Pots With Locally Dug Clay

muddslinger

I've been experimenting with clay dug from the tidal mud flats in the Cobscook Bay here in Downeast Maine. Since clay near the surface has a high iron content, it usually can't be fire much higher than cone 05 (much too low for outdoor durability). To make it more durable and vitreous, I've been experimenting with mixing it with higher firing clays. I came up with a combination that I really like and appears to be hard and vitreous enough for outdoor use. I'll have to do some stress tests to be more sure though.
Here are the first two "keepers":

1. Round, thrown, unglazed 50% dug clay/50% grolleg porcelain, 6-1/4"w x 2-1/4"t
2. Round, thrown, unglazed 50% dug clay/50% grolleg porcelain, 6-1/8"w x 2-1/4"t

Attached Images

	DSCN1147.jpg (21.1 KB, 36 views)
	DSCN1148.jpg (14.0 KB, 28 views)

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Hand Crafted Bonsai Pots by Kevin Thompson

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Bonsainut

Hey that awesome Slinger,
You have done well. I wonder if a deeper brown would occur with a Buff color fireclay or stoneware clay. Grolleg is white and expensive but high firing. What other mixes have you tried, I'm wondering.

Very Cool, keep it up!

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Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

EarthgirlOK

Those are inspiring! For a while I was learning traditional coil Cherokee pottery from a student of Anna Mitchell's. She is a renown Cherokee potter, using collected clay, mostly from the red earth areas in south Oklahoma.

I got distracted, though, and fell out of touch with my teacher. At the time, we were just working on collecting the clay and grinding it. I never got as far as mixing it with a binder or firing anything. Just grinding the clay is a tough enough and time consuming job. I think at the time I was too impatient.

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Sonlight NurseryGreen Country Bonsai Society

muddslinger

Thanks Nut,
I've tried a couple of darker stoneware clays and the raku body I use (which can be fired to cone 7). I've only made little testy pinch pots with the other clays.

Thanks Earthgirl,
I haven't gotten too technical yet. I've just taken the clay from the beach, dried it out and broke it into small chunks then soaked it in water. Then mixed it to a thin slurry (with an electric drill mixer) and put it through an 80 mesh sieve and let it settle for a few days. Then I drew the water off the top and poured it onto plaster bats. After it dried for a couple hours, I wedged it.
Here are a the little testy pinch pots.
Best,
Kev

Attached Images

cobscook-clay-tests.jpg (30.7 KB, 28 views)

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Hand Crafted Bonsai Pots by Kevin Thompson