Sunday, November 6, 2011

What I have learned............or not

Patience.  I like instant gratification.  I don't like to wait, I want it now.  Due to this flaw, I don't like taking the time to test.  Consequently, the pieces I spent many hours working on over the summer did not come out well.  I painted bush marks on the bisque ware with 50% cobalt oxide and 50% copper (yes, copper).  I then glazed with Ron Meyer's clear.  The brush marks were probably too thick and bled thru the glaze, creating roughness or lack of glaze adhering to the rim.  Also, I think the design was not good.  It looked nice before I glazed them, but after firing they just look too busy and messy.  Less is more.

Because I was using such a small batch of (newly mixed and uncontaminated) clear glaze, I had difficulty dipping my pieces into a shallow level.  Therefore, I touched and smudged the brush marks and contaminated my own glaze.  :(  Painful.  I am glad I did not glaze my entire summer production.  These I will KISS.  Just a plain 'ol everyday glaze.

I am wondering if I glaze these with a ^05 clear, can these be rendered usable?  I was hoping for X-mas gifts.

I am feeling really rushed.  I wanted to have a good set of glazes and pieces ready to test by the Raku firing, but I don't know that I will get everything done in time.  I needed sodium silicate and had to order on-line.  Plus, I am leaving Thursday for a week in  Colorado visiting with my mom and siblings.  Mom turns 86.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Jane, I can't figure out how to send you a message except on this reply to your post. There must have been some moisture in the four test buttons I put in the "mijo" kiln because they reduced themselves to smaller pieces. I am very sorry I did't candle longer or check on their moisture content? I put the pieces in one of your bowls. You can bad vibe me when we have the tuesday critique. IF you want to replicate the tests I will be glad to fire them next quarter as I have some more 06 stuff that I will finish up then.

    Mike Hiler

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