pottery surface treatment

Boondock

I am coming up on my first year as an amatuer potter. The first 6 months I atempted to replicate pots exactly like the ones that I saw on the shelfs of my local bonsai nursery or pictures on the net. I spent most of last summer working on a recipe for an engobe to finish the surface. I encountered many failures, and have spent the last few months working on a new idea.

I now understand that there is no good reason to make a handmade pot that looks like a molded pot (at least for me). A handmade pot should look like it is made by hand. I now make pots with a rough surface texture and simple oxide wash for color.

Here is a finished pot fired this weekend. Do you think I am headed in the right direction?

Attached Images

	oxide_wash_test_a1_2007.jpg (42.3 KB, 93 views)
	oxide_wash_test_1_2007.jpg (65.5 KB, 71 views)

__________________
Washington Native Plant Society
USDA national plant database
Conifers.org

Advertisement

lehket

I'm no expert in pottery, but I think it looks great.

__________________
--Dale
----------
Co-author of Spiritual Telemetry,
Host of Planet Baha'i and the Planet Baha'i Forum

darrellw

Nice pot, Boondock! I think you are definately going in the right direction.

-Darrell

Boondock

thank you

I only fired 4 pieces this weekend. I was testing an application method for the oxide wash. I have more than 40 pots to fire next week.

Here is another pot fired this weekend.

Attached Images

	oxide_wash_test_a2_2007.jpg (72.3 KB, 58 views)
	oxide_wash_test_2_2007.jpg (68.3 KB, 60 views)

__________________
Washington Native Plant Society
USDA national plant database
Conifers.org

BunjinEnt

Boon,

I really like both pots. I think the yellow one is my fave. I bet you spent some time on both, edges like that aren't easy.

-Wm

Victrinia_Ensor

(huge grin)... Boonie... This is more than a right direction, this is a fabulous leap forward.

In getting to the place where you no longer felt the need to reproduce what you have seen, you are stepping outside of craft and into art.... because in finding your own way, you will find your unique expression within your creations.

Huzza!!! I am so terribly proud of you my friend. What a beautiful pot you have made. It's elegance is in it's simplicity. Very well done indeed...

Your friend always,

Victrinia

__________________
Ms. Vic

Le belle cose prendono tempo...

www.elandangardens.com

Boondock

actually the pot is the same color as the first one. Trying to photograph a pot indoors under lights never seems to show the true color.

As you can see from this photo, the upper rim is way too thick and out of proportion to the rest of the pot.

I use my ugliest pots to test new procedures.

Attached Images

oxide_wash_test_a3_2007.jpg (41.7 KB, 67 views)

__________________
Washington Native Plant Society
USDA national plant database
Conifers.org

darrellw

Hey Boondock,

Are you willing to share your oxide application techniques? I've purchases some different iron oxides to play with, but have not used them yet. I have some test tiles of just the oxides mixed with water, then brushed on to various clay bodies, but I've not fired them yet.

Thanks,
Darrell

Joanie

The oxide wash is very nice, and complements the texture well. Your pots are quite impressive, and you are really beginning to find your own path.

Joanie

__________________
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,
'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" ~ Dave Barry