New Pots

(side fired jar with wadding resist deco)(sake set)(stoneware bottle)
(Porcelain cups)

I finally got some pictures up of some of my most recent pots posted. The top two pots were made from the porcelainious stoneware body I usually work with. The top jar I decided to play around a little with a wadding resist design that I think turned out really well. I plan to try this technique more in the next firing. The sake set was commissioned however I was able to make really whatever I wanted as long as it was a sake set. I am really happy with the way it turned out and the bottle also influenced the larger stoneware bottle I made. I really like the stoneware bottle and have already made some more pots with that clay body. The porcelain cups were made from a very white and expensive porcelain that I have been playing around with. I like the way they turned out but I think that this clay body could look very nice a little further back in the kiln. Overall I am very happy with the results and I am very excited for the next firing.

Teapots

I have been working on a new teapot design. After a long struggle to make a mold I was finally able to make and use a press mold for teapot spouts. For a long time I was strongly opposed to using molds of any type to make my pots. After some investigation I realized that using a mold was the way to construct this type of spout that made the most sense for me. After actually making the mold and the spouts from the mold I have gained a lot more respect for this process.

I also tried to translate the Simon Levin handle into a larger teapot handle. I feel that on my third attempt (the teapot pictured at the top of the page) I succeeded. I had to alter my process a little in order to accommodate the larger scale of the handle but over all I am happy with the results. In my three pot series I used the rope texture I have been working with as well as the green scrubby pad texture. All of these textures are very nice in the wood kiln, which is how I plan to fire these. I am very excited to see how these turn out and also how the spouts pour.

What do you think?

I have been working on continuing ideas lately. I have continued with refining the Simon Levin handle, as well as continuing my series of three handled bowls, and making a larger jar in the spirit of some small tea caddies I got out of the last firing.

I really like this mug for a variety of reasons. First off the texture "from a green scrubby pad" fires really nicely in the wood kiln. secondly the handle continues the line created by the profile of the cup. This allows for the handle to seem more of a integral part of the piece rather than an after thought. Lastly, the handle is very round and full which is what I strive for when making handles. This jar was inspired by some smaller tea caddies that I made for the last firing. I wanted to make a larger pot simply because I haven't done so in a while. This pot is not particularly large, just in relation to the pots I have been making as of late. It is nice to get back to throwing largish full bulbous forms. They are very satisfying to make and I am glad that I "still got it". This jar still needs to be trimmed Which is very important to my process (potentially a post on feet in the future)

I have continued my series of three handled bowls. I still have no idea about any details on the pot they are inspired by but I think my series is coming along nicely. I put the "green scrubby pad" texture on this pot and I am pretty excited about it. This one is also a bit larger than the first one I made. I think that the scale of the handles matches the form and work as an integral part of the piece.

Hopefully some images of pots from the most recent firing coming soon!

Faceted Bowls

I have been working on a series of faceted bowls. I cut the facets while the pot is still wet on the wheel, from top to bottom. I then further stretch the bowl out from the inside with a rib. Through making a series of this pot I have found several little details that I like. The first detail, yet another Simon Levin influence, is to angle the rim so that the highest point is at the outside edge. This meaning that the lip tapers into the bowl, similar to the lip of a cup, except more defined. When done before cutting the facets, this creates a more scalloped rim, which I like.

Another thing that I like to do with this pot is to make one of the facets different than the rest. Recently, I have done this by making two distinct plains in one of the facets, as apposed to the other single planed facets. I think that this creates a distinct focal point or front to the pot, yet it is still somewhat understated.

One of the most important details, I feel, for getting this pot "right" is the shape. I find that a wider, more flat bottomed shape helps to achieve the look I want. I also like the more closed in lip. I feel that this helps the pot to look more complete.

To facet these bowls I use A cheese slicer that is slightly modified. I took out the wire that comes in the slicer and replaced it with a very tight wire. This allows for more control and a cleaner more even cut, which I like. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

New Idea

I have been working away on some new ideas as well as continuing some. I have been making mugs inspired by Simon Levin and I am starting to become satisfied with them. The handles are the main factor that I am considering but I have also found that the form of the mug contributes a lot to the finished look of the handle.

I have also been working on a new idea. This three handled bowl was inspired by many different sources. My inspiration for putting three handles as opposed to two or four came from a post I read a couple of weeks ago on Scott Coopers blog. Scott would call this Tri-lateral Symmetry as opposed to Bi-lateral symmetry. The form of the pot was inspired by a pot that I found online that was apparently from the Song Dynasty. The pot, listed as a "Chinese Chun Yao double handle jar, song dynasty" can be found here . I have tried and failed miserably to research this pot. I am most interested in where specifically it is from and what it was used for. If anyone has any ideas or knows anything about this pot please let me know.

For my version of this mystery pot I think I would like it to be used as a small serving/fruit bowl or some kind of small planter. I really like this form and I think that it has some great potential. It would really help to know more about the pot I am inspired by.