Mud and Spirits Ceramic Show, 2010

Mud and Spirits organized and produced by C.A.G.N.I. (Clay Arts Guild of North Idaho) was held several weeks earlier than usual this year. It was nice not to have to drive there in the snow.
It's a fair of all ceramic artists.
My display this year contained some new designs and some of my regular best sellers.

Dragons in the Center.

                                       

 

A new item for me are the "holeless salt shakers" they really do have an opening for the salt, but it is hidden underneath the ball.

Side view of my display. The side of the cave animals done in underglaze and some in maiolica.

More cave animals, this time showing the third platter with what is called the "Chinese Horses" painted. This also shows the vase and the small bowl more clearly.

Animal ware

This is a small plate with a large, friendly bear done with Underglazes

The original idea for this design was the following set of dishes, an order made for a child whose family raise sheep. It was hand drawn using underglazes on a white stoneware, which was then covered with my favorite transparent glaze. Because it was for a little child, I curved the plate rim in so he would be able to scoop the food next to the rim making it easier for him to learn to use silverware.

Drawing on pottery

I have always loved drawing. As a small child I drew on anything that was standing still and continued drawing throughout my life. Most of my drawings have never been seen by others, it is an exercise in personal enjoyment.

If I think of it that way it is strange that I have done so little drawing on my pottery pieces. Lately I have been considering that and have begun to do more drawing on pottery. Right now I am putting the designs on the pots first by drawing with pencil directly on the pot, then using a very small brush to cover the graphite lines with bright under glazes.

When the painted drawing is completed it is covered with transparent glaze and fired. The positive aspects of the transparent glaze I use is there is room for temperature variation in the firing.

This tree design is a slightly different technique. For this bowl I used an under glaze pencil to draw the design, the under glaze pencil marks stayed and I added touches of under glaze for the color of the leaves and color in the trunk and lawn.

A variation on the use of under glaze is using the maiolica technique. For these designs I cover a pot with a maiolica glaze, draw the design on the powdery maiolica glaze then cover the graphite lines with over glaze using a tiny brush for the color.

I use the Roy-Hesselbreth recipe for maiolica, so these are in the mid-range temperatures, rather than the traditional low-fire maiolica. Variations in temperature for this glaze are not an option, with this glaze it is cone six or nothing. The aspect I like with maiolica is the background color that is the result.

Pottery for March

Some recent work. As usual, many different varieties, I can't seem to get past that. I love trying different things.


Soup bowl with several different purples, the exterior has a sprigged design.


Bowl glazed with just one purple, sometimes I call it "Super-duper Purple" because that's what it is. But it's name is ":Huckleberry Purple." The blue is where the purple breaks over the sprigged design.


Cone six maiolica glazed bowl.


Green Cassarole Dish. This dish holds at least 6 cups in capacity.