Large Pressed Form Vase

This week's project is a special order for a large vase.  To get the size that I want, I am assembling this vase in three pieces.

On the left in the picture above is the top of the vase.  This part was thrown.  The other two pieces, the center and bottom of the vase, are pressed forms.  To make a pressed form, I roll out a large slab, add texture, and then cut the slab into smaller pieces.  These small pieces are then pressed in to the form and allowed to dry.  I allow the seams to show and become part of the design.  Once all parts are leather hard, they are joined.  Handles are added last.  The assembled piece is pictured below.

The handles on this vase are pulled rather than cut from a slab, created from a coil, or extruded like I have done in the past.  Today was the first day that I have ever had any success pulling handles, and I am pleased to have managed to get two handles that match relatively well. 

Back in the Swing

It's always hard for me to get back into making pottery after I've had to take time off.  The problem with being a weekend potter is that anything that takes up time on weekends takes time away from pottery.  Earlier this month, I was out of town two weekends in a row.  The first to visit good friends that I don't get to see very often and the second for a math conference.  Both trips were good.  When I went back to the studio last week, I kind of wandered around a while before I figured out what it was I do there.

I finally got cranking on some soup mugs that I am making as a special order.  Little things like centering and opening are the first to go for me if I am not practicing regularly.  I managed to get some mugs done, but I wasn't really happy with them.  I had difficulty getting them to match.  It is amazing sometimes how I can take identically sized balls of clay and make mugs that vary so much in size and shape.  I will admit that I didn't notice the differences so much this weekend when I sanded them to get them ready for the bisque fire.  Maybe when they are fired and glazed, they will be ok.  Then again, I may decide that I have to start over and try again to get a set that match.

Lookie What I Bought!

This is a picture of the equipment that I just bought.  I have my very own wheel and kiln now!  They will live in my garage since I have no studio space at home and no immediate plans to create such a space.  I have dreams for someday converting the barn into a studio, but that is a long way off.  There are horses who live out there and they aren't ready to move out yet.  

I wasn't really looking to make purchases like this right now, but the right opportunity presented itself. It is really funny how things work out sometimes.  We can chalk this whole experience up to the power of the internet and social networking.  It has been an amazing week and I am grateful to all the people who helped make this possible.  BIG thanks are due to Jeff, Allen, Bob, Mom and Dad, and even Jose!

Glazing Day Part 2

I was out of town last weekend, so there's not a lot to tell as far as pottery goes.  I did pick up the pieces that were fired the weekend before.  I was quite pleased with most of them and only one piece needs to be re-fired.  Pictures of some of the more interesting ones are on the right side of your screen.