Saturday 28 April 2012

porcelain

I've been in Abergavenny again,  today.  Practising throwing porcelain, using reclaimed porcelain slurry and turnings. 
It isn't the easiest clay to throw.  You have to go for the shape you want, you can't change your mind half way through!  That is good discipline to retain when I'm back throwing stoneware clay.

The shape I was throwing involved a straight side, as opposed to curved and it is surprising how difficult that can be!   I'm making mugs.  They should be ready for turning and handling by the middle of the week.  I kept the six I was most happy with.


It was good working together with two of the salt firing conspirators, each of us doing different work but relaxed together in the workshop.

It was dry and quite chilly today, but there were plenty of birds shouting about!
Yesterday we saw the first house martin returning there.  A heart-lifting sight.

9 comments:

Zhoen said...

I so wanted to eventually work porcelain, it's just beautiful stuff. I admire your courage. Throwing with others around is quite a treat, comradely.

yeractual said...

Sounds like a fairly productive day, all in all. And Aber can be nippy, I know. Maybe we'll have the Martins soon, too. I hope so. We usually have lots of Sand Martins cos the area is basically sandy!

CATHY DANIEL said...

I've always wanted to try Porcelain though everyone says it is quite difficult to manage. When I have time to 'play', maybe I'll get myself some.

Michèle Hastings said...

I really enjoy taking a break from stoneware and using porcelain... the cream cheesey feel is soothing.

Joanne Noragon said...

Hello. I've been lurking and reading for some time. I have several potter friends from my old days on the show circuit. We have a fine porcelaine artist in my town; I'll pass along his website next time. The process fascintes me. I have none of your talents under my belt, and just enjoy reading about what other people do.

gz said...

yeractual, it helps that the garden has a wall on three sides, trees and a small lake in a little valley on the third.
We found a peacock butterfly on the workshop step too- possibly it had been hibernating inside

Jenny Woolf said...

Well I don't know anything about pottery but the idea of throwing something with a straight side would defeat me, (if you are talking about throwing on a wheel. )

gz said...

throwing a curve is natural, Jenny. Straight is a bit more difficult!
However, get one right, then you "pattern" yourself with any shape you do, as you repeat it

Gary's third pottery blog said...

we have Mr and Mrs House Martin residing here too!