Excerpt: So I recently got interested in slip casting ceramics. I was lucky someone gave me 35 plaster molds for free. After playing with them a little and getting some modest results, I have learned that one crucial step for good slip casting is to have high quality slip. If the slip good, then making a cast will be much easier. However, using the purchased slip in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box leaves a lot to be desired.
I hand make functional pottery designed for every day use (microwave and dishwasher safe).I also take custom and wholesale orders, so please contact me and let me know what interests you.
As John Britt points out in today's post, firing to cone 6 reduction is cheaper, faster, and the results can be almost indistinguishable from a high fire reduction.
Reduction is firing where the kiln atmosphere has insufficient oxygen for complete combustion (more fuel than air to burn it). At high temperatures, this produces carbon monoxide gas, which will steal loosely‐bonded oxygen from other materials, in ceramics mainly iron and copper.
Most ceramics glazes are simple to formulate and very easy to fire. But there are some glazes and glaze effects that have the reputation of being elusive or at least difficult to obtain. This was certainly the case early in the 20th century with copper reds and celadon blues. These glazes had a history of secrecy and myth surrounding them. One story even claimed that a Chinese emperor had slaves thrown into the kiln during the firing in order to produce the elusive copper red...
Excerpt: The KERAMION was built in 1971. The futuristic building designed by the Cologne architect Peter Neufert was built to offer Dr. Cremer a place to exhibit his collection of modern ceramic art. It has since then become a special museum that has gained considerable public attention and that is internationally established.
Ceramic sculpture, tiles, wall pieces, murals, jewelry, trivets, coasters, vases and other functional work. Themes of birds, plants, insects, natural world, human development. Artist based in British Columbia, Canada with studios in Pritchard and Kamloops.
Topicology.com Excerpt: There's all sorts of unique materials in the earth that have allowed humans to form different tools, and other useful objects with unique designs that can be used in a variety of ways. One of these resources is ceramics. A ceramic is a nonmetallic, inorganic elements prepared by heating and cooling. Ceramics can date back to 24,000 B.C...
Excerpt: I have been fascinated with pit & smoke firing ever since seeing the works of potters like Jane Perryman, and Gabriele Koch. They made me want to bury my pots and resurrect them from the ashes like new. Like Treasure!
Excerpt: Generally speaking, pottery that is referred to as being pit fired, is not glazed, and has been fired in an open bon-fire or primitive pit kiln.
Excerpt: Pottery referred to as salt glazed or salted is created by adding common salt, sodium chloride, into the chamber of a hot kiln. Sodium oxide acts as a flux and reacts with the silica and clay in the clay body. A typical salt glaze piece has a glassine finish, usually with a glossy and slightly orange-peel texture, enhancing the natural colour of the body beneath it.
Excerpt: The anagama (single-chamber kiln, wood-fired) was first introduced to Japan from Korea in the fifth century. Prior to that, firing in Japan took place in outdoor bonfires, open pits, or ditches. Since the temperature was unlikely to exceed 700 degrees, Japan's ancient wares are typically referred to as low-fired earthenware -- ware that is largely water-soluble.
Sondahl Pottery Glazes: These have all been developed out of over 1000 tests for the Cone 8-10 oxidation range. They have not been tested for food suitability, but all are lead-, barium-, and cadmium free. Drop me a line if you find one you can use...
