq2UaSvORbUuaFcO9HZsSt_4jHmbnqi03zxCgl3bIh-vdb7TdHqZhtfh46-aN_G4ZwA-LJ5dkAJwTF/s1600/DSC_0072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSotsS0SQW0wkjdQQKHy1mwlQtZsql9giSajCRLdk2q6KkPjQLtomLZnyD2Fs5BBq2UaSvORbUuaFcO9HZsSt_4jHmbnqi03zxCgl3bIh-vdb7TdHqZhtfh46-aN_G4ZwA-LJ5dkAJwTF/s320/DSC_0072.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Espresso cup</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wgssk37W_3z3LeLsmvA-KMHfA6XtxmBcTWSQMWsuSO2lcMNpGiTgB3CjDc4ccKaeNBy1Ybs1tlCLn10CBXeicPub-r2l5plAChoxh-fDY_goiSnmCEdw1oL0hzPUD7JxXgYP9OArqIyg/s1600/DSC_0077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wgssk37W_3z3LeLsmvA-KMHfA6XtxmBcTWSQMWsuSO2lcMNpGiTgB3CjDc4ccKaeNBy1Ybs1tlCLn10CBXeicPub-r2l5plAChoxh-fDY_goiSnmCEdw1oL0hzPUD7JxXgYP9OArqIyg/s320/DSC_0077.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large coffee mug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEz-PVQxjzDtNHsFnv9uX-UDoAhnqQS9-dQqcUFRQOzL7SjkoyPkwE01newM3qmZ-mz4JhxH30FV4HbJyMM34vsKQbX5fcrKOWqhXsnCsIi8W-VB8B5fqNqjEjpqVWJ3CUWGrdvdlf-dz/s1600/DSC_0079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEz-PVQxjzDtNHsFnv9uX-UDoAhnqQS9-dQqcUFRQOzL7SjkoyPkwE01newM3qmZ-mz4JhxH30FV4HbJyMM34vsKQbX5fcrKOWqhXsnCsIi8W-VB8B5fqNqjEjpqVWJ3CUWGrdvdlf-dz/s320/DSC_0079.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eQU7SMn-4Zx__oHzL42BIxdq0xXI9o3NOllOFc45U6OCTsuff7FMQFF5AHp0ZFJfo7hcgpR92dsEh9_yUP76q9tV0D1PAwzL9u32E3d6NgVeOlnfSYTKCbYCOJbZbqBfhaFO4bkdkVfC/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eQU7SMn-4Zx__oHzL42BIxdq0xXI9o3NOllOFc45U6OCTsuff7FMQFF5AHp0ZFJfo7hcgpR92dsEh9_yUP76q9tV0D1PAwzL9u32E3d6NgVeOlnfSYTKCbYCOJbZbqBfhaFO4bkdkVfC/s320/DSC_0081.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vessel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4spV61jWe09kEBZnKQYx4N8csB9YXX6wYevMEiLLyyhZhc8OMoYVTQewgwHBbpnaW1Vyxhm220-KkmNExjDrDMYN-BLkriW7au7oyEC_9OSCdgTtt0AaRBMyqT-19URV9IAQklk9N8RV/s1600/DSC_0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4spV61jWe09kEBZnKQYx4N8csB9YXX6wYevMEiLLyyhZhc8OMoYVTQewgwHBbpnaW1Vyxhm220-KkmNExjDrDMYN-BLkriW7au7oyEC_9OSCdgTtt0AaRBMyqT-19URV9IAQklk9N8RV/s320/DSC_0084.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Footed cup or bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
In future, the engobe should work if applied to leather hard ware, perhaps even bone dry, I will have to experiment further..<br />
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The next two pieces, had the engobe sponged on which gives a fairly random, uneven application. I felt this worked rather nicely on the tall, lidded jar, but maybe less so on the tea bowl where more of the clay body shows through. A matter of personal taste perhaps..<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Wu-Y-vtO0KNFdleta0l_YZrDzGj0ExgXUcvEThz_Jf2ZrKCrkTItjgHd7P3cajaL208HDJrSYeQo6fFYFhBZbi_Feq7vs7QNAU8jCH-aPFwA59GbXh8omJIlU3-6Vcfn70kmgSOHRiFh/s1600/DSC_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Wu-Y-vtO0KNFdleta0l_YZrDzGj0ExgXUcvEThz_Jf2ZrKCrkTItjgHd7P3cajaL208HDJrSYeQo6fFYFhBZbi_Feq7vs7QNAU8jCH-aPFwA59GbXh8omJIlU3-6Vcfn70kmgSOHRiFh/s320/DSC_0009.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lidded jar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgql76_WK__KhKBHiVQncFJOMdOF68pz5CZXnq3H-8QM3nkwTSjQo5tzlxq976LGgZLslYVVmDmHLBWSO7pSkMUYsvlm8PwVg4e9uumfShxbTkHGXw2XxmaKo4ncaYPhrj4t08-hiMKk9/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgql76_WK__KhKBHiVQncFJOMdOF68pz5CZXnq3H-8QM3nkwTSjQo5tzlxq976LGgZLslYVVmDmHLBWSO7pSkMUYsvlm8PwVg4e9uumfShxbTkHGXw2XxmaKo4ncaYPhrj4t08-hiMKk9/s320/DSC_0090.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large tea bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And finally, a piece I think is quite special .. a globular vase with black "Nezumi" slip and dolomite glaze. This piece received exactly the right glaze thickness and an ideal amount of heat work which has allowed some of the slip oxides to rise through to the surface of the glaze. Just occasionally the kiln gods grant you exactly the result you had envisioned before the firing!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hwfDWAqWuwn5P5v3uwAzmPqo3rlop6dw1DBO7o4zV_qPkCk0SkF3LwomGAAM4poaYtFlWGO442WsTh9PecaMww2D5PUdGAdAEkINlflEuffB2KpOSrOWj2N_TknBewU7TB9geiW7ijiT/s1600/DSC_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hwfDWAqWuwn5P5v3uwAzmPqo3rlop6dw1DBO7o4zV_qPkCk0SkF3LwomGAAM4poaYtFlWGO442WsTh9PecaMww2D5PUdGAdAEkINlflEuffB2KpOSrOWj2N_TknBewU7TB9geiW7ijiT/s320/DSC_0094.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, width approx 4 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGogaBntM8rzDXcv1rUdI0_PmnjBKRxjLdvf1tGu4jlffbMKBDzLYZC7k_wr22XD-XuaHHjQ4V9hJF9Jcad6lsX3uytL7L7J0UIK4lH4N8wczW8GF9Qd_kHF7Cu_M06bOX0rcGWo-xAgfh/s1600/DSC_0099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGogaBntM8rzDXcv1rUdI0_PmnjBKRxjLdvf1tGu4jlffbMKBDzLYZC7k_wr22XD-XuaHHjQ4V9hJF9Jcad6lsX3uytL7L7J0UIK4lH4N8wczW8GF9Qd_kHF7Cu_M06bOX0rcGWo-xAgfh/s320/DSC_0099.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase; glaze closeup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Thank you for reading!<br />
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-----------------------------------<br />
<br />
<i>Never give up, the best is yet to come</i><br />
<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-84239093624497882112016-04-13T09:54:00.002-07:002016-04-17T05:32:38.928-07:00There are no shortcuts in ceramicsNo one said making pottery would be easy, and from my experience, very few steps in the process are simple or straightforward. Well, that is partly what makes it so rewarding when pleasing results finally emerge from the kiln .. a bit like getting to the pinnacle of a mountain one has tried to scale several times (not my cup of tea I hasten to add, as I can't stand heights!).<br />
<br />
I say that because events last week tested my mettle somewhat. The electric kiln is getting on a bit now at twenty years old and having spent hours replacing all the elements a few weeks ago, it then failed on me twice within six days, both times very close to the end of a glaze firing!! The word "disappointed" doesn't quite cover it, but there was no option other than to plough on, repair the kiln, then re-pack and fire it a third time. So I was extremely relieved last Saturday that it made it to cones 9 and 10, even though it did go a little too high again. I find that with new elements, my kiln fires very quickly and even with a short soak, it's easy for the temperature to overshoot by a cone.<br />
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The pots on the top shelf tend to get a fair bit more heat work and some of the glazes were more translucent than normal. I was still happy with most of the pieces, especially this cup where the under-glaze decoration has bled slightly into the dolomite glaze:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15WY9-VWkDSi65MvCOXBfCJalYNdVs0td-edlNi4COXyiH8I-Gruq9-6BNbcx2uz8J8uFkB3wdFYXdntf6kP2OWYx6X4BM6rQE3YzZ1uFzcPvAZLTNDUjUQIeSCXrRDZ8OiykfLogRTFd/s1600/DSC_0286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15WY9-VWkDSi65MvCOXBfCJalYNdVs0td-edlNi4COXyiH8I-Gruq9-6BNbcx2uz8J8uFkB3wdFYXdntf6kP2OWYx6X4BM6rQE3YzZ1uFzcPvAZLTNDUjUQIeSCXrRDZ8OiykfLogRTFd/s320/DSC_0286.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here are some of the other pieces from the firing:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpJuptPyi9VJDQOiSiKnOzraUtgNEU-mEkMcrKJR4Nni2IMEBjSFA850L37BJ7PiiwkNd9Si_McpOfi8rqGaX7noPgzg2t3q-Qfpm3ayTHcs9oJsDdFhthTaNOdvbOVLF-c-zUVXavt1w/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpJuptPyi9VJDQOiSiKnOzraUtgNEU-mEkMcrKJR4Nni2IMEBjSFA850L37BJ7PiiwkNd9Si_McpOfi8rqGaX7noPgzg2t3q-Qfpm3ayTHcs9oJsDdFhthTaNOdvbOVLF-c-zUVXavt1w/s320/DSC_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks for your visit!<br />
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<i>Never give up, the best is yet to come </i><br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-84852640194584956522016-03-28T07:50:00.002-07:002018-05-12T03:12:53.599-07:00So where did this glaze go wrong? <br />
Ahem .. well.. adding an extra layer of the matt gold glaze (a simple recipe containing kaolin, manganese dioxide and copper oxide) and refiring them a cone higher didn't work terribly well! The firing yesterday went to cone 8 (and 9 as well accidentally) .. yet the gold colour of the manganese has still failed to emerge, or rather it has appeared but only sporadically. Most of the glaze has come out dull and way too dark (as per the first attempt) and I'm rather baffled as to what has gone wrong.<br />
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I tested the same glaze on small head sculptures some years ago and they came out pretty well .. admittedly the finish wasn't perfectly even:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVcWjISdtUK32relvwbLwf1HkKB48dyid7oZyyh3wADbvH-oWA3AeR7qW9d3sJ_Xg-L_v7pz4kvDizg5LbZSKSaZxLjfW9lSR4kQAP7xLylsOJozY2-4N9HTfxtSlHwixeJuo3in7S6it/s1600/2636842452_78abeebfc3_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVcWjISdtUK32relvwbLwf1HkKB48dyid7oZyyh3wADbvH-oWA3AeR7qW9d3sJ_Xg-L_v7pz4kvDizg5LbZSKSaZxLjfW9lSR4kQAP7xLylsOJozY2-4N9HTfxtSlHwixeJuo3in7S6it/s320/2636842452_78abeebfc3_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceramic sketches, 2008</td></tr>
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And decided to try this again now as I figured this glaze would work well on some of the more textured pieces I've been making lately. So the finish above was what I was aiming for, but this was a new batch of glaze, a new supply of manganese and copper oxide and these were some of the results which were very different, and on the whole, didn't live up to expectations:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwwKA_TxRxXGtvluVP6snoDvyltaR7kFe-7ND0VZL2R9IFAv9LNasC4iWvzmRgrfk0JG2SCSJJxubSZzPbADB5Glrx8Jha5vDZeOZA6jhwqMAoqj33zxBN7MkxWKZXy5SSsjbmgIp2sxD/s1600/DSC_0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwwKA_TxRxXGtvluVP6snoDvyltaR7kFe-7ND0VZL2R9IFAv9LNasC4iWvzmRgrfk0JG2SCSJJxubSZzPbADB5Glrx8Jha5vDZeOZA6jhwqMAoqj33zxBN7MkxWKZXy5SSsjbmgIp2sxD/s320/DSC_0247.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle vase, height 3.5 ins</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaV9QBsxZc4NpMpPM2bfv5WnrUybCuW5TmRe2RvxrqnPC2If6uq0SKoSgzFvoVGHmw2PkZWIuSMHRoLBtdLldqyBzdClXlpsD5qNKYgNHhuwR3F32eSWWw3GgP3IcxPuIrCvQpwVLm-mw/s1600/DSC_0259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaV9QBsxZc4NpMpPM2bfv5WnrUybCuW5TmRe2RvxrqnPC2If6uq0SKoSgzFvoVGHmw2PkZWIuSMHRoLBtdLldqyBzdClXlpsD5qNKYgNHhuwR3F32eSWWw3GgP3IcxPuIrCvQpwVLm-mw/s320/DSC_0259.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vases</td></tr>
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Another larger vase (not shown) barely had any gold hue at all, and two layers were brushed on, so I would be surprised if glaze thickness is the issue here. Having said that I did use a small amount of CMC suspender to avoid brushmarks and perhaps this reduced the glaze thickness? It is puzzling and perhaps the new batches of materials have something to do with it. Also my electric kiln elements are new so the firing is faster than normal .. could it be insufficent heat work in parts of the kiln? Certainly the cones dropped very quickly at the end, and strangely, cone nine, which was placed directly behind cone eight, bent exactly in tandem, something I've never seen happen before. I assume this was because it's slightly further away from the spy hole, but would a centimeter or two make so much difference? <br />
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Although the colours are muted, I feel the matt metallic finish is very effective on this heavily textured vase:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcZJmvClaOEMU8NBKpXEQiJjGyWjphKbpj1XRaNIR3-Rgg0xfUkizUm0Di-Kqqh-x-GBSSagG9JDoxRpZqFUZMRuL4zsb3ceKiox7zEmd2Mebh3bU7PdChy0AjNWg3mMo6WCcT56xIEzE/s1600/DSC_0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcZJmvClaOEMU8NBKpXEQiJjGyWjphKbpj1XRaNIR3-Rgg0xfUkizUm0Di-Kqqh-x-GBSSagG9JDoxRpZqFUZMRuL4zsb3ceKiox7zEmd2Mebh3bU7PdChy0AjNWg3mMo6WCcT56xIEzE/s320/DSC_0239.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oval vase, height approx. 5 ins</td></tr>
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I guess dipping could improve application, but I don't fancy the health hazards of making a bucket of glaze which contains 30% metal oxides! The cost for a start would be fairly prohibitive.<br />
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Well, if anyone has worked with this kind of glaze and would like to share ideas, please do leave a comment. <br />
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On the bright side, this dotty bowl was glazed with a new batch of my translucent dolomite recipe, and I was very happy with the result:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NQX8u0z5S2j2b19nHh5EPs-fgh_N10ywuNdOKSosog1KiRSCPb5OFFRztR4w2gGYoUTz5zbmln7Uxu5_XnjcXRUlYqBdEX0QgB3r60e2nwtp4dKP5PXO5z_K18GqHrOQ75x-qwku8QPt/s1600/DSC_0213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NQX8u0z5S2j2b19nHh5EPs-fgh_N10ywuNdOKSosog1KiRSCPb5OFFRztR4w2gGYoUTz5zbmln7Uxu5_XnjcXRUlYqBdEX0QgB3r60e2nwtp4dKP5PXO5z_K18GqHrOQ75x-qwku8QPt/s320/DSC_0213.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl, height approx 3.5 inches</td></tr>
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And this little hanging vase with nezumi style shino came out okay too .. a piece I've been meaning to fire for ages:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguud93rQI_gSUiBfMJBz-rMGhoX3-pb-b8pXRSpp1eVgsXHfMx12T_C08ZTBESxqmGl9iOyh8MEczIa4d5P6kKKdItyfXDhSMQna4EiZ7P1Usyo2xwAAwbizakAwS_XpxL4kYGOxSri-Bi/s1600/DSC_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguud93rQI_gSUiBfMJBz-rMGhoX3-pb-b8pXRSpp1eVgsXHfMx12T_C08ZTBESxqmGl9iOyh8MEczIa4d5P6kKKdItyfXDhSMQna4EiZ7P1Usyo2xwAAwbizakAwS_XpxL4kYGOxSri-Bi/s320/DSC_0243.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Anyway, it's Bank Holiday here today so the weather is grim, grim, grim .. high winds and lashings of rain! Which partly explains why I'm indoors tapping away on the PC. Have a great week everyone, and thanks for reading!<br />
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<b>Update</b>: I now think there's a good chance that the dullness and lack of gold finish is due to the china clay content being too high, combined with the clay body of the pots being very refractory. This could explain why the glaze hasn't melted sufficiently ... so, the next step is too make another batch with a higher proportion of metal oxide, and fire it a third time. However, next time I will try it out on just a couple of pieces! Like many potters I suspect, I am sometimes guilty of ignoring the old saying "Test, test and test again!"<br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-39133137354467548122016-03-27T06:20:00.003-07:002016-11-26T08:00:45.215-08:00The quest for a matt grey glaze continues..<br />
So, it's been a while and I'm still trying to develop that elusive, matt "grey" glaze! So far I've concluded that black iron oxide only produces grey either in an engobe which isn't fully vitrified, or in larger percentages which gives a very dark grey-brown, verging on black. Ideally, I'm looking for a light grey like this, but with more sheen to it: <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ys-pO7kAJ5PH7f7__XX2pMMc21NP-guCbkUEqZjI7KdcbqphEgPIG4ME28rwJBE8qiQBn_Bijw5k6Msq4rMJIJk13RT5rscMFm_dToCJ45n-564LCfTDQ5hhXXQeab39iaw-mmqAmhc5/s1600/DSC_0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ys-pO7kAJ5PH7f7__XX2pMMc21NP-guCbkUEqZjI7KdcbqphEgPIG4ME28rwJBE8qiQBn_Bijw5k6Msq4rMJIJk13RT5rscMFm_dToCJ45n-564LCfTDQ5hhXXQeab39iaw-mmqAmhc5/s320/DSC_0164.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test tiles, fired in oxidation to cone 9</td></tr>
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The two test fires on the left were pleasing .. made with an engobe (clay, potash feldspar and a little raw ash), plus small amounts of black iron oxide, nickel oxide and cobalt oxide. But since I started using a new batch of black iron I've been unable to repeat it, instead just obtaining various shades of green-grey or brown. Incidentally, the test piece on the left was made by mixing red earthenware with a coarse raku body .. I've found that this combination can withstand cone 8/9 firings in an electric kiln).<br />
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The following tiles were made with a matt ash glaze (adapted from <a href="http://www.cotswoldpottery.co.uk/" target="_blank">John Jelf</a>'s ochre ash glaze recipe) and varying amounts of black iron, cobalt and manganese dioxide (instead of the nickel):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyTltuu23ANI9dtW30JGf7u7JpNkY3sRXXMD2YNfla-sB3_T63riczElD1IAFgIXkn7vnyqhzLljFudkZGOC5SsEJGCV8d8m-CzRX1HmRqdkh0nrwI-GVq0945RZjOF6ME-9RQym62myt/s1600/DSC_0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyTltuu23ANI9dtW30JGf7u7JpNkY3sRXXMD2YNfla-sB3_T63riczElD1IAFgIXkn7vnyqhzLljFudkZGOC5SsEJGCV8d8m-CzRX1HmRqdkh0nrwI-GVq0945RZjOF6ME-9RQym62myt/s320/DSC_0166.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test tiles fired in oxidation to cone 9</td></tr>
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The test second from left (above) was close but no cigar .. and funnily enough this was made with a cheap black iron bought from Ebay which looked more impure and browner in its raw state than those bought from pottery suppliers. The other sources of black iron produced much browner hues: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESjqnTlGWX6X_6iVJWSIepVkNwtflcvN7rBK3VJmOWwlEySbIHgqLfGUZwG-HRW6Fe4vcwCqm5JE-g48ho7PDs6ukyD_a-Eb-fKR081SDK_y708sqIyJw5RcMmNlOwT56Rm_-2w2NgKFP/s1600/DSC_0172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESjqnTlGWX6X_6iVJWSIepVkNwtflcvN7rBK3VJmOWwlEySbIHgqLfGUZwG-HRW6Fe4vcwCqm5JE-g48ho7PDs6ukyD_a-Eb-fKR081SDK_y708sqIyJw5RcMmNlOwT56Rm_-2w2NgKFP/s320/DSC_0172.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The tile on the left looks grey but is really an extremely dark brown (over 4% black iron oxide). <br />
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The most convincing grey I've concocted so far is with another engobe recipe, here applied thinly by dipping a bisqued pot, then fired to cone 7: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzZCqCZF-fzvNLNbz-2KD2B4gg7FKVNCx6fJovSfHy4-MW_7wdPYQ4sxp5Fot6QsoFDy-FadS41cGRCvlK4ymx0LA5ecLZwZLV_amjrQOFauHoa7egRRbGxae1S1PcIL8fXSfAtx8uuC0/s1600/DSC_0177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzZCqCZF-fzvNLNbz-2KD2B4gg7FKVNCx6fJovSfHy4-MW_7wdPYQ4sxp5Fot6QsoFDy-FadS41cGRCvlK4ymx0LA5ecLZwZLV_amjrQOFauHoa7egRRbGxae1S1PcIL8fXSfAtx8uuC0/s320/DSC_0177.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Still too dark to be used on its own, and possibly verging on black rather than grey. The engobe recipe if anyone would like to try it:<br />
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HVAR ball clay 50<br />
China clay 50<br />
Potash feldspar 20<br />
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plus, as a percentage of the total dry weight: 8% black iron oxide, 3% manganese dioxide, 1% cobalt oxide <br />
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Since then, I've come across a couple more recipes which use a combination of <i>rutile, cobalt and nickel</i> to make grey, so this provides yet another avenue of research. Ofcourse one of the problems being that rutile can vary alot in terms of its chemical make up .. <br />
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Anyway, I've still found time to produce a few pots here and there. Below are some pieces fired fairly recently in the electric kiln. The dolomite glaze on the
first three pieces is a mixture of the dolomite glaze I normally use ( many thanks to <a href="http://www.rachelwoodceramics.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rachel Wood</a> for this recipe, found in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Techniques-Using-Slips-John-Mathieson/dp/0812221176" target="_blank">Techniques Using Slips, by John Mathieson</a> ),
with a transparent ash glaze. The result is less opaque and allows more
of the iron oxide brushwork to show through:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2efajQG0dJZKmbk93i2Of6v20HaRIGXRWCPZ5CR6lvbZJNcje3fS56CuA-hqb2-vGl3K1VgnO0n-7ylE3e8_c_DbEsKjnwarihyqlR3jglIg-rWYF1E6M_3OYFGksdRKrSRg25pRXfZTK/s1600/25179796264_0c9748124f_b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2efajQG0dJZKmbk93i2Of6v20HaRIGXRWCPZ5CR6lvbZJNcje3fS56CuA-hqb2-vGl3K1VgnO0n-7ylE3e8_c_DbEsKjnwarihyqlR3jglIg-rWYF1E6M_3OYFGksdRKrSRg25pRXfZTK/s320/25179796264_0c9748124f_b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Plus two pots with the old dolomite glaze:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Sg7IDrxSg4nZygseD5_mgtJ64tqDcIBlmvInkUkNmivp_MzUj2z0aCl0Q8BFUqsBUNfCb6l-zlD7pkO13My8zTAEGJ0H9ozy5SS-DQwRvyMVXtx31oD1_CjQTruMQ1aSmFRXfTuVrjcO/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Sg7IDrxSg4nZygseD5_mgtJ64tqDcIBlmvInkUkNmivp_MzUj2z0aCl0Q8BFUqsBUNfCb6l-zlD7pkO13My8zTAEGJ0H9ozy5SS-DQwRvyMVXtx31oD1_CjQTruMQ1aSmFRXfTuVrjcO/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKqJQEhIKeh9knfRvhizL7bU6mVVpDu78x8AUVtBzM-9Q5RAzmIS18YhTn0GtVXlOb3OnmNnng1sntVkt_QWXz4Fbju8wmPzmwHjIQAZEFy1Jeo9cGHuAYItkbnwQHUFGbAsgaF-8Bh42/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKqJQEhIKeh9knfRvhizL7bU6mVVpDu78x8AUVtBzM-9Q5RAzmIS18YhTn0GtVXlOb3OnmNnng1sntVkt_QWXz4Fbju8wmPzmwHjIQAZEFy1Jeo9cGHuAYItkbnwQHUFGbAsgaF-8Bh42/s320/DSC_0119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And finally, a couple from the latest firing, both with metallic glazes:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAhAfkyhxwi5gkc8eEUqvuZYttPfaXpo7tokbuBYn18Plso2dBwI-Ka28grOMp3oLES_BIIlGXLPVOwWLQl0wI29YVm-cworN6Yq26A9KwONyVDahEz8PLtmxRxEgqKoqGuBsGWwCS9-o/s1600/DSC_0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAhAfkyhxwi5gkc8eEUqvuZYttPfaXpo7tokbuBYn18Plso2dBwI-Ka28grOMp3oLES_BIIlGXLPVOwWLQl0wI29YVm-cworN6Yq26A9KwONyVDahEz8PLtmxRxEgqKoqGuBsGWwCS9-o/s320/DSC_0160.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lidded container. Metallic over matt ash glaze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8oTDuLhJEU-NKmeABaAx0eof8ihBAKi93G3Uf8eSi0t81Liu5tipUW0rAm7tDpe9iaD1Lv6yLGvFxQQN2hQTi9TpPqUwRNZ9_83l2dr3iVJa7WOHdUYwRasVZjYX7ynad-mHnX9Naj9v/s1600/DSC_0181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8oTDuLhJEU-NKmeABaAx0eof8ihBAKi93G3Uf8eSi0t81Liu5tipUW0rAm7tDpe9iaD1Lv6yLGvFxQQN2hQTi9TpPqUwRNZ9_83l2dr3iVJa7WOHdUYwRasVZjYX7ynad-mHnX9Naj9v/s320/DSC_0181.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculpture, height approx 8 ins</td></tr>
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Most of the pieces in this firing were coated with a matt gold glaze (active ingredients: manganese dioxide and copper oxide) applied by brush and came out rather under fired. I was probably over-cautious in firing them to cone 6/7 only, as I didn't want the manganese to flux and become too shiny. Also, the gold colour was rather patchy, so I brushed on another layer and am re-firing them today, to cone 8. It will be interesting to see what effect the extra temperature has on the glaze, and hopefully I may have a few good pieces to show next week!<br />
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Happy Easter! And thanks for reading.<br />
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<i>Never give up, the best is yet to come!</i></div>
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-74280684332470538092015-11-08T05:40:00.002-08:002015-11-12T06:59:02.072-08:00Some recent results from the electric kilnI've been meaning to update my blog for some time, and now that <a href="http://timlakeceramics.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tim Lake</a> (thanks so much, Tim!) has very kindly mentioned it in a recent article in Ceramic Review, I figured it was high time to upload a new post. <br />
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Weather wise it wasn't the greatest of summers .. a constant procession of windy days has stopped me firing the gas kiln outdoors more than a couple of times, so I returned to using my electric kiln for bisc and glost firings for a while. Incidentally, I don't view electric firing as in any way inferior as a method of producing pots .. the results are different, but can often be stunning in their own way. However, I do think it is more difficult to create visually arresting glaze surfaces in oxidation, and I enjoy the challenge of trying to produce something new and exciting using this method. <br />
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Lately, I've been playing around with applying thick textures to my pieces and am now working on developing new glaze and slip recipes which will work well with more random and irregular surfaces. One of the things I want to create is a greyish glaze, probably fairly matte with some variegation in hue. I managed to create a grey slip easily enough, using black iron, manganese and cobalt (also one with nickel oxide instead of the manganese) but the same combination in a more fluid glaze has proved unpredictable to say the least. This is the closest I've come so far, but the black iron and/or manganese in the glaze gave it a rather brown tint:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTFSLhOvhZ0pkYbjsQC4y2McxDC_Fr0LvONSph2tDrXAOzr5k9LysEdumOAoO5WaDX3zkWEDTnZuIeCQZ8gIirP6KbutjrObKwPr-gXEyeIBlKuExoxlKin42Oe1ZdoZGX0Rc3qEHZuKu/s1600/21764298803_6971f32e5d_b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTFSLhOvhZ0pkYbjsQC4y2McxDC_Fr0LvONSph2tDrXAOzr5k9LysEdumOAoO5WaDX3zkWEDTnZuIeCQZ8gIirP6KbutjrObKwPr-gXEyeIBlKuExoxlKin42Oe1ZdoZGX0Rc3qEHZuKu/s320/21764298803_6971f32e5d_b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakf05DqU4b1-84ruB1tETQqzK8woLMVt_JmAw26J41Q2YNVqplBqo5pSSFOPBFA17y6L-_jz4CqryTdJnMezI4z8jU650R4P1q1-mAveYt6Ku0uwlcDZ4RyDtEtcaPVH2FfnIjbLqfVVA/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakf05DqU4b1-84ruB1tETQqzK8woLMVt_JmAw26J41Q2YNVqplBqo5pSSFOPBFA17y6L-_jz4CqryTdJnMezI4z8jU650R4P1q1-mAveYt6Ku0uwlcDZ4RyDtEtcaPVH2FfnIjbLqfVVA/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
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Interestingly when applied thinner, the cobalt begins to dominate and more of a blue-grey appears with specs of brown. As is so often the case, I rather like the result but it's still not really what I'm aiming for. On another test piece I used equal proportions of cobalt oxide, nickel oxide and black iron oxide and less wood ash than the recipe above to make the finish more matte. The surface texture of the glaze turned out perfect but the colour reminded me of greeny brown cowpats, not quite what I had in mind! Funnily enough, where it overlapped with a white shino glaze on the inside it was actually a wonderful charcoal grey in places! Such is the chemistry of glazing .. complex and sometimes impossible to fathom. I plan to try reducing it in a saggar and see if this changes the colour to something easier on the eye. If anything interesting occurs, I'll post a pre- and post- reduction photo in my next post.<br />
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Update 12th Nov: actually I managed to take a shot of the piece today, so here is the before photo:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpFKTRl2drY9zabnIUoDQ6t9mh_0Gx7oe3gmAER1UTCeinZHo_DC3M05pRDZFaq3Cii8_NBK64bRjG3FJTUDalemmDMbSUhl9M6DLX3ditTKq4udQrePOw1DctzBsxocVPvubcbT3_uDv/s1600/DSC_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpFKTRl2drY9zabnIUoDQ6t9mh_0Gx7oe3gmAER1UTCeinZHo_DC3M05pRDZFaq3Cii8_NBK64bRjG3FJTUDalemmDMbSUhl9M6DLX3ditTKq4udQrePOw1DctzBsxocVPvubcbT3_uDv/s320/DSC_0024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am very taken with the texture and feel of this glaze .. and I suspect that the colour would be darker if applied more thickly. You can see the small area of greyer glaze around the inner rim at the back of the cup. <br />
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Anyway, the search goes on ...<br />
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Oh, and one other thing which really amazed me recently. The celadon coffee cup below had been fired in the gas kiln to earthenware temperatures with a little reduction .. and the glaze came out completely unvitrified but one could see that it had already taken on a distinctly grey colour. The piece was later refired to cone 9 (around 1260 degrees C) in the electric kiln and of course, I expected the glaze to oxidise and come out a shade of amber yellow. Incredibly, it stayed this beautiful pale grey with some iron bursts, so even at a temperature well below 1200 degrees C, the glaze surface must have been sufficiently sealed to prevent the iron oxide molecules from re-oxidising. That may not be surprising to some people, but I for one didn't know it was possible.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYuqPrGgWTxG1RPHZVzW6Axv7F2P1eIRukvHhOR9-fN4GjXBWZCldJjsxRyzEMRjToBPpeh3mWAYGHPLhNt8oMnkia69rz-kfR45GNt42oZhzbIwNz1KmHve_vQmxLA92PSaxB1cQijEM/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYuqPrGgWTxG1RPHZVzW6Axv7F2P1eIRukvHhOR9-fN4GjXBWZCldJjsxRyzEMRjToBPpeh3mWAYGHPLhNt8oMnkia69rz-kfR45GNt42oZhzbIwNz1KmHve_vQmxLA92PSaxB1cQijEM/s320/DSC_0183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is a selection of pieces from my recent firings, a few of them are now available in my <a href="https://folksy.com/shops/MarkSmalley" target="_blank">folksy store: </a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hEen8VhN8dWpZ6rgkPgXKX4iES97Iux8-vOlMOP8A8OaVUhLr6BAkmkMePghqspLNewYu-yS-bOKs_UWKeUPHSZjh6D7974khjxktdtUM0Z_O8AHyHod0qAF-_cxhi90JHkVgX1zx76k/s1600/21006768136_f782d6a46b_o.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hEen8VhN8dWpZ6rgkPgXKX4iES97Iux8-vOlMOP8A8OaVUhLr6BAkmkMePghqspLNewYu-yS-bOKs_UWKeUPHSZjh6D7974khjxktdtUM0Z_O8AHyHod0qAF-_cxhi90JHkVgX1zx76k/s320/21006768136_f782d6a46b_o.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round bottomed cup with dolomite glaze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJHX53YkhPnQbNxnvSGZPvguLrk4-nXQEw-6wpaKJAAkYGSn9NxGLuydeRPDxRVrje9B5zIen6wt_uiaDUrlOOc-HCHdEIZA24-XNMuq5fgk9yFKY8mSifBoM03tFV64h8oM55V3kHEHv/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJHX53YkhPnQbNxnvSGZPvguLrk4-nXQEw-6wpaKJAAkYGSn9NxGLuydeRPDxRVrje9B5zIen6wt_uiaDUrlOOc-HCHdEIZA24-XNMuq5fgk9yFKY8mSifBoM03tFV64h8oM55V3kHEHv/s320/DSC_0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vessel with maroon slip glaze</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9VzIUM0JwA_Gjimgcv5D9BVAVcMuXycRaTnpo2Lf6jM-udLp7JW2r7cb2rMpYtDOp7VsqVQBhREKwEBWyK5jnDrTdFJzOfXEmvXmEW0Rz8t1o-bzSOGR-w1yaZZuilmMTQIr4Ncslmr9/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9VzIUM0JwA_Gjimgcv5D9BVAVcMuXycRaTnpo2Lf6jM-udLp7JW2r7cb2rMpYtDOp7VsqVQBhREKwEBWyK5jnDrTdFJzOfXEmvXmEW0Rz8t1o-bzSOGR-w1yaZZuilmMTQIr4Ncslmr9/s320/DSC_0031.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cup or bowl, approx 3 ins height</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrakzk7xLrM-VvSOSXd8SeSLVg6WqCVMk-irMX4_PoTcIkSLBAwJWKbYGajctFk5uF_v7qWAKmievTPzaVyGsexUx9FabFh9BKt2oaKL4DFCs1AikbL5J8tQZtMt1fEzVo5ViE_j-eknQ/s1600/DSC_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrakzk7xLrM-VvSOSXd8SeSLVg6WqCVMk-irMX4_PoTcIkSLBAwJWKbYGajctFk5uF_v7qWAKmievTPzaVyGsexUx9FabFh9BKt2oaKL4DFCs1AikbL5J8tQZtMt1fEzVo5ViE_j-eknQ/s320/DSC_0101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl with dolomite glaze, width approx 4 ins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_qOY-_8f1xM-B_CZodt3M4R22j6vPjaP1_-uiTG_oX61hiipwWMNNZAhL5bqkEKBUJk2KwESASh9ru6p7SbdBmgG6YP6vpZ3zU9Eix9exr1AcRjmc5d_7AV-rkRQUwa3LN-A_JQg18Zp/s1600/DSC_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_qOY-_8f1xM-B_CZodt3M4R22j6vPjaP1_-uiTG_oX61hiipwWMNNZAhL5bqkEKBUJk2KwESASh9ru6p7SbdBmgG6YP6vpZ3zU9Eix9exr1AcRjmc5d_7AV-rkRQUwa3LN-A_JQg18Zp/s320/DSC_0025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved bowl, approx. 3 ins height (sold)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYlicLP2ak2axLSKUkwsfjuz7Gll-OUdylI_nfsbtpiW9iLs73bPnr_Q6pi-fICaJ5xQYDP2m2SxfcnS_1ZMrUobuRQtZyoCwbXHy9KOa7B5H56g710XM67vfKDKm4PiHSmtAMYco9WQC/s1600/DSC_0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYlicLP2ak2axLSKUkwsfjuz7Gll-OUdylI_nfsbtpiW9iLs73bPnr_Q6pi-fICaJ5xQYDP2m2SxfcnS_1ZMrUobuRQtZyoCwbXHy9KOa7B5H56g710XM67vfKDKm4PiHSmtAMYco9WQC/s320/DSC_0236.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sake cup with Oribe glaze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rz8nV6DUX6fYM2VhQf5qKlCJdEn__Oz5gVS9KP8i4ojiNC_PAF61gVbG_Y1sNk55VG7iiem1dBt41NuZL2BduH_rycqjSTlePK02iD2th2lR2dqHR5SqKeukCuJs8K6ljjc23gCFgBxQ/s1600/DSC_0229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rz8nV6DUX6fYM2VhQf5qKlCJdEn__Oz5gVS9KP8i4ojiNC_PAF61gVbG_Y1sNk55VG7iiem1dBt41NuZL2BduH_rycqjSTlePK02iD2th2lR2dqHR5SqKeukCuJs8K6ljjc23gCFgBxQ/s320/DSC_0229.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cup or bowl with slip and Oribe glaze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrN2FvO_PczYB0FVvxfTgzt60aA6qhUU8gi7M5otHC5z-19UMlGc8yPxOnwsvJE5PXpjh8g5xEEjLN-yhwVGplR8yiop4fv7yF9ZUrlsHj1pYz-fyKWPzHczhaaXh0rWtWeBMIS5SNDiQ/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrN2FvO_PczYB0FVvxfTgzt60aA6qhUU8gi7M5otHC5z-19UMlGc8yPxOnwsvJE5PXpjh8g5xEEjLN-yhwVGplR8yiop4fv7yF9ZUrlsHj1pYz-fyKWPzHczhaaXh0rWtWeBMIS5SNDiQ/s320/DSC_0036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase with Oribe and dolomite glazes, height 5 ins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeiFQDIGeNfBOgv9YB0vSqIObt8tn3bmgwYAncEkQGutvyIOkBAslO77OzSMQVfVUoG-TfSgx0d7VQQ1ps5RVbu0iWU87Kg6FCpm4zHxu5CdGKHM8GyU3U7SzwHi0tw8LBBegXAszyksq/s1600/DSC_0258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeiFQDIGeNfBOgv9YB0vSqIObt8tn3bmgwYAncEkQGutvyIOkBAslO77OzSMQVfVUoG-TfSgx0d7VQQ1ps5RVbu0iWU87Kg6FCpm4zHxu5CdGKHM8GyU3U7SzwHi0tw8LBBegXAszyksq/s320/DSC_0258.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saggar-fired vase with crackle shino glaze (sold)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ClO7nX6bQV7icOYMt5iB_QZOvjtm6XuIlmGeA0rjnaWztymkGxpygdJUAVFIM8OJ31nfAh8FmfgQc1Y38NmQOH8OlSp6nZ9VYksJsGCQMEXloARsU_vQtElLAOfj2fYRV4YA10oq9aaq/s1600/DSC_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ClO7nX6bQV7icOYMt5iB_QZOvjtm6XuIlmGeA0rjnaWztymkGxpygdJUAVFIM8OJ31nfAh8FmfgQc1Y38NmQOH8OlSp6nZ9VYksJsGCQMEXloARsU_vQtElLAOfj2fYRV4YA10oq9aaq/s320/DSC_0071.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textured bottle vase with dolomite glaze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8itMt1susgIc7mOi5qZn0NEeO_f5Jueb0jysbh1GaELguZnD4CdoIyM5YTEvhSJh0-74XMTDYlV3iZV_j6FtOu7LknAVrYX7SdGfxccQ-AUo8-bJZ0VgM4Ug3Kr4dTEroOWrz_ZpI9Tu/s1600/DSC_0075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8itMt1susgIc7mOi5qZn0NEeO_f5Jueb0jysbh1GaELguZnD4CdoIyM5YTEvhSJh0-74XMTDYlV3iZV_j6FtOu7LknAVrYX7SdGfxccQ-AUo8-bJZ0VgM4Ug3Kr4dTEroOWrz_ZpI9Tu/s320/DSC_0075.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee cup with blue-grey glaze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQE8JwL-XkTI4aDdZU9OHkfEnaePzT0qea5TQy6snWhawOGt5AzH9rY8j48xgUGI1msOEQONv1qjR0GamPdbMr6e3edmSRZgC7vbEc1vgmuvcH-5oT_EkLzBt9iiGppEoWK-yjn9oNWxG/s1600/DSC_0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQE8JwL-XkTI4aDdZU9OHkfEnaePzT0qea5TQy6snWhawOGt5AzH9rY8j48xgUGI1msOEQONv1qjR0GamPdbMr6e3edmSRZgC7vbEc1vgmuvcH-5oT_EkLzBt9iiGppEoWK-yjn9oNWxG/s320/DSC_0060.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee mug with Nuka glaze (sold)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPCPze_ovfKPKhs4J-fM2r5EpgauJLlj-MyTG9qVxP9ZdQLcW03CWSU3mkzG4EZ8hpYAkJv0NIpElqDOr-cDyJ6RApLjA9U8UJ3U8UfvFQ_nflF7aftDmYRfR1eEpWNk823xBBVEtDpZ1/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPCPze_ovfKPKhs4J-fM2r5EpgauJLlj-MyTG9qVxP9ZdQLcW03CWSU3mkzG4EZ8hpYAkJv0NIpElqDOr-cDyJ6RApLjA9U8UJ3U8UfvFQ_nflF7aftDmYRfR1eEpWNk823xBBVEtDpZ1/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl with dolomite glaze, approx 4 ins wide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Thank you for looking! <br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-70490342251147699112015-07-02T03:45:00.000-07:002015-07-05T01:01:40.650-07:00Reduction of re-fired iron glazes<br />
Here is a sake cup which was electric fired recently to around cone 9. I used a satin matt, wood ash glaze containing around 5% yellow iron oxide .. it's based on an excellent recipe by <a href="http://www.cotswoldpottery.co.uk/" target="_blank">John Jelfs</a> and the only change I made was to use raw wood ash (rather than washed) and marble stone powder instead of normal whiting. For me, this glaze goes on quite thinly as the raw wood ash can make it deflocculate a fair bit, but the thicker clay on this piece meant more of the glaze was sucked onto the textured surface.<br />
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Usually it comes out of the electric kiln dark yellow and rust red where thinner, sometimes with a hint of greeny grey where thicker. What is interesting about this glaze is that it can be reduced <i>after</i> having been fired to cone 9 or 10 in an oxidising atmosphere.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxS_K99d1ZeXB-H3lNtdZxhuUwYmPTO-EOPvU5Ar8Rkhqg0KOBIPISMS9pbkOthyQjTkeXffQBNnCQgnddvaHAhn4WrhQYy6HpbSTXOMgLP3MLVrFkevgOad1vIOjUMrszoS3OC1-N1ySr/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxS_K99d1ZeXB-H3lNtdZxhuUwYmPTO-EOPvU5Ar8Rkhqg0KOBIPISMS9pbkOthyQjTkeXffQBNnCQgnddvaHAhn4WrhQYy6HpbSTXOMgLP3MLVrFkevgOad1vIOjUMrszoS3OC1-N1ySr/s320/DSC_0018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sake cup, height 2.5 inches</td></tr>
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I think I'm right in saying that most highly vitrified glazes (such as glossy shinos) cannot be reduced once their surfaces are sealed in oxidation. This piece was only re-fired to high earthenware temperatures in a gas kiln (with some addition of wood through a stoke hole) and the glaze has turned a much darker, mossy green. I'm still not certain whether the colours appeal to me, but I do like the mottled effect .. what do you think?<br />
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Not sure exactly how high it went as it was placed close to the exit flue of the gas kiln so it may have been well blasted by the flames. Nonetheless, it's interesting that the iron oxide has changed colour at much lower temperatures than the previous electric firing.<br />
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Incidentally, this is how the same glaze and texture combination looks when it's reduction fired in a saggar with practically no oxygen present:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMvCwJMdKqA2MRmYpj_cWB6EEozKjKOZFF34j5e4Iogr7s9SFMIcG-Rjxj4lqNoxshRhqabzl4LM5byFu0W4ZNL_Xk6iyITuMZ-Jf_2ET7PTe-1tTaQgQ-W9oZvECYvHRYiOtCOwD2d9e/s1600/9469114375_c5ab6d3b6e_b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMvCwJMdKqA2MRmYpj_cWB6EEozKjKOZFF34j5e4Iogr7s9SFMIcG-Rjxj4lqNoxshRhqabzl4LM5byFu0W4ZNL_Xk6iyITuMZ-Jf_2ET7PTe-1tTaQgQ-W9oZvECYvHRYiOtCOwD2d9e/s320/9469114375_c5ab6d3b6e_b.JPG" width="312" /></a></div>
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Thanks for reading. <br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-91486297442544230222015-06-28T08:21:00.000-07:002015-06-28T13:55:00.249-07:00A tip for glazing pots without a footring<br />
Many of the pots I make these days don't have a footring, and if the pot is a rounded form, then finding a way to dip-glaze them without leaving finger marks can be challenging. As an alternative to dipping tongs, one possible solution is to use old pieces of kiln shelf to create a foot for the pot.<br />
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First I take a piece of kiln shelf which already has batt wash fired on to it. Using a hammer or a small rock, the shelf is then broken into smaller and smaller pieces, until I have one of suitable size and shape to fit onto the base of the pot to be glazed. Next, the base and the chunk of kiln shelf (a side with a robust layer of batt wash) are coated with PVA, glued together, and left to set. If the batt wash is flakey or powdery, the pot can easily work loose and drop off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi2u3GmUhHn4fiNshYNF6TPfXBRCSv8QTVZXvJzhfEz03sGek8sckbkDFcGhX9cp6mLZNHunw7hbnrmOjb0LU1sZ6_7kd-LZ7mN88iKuae1raA_MM9J2Vs2a4d1wPC-HeeRX69UtCXXib/s1600/DSC_0010bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi2u3GmUhHn4fiNshYNF6TPfXBRCSv8QTVZXvJzhfEz03sGek8sckbkDFcGhX9cp6mLZNHunw7hbnrmOjb0LU1sZ6_7kd-LZ7mN88iKuae1raA_MM9J2Vs2a4d1wPC-HeeRX69UtCXXib/s320/DSC_0010bb.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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I find that on a bisqued pot (fired to around 1050 C ), the clay absorbs moisture from the glue so it dries very quickly, often in a matter of minutes. Once the "foot" is firmly fixed the pot can easily be dipped very close to the bottom edge. <br />
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So far I have tended to use this method with small to medium sized pots, but there is no reason why it couldn't work on larger pieces (perhaps using several glued supports). However, handling and moving them onto the drying shelf could no doubt become more problematic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ9s7LI0XHyShdqC6pcX0saqTp1Bb7wkzdZeq0eNb2l02SzNQmroq7fcg3pBRc2yzXjmhl4uL_Mx_zhtc18vimeJVcCUY7sIpMtuhmQ3tMAJykzVVykAAu3a870pXC9FO9wU8E3DruXnG/s1600/DSC_0015bbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ9s7LI0XHyShdqC6pcX0saqTp1Bb7wkzdZeq0eNb2l02SzNQmroq7fcg3pBRc2yzXjmhl4uL_Mx_zhtc18vimeJVcCUY7sIpMtuhmQ3tMAJykzVVykAAu3a870pXC9FO9wU8E3DruXnG/s320/DSC_0015bbb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's important to make sure the pot is stable when stood on the fragment of kiln shelf, as it may move slightly in the kiln as the glue burns away during the glost firing. Also precautions should be taken regarding the fumes which will be given off by the burning glue, so safe ventilation of the kiln is essential.The same technique can be used with shelf supports or pieces of wadding from previous firings, but again, one needs to be careful that the pot will remain upright when fired.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10VbtEq-3sH_HvYbGZ5lsQFWHafWzrvn-hW1NXHVOPTHYyY1tcwjbMA2xoDYBaJ31fR9w47QOa9Jh4egzjtvjs2aDXuLWwaY0vsqE_EmVvJ5sh-tbKTpsdfGnqHO_sBQC45RvYXWqPaBt/s1600/DSC_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10VbtEq-3sH_HvYbGZ5lsQFWHafWzrvn-hW1NXHVOPTHYyY1tcwjbMA2xoDYBaJ31fR9w47QOa9Jh4egzjtvjs2aDXuLWwaY0vsqE_EmVvJ5sh-tbKTpsdfGnqHO_sBQC45RvYXWqPaBt/s320/DSC_0011.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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Another advantage of this method; no need to add wadding when loading the kiln, and it doesn't annoyingly drop off down the side of the shelf when you start rearranging the ware!<br />
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And now a shameless commercial plug; I've added a link to my online shop, <a href="https://folksy.com/shops/MarkSmalley" target="_blank">Birchcroft Ceramics</a>, in the sidebar of the blog, and just this morning listed a wood-fired tea caddy or food storage jar:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9W_CaMez0sfSm0PH2jqQt4KVkzw2e11tMuwoLQFkjblIjr08quaBtoT7CeIMi9ZecHGE987Gga8pST8oyIsYtD8BnmH1wS5AK6fncklpm6bsI-hivHLSWSlUk_YtiW1Dn3_w3FQ7JcgX/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9W_CaMez0sfSm0PH2jqQt4KVkzw2e11tMuwoLQFkjblIjr08quaBtoT7CeIMi9ZecHGE987Gga8pST8oyIsYtD8BnmH1wS5AK6fncklpm6bsI-hivHLSWSlUk_YtiW1Dn3_w3FQ7JcgX/s320/DSC_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea caddy, height approx 4.75 inches </td></tr>
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I hope you might like to to have a browse through the pots some time, and please don't hesitate to e-mail me at <a href="mailto:mark_smalley@yahoo.co.uk">mark_smalley@yahoo.co.uk</a> if you have any comments/questions or wish to enquire about other pieces which are shown here or elsewhere on the internet.<br />
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Thanks for reading. <br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-58611271613250332542015-06-14T06:56:00.000-07:002015-06-15T11:05:55.543-07:00Here comes the sun .. soon hopefully!Summer hasn't quite arrived here and the very poor weather recently has made it impossible to fire my gas/wood kiln outdoors. The BBC is even predicting a frost in parts of England tonight which is pretty unbelievable for this time of year. In the mean time I have fired the electric kiln again, mainly to test some new glaze and slip combinations and a glaze recipe I found in the book Dry Glazes by Jeremy Jernegan. This is a matt copper glaze ( Taffy Matt by V.Cushing ) with a small addition of tin oxide, which is recommended to be fired to cone 10 in a reduction atmosphere. Quite intriguing as the photo of the test tile shows the glaze to be a dark reddish brown where thicker and light green where thin, whereas I would have expected it to be shades of pink where thinner. I will try it in the gas/wood kiln soon, but in oxidation (fired to cone 9) it has come out like this: <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67KqBq5nObk5NZ01dX7zMMIi51MjnRvgtQSL-sNWy4Ww7_XPqnQX6VsTrsmzkxOmnZ8FrTVItLK_Zx0A1HMsSdrFFUFVuz437gXM7PaVZ5Ax_4I8nvkKJ9wksosMRInm1DYwGY5Zhe4C0/s1600/DSC_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67KqBq5nObk5NZ01dX7zMMIi51MjnRvgtQSL-sNWy4Ww7_XPqnQX6VsTrsmzkxOmnZ8FrTVItLK_Zx0A1HMsSdrFFUFVuz437gXM7PaVZ5Ax_4I8nvkKJ9wksosMRInm1DYwGY5Zhe4C0/s320/DSC_0091.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sake cup</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuiEV1gD8tIGxIeafya4KXgPfAxmItiqO9h44GA9XLsj4YcKaTOTm09cwlKC9RvtOxIXupyuEdUhK75FLYobGYtavotn5dZcerFaSvOmU-oQQgE8KtmKxz7D7X1Ia4OF4H6R-8ZQAcYjM/s1600/DSC_0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuiEV1gD8tIGxIeafya4KXgPfAxmItiqO9h44GA9XLsj4YcKaTOTm09cwlKC9RvtOxIXupyuEdUhK75FLYobGYtavotn5dZcerFaSvOmU-oQQgE8KtmKxz7D7X1Ia4OF4H6R-8ZQAcYjM/s320/DSC_0113.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small vase, approx. 2 ins diameter</td></tr>
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Quite an attractive glaze, with some subtle variegation even within the grey areas. It highlights the carved areas of a pot in exactly the way I had hoped.<br />
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A couple of pieces were fired with the combination of Oribe and dolomite glazes I have used before. It came out really well on this heavily textured vase where the second layer of glaze was poured rather than dipped. Next time I intend to leave more of the green glaze showing as the contrast has worked rather nicely on the underside:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZvCX6l0yi9nSUp-PVvxW7ONVOOgjU_CnldRxs_wcWoYAY1KyFKPm34JBgKefeDw9sd4cb9cyfn6_KH0gTZzBAryz3fwdLmaDz3Aa2lx1J7vdJySU6lnL8qz_0jmm_gQLAscHAMN-JLtQ/s1600/OribeDol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZvCX6l0yi9nSUp-PVvxW7ONVOOgjU_CnldRxs_wcWoYAY1KyFKPm34JBgKefeDw9sd4cb9cyfn6_KH0gTZzBAryz3fwdLmaDz3Aa2lx1J7vdJySU6lnL8qz_0jmm_gQLAscHAMN-JLtQ/s320/OribeDol.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, approx 6 inches tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FBXcmFTdoVNVSF9ZZv38tQUfOhRbULB2asoKD3XhXEufp3tpD45mnKrnDKsNusKo7egPj272SfSizMCkEa5NPWZId47KVglz0HsjbSfh6A7huCHngSGctQvpD3im4872m-F8D5HnSnms/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FBXcmFTdoVNVSF9ZZv38tQUfOhRbULB2asoKD3XhXEufp3tpD45mnKrnDKsNusKo7egPj272SfSizMCkEa5NPWZId47KVglz0HsjbSfh6A7huCHngSGctQvpD3im4872m-F8D5HnSnms/s320/DSC_0105.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI4I6iKLsL7cpV6NiJ-sAEzkpVgnyMnH2b60iJWZhwEsFFnxVo4QJUWP4kfyHWg7r2AMxB_hqPdmRe-HKX51_Qr-ZiVzzHvlECjFxdns3bf0i05vg0Co-SJ1z_O6sqZDtd2_KSoyQVt5V/s1600/DSC_0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI4I6iKLsL7cpV6NiJ-sAEzkpVgnyMnH2b60iJWZhwEsFFnxVo4QJUWP4kfyHWg7r2AMxB_hqPdmRe-HKX51_Qr-ZiVzzHvlECjFxdns3bf0i05vg0Co-SJ1z_O6sqZDtd2_KSoyQVt5V/s320/DSC_0110.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl, height approx. 3 ins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Interesting that on the above bowl the top layer of dolomite was dipped over the rim, but has dropped down over half an inch in the firing. It hasn't done that on the other vase, presumably because the top of the pot is more horizontal..<br />
<br />
Another pot glazed with Oribe was this tea bowl, this time layered over a dark iron oxide slip:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5sRvi4jBswOq2Mv4v4rBmjTAGNS41q0R9O7SUXYMDn8vIM0lP33DNLy0A9Qt8EcDkKa2JicEDAudHCScfZdt190K_TQdnSoH45J0zqP1-hyZ0Rg7EN9cOin-qJ2b7cWwHrp2IDJPRL5G/s1600/DSC_0093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5sRvi4jBswOq2Mv4v4rBmjTAGNS41q0R9O7SUXYMDn8vIM0lP33DNLy0A9Qt8EcDkKa2JicEDAudHCScfZdt190K_TQdnSoH45J0zqP1-hyZ0Rg7EN9cOin-qJ2b7cWwHrp2IDJPRL5G/s320/DSC_0093.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea bowl, height 3 ins, diameter 4.5 ins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And finally something a little different .. a textured pot, which was initially thrown as a closed form, then laid on its side. The matt copper ash glaze was brushed on, hence the variation in thickness and hue:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_LeKhveTJtfxUHqOblYEygDTubxwfheevgnlL-HytKCk4SsHUMR1Wmnm_PlpfmHjGP95pBXKxdZ6Yau9qeHKTPUvL9wlQT2OefWyXdXjearj9-bmN1C6mKlUc7ieBR4TkesHPx66ZvKg/s1600/DSC_0119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_LeKhveTJtfxUHqOblYEygDTubxwfheevgnlL-HytKCk4SsHUMR1Wmnm_PlpfmHjGP95pBXKxdZ6Yau9qeHKTPUvL9wlQT2OefWyXdXjearj9-bmN1C6mKlUc7ieBR4TkesHPx66ZvKg/s320/DSC_0119.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ikebana vase, height approx 4 inches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I feel this vase form could work well for flower arranging. <br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-73599871670109487562015-04-28T10:12:00.000-07:002015-05-07T07:09:14.388-07:00A successful April firing with gas and woodEarlier this year I built another experimental gas/wood kiln, this time on a larger scale (8 cubic feet) and using a much more powerful gas burner (A Stedmark No.100 kiln burner with flame failure valve). I was hoping that being a larger kiln, it would lose heat less rapidly and be easier to fire to stoneware, despite it being a simple updraft design. In fact it proved harder to reach temperature than with the smaller kilns .. after getting stuck at high-earthenware temperatures with the first firing, the design was modified and capacity of the ware chamber reduced slightly. For the second firing last week, I tried to encourage a more even flow of the flame through the ware by positioning the first kiln shelf further over the burner's "fire box". I hoped this would ensure more heat could spread through the first layer of pots. I also placed a second shelf on props, which, being level with the top of the kiln, formed part of the roof .. this increased heat insulation and helped to reflect more of the heat back into the kiln. It also acted as a support for the double-layer ceramic fibre roof which lay on top of the second kiln shelf, overlapping the top of the walls. <br />
<br />
The kiln was fired with lower gas pressures than last time, as I had been advised that the optimum for this burner is likely to be around 4 Psi ( less than a third of a Bar). At higher pressures you are also more likely to suffer from tank freeze (frost appearing on the outside of the tank up to the level of propane remaining) and this will slow down the outflow of gas to the burner. However, even at 3 to 4 Psi frost still appeared on the tank as it got down to around half empty .. perhaps this was what caused the temperature to stall but I was unable to get close to 1280 degrees C (cone 10) according to the cones and pyrometer.<br />
<br />
As a result, I was expecting the results to be rather dismal but I was very pleasantly surprised! I suspect the cones and thermocouple were in a cold spot on the same wall as the burner port and had given a false impression. Further into the kiln and closer to the "fire boxes", the majority of the pots were well fired, with the ash and celadon glazes completely melted. None of the pots was over-fired and it was pleasing that there was no evidence of bloating, despite the fact that some of them must have been fully blasted by the gas flame. Levels of reduction were also very promising, no doubt partly due to the wood which I threw in several times during the firing. <br />
<br />
After ten hours, some heavy reduction cooling was induced by putting wood and charcoal into the side stoke hole and as much charcoal as I could stuff into the fire box through the burner port. The kiln was then clammed up around 8pm (this does generate a fair bit of smoke!) and left to cool overnight. At lunchtime the next day it was still too hot to open, but by 4pm I was prepared to risk a peek as it was a warm and sunny day. <br />
<br />
Here are some of the pots which came out well:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDhwZJZN33e-KQDVRnPvqoTYLV9X1vsVTzXIh9hHvIUHjvH8b9Y9DIAahjVUwx9BjBF-sj48xdJW1Rdi-JqBD1E0rwy-x4r16u_BFSO9N6OBjGBXjqIVACuJVQNNBPVonwp5St_nu32OY/s1600/DSC_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDhwZJZN33e-KQDVRnPvqoTYLV9X1vsVTzXIh9hHvIUHjvH8b9Y9DIAahjVUwx9BjBF-sj48xdJW1Rdi-JqBD1E0rwy-x4r16u_BFSO9N6OBjGBXjqIVACuJVQNNBPVonwp5St_nu32OY/s1600/DSC_0048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ash-encrusted vase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvSTxqtTHkISgfwWxO_yK-taw1k2CR3k7sXM4dXiwz02m1CaUXKz-_NCnd5s27NcfWOgmA9nl4CWVE8RTtO2VTOZJDfxNDYlC-lv3MMGtUQHjxxcAOwp-etfqK4iclrzj-8oziLVXgIhU/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvSTxqtTHkISgfwWxO_yK-taw1k2CR3k7sXM4dXiwz02m1CaUXKz-_NCnd5s27NcfWOgmA9nl4CWVE8RTtO2VTOZJDfxNDYlC-lv3MMGtUQHjxxcAOwp-etfqK4iclrzj-8oziLVXgIhU/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ash-glazed tea bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2srY59htYNknSvs2We-ErqKZVhxj51vaHjJXictzYKN9tLag_snIK5MCZwUUI-ZUHmuC7-fovbLr5915ctaVkd2Go8vHRQ140PfQ6leoqLadpKaHZFz_fQHmpDYIr10Ud6lNz7R_lu4re/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2srY59htYNknSvs2We-ErqKZVhxj51vaHjJXictzYKN9tLag_snIK5MCZwUUI-ZUHmuC7-fovbLr5915ctaVkd2Go8vHRQ140PfQ6leoqLadpKaHZFz_fQHmpDYIr10Ud6lNz7R_lu4re/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveki8AmT_I_Pk9-Hou6ZFR2F16IWB7d-Hhe0bDSJiLYUaaI-tF1aZOzo3HFsRTQ3WYij8PiWzaH5blmyjP9N7dlWw9py4F31gtIN4nAYUkMBVwJOEsSdYq4lUfOJ4adVOgEnqXITbLRSM/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveki8AmT_I_Pk9-Hou6ZFR2F16IWB7d-Hhe0bDSJiLYUaaI-tF1aZOzo3HFsRTQ3WYij8PiWzaH5blmyjP9N7dlWw9py4F31gtIN4nAYUkMBVwJOEsSdYq4lUfOJ4adVOgEnqXITbLRSM/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lidded container</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYfbipWYpm5YUAujYt02O8juEoNEMSF_l-D56WhMXMAlrGoC54fI-g-EMCo2lTfZQCItnUf_iJ-BZOUUGH-kR0nKsO4KdJw-Fj6pLHOnJf5H4REY4nEnI6BMuJLSZlWeg_FSfsPG_Rfr_/s1600/DSC_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYfbipWYpm5YUAujYt02O8juEoNEMSF_l-D56WhMXMAlrGoC54fI-g-EMCo2lTfZQCItnUf_iJ-BZOUUGH-kR0nKsO4KdJw-Fj6pLHOnJf5H4REY4nEnI6BMuJLSZlWeg_FSfsPG_Rfr_/s1600/DSC_0009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNX3kWlTC7AcUX9WYeuo3Ivqq8IY5kROhYUEj52HwvODv1yo3c4IbeOSvwupPeCKIb0wz4_ELD7aKPVftk_29IJ64aZKhZs3VBDL72wesL3GZELLwFphJ3WvLNTE1E60ti8bwYJRUQV2c_/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNX3kWlTC7AcUX9WYeuo3Ivqq8IY5kROhYUEj52HwvODv1yo3c4IbeOSvwupPeCKIb0wz4_ELD7aKPVftk_29IJ64aZKhZs3VBDL72wesL3GZELLwFphJ3WvLNTE1E60ti8bwYJRUQV2c_/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sake cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiievxod2ROEjQxSPn0h2iQcTrL7_2JQZpkQtrSI_CYMAxAU3jydFoIBFhC21ZfMxoQo2pK1MuGxCALLr9cXBeAvKEGhUBzOjmXtmCiK2PcqK49t74sKfBVcOauySoypcPw-WBw1YoQhHx6/s1600/DSC_0009bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiievxod2ROEjQxSPn0h2iQcTrL7_2JQZpkQtrSI_CYMAxAU3jydFoIBFhC21ZfMxoQo2pK1MuGxCALLr9cXBeAvKEGhUBzOjmXtmCiK2PcqK49t74sKfBVcOauySoypcPw-WBw1YoQhHx6/s1600/DSC_0009bb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzngofLd2I8pZx5qCkYKxj0e22MJCzxRFGnPgT6LRNd9cdyMk5UkeHweQdKC_iZOK9_X_Vh9WHzUiWVSwlIbX4Ode-E9y2uurkaKHlVm30MpE3f9fxT07zupUDqv86c_OjkgcsCGjf6VK/s1600/DSC_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzngofLd2I8pZx5qCkYKxj0e22MJCzxRFGnPgT6LRNd9cdyMk5UkeHweQdKC_iZOK9_X_Vh9WHzUiWVSwlIbX4Ode-E9y2uurkaKHlVm30MpE3f9fxT07zupUDqv86c_OjkgcsCGjf6VK/s1600/DSC_0010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sake cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_709969973"></span><span id="goog_709969974"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4Ek3BaKQ3LFJRbwztWxuyG3OMXzlTb49Rh48-TYEzk3sJi5lQjxNPPM0bjFYQLM38Fok0KFXSXpofv4BoEhlHVaaEs3C_xuhCVxgk-IXnHdz6cPNvFoqmT6KYAaZ-QGtet_Y5z2ioq-9/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4Ek3BaKQ3LFJRbwztWxuyG3OMXzlTb49Rh48-TYEzk3sJi5lQjxNPPM0bjFYQLM38Fok0KFXSXpofv4BoEhlHVaaEs3C_xuhCVxgk-IXnHdz6cPNvFoqmT6KYAaZ-QGtet_Y5z2ioq-9/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDFAJAaM-PnbVcY125jlNJS3T_kmlUiYGe7as0C4Dwt5lIXG7zNCjVSvYoLFdiz_HX3Jh0BkWjVOehBpZ9H8PSlyOvst2biZh_4vBa-GiiWqTUlUDQIYifJDV6znFYBkUok472uxMMKLU/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDFAJAaM-PnbVcY125jlNJS3T_kmlUiYGe7as0C4Dwt5lIXG7zNCjVSvYoLFdiz_HX3Jh0BkWjVOehBpZ9H8PSlyOvst2biZh_4vBa-GiiWqTUlUDQIYifJDV6znFYBkUok472uxMMKLU/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved vase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXvW526_46FZO8GsZQEAAcIquIEQuzC1zyqCeeA-t6WTVSiYBbH81jbOTtKQc4D81b18eO3hKgPW18FroW7ek8ioGxuIKwNJ6yI8Ti2AedRrjkxArVoP3l32GCcvFBf9NenlQCSd-1DWV/s1600/DSC_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXvW526_46FZO8GsZQEAAcIquIEQuzC1zyqCeeA-t6WTVSiYBbH81jbOTtKQc4D81b18eO3hKgPW18FroW7ek8ioGxuIKwNJ6yI8Ti2AedRrjkxArVoP3l32GCcvFBf9NenlQCSd-1DWV/s1600/DSC_0021.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle vase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUH4sF6VnzErzGZDbIQUQpQh9TBh3hHbYGZNSbME9AgyuiISHkoXD2Ih0EjZOtYC0QEcEqBt0uf3POVitc0RhEA9ORMSfRofyh7_ygXaAv6UZmQF8zSgLN6bbwPO00s8zHKCtzqjil0eo/s1600/DSC_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUH4sF6VnzErzGZDbIQUQpQh9TBh3hHbYGZNSbME9AgyuiISHkoXD2Ih0EjZOtYC0QEcEqBt0uf3POVitc0RhEA9ORMSfRofyh7_ygXaAv6UZmQF8zSgLN6bbwPO00s8zHKCtzqjil0eo/s1600/DSC_0027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRtRcedhHNTZeYP4yWCczfxnIkrQJGebHbs1oYuy6vx0EHltTGVRqktl78ueFQe_bmI2kV53XTWiT25AdP-A9mj-VKd_SHMqipGdjU5iJCaxpUXy3l7pqM7iBmxIbpN4o9cEm0O4Pht97/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRtRcedhHNTZeYP4yWCczfxnIkrQJGebHbs1oYuy6vx0EHltTGVRqktl78ueFQe_bmI2kV53XTWiT25AdP-A9mj-VKd_SHMqipGdjU5iJCaxpUXy3l7pqM7iBmxIbpN4o9cEm0O4Pht97/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase with wood ash glaze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFfgvvH6C7Z0QakGBsGsncGyTPZJ0C2Y7nSI97v7Net7-TyhHVjZp3vID42tl0Z9a_TH6ex6Aq0fPzlt3PNGak1jNn8SvFacC_t0q2XatcDZ7uddIM4WeP9n2_1YfvIVBEn5xnrCLNi-Q/s1600/DSC_0072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFfgvvH6C7Z0QakGBsGsncGyTPZJ0C2Y7nSI97v7Net7-TyhHVjZp3vID42tl0Z9a_TH6ex6Aq0fPzlt3PNGak1jNn8SvFacC_t0q2XatcDZ7uddIM4WeP9n2_1YfvIVBEn5xnrCLNi-Q/s1600/DSC_0072.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipAib3UIDdTrjADlfMhR9imQMCA0gd_V_dbQlSPTj0zGRsYA8VJf_tXly9K4KENT2ROYKZxvX55egpwW-FiN9cQHBQQvF_5uWbXdsRR73I9sVPV4INp1PusVKe2YUL1zLBGsZiOPPys7-/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipAib3UIDdTrjADlfMhR9imQMCA0gd_V_dbQlSPTj0zGRsYA8VJf_tXly9K4KENT2ROYKZxvX55egpwW-FiN9cQHBQQvF_5uWbXdsRR73I9sVPV4INp1PusVKe2YUL1zLBGsZiOPPys7-/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iga style vase with crusty ash glaze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7dxbLN3ult7gjYwMZ5b-nWADF-lYnkmyuCclQovWmy6K5Mo5Xhnv_XotM9FNSWSF1nKABFPCTR4mi4BIJHOu1gfKbU7oISPVRoEe3ItS0tqxrXencwXeJf7uNwnOvqJzF115MNiu4eN5/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7dxbLN3ult7gjYwMZ5b-nWADF-lYnkmyuCclQovWmy6K5Mo5Xhnv_XotM9FNSWSF1nKABFPCTR4mi4BIJHOu1gfKbU7oISPVRoEe3ItS0tqxrXencwXeJf7uNwnOvqJzF115MNiu4eN5/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round bottomed bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39z8stpv89wtWS8sQZSGFh7-tcyv598nG8dIk5RQN2Wi069mzUHgE-xTiodJHud7q41BTZR5QNy7EayUgUhxF-WniPPwkoSI7lJMCBfmFG8juZCSmYsBEhbEoh-D4B0U9WOtQjQi7l6Dh/s1600/DSC_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39z8stpv89wtWS8sQZSGFh7-tcyv598nG8dIk5RQN2Wi069mzUHgE-xTiodJHud7q41BTZR5QNy7EayUgUhxF-WniPPwkoSI7lJMCBfmFG8juZCSmYsBEhbEoh-D4B0U9WOtQjQi7l6Dh/s1600/DSC_0040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase with slip glazes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI379LCOgsX03JjsWMLQhy-iRygmcCzNP_NnUCM1mjX7_n1ctCdQ574xNEIvw70_4mzk5yrdU3DjTC3k1ip_bMPXu1A_87WI01l8bACjwt0DUn5yB9QeaSrz037GZraZraJLui8gN1Q99/s1600/DSC_0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI379LCOgsX03JjsWMLQhy-iRygmcCzNP_NnUCM1mjX7_n1ctCdQ574xNEIvw70_4mzk5yrdU3DjTC3k1ip_bMPXu1A_87WI01l8bACjwt0DUn5yB9QeaSrz037GZraZraJLui8gN1Q99/s320/DSC_0073.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pot, approx. 3 ins tall (n.f.s.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I am now considering moving to a downdraft design, mainly as I would like to fire more quickly and efficiently. The updraft experiments have been interesting, but gas is rather expensive these days at £63 for a 47kg tank! <br />
<br />
Thanks for reading. <br />
<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-11307043095766880922015-03-21T10:16:00.000-07:002015-03-21T10:29:20.010-07:00A visit to Charles Bound, Ceramic ArtistThe other day I was lucky enough to be invited along to visit the Ceramic Artist, Charles Bound at his home and studio in Geuffordd, not far from Welshpool. I was accompanying my good friend, James Hazlewood, who has recently completed the gargantuan task of editing and updating the 3rd edition of the text, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Studio-Potters-Yates-Owen-Fournier/dp/1408183501/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426601666&sr=8-1&keywords=british+potters+marks" target="_blank">British Studio Potters' Marks</a> . Charles and his wife, Joy, were most hospitable and kindly allowed us to spend a few hours roaming around the beautiful gardens and outbuildings of their farm, whilst discovering stunning examples of pottery and sculpture round every corner. We were also incredibly fortunate with the March weather, and although it was still rather chilly in the shade, the sun shone brightly the whole time we were there. <br />
<br />
A conversation with Charles Bound is always fascinating and instructive and his ceramic work has been hugely inspirational for me. He is a true artist in the sense that his approach to making is utterly individual and uncompromising. Work is never produced with a specific market in mind and self-promotion of his prodigious, creative output seems to be the least of his concerns. Indeed, Charles has been known to turn down the opportunity to sell a piece if he decides more time is needed to contemplate it.<br />
<br />
He constantly experiments and prefers to just "let go and allow things to happen" both when throwing on the wheel and hand building with clay. Keeping a completely open mind when it comes to technique has allowed him to continuously innovate and in his own words, to "go well beyond what is sane and rational<i>"</i>. Nothing is ruled out in the creative process, whether it's hurling leather-hard slabs of clay onto the floor,
incorporating found objects from the farm into sculptures, or even assembling discarded fragments of pottery and re-firing them to create
new and intriguing forms. Charles is never afraid to tear apart and re-configure an unfired piece, or join several pots together to see if something interesting will emerge. It is partly this sense of joyful, serendipitous discovery expressed through the work which makes it so appealing. <br />
<br />
All of the clay pieces (none of which is normally bisqued) are fired for several days in a traditional, anagama
kiln, and they come out bearing the scars and encrusted deposits from a protracted
battle with smoke, ash and rivers of flame. There exists a primal and raw energy within the wood-fired ceramics which can actually be felt when running your hands over the deeply textured and fissured surfaces. These works of art will no doubt challenge some peoples' aesthetic sensibilities, but, for myself, their boldness of execution and brutal honesty of expression make them all the more captivating. Such is the variety and breadth of Charles Bound's work, I find it impossible to describe it adequately in a few paragraphs. If you would like to learn more, there is an <a href="http://www.charlesbound.com/" target="_blank">excellent website</a> with a gallery of wonderful images and a number of articles which shed further light on Charles' life and working practices.<br />
<br />
Here is a selection of the photographs I took during my all-too brief visit. I hope you'll enjoy them even though they can't really do justice to the work As with the best literature or music, one needs to spend some considerable time in the company of Charles Bound's ceramics to fully appreciate their subtle depth, power and beauty.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEwsVPwxtjZNcWiPjrUz4ugFcLZ2xkhAnA6aBCeHthNIIkcMan2tmM_jX7HbghPl2ikXlpHf_tmzu243MXdT3NRwmQf18g14ctyLzFBUWrDg4XPWQCNvFrxJPeXDxEf8S3l0lANEXIsQ0/s1600/DSC_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEwsVPwxtjZNcWiPjrUz4ugFcLZ2xkhAnA6aBCeHthNIIkcMan2tmM_jX7HbghPl2ikXlpHf_tmzu243MXdT3NRwmQf18g14ctyLzFBUWrDg4XPWQCNvFrxJPeXDxEf8S3l0lANEXIsQ0/s1600/DSC_0051.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Bound (left) with James Hazlewood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMlGqBx3h47FGZTl_j1_Ub51x2KUUY11bq59eEOroF5RXZZqnYpO8mHyaUK5vbvtoEjt2njfbFNbcSNRsIoxia2J8fnHao8hzu8LZvKMi0jkfQFprMP9GTabnOcYs1QOJyIFQwRpB-51X/s1600/DSC_0117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMlGqBx3h47FGZTl_j1_Ub51x2KUUY11bq59eEOroF5RXZZqnYpO8mHyaUK5vbvtoEjt2njfbFNbcSNRsIoxia2J8fnHao8hzu8LZvKMi0jkfQFprMP9GTabnOcYs1QOJyIFQwRpB-51X/s1600/DSC_0117.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the studio: a work in progress</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5bMvsMCgxcRg_IH0A34-oRx1uwwpatMmqOPFeq18zpFOs-VVsHq2Lj7z5G8-0HnymSV_HUTZ-XYbSBr-Y2F2lPc6p8Msh9P4OR45WYT85DTKq1fs22ztSnZSzAW6RawZW_ddFO3YBm80/s1600/DSC_0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5bMvsMCgxcRg_IH0A34-oRx1uwwpatMmqOPFeq18zpFOs-VVsHq2Lj7z5G8-0HnymSV_HUTZ-XYbSBr-Y2F2lPc6p8Msh9P4OR45WYT85DTKq1fs22ztSnZSzAW6RawZW_ddFO3YBm80/s1600/DSC_0123.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work in progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtokCJFOsKlilVFC-_1uJcobTv9G7nmJ1Ixh9WDA5_8piFZ65oaz_k5RyHJ4mbildFequvtALE8PhOZZVEDOQ1Gr0XOVsl2ONRZBpdzUzyQ0XRYxeOPQJMBxMUyKlVDqBNqPXLYVeRHg7K/s1600/DSC_0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtokCJFOsKlilVFC-_1uJcobTv9G7nmJ1Ixh9WDA5_8piFZ65oaz_k5RyHJ4mbildFequvtALE8PhOZZVEDOQ1Gr0XOVsl2ONRZBpdzUzyQ0XRYxeOPQJMBxMUyKlVDqBNqPXLYVeRHg7K/s1600/DSC_0125.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work in progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Charles Bound's ceramic art will soon feature in the new Gnarly Dudes Exhibition, taking place at <b>The Barn Pottery, Moretonhampstead</b> on <b>18th-19th April 2015</b>. Further details of the Event, which will also showcase the work of Nic Collins, Svend Bayer, Jon Fellows and Chuck Schwartz, can be found on facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gnarlydudesexhibition?fref=ts&pnref=story" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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Thanks for reading.Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-37395728942925477922014-06-30T08:37:00.001-07:002014-07-01T08:14:03.935-07:00Some new pots and glazesGosh, doesn't time fly? I can't quite believe it's been over two months since I posted anything here. Well, my only excuse is that I've been pretty busy, continuing to try out different methods of making, developing new glazes and testing them, all with varying degrees of success.<br />
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The matte ash glazes, based on an original recipe by <a href="http://www.studiopottery.co.uk/profile/Carlos/Versluys" target="_blank">Carlos Versluys</a>, have proved to be particularly interesting, but also very challenging, as their textures and colours are affected by so many factors. So far I've produced some attractive, crackled textures by applying them thickly, but to achieve a good colour response from the clay body, I am realising that they need to be applied fairly thinly, since the glaze, especially if calcined alumina is added, is highly refractory.<br />
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But, at the risk of repeating myself, it's only by experimenting and "failing" a few times, that one can discover what the critical factors are, and narrow down the parameters within which the potential for success lies. And of course, the more things you try, the more chance there is of serendipity stepping in and offering up pleasant surprises like this one from Saturday's firing:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyXH6RQSJY6TZV-VFG4TXAizFC8u53mS5cNbYlmHt9SyVS4HebaejOrbGwyi9-BisUz1H7NnciWjUU4x6Rwiixej2Hl1RvjblYYmaMqkGJWFzE3DXniJvzPNTygfSelcAgcS4038PfW4-/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyXH6RQSJY6TZV-VFG4TXAizFC8u53mS5cNbYlmHt9SyVS4HebaejOrbGwyi9-BisUz1H7NnciWjUU4x6Rwiixej2Hl1RvjblYYmaMqkGJWFzE3DXniJvzPNTygfSelcAgcS4038PfW4-/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg" height="313" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, electric fired, 4 ins tall</td></tr>
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This vase was coated with with white slip, and after the bisque, was glazed with a dolomite glaze ( my thanks to <a href="http://www.rachelwoodceramics.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rachel Wood</a> for the recipe, found in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Techniques-Using-Slips-John-Mathieson/dp/0812221176" target="_blank">Techniques Using Slips, by John Mathieson</a>) dipped half way over a Japanese-style Oribe glaze. I am guessing the white dolomite has picked up some of the copper oxide from the Oribe, just enough to turn it this wonderful orange colour.<br />
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Another exciting result came from putting the same dolomite glaze over one of the matte ash glazes containing iron oxide. Fired in the electric kiln to around cone 7/8, it came out fairly crawled, revealing the cracked texture of the matte glaze beneath:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH4SVb-GuyceOEN3m1pvpccIon1Vu3ZvUOY8gqo4tXpfXJzsUJVP73IjkpofMmZ3LwvPSAk5NWfGrygNgEbRFgpbPL6m7gKuw0u7SgvRX8ll_opLssUeCU21IlrEgpSbCR6P6-WfxySOE/s1600/DSC_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH4SVb-GuyceOEN3m1pvpccIon1Vu3ZvUOY8gqo4tXpfXJzsUJVP73IjkpofMmZ3LwvPSAk5NWfGrygNgEbRFgpbPL6m7gKuw0u7SgvRX8ll_opLssUeCU21IlrEgpSbCR6P6-WfxySOE/s1600/DSC_0141.JPG" height="271" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl, electric fired, 4 ins wide</td></tr>
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Someone said they thought this looked like a thin layer of snow over dry earth..<br />
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Anyway, here is another selection of pieces I've fired recently, either by electric or gas and wood:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrTVSQPYWhyphenhyphenqoMp-YKwRG3RiIvGZF7C53Tz-ezezXFtpU00FY3w2w56jijIIEz37e2PywsVDboMHuOPJWDQLxPEJ4wP7LNgN3k6RSgxSj3FKLp84scGZE50_a9MlQbZ0hQH2S6yIBnXS1/s1600/Copy+of+DSC_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrTVSQPYWhyphenhyphenqoMp-YKwRG3RiIvGZF7C53Tz-ezezXFtpU00FY3w2w56jijIIEz37e2PywsVDboMHuOPJWDQLxPEJ4wP7LNgN3k6RSgxSj3FKLp84scGZE50_a9MlQbZ0hQH2S6yIBnXS1/s1600/Copy+of+DSC_0135.JPG" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, electric fired</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEv0PD9AlG7MVDBoNfxC-z1UxSaViPPspbExM5qDsu6Y26YcLI61hztr1cqYQeQcCJui9Yn-eD7naQ0vW0TgQAtdSJeBLYqJGzoLhSBxHAdY6nxOuDUpkRrejQzdy8Wd2B0S4AXAg6wyY/s1600/DSC_00080001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEv0PD9AlG7MVDBoNfxC-z1UxSaViPPspbExM5qDsu6Y26YcLI61hztr1cqYQeQcCJui9Yn-eD7naQ0vW0TgQAtdSJeBLYqJGzoLhSBxHAdY6nxOuDUpkRrejQzdy8Wd2B0S4AXAg6wyY/s1600/DSC_00080001.JPG" height="262" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of above vase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkt4PC9p-oWg4Gomo1_-jFYKXZxy2TTw-Kq7qTr2SfrzZqTTfE0bBLYavs9xCyW3AiCmrfogW4mXaMuR8s791iPE6rDmELxUDjAysBagsN0_XymmmIMht9L_QFZ-UYD0lddfEB7mKnUVLw/s1600/DSC_00120001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkt4PC9p-oWg4Gomo1_-jFYKXZxy2TTw-Kq7qTr2SfrzZqTTfE0bBLYavs9xCyW3AiCmrfogW4mXaMuR8s791iPE6rDmELxUDjAysBagsN0_XymmmIMht9L_QFZ-UYD0lddfEB7mKnUVLw/s1600/DSC_00120001.JPG" height="320" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, raw ash glaze, fired with gas and wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJbzreAL5749TfH4XVEApL0vWJeFLSodWmT96KSwUBJci3mDDwfkHP9eOO6iBctlFZ58rOeF67Xi3agWHdYvul7ZK3GxIDlUIvFyNOab-T8_EN_NFYpaCBb1RJE-J4jqBY_hHSOxfA2xV/s1600/DSC_00160001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJbzreAL5749TfH4XVEApL0vWJeFLSodWmT96KSwUBJci3mDDwfkHP9eOO6iBctlFZ58rOeF67Xi3agWHdYvul7ZK3GxIDlUIvFyNOab-T8_EN_NFYpaCBb1RJE-J4jqBY_hHSOxfA2xV/s1600/DSC_00160001.JPG" height="264" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two vases, fired with gas and wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxYW7NPwgyCfznZ-wxnHZCI8EUEd6liH8gIDKxnPt3sdVi774HmE2YlnyD7o5h1KNVwOMR2TOwP3gLCOa99PCT1NQseSfEhrQUQeKr8ugwRPg3mpjIOuOhf4HrPHbUgnnVSjv9gjG9zy5/s1600/DSC_00230001b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxYW7NPwgyCfznZ-wxnHZCI8EUEd6liH8gIDKxnPt3sdVi774HmE2YlnyD7o5h1KNVwOMR2TOwP3gLCOa99PCT1NQseSfEhrQUQeKr8ugwRPg3mpjIOuOhf4HrPHbUgnnVSjv9gjG9zy5/s1600/DSC_00230001b.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Container, fired with gas and wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVslZl94yskPHH4xeih8QM38Lw7Fkbq8rVEPk3IAAwFzhn3jjxTIeqJ-gb1SLjtfCAQ2bRy17qAIJAHhaScBc8P5McXXdsYwXGyFyYpUoIrO5KQrGQZGgTckfG7SM0TF1YuxOHLI9YGSg/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVslZl94yskPHH4xeih8QM38Lw7Fkbq8rVEPk3IAAwFzhn3jjxTIeqJ-gb1SLjtfCAQ2bRy17qAIJAHhaScBc8P5McXXdsYwXGyFyYpUoIrO5KQrGQZGgTckfG7SM0TF1YuxOHLI9YGSg/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squared vase, Nuka glaze, electric fired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDZLOj9_k-dCt5H5wJLvgaAbV1z8FfT_7YRbiRbMAfeBn7Mg21sV2awAkoPOAVyk2ZR-2F6SU4aM0Wq9WBrOeHG7ze6YDGG7jgmzIm0i6DVdXKYpqRm0oR6p9te0M6B4KWUJykvMDQz9p/s1600/DSC_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDZLOj9_k-dCt5H5wJLvgaAbV1z8FfT_7YRbiRbMAfeBn7Mg21sV2awAkoPOAVyk2ZR-2F6SU4aM0Wq9WBrOeHG7ze6YDGG7jgmzIm0i6DVdXKYpqRm0oR6p9te0M6B4KWUJykvMDQz9p/s1600/DSC_0017.jpg" height="302" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squared vase, Nuka glaze, electric fired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIPeEXAUBjLdFjaPRtETwbuLrMWctvqk1c3Kd_x6sAtepAumr5PLsH9Pmbf0XpiLMA-gA0Qwi3IRUKh4olqquHQpdLlArfrxkELAuV9GtP8tsSeEdKv-v1bmOOrFuzRDdZwT9XgmeaKw7/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIPeEXAUBjLdFjaPRtETwbuLrMWctvqk1c3Kd_x6sAtepAumr5PLsH9Pmbf0XpiLMA-gA0Qwi3IRUKh4olqquHQpdLlArfrxkELAuV9GtP8tsSeEdKv-v1bmOOrFuzRDdZwT9XgmeaKw7/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle vase, dolomite glaze, electric fired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrnZlZM7wja0x1NjI9OqRo-JndDtpc-nVTVmM6wR9uvK9rBoual2cs2mloOv86VzG-w1Z4ecbj9yuwp62E7HN7ovTCKV1OXnUf1XGpVaz1UAnN-tmWUP3qG5JsXAIINBdfMQVThFRBsvf/s1600/DSC_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrnZlZM7wja0x1NjI9OqRo-JndDtpc-nVTVmM6wR9uvK9rBoual2cs2mloOv86VzG-w1Z4ecbj9yuwp62E7HN7ovTCKV1OXnUf1XGpVaz1UAnN-tmWUP3qG5JsXAIINBdfMQVThFRBsvf/s1600/DSC_0023.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, dolomite glaze, electric fired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXfdjEDztPrz21j7upzIopofx9B8bOLxDxAsTlhFMzWQ2rA_i_Oyj3KqBZNu8FFDpBG4_R5uPaAodtaDY8W-P95OSlkyNATN4GEm3GsdMsjTleefrhCslofpfEoaFOaPvyWgg9t0L0Rxz/s1600/DSC_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXfdjEDztPrz21j7upzIopofx9B8bOLxDxAsTlhFMzWQ2rA_i_Oyj3KqBZNu8FFDpBG4_R5uPaAodtaDY8W-P95OSlkyNATN4GEm3GsdMsjTleefrhCslofpfEoaFOaPvyWgg9t0L0Rxz/s1600/DSC_0045.jpg" height="306" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved guinomi, matte ash glaze, fired with gas and wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2jC1v4yPjudBKxKAalnM9v-9y1BMsNZCBH9aRov3UGhlBroAuqLUv6GNE_2VG1ZvS6Bqo044W3DiOwSYxO0mEoLhAX1TFwHvZrNCwFD6QUKYaZnv5m33agaM4iu3vXv51NGBG2d8EUk1/s1600/DSC_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2jC1v4yPjudBKxKAalnM9v-9y1BMsNZCBH9aRov3UGhlBroAuqLUv6GNE_2VG1ZvS6Bqo044W3DiOwSYxO0mEoLhAX1TFwHvZrNCwFD6QUKYaZnv5m33agaM4iu3vXv51NGBG2d8EUk1/s1600/DSC_0051.jpg" height="282" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved guinomi, matte shino glaze, fired with gas and wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZMIB6hGZJyMrtKOYux0BGGECfZcmpFtLUxiYrrVsjO1TZby_69OinGQag45w1mjY3FmQCRnnUNGMavJNXjS_BaL-maQxqKkjth0oX1XZAXyyS_x5q5ju5CK-EsCAf9gHM2YXrMZ9eMZa/s1600/DSC_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZMIB6hGZJyMrtKOYux0BGGECfZcmpFtLUxiYrrVsjO1TZby_69OinGQag45w1mjY3FmQCRnnUNGMavJNXjS_BaL-maQxqKkjth0oX1XZAXyyS_x5q5ju5CK-EsCAf9gHM2YXrMZ9eMZa/s1600/DSC_0054.jpg" height="301" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved guinomi, matte shino glaze, fired with gas and wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzYgOynXX22irf0RT8qmM0ayUUkwRhCPrxSXB3OC0LdfBYB8qqwKUYDaPPK2AvOznLIQL_cQ1tdGmcm-qlvG3sXuN4KdNNTMTOPV3Hrp6fKnLm6ViYFRLBPmawETE1YL0_Ya_KQV3IVSx/s1600/DSC_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzYgOynXX22irf0RT8qmM0ayUUkwRhCPrxSXB3OC0LdfBYB8qqwKUYDaPPK2AvOznLIQL_cQ1tdGmcm-qlvG3sXuN4KdNNTMTOPV3Hrp6fKnLm6ViYFRLBPmawETE1YL0_Ya_KQV3IVSx/s1600/DSC_0030.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinomi, dolomite glaze, electric fired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Qca1bOvBBYC-Ghh6qA5IO6FfpBo14F7SiXm_ft0mPc8CVvo7UkqCaU0zcXT_mohVPQOFURYatlLr3Ddy2bwXoQoDdqovua1_AA33cq5nf9ouesctl-kYsPktDuYFQXqF1UswNSpgruM6/s1600/DSC_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Qca1bOvBBYC-Ghh6qA5IO6FfpBo14F7SiXm_ft0mPc8CVvo7UkqCaU0zcXT_mohVPQOFURYatlLr3Ddy2bwXoQoDdqovua1_AA33cq5nf9ouesctl-kYsPktDuYFQXqF1UswNSpgruM6/s1600/DSC_0027.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinomi, dolomite glaze, electric fired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAdLqTkhyphenhyphenaCe97lLwp86j4TMTH2WgYgu_FRtiFyGYv-XAQ1dEGPnptypw3SOH7jHX7ZBH1Ac43qmVYj2lhmcIq7F7jpr2VCo9hCxpATC-6vO4HC8KGUykLqozRS6zu7RbktqyJi1ofghJ/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAdLqTkhyphenhyphenaCe97lLwp86j4TMTH2WgYgu_FRtiFyGYv-XAQ1dEGPnptypw3SOH7jHX7ZBH1Ac43qmVYj2lhmcIq7F7jpr2VCo9hCxpATC-6vO4HC8KGUykLqozRS6zu7RbktqyJi1ofghJ/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sake cup, dolomite glaze, electric fired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6oaocR_16-f7geHgngIb8DsuMpEPQBlZPC4k_5o4Uhg1ekd9SkASqaRvZ_ycZSPHWzTL5c-5JMJ0IYwEaNcQGTXvgnetmYYtthKUSMCzfxXoRoKNHkBDImNoZMyhHo-xVYshPmkgdXeg/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6oaocR_16-f7geHgngIb8DsuMpEPQBlZPC4k_5o4Uhg1ekd9SkASqaRvZ_ycZSPHWzTL5c-5JMJ0IYwEaNcQGTXvgnetmYYtthKUSMCzfxXoRoKNHkBDImNoZMyhHo-xVYshPmkgdXeg/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" height="307" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sake cup, dolomite glaze, electric fired</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-17100754044140319252014-04-11T10:02:00.002-07:002014-05-27T04:59:13.383-07:00A temporary kiln fired with gas and woodThis week I built and fired another gas kiln, this time with the addition of a side stoke hole for wood. The interior dimensions were 18 by 18 inches wide, by 15 inches tall, which I think equates to around 2.8 cubic feet. The bottom and sides were assembled dry from a combination of heavy-duty fire bricks and light, high-temperature insulations bricks and the roof from a section of double-layer kiln fibre held in place with fencing wire. The exit flu was simply a slot left in the roof of the kiln at the opposite end from the burner port and extra pieces of kiln fibre were used as a damper.<br />
<br />
This kiln proved quite tricky to fire in terms of getting the temperature up to 1285 degrees C but according to the pyrometer, I finally got there after 10.5 hours. At various points the temperature would stick and I had to make minute adjustments to the burner position and damper to get it rising again. No doubt the firing may have been alot quicker had I been able to use HTI bricks throughout. Cone 10 didn't quite drop but 9 was well over on the bottom shelf, where I think it was slightly cooler.<br />
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After the kiln reached 900 degrees C I started stoking occasionally with 2 or 3 pieces of pine kindling and each time this would cause a temperature drop of around 30 degrees. Over 1200 degrees this became quite exciting as large flames would shoot back at me out of the side stoke hole as the wood combusted instantly. I would like to have used alot more wood but it was so difficult to get the temperature up that I had to hold back on creating more reduction. At the end of the firing, the gas was turned off and six or seven small pieces of wood were pushed into the burner port and side stoke hole in an attempt to achieve more reduction during cooling. I felt this was necessary as the walls of the kiln and the roof are far from air-tight, and sure enough, the following day there was nothing left of the wood, barely any ashes at all.<br />
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A couple of shots of the kiln as it was dismantled:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPnQnO1U1jDjD9JwUYdEwbsifVfbvHkzuylnued_uCqAmVewPPgVFpsrqTvjcqupLZ6_Wpe21X8-sfCFQdkJBDCEgzYm6kY60yXAvFBqcUSHHPF8FVUmFvwIimOe44n6rgD1fVYWQB9yz/s1600/DSC_00560001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPnQnO1U1jDjD9JwUYdEwbsifVfbvHkzuylnued_uCqAmVewPPgVFpsrqTvjcqupLZ6_Wpe21X8-sfCFQdkJBDCEgzYm6kY60yXAvFBqcUSHHPF8FVUmFvwIimOe44n6rgD1fVYWQB9yz/s1600/DSC_00560001.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiln built on wooden pallet, burner port on right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhINSiywlJsHM4_oYB1oi7uDWqlM7OTcu6LsYU7udmlsaYEqjHQXePSWvvdV_AWlH-OoKXKuxHeqZWlT4a26DyOVssIMo1UHVmhTppJwr4GvxYElfeN4DznaGGRpYimdEMWCEO5GHCm1ch/s1600/DSC_00580001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhINSiywlJsHM4_oYB1oi7uDWqlM7OTcu6LsYU7udmlsaYEqjHQXePSWvvdV_AWlH-OoKXKuxHeqZWlT4a26DyOVssIMo1UHVmhTppJwr4GvxYElfeN4DznaGGRpYimdEMWCEO5GHCm1ch/s1600/DSC_00580001.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiln with spy hole and stoke hole for wood (right) on facing wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One problem with this kind of kiln assembly is that the light-weight bricks are incredibly fragile .. they break easily when being moved around, and a few crack during each firing. The heavies take much longer to heat up but are at least fairly durable!<br />
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I think the addition of wood helped in creating intense bursts of reduction throughout most of the kiln, although it's hard to know exactly how it affected the glazes, as many of the pots already had raw ash added to them before the firing. Pots placed near the exit flu were more oxidised (example in the second photo). As usual, I was testing quite a few new glazes so the results were very mixed .. here are some of the pieces I felt turned out okay:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeMZePhlmH3Kayx98HVtfCEtJLi_qu41nVXhBYQjURM08rrymSQERq_5T5Q2f_qLYF56gNpYsxCC_BASIHexSUCSQBjfjvckAm-iP_sz808_3ajpTDoOVArGcDVI1UqafbEmJvUtwriSb/s1600/DSC_00750001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeMZePhlmH3Kayx98HVtfCEtJLi_qu41nVXhBYQjURM08rrymSQERq_5T5Q2f_qLYF56gNpYsxCC_BASIHexSUCSQBjfjvckAm-iP_sz808_3ajpTDoOVArGcDVI1UqafbEmJvUtwriSb/s1600/DSC_00750001.JPG" height="320" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vase, 2 ins tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjze6Wzm-cAMb2AxBMbgqcBWDGTd2xU2W8qDjDH00KswdH0XhM9AeD9zH9qdgMFXqBwix4y4f_JaWDbmY20Af1gqxzAlBeSIhhxLJr-cGKcjjTvQPStB-KQ0ilzThy4T0Y25OgdgEZqsLq/s1600/DSC_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjze6Wzm-cAMb2AxBMbgqcBWDGTd2xU2W8qDjDH00KswdH0XhM9AeD9zH9qdgMFXqBwix4y4f_JaWDbmY20Af1gqxzAlBeSIhhxLJr-cGKcjjTvQPStB-KQ0ilzThy4T0Y25OgdgEZqsLq/s1600/DSC_0071.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vase, 3 ins tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhSlCdb5v_twoVbREh9Z1eXOdtkspwdiHmDirR2rnKtUyySQ-vdkAjt0oEZVIXF7a3uwfiYcItI_3w0xZjDXVfa1X1bnK5PjzsIltzHFcq9RXGdJ9yhehz0f7VRqLtzN0X40670S8Z0iP/s1600/DSC_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhSlCdb5v_twoVbREh9Z1eXOdtkspwdiHmDirR2rnKtUyySQ-vdkAjt0oEZVIXF7a3uwfiYcItI_3w0xZjDXVfa1X1bnK5PjzsIltzHFcq9RXGdJ9yhehz0f7VRqLtzN0X40670S8Z0iP/s1600/DSC_0067.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vase, 9 ins tall (re-fire from wood kiln)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQQD6O5c1lhH_MxCa2ArN7UoJcKkjlgsBvQdQIH62gfgyjvcEYjo25kFkFxgWqmnFHINdxCQh54l3bexYusKZ5qd7xVEz6HLzzQUnF2eithPRFNWDPYcWdMCzgQGS_oCADxmH7fJB_tDk/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQQD6O5c1lhH_MxCa2ArN7UoJcKkjlgsBvQdQIH62gfgyjvcEYjo25kFkFxgWqmnFHINdxCQh54l3bexYusKZ5qd7xVEz6HLzzQUnF2eithPRFNWDPYcWdMCzgQGS_oCADxmH7fJB_tDk/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vase, 5 ins tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfdRlBZKp3xjyctThigOrUzUNExcy2Nt8vGvvfLNpIx3RwXjL-b2VqJSDr3g3gTg-SSkTSBSE7RXTDEevkdckqNE6LZbQ1bQRQgzBz7FWZvmgQZUgt-MG2LaZkaMX9HpwMjt1m3i6L9c-/s1600/DSC_00770001b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfdRlBZKp3xjyctThigOrUzUNExcy2Nt8vGvvfLNpIx3RwXjL-b2VqJSDr3g3gTg-SSkTSBSE7RXTDEevkdckqNE6LZbQ1bQRQgzBz7FWZvmgQZUgt-MG2LaZkaMX9HpwMjt1m3i6L9c-/s1600/DSC_00770001b.jpg" height="320" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tea caddy, 4 ins tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6-jKyePZch94n0Y6KTWTHmcUrnzqVUx-KYVz0JNl1yBK55ygcvD_eGbKriDE8NIZWgkpoIZyNaXRn7x5pN3YxlWc8MhJ2IZrzE3rJSyULfC6hRpSY6Mg9zTG12CrOCiF9ZalhAopz48i/s1600/DSC_00790001b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6-jKyePZch94n0Y6KTWTHmcUrnzqVUx-KYVz0JNl1yBK55ygcvD_eGbKriDE8NIZWgkpoIZyNaXRn7x5pN3YxlWc8MhJ2IZrzE3rJSyULfC6hRpSY6Mg9zTG12CrOCiF9ZalhAopz48i/s1600/DSC_00790001b.jpg" height="284" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vase, 3 ins tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcX258m1zp4COIUq1FPET0M5CglY0DDuhyphenhyphenF-50nHoPPrtFVnde97B0Hv6hRVQLD3ziocraY5iXFC29Ti_G9QBW_Bpk8bT7kGNHR5zFN91ANBt0wh8jyYadNpS7EwJKzuJbhZTmfOFnRI8/s1600/DSC_00870001b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcX258m1zp4COIUq1FPET0M5CglY0DDuhyphenhyphenF-50nHoPPrtFVnde97B0Hv6hRVQLD3ziocraY5iXFC29Ti_G9QBW_Bpk8bT7kGNHR5zFN91ANBt0wh8jyYadNpS7EwJKzuJbhZTmfOFnRI8/s1600/DSC_00870001b.jpg" height="305" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vase 3.5 ins tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTDlHTLrc-zxbFpLrg-ftCNt_1Rc7H56AsRfz2dyae258BjnD9q3LTGSMzrDUPdFVGgy66hsjwj5sIvEEloqsj8Vz0mk5HWSDWeWQyzXcHXJi8GCgWgQOoC0M0OralTW4UzaWsbBDVOOw/s1600/DSC_00970001b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTDlHTLrc-zxbFpLrg-ftCNt_1Rc7H56AsRfz2dyae258BjnD9q3LTGSMzrDUPdFVGgy66hsjwj5sIvEEloqsj8Vz0mk5HWSDWeWQyzXcHXJi8GCgWgQOoC0M0OralTW4UzaWsbBDVOOw/s1600/DSC_00970001b.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, 2.5 ins tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_NLqswDevs2drj4xuxrqLooWtaBbDu0XNNomniQwScEt6FSiZ_4HNaa0WKJwVPpw8urazvbQuOOdCR5o8BSu_0FxRwE7lDR_4t6Mvf2oVd1anfPtXUaK7RrNHZ0v8g2QqlMWe5d34Kvn/s1600/DSC_00990001b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_NLqswDevs2drj4xuxrqLooWtaBbDu0XNNomniQwScEt6FSiZ_4HNaa0WKJwVPpw8urazvbQuOOdCR5o8BSu_0FxRwE7lDR_4t6Mvf2oVd1anfPtXUaK7RrNHZ0v8g2QqlMWe5d34Kvn/s1600/DSC_00990001b.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">whisky cup, approx 3 ins tall (re-fire from wood kiln)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTtI5hy9PRN395Py0dWQQRay6da3zOii-8Z-ptKrMU-NjRI-e4xPDmAOLkpDL8zsaJfQ5v-nIb0bdHfc4ZYUFPugRb7pR6pbC0R-GKdPjTPo-157lS06yO_t22dB_PiMHNqxpTzOwyCAf/s1600/DSC_01020001b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTtI5hy9PRN395Py0dWQQRay6da3zOii-8Z-ptKrMU-NjRI-e4xPDmAOLkpDL8zsaJfQ5v-nIb0bdHfc4ZYUFPugRb7pR6pbC0R-GKdPjTPo-157lS06yO_t22dB_PiMHNqxpTzOwyCAf/s1600/DSC_01020001b.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">whisky cup, underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And below are a few test pieces I put in with my own shino-type crackle glaze. I was pleasantly surprised by these results as in the electric it was quite a disappointing glaze with a very dry and sandy finish.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yxh7iQb-DKgOhCEzoXyOiXcbFW7oE8e01AczpiKNooA6bAlks8eVlVA0h3GUrTQ0MQkVnTkBPLf_Ck8TLFXep-rME6Lc8YiXDxVOAY5wAcfPbebzsdcZoo2q0YBm8-tsBRxN9-V5IPgt/s1600/DSC_00880001_1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yxh7iQb-DKgOhCEzoXyOiXcbFW7oE8e01AczpiKNooA6bAlks8eVlVA0h3GUrTQ0MQkVnTkBPLf_Ck8TLFXep-rME6Lc8YiXDxVOAY5wAcfPbebzsdcZoo2q0YBm8-tsBRxN9-V5IPgt/s1600/DSC_00880001_1b.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
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The little bowl on the left was given a coating of groggy black clay (when leather hard) and this has added an extra dimension to the glaze in terms of texture and colour. Can't wait to try this one on a larger pot!<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-44193075031757688262014-03-14T06:11:00.000-07:002014-03-23T04:02:07.879-07:00A gas-fired, glaze test kilnYesterday, I built and tested a very small gas kiln, partly to see how fast I could fire it to cone 9 temperature! The kiln was built simply using high-temperature insulation bricks, nothing else..even the roof was made using bricks:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl_V1yhx2_ypZXWUw0yPr0jKWDUgO3nOWfTuZ4snt3Jxqs2GSeYavBYjq_E8UO0nSDc3MN1tqDh5tQG7Llc-GC9QsaVdtVZ62O5B4Btl2tGdd8xxvPBV8j2SjuIOalpGi3UfKaSqu9c5N/s1600/DSC_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl_V1yhx2_ypZXWUw0yPr0jKWDUgO3nOWfTuZ4snt3Jxqs2GSeYavBYjq_E8UO0nSDc3MN1tqDh5tQG7Llc-GC9QsaVdtVZ62O5B4Btl2tGdd8xxvPBV8j2SjuIOalpGi3UfKaSqu9c5N/s1600/DSC_0027.jpg" height="282" width="320" /></a></div>
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Only two small pots were placed in the kiln:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50cMPjLtd4RhKoCtXbVKv30DscK1ocCr0QzNWXc59y2GNkw9-T19W7WrmjOh8iNilurxq-FWScfuL_e5b5V94ExXIb83arV9alTT7ZSxkJjD5nJ7mPOHgE5xnLSSglVq5w0wslhzEiSnm/s1600/DSC_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50cMPjLtd4RhKoCtXbVKv30DscK1ocCr0QzNWXc59y2GNkw9-T19W7WrmjOh8iNilurxq-FWScfuL_e5b5V94ExXIb83arV9alTT7ZSxkJjD5nJ7mPOHgE5xnLSSglVq5w0wslhzEiSnm/s1600/DSC_0049.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
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This was meant to be a crackle shino over a dark, iron-oxide slip. A little (1%) iron oxide added to the glaze has made it flux, losing most of the cracks. It has also bubbled rather alot, possibly a sign that the atmosphere was not reduced sufficiently. This is probably because it was positioned directly under the exit flu..unavoidable in a kiln of this size.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVfygez_WsMg5sx_bqjyIOCbumoA9_A1kg090OYQn4Os3G8LQBeny1imcU-pAAmoep2hZdU9rt7JSXggwJ4bd6_7zjPqmRg7KET5IMXA8gQFAn1FvKk72xvfCazNI_BJkFkNT3flgqw7V/s1600/DSC_0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVfygez_WsMg5sx_bqjyIOCbumoA9_A1kg090OYQn4Os3G8LQBeny1imcU-pAAmoep2hZdU9rt7JSXggwJ4bd6_7zjPqmRg7KET5IMXA8gQFAn1FvKk72xvfCazNI_BJkFkNT3flgqw7V/s1600/DSC_0047.jpg" height="320" width="303" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1JDgg8fDP-sunJo0MI6rp8UEwqZ2cc6vVK36ooKvhpVmvCJJHtLL3vmdmEPDdy4D275sunOEcLTsvbNPxB9D_PMPA8tUnocCCSt2S-dTIKhpo-9EGA5MuosXQxH68f4YXf6cYXhZEo1S/s1600/DSC_0039mmm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1JDgg8fDP-sunJo0MI6rp8UEwqZ2cc6vVK36ooKvhpVmvCJJHtLL3vmdmEPDdy4D275sunOEcLTsvbNPxB9D_PMPA8tUnocCCSt2S-dTIKhpo-9EGA5MuosXQxH68f4YXf6cYXhZEo1S/s1600/DSC_0039mmm.jpg" height="320" width="299" /></a></div>
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This piece was more successful. The glaze was made with kaolin, AT ball clay and raw wood ash and has come out rather like a traditional, Japanese shino. Wood ash was also aplied to the top half of the pot (glue was sprayed on and the pot dipped in a pile of ash). It actually looks very much like an anagama-fired piece with a variety of surface colours created by the melting ash. But this kiln was fired to approx 1275 Centigrade in two hours. Some wood was introduced to the gas flame by placing bamboo into the burner port..interestingly, each time this was done, the temperature would drop very quickly by 30 to 42 degrees C. It would then take about 10 minutes for the temperature to get back up as the bamboo ash burned away. The kiln was so small, I had to pull the weed burner head about 7-8 inches away from the kiln to get the hottest part of the flame inside the chamber. Optimising this distance was critical to achieving a rapid temperature rise.<br />
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Here are a few other pieces I fired recently in the electric kiln:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSdgbytIMjafUgF-ymitZsWyVGvnxwI9KjIC_kzMk0BLTf5ZrwJZYnt59EqvFNtZWagXdR7QUn1C4k6y9XHh2Ol5XYNDpNIxkQkjr4ZCk8X33RN1fiGrWLe0ydrZBaPZFzDZGbnF0Lhct/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSdgbytIMjafUgF-ymitZsWyVGvnxwI9KjIC_kzMk0BLTf5ZrwJZYnt59EqvFNtZWagXdR7QUn1C4k6y9XHh2Ol5XYNDpNIxkQkjr4ZCk8X33RN1fiGrWLe0ydrZBaPZFzDZGbnF0Lhct/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved tea caddy, fired to cone 8/9</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-X1A701_qLkcsDVSzfTJSf8W5M1sy_LrG9geLYlx-WDz7biN1o-wFB0u1R8yS1yrHZHQK2C68uGcLKV6Dx1ZsIsc78bpFETI2jEJos5c4DxNrqQUth52oFQ3C4YEkf1gJG49lhT43Ajc/s1600/DSC_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-X1A701_qLkcsDVSzfTJSf8W5M1sy_LrG9geLYlx-WDz7biN1o-wFB0u1R8yS1yrHZHQK2C68uGcLKV6Dx1ZsIsc78bpFETI2jEJos5c4DxNrqQUth52oFQ3C4YEkf1gJG49lhT43Ajc/s1600/DSC_0017.jpg" height="320" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved tea caddy, approx 4 ins tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This tea caddy was carved from a solid block of clay. It took a very long time to finish so I was relieved there were no firing cracks!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzxsgJcOE3ZsA8CrVAqw9HLzfyrKNmzP06Jpe5-lwffCwT6cuh8aYP0UdHo0HEWhY3gkaPPpM-ecl5-ie8N1IjAl-uSqidDJcMlA3FusZzhhx4GWmAd0xa2F2N0PpmLVPYvmcRLss9PZ_/s1600/DSC_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzxsgJcOE3ZsA8CrVAqw9HLzfyrKNmzP06Jpe5-lwffCwT6cuh8aYP0UdHo0HEWhY3gkaPPpM-ecl5-ie8N1IjAl-uSqidDJcMlA3FusZzhhx4GWmAd0xa2F2N0PpmLVPYvmcRLss9PZ_/s1600/DSC_0028.jpg" height="320" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved incense burner, fired to cone 8/9</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnEYPnBNxzzIPPoMi6N-xCGyYbqwQ3a_YM-iyhJqsoqjzciEJ9i2-MMVLLYco5WGYiX6TwHHHXAJGCwD8hcUT6U3PJG-1lY2gJhl1IusyU_k0xHNFAvsb9pcnE6ebub9Uv4H9C2gAnqDT/s1600/DSC_0009d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnEYPnBNxzzIPPoMi6N-xCGyYbqwQ3a_YM-iyhJqsoqjzciEJ9i2-MMVLLYco5WGYiX6TwHHHXAJGCwD8hcUT6U3PJG-1lY2gJhl1IusyU_k0xHNFAvsb9pcnE6ebub9Uv4H9C2gAnqDT/s1600/DSC_0009d.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black tea bowl, fired to cone 8/9</td></tr>
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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<br />Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-85822898746676096522014-02-22T05:12:00.001-08:002014-03-16T07:59:39.508-07:00Searching for a good crackle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With ceramics, it's exciting when serendipity leads you down new and interesting paths. When I tried formulating a matte ash glaze using mainly china clay and wood ash (based on a recipe by <a href="http://www.studiopottery.co.uk/profile/Carlos/Versluys" target="_blank">Carlos Versluys</a>, which I read about in the 2nd edition of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ash-Glazes-Phil-Rogers/dp/0713657820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394981949&sr=1-1&keywords=ash+glazes" target="_blank">Phil Rogers' excellent book, Ash Glazes</a>), I discovered that when applied thickly, it crawled and split, creating interesting crackle patterns. The high proportion of raw ash in the glaze gives them an unpredictable element, which I like, but it also means that they are extremely sensitive to firing temperature, thickness of application and the type of clay body or slips underneath.<br />
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In my latest electric firings, I've tried adding a little magnesium carbonate to encourage crawling. This works up to a point, but at higher temperatures, it begins to act as a flux and the crackle effect is lost as the glaze begins to melt and fuse back together. Peeling is also an issue where the glaze is very thick..although fairly robust, curls of glaze can crack off if enough pressure is applied. Okay for sculptural work perhaps, but would not be suitable for most functional ware.<br />
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Here are some of the recent test tiles and experimental pieces:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhzEMv5MzBRot3F5HkpwiIeccNlJSRIkbx00C3k1h3IQmXO2AjuiDK91IwCLYxR69iIyl8MCIAxBim_m2jLwzAu1di2BvRq1pkJLgeIijBW3LhlS4z4b1otGfjsh4X5a-8fZICJXeftKg/s1600/DSC_0011b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhzEMv5MzBRot3F5HkpwiIeccNlJSRIkbx00C3k1h3IQmXO2AjuiDK91IwCLYxR69iIyl8MCIAxBim_m2jLwzAu1di2BvRq1pkJLgeIijBW3LhlS4z4b1otGfjsh4X5a-8fZICJXeftKg/s1600/DSC_0011b.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea caddy,<br />
matte copper ash glaze over black slip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybt5g78bHP-y2P6MPuTvWNSYBnqGIBnSoCJGVaMDb05Jdz8Nf1fCgtUP5bPVC7t6tdXoqQllgeNXkWcvi0roJXlMwqZ4225qVdB6lk_eNBnjOBF4KLzPQ2XNPWzCdbIa_L_pJG8iqPx_r/s1600/DSC_0009b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybt5g78bHP-y2P6MPuTvWNSYBnqGIBnSoCJGVaMDb05Jdz8Nf1fCgtUP5bPVC7t6tdXoqQllgeNXkWcvi0roJXlMwqZ4225qVdB6lk_eNBnjOBF4KLzPQ2XNPWzCdbIa_L_pJG8iqPx_r/s1600/DSC_0009b.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculpture, "King for a day",<br />
matte copper ash glaze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV99DHU4zRJ0P7OHkwmUthUt_K226ItFyAiSjNuQqBppAUX2a1iAN6Tl2qxyb5e5SIxBwC4LPwPWUuHwOb8RoIo_mynhOAR8cEfX1q1pn5QL1KVJIuHyAi4dK-cOgOjmAWNWgQxsZV2BLv/s1600/DSC_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV99DHU4zRJ0P7OHkwmUthUt_K226ItFyAiSjNuQqBppAUX2a1iAN6Tl2qxyb5e5SIxBwC4LPwPWUuHwOb8RoIo_mynhOAR8cEfX1q1pn5QL1KVJIuHyAi4dK-cOgOjmAWNWgQxsZV2BLv/s1600/DSC_0035.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorative bowl,<br />
matte ash glaze with magnesium carbonate</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4IbNNCnjHUjiAr9rgBFrDmuYwRkRSysnsygMGst-gDCZrQvMUZhZT-NlKyCST3EaUeaSTrIQfBI_wy_lO2C8t66BWEJowMmJG6vgbCU5zIf65Q-b71NCUeo9SG2ae6T7YgpQKnnt7lhP/s1600/DSC_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4IbNNCnjHUjiAr9rgBFrDmuYwRkRSysnsygMGst-gDCZrQvMUZhZT-NlKyCST3EaUeaSTrIQfBI_wy_lO2C8t66BWEJowMmJG6vgbCU5zIf65Q-b71NCUeo9SG2ae6T7YgpQKnnt7lhP/s1600/DSC_0032.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase,<br />
matte ash glaze with magnesium carbonate</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNNTENWpkXcgGVSM1uH2zdAbZo4P9h5_75KDZo4mnxCvmSWvWBkD8AZQ9QM8FJNpck6VkLFUmsjeMbkhWp1npqoZTBL4XlIe5bLVeaIzFmfmBEYfC1vEfXbF435UJiYSo2pIEyeMn46Oh/s1600/DSC_0030b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNNTENWpkXcgGVSM1uH2zdAbZo4P9h5_75KDZo4mnxCvmSWvWBkD8AZQ9QM8FJNpck6VkLFUmsjeMbkhWp1npqoZTBL4XlIe5bLVeaIzFmfmBEYfC1vEfXbF435UJiYSo2pIEyeMn46Oh/s1600/DSC_0030b.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase, 15 inches tall<br />
Matte copper ash glaze</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WZTTTQcLXXko_TmyA4L-MW-WiD2svxONRNCle_DhqFLgMCW8O2j4NIJCcum5kVw7wIj_X7bu2gm9PsyGUqi81yBiKDXd6fxlorV6NH04wqmqGfpo40qZx_LY_ZbCnn61aFiJzxYrulzn/s1600/DSC_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WZTTTQcLXXko_TmyA4L-MW-WiD2svxONRNCle_DhqFLgMCW8O2j4NIJCcum5kVw7wIj_X7bu2gm9PsyGUqi81yBiKDXd6fxlorV6NH04wqmqGfpo40qZx_LY_ZbCnn61aFiJzxYrulzn/s1600/DSC_0030.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase close-up<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUxI8W4qjaLTwKu-GOzNHO35LLEx5jlNBut70hENb0xJaqCwwBkl2rIpfoIYBapIsr_F2xEUv3xWeAMyAi0O0Lts8_obeeJlK62497_ppHV-iqnp-FRqfSH2Pgdhu_bqBxia1m9Igs91H/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUxI8W4qjaLTwKu-GOzNHO35LLEx5jlNBut70hENb0xJaqCwwBkl2rIpfoIYBapIsr_F2xEUv3xWeAMyAi0O0Lts8_obeeJlK62497_ppHV-iqnp-FRqfSH2Pgdhu_bqBxia1m9Igs91H/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test tiles</td></tr>
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The white test pieces are a matte ash glaze with very high clay content over black slip decoration. Develops some nice cracking, but again, thickness of application over the bisque is critical to avoid peeling. In an electric firing, only black slips containing manganese and cobalt show through clearly .. the test on the left in the photo below has a dark slip containing red clay and iron oxide only, and it's barely visible through the glaze:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o6KMnyiBA_EZF0C8siedj17ZDqDyiXhXnQqnTtQrib3qsui3uAmHHzEKxGr3qw1qyUx8iSOfzVF7EdC4yyZEQUhFsRbrK3LJCUzvESb6s_oVxoSfMHZrjPuJBNkv08SR6S56Td6qAjd0/s1600/DSC_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o6KMnyiBA_EZF0C8siedj17ZDqDyiXhXnQqnTtQrib3qsui3uAmHHzEKxGr3qw1qyUx8iSOfzVF7EdC4yyZEQUhFsRbrK3LJCUzvESb6s_oVxoSfMHZrjPuJBNkv08SR6S56Td6qAjd0/s1600/DSC_0024.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test tiles</td></tr>
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I particularly liked the test tile second from the right, which is a matte ash glaze with red iron oxide added .. works nicely over the Potclays grogged pink body. I'll be trying this again with a higher clay content to try to achieve a more pronounced crackle.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408256548635370709.post-67596915539397888152014-01-27T07:54:00.004-08:002014-01-29T11:41:00.605-08:00First glaze experiments of 2014I did a test firing yesterday with the electric kiln, trying out a more matte copper ash glaze over various clays as well as a dolomite glaze. This is a first for me..I've had a large bag of dolomite languishing on a shelf for years and never used it.<br />
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This glaze really shows the cool and hot spots in my kiln. I fired lower this time, to around 1260 centigrade (the temperature recommended for the dolomite) and a couple of pots came out a very nice satin-matte white, whereas on others the glaze was over fired, turning almost transparent and running off the pot onto the kiln shelf. The kiln was soaked for half an hour and maybe this created too much heat work. Fortunately, not too much damage to the shelf, but two pots were completely ruined. I also tried the dolomite over a black slip containing cobalt oxide and manganese and it didn't like that too much..crawled and ran alot, although some of the effects were quite interesting, especially where the glaze stayed on top of the black slip:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVA-plst3hLRGCnhfV9mZsTSuFKC1AlUrM2E5dIsCRJvx66q6g9DhRtNC_B_MOl4TixILWpt4BJgwjny1RPWR9UCIA0d-k_G3VIWEMhMnuU1g0wkF3xAZgzu78SbKyUFoWzY6ZV9UIydw/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVA-plst3hLRGCnhfV9mZsTSuFKC1AlUrM2E5dIsCRJvx66q6g9DhRtNC_B_MOl4TixILWpt4BJgwjny1RPWR9UCIA0d-k_G3VIWEMhMnuU1g0wkF3xAZgzu78SbKyUFoWzY6ZV9UIydw/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" height="320" width="303" /></a></div>
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The two perfect pots:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZJuQC5o3F535DYMmZwp8L6Co_-jFduQ8YvEelOCsyMdduJ1BHDt-nxf6gHpjzYtogfhNAmrUq0m52zUjEhGfG-H9VU0Amwq5Ik81yzxTk5XFYGYFcpsk3YjP0ApLxxh_etcfmtWCDF7b/s1600/DSC_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZJuQC5o3F535DYMmZwp8L6Co_-jFduQ8YvEelOCsyMdduJ1BHDt-nxf6gHpjzYtogfhNAmrUq0m52zUjEhGfG-H9VU0Amwq5Ik81yzxTk5XFYGYFcpsk3YjP0ApLxxh_etcfmtWCDF7b/s1600/DSC_0025.jpg" height="320" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vase (only bottom section has black glaze, brushed on)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOKlcGb0kBgsSzluqvqr9HrXaQXEPn0XQK8uNwahPUhp7t_Dd6NVOnXBkI9BipDxuXriiSOYkMqX-BlvapTY5b_OybI51hGrOdgeUS2QkKOo9SQq1QYZBiJDtOMgZ3VcFozLQu6c8_YrO/s1600/DSC_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOKlcGb0kBgsSzluqvqr9HrXaQXEPn0XQK8uNwahPUhp7t_Dd6NVOnXBkI9BipDxuXriiSOYkMqX-BlvapTY5b_OybI51hGrOdgeUS2QkKOo9SQq1QYZBiJDtOMgZ3VcFozLQu6c8_YrO/s1600/DSC_0041.jpg" height="280" width="320" /></a></div>
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And some pieces coated with the matte copper ash glaze:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDJf7haxCIKSzxkXctfpvRpLf5ChLw93vEM9VYSapA33rgL3WQq_1ryy80hRfFPg9fMswGFPlqC0Vp5oSuB6X3jNcJqkvJJqPy9xiVcQ3MEhIT1D64sV4xaLjh109w1StE91E0dXVmmEu/s1600/DSC_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDJf7haxCIKSzxkXctfpvRpLf5ChLw93vEM9VYSapA33rgL3WQq_1ryy80hRfFPg9fMswGFPlqC0Vp5oSuB6X3jNcJqkvJJqPy9xiVcQ3MEhIT1D64sV4xaLjh109w1StE91E0dXVmmEu/s1600/DSC_0033.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1wqcsCW9_E27_hKOF-CagLDelpUvQFCU-fOCRZS9-fPS-bNXeNTiRmfHPMRhOXSytiUgtboinf6Ppwb5zyVVmTH4YBkw0LFyzWXucpP9Sz9HZvYiKLAhUx5Z61BB9SPBnw9cP7k6GPZe/s1600/DSC_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1wqcsCW9_E27_hKOF-CagLDelpUvQFCU-fOCRZS9-fPS-bNXeNTiRmfHPMRhOXSytiUgtboinf6Ppwb5zyVVmTH4YBkw0LFyzWXucpP9Sz9HZvYiKLAhUx5Z61BB9SPBnw9cP7k6GPZe/s1600/DSC_0029.jpg" height="299" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYbmd-qHAZ6ai10DkrTQDyFPsnIAOD6fJitkk5pnfB_SmgeKozV28DFSXWQBspN0JZYzo0MpYhpoYRBLF4SuY-ZbN-AHqVuFceDxhG-MdsMD40RkXocE9xwDRGIBNK7xGxHJAEqJCdH-E/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYbmd-qHAZ6ai10DkrTQDyFPsnIAOD6fJitkk5pnfB_SmgeKozV28DFSXWQBspN0JZYzo0MpYhpoYRBLF4SuY-ZbN-AHqVuFceDxhG-MdsMD40RkXocE9xwDRGIBNK7xGxHJAEqJCdH-E/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'd added more china clay by eye, plus a little magnesium carbonate (to encourage crawling) and a couple of teaspoons of soda ash. I hoped the soda ash would react with the copper oxide to produce more greens, and it did in places, especially on the small pot in the last photo. Unfortunately, not a very attractive shade of green..I may re-formulate the glaze with smaller amounts of copper carbonate rather than the oxide, maybe that would create more delicate colours. But I do like the rusty browns it produces over the darker clays such as Potclays grogged pink (left pot in the last photo).<br />
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Thanks for reading!Mark Smalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10087646142136111397noreply@blogger.com6