A Love Affair With Clay

Wicked Wednesday's WOW!! Carol Long Pottery

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:07:00 +0000

Have you ever had one of those moments when you were merrily skipping along, minding your own business when something hits you in the face? Whap!!! Well, that's what happened when I found Carol Long's Pottery! Wow! She has the most elegant forms, with the most intricate detailing, and the most amazing glazes! Love 'em! Here are a few of her wonderful works of art:

Carol Long Pottery

To find out more about Carol and her work, check out her website: HERE!

Here is a video of Carol talking about her background and art.

Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources blog posted about Carol's pottery as well. To read that blog post, click here. Great blog, BTW!

Anyway....WOW!!! Back to the studio!

Patience, My Dear, Patience....I Have NONE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:09:00 +0000

Well, I should have waited to fire the kiln. It was bucketing water from the dreary, cloud-filled sky. It had not let up for days and days. Literally, we are talking 40 days and 40 nights...we should build an ark! But, no, I was determined to fire that kiln! So I did. But it didn't ever get to temperature and no matter what I did...switching tanks, putting it into oxidation, opening the flue, adding more pressure from the tanks...NOTHING worked. I convinced myself that there must have been an explosion that caused chards to block the flue or something, but nope, it was just too stinking rainy!! When Adriana Christianson visited on Monday, she indicated that it was a problem with the barometric pressure and that must be the answer as nothing blew up. But the top and lower cones never made it past cone 8, only a slightly bent cone 9, so most stuff was under fired. Here's what they looked like, so a refire is on the books!
Also, be sure to check out the other pottery blogs at Mud Colony!! click HERE!!!

Wicked Wednesday WOW!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:36:00 +0000

I'm pretty sure this made of metal, but it would make an awesome sculpture in clay!!!!
Wow!!! Here's the work of Cinou Delcuvellerie in Lille, France. Her Facebook page is HERE.

Source

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They Called It Mellow Yellow, that's right!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:28:00 +0000

It's almost too yellow!

I wanted to brighten, and lighten, the little studio at the front of our barn. The room had previously been a dinghy, dusty blue - resulting in a room that looked really tired.

The transformation was profound as you can see from the photos below!

Only one snafu. It was a total dumb and dumber moment!!!
Somehow I had gotten this really tall playform ladder into the room, but when it came time to get it out..... No matter what I tried....I couldn't get it down. It was basically wedged into the room with about a quarter of an inch clearance!! Finally, my husband, Ronnie, had to take out screws and dismantle the ladder to get it out!! Duh! And Double Duh!!!

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Best ad ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:28:00 +0000

Did yal see this ad??
Best ad ever! Love it!!! Sooooo creative!!!!
It would be interesting to know what kind of results you got!
Link to this company is: Wellington Potters Supplies in New Zealand.

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Crazy, Crazy For Feeling So Stir-crazy

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:41:00 +0000

That Patsy Cline song, Crazy, came to mind today as I look out the window at another rainy day!

Ok! I've had it with all the rain. I took this pic showing no rain and sunshine and then realized it looks pretty dismal! So I decided to soldier on, quit bitching and fire the kilns!
The main pieces I was firing were for my She-totem and a flower totem. I had some "not so happy surprises", but my attitude is - "Oh Well!"
Here are the parts fired so far.

Here is the flower totem.

Good thing about firing is that it gives you time to clean up the studio. I decided to do a little spruce up by painting my studio.

It has turned into a major reno job-removing an old cabinet that wasn't useful and a space killer- so that's awesome! Now to finish the painting.

The rain has made everything grow like crazy, so we can enjoy the results in the beautiful flowers!

I'm firing the kiln this weekend again! So hopefully the rest of the totem will be fired and a few new functional pieces. I LOVE seeing the final outcome- good or bad- Altho I can be a bitch if its bad!
Don't forget to check out the other potters posts at Mud Colony. http://mudcolony.blogspot.com.au/?m=1

Peace out!
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Wicked Wednesday's WOW! David Lawrence Fry

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

David Lawrence Fry

Isn't this gorgeous!!! Too WOW!!! for words! Feast your eyes and enjoy and learn more about David Lawrence Fry's work here. Click her for David Fry Ceramics website for more great work!

Adrift In A Storm Of Ideas!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:31:00 +0000

With all the crazy weather (insert profanity here!!), my pottery work has slowed to a halt!

Can't fire the kilns! Too damp, wet, soggy!!!

But my head is full of inspiration!!! New ideas and images abound!

So I'll just fill you in on what's been going on in my sick little brain!!!
Taller forms???? Yes please!

This is my inspiration for a new totem!

Awesome hand building!!!

Extruded teapots??? Maybe!!!

Ocinaras! Ever made one!? Instructions HERE. Great fun! Great kids project!!! Must make some!!!
Great instruction sheets HERE. Or you can buy them HERE.

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It's Awesome! My New Stamp

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:20:00 +0000

After receiving my new stamp from www.tools4clay.com it took several attempts before I got the correct stamping procedure nailed!

Think I've finally got it!!!

Don't forget to check out the posts on Mud Colony @ http://mudcolony.blogspot.com.au

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Wicked Wednesday's WOW!! Dead Potter's Society

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:05:00 +0000

WOW!!! Wish I had a Ouiji Board so that I could conjure up a seance with some of the French potters!! Too bad that they are dead and gone!!! Interesting how of all the professions that we could choose, the one of a ceramicist leaves a definite impression on the earth for many years to follow!

Emile Decoeur

Pierre Pacton

Delphin Masseur

For More Information click on this link!

Feed My Soul!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:13:00 +0000

I feel that to do good pottery I need to be able to "feed my soul"!

How does one accomplish this?!

For me, it's solitude- time to think.

I'm constantly feeding my brain with images from books, facebook, blogs .... But now I need time to digest all that imagery, so that I can push in a better direction.

So stir up a mango margarita (I have plenty of mangoes that have dropped from the trees- damn storm!!!) and sit back and look at that gorgeous blue sky. Feed my soul with inner contemplation!!!

Don't forget to read the musings of other great potters on Mud Colony!
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Wicked Wednesday WOWMarie-Christine Denniel !

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:41:00 +0000

WOW!!! I love this work! Gives me new inspiration for stamped hand-built pieces!

Work by Marie-Christine Denniel- France

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Continuing On My Search for Copper Reds!! Adrien Dalpayrat

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:41:00 +0000

Adrien Dalpayrat
©Jason Jacques Gallery
Too bad this guy has been dead and gone since 1910! Because if he were still around, I'd like to have a good chat with him about how he achieved such beautiful glazes!!

I'm constantly gobsmacked by the potters that historically developed such beautiful glazes, but we are still working to achieve similar glazes today. Too bad that we can't pass along such valuable information. Oh well, if it were easy we would all be doing it, right?!

At any rate, here's an image showing the genius of Adrien Dalpayrat, the French ceramicist, who has been virtually forgotten until the '60s. Seems that financial woes have ended many a ceramicists' brilliant careers.

Adrien Dalpayrat
©Jason Jacques Gallery

According to Jason Jacques Inc.'s webpage, "He was so well known for his oxblood flambé pottery that the term "Dalpayrat red" was coined to designate his distinctive glaze."

If you are interested in reading more about Adrien Dalpayrat, check out these links:
The Bohemian
Jason Jacques Inc

In the meantime, I will plod along trying to emulate these great artists!

Should I Stay Or Should I Go??? Warrandyte Pottery Expo

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 04:11:00 +0000

It's a conundrum! Adriana Christianson, potter extraordinaire and creator of Mud Colony (a community of pottery bloggers) mentioned the upcoming Pottery Expo in Warrandyte on February 23 and 24!!

Adriana Christianson

I hadn't heard about it and had definitely not considered going. But now....I WANT TO GO!
It looks like an amazing event with amazing potters.

Ric and Judy Pierce

Juliet Widdows

Arnaud Barraud

I've just sent in my registration for Clay Push in Gulgong in April...so now I have another extraordinary opportunity to be amongst great Australian (and French!!) potters and need to decide if I can go!

I'll have to weigh it all up and see if the monetary gods are smiling in my direction!!

Mud Colony is a group of bloggers that you will find totally fascinating! Don't forget to click on over and check out the blogs there.

Is It White Trash or Yard Art? Garden Totems

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Sometimes I think that I convince myself that I have a great (or good) idea; when, in fact, it's a horrible idea or just busy work!

My current idea is a "filler" for the spots in the kiln that can accommodate a small little piece, but nothing significant. The idea is a "copy" off of my "IDEA BOARD" in my studio.

I saw these garden art totems in a gallery in Christchurch, New Zealand. I don't know the artist and apologise for not giving credit, but I took this photo ages ago - before I thought I could ever get back to doing my pottery. I loved the look, interest, and creativity that oozed from these Objects d'art!

So I've taken the plunge and started creating! What fun!!! No pressure! Just sheer fun!

Glazing should be fun too! I plan to raku a few and cone 10 glaze some!

Final results are yet to be seen! But...if I put them all about, will I look white trashy or will I have created Yard Art!!

Sweet As.... My New Venco Direct Drive Pottery Wheel!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

It is sort of like changing from cooking on a gas stove to an electric stove top, or vice versa - There's a bit of a learning curve.

My new wheel has taken me some "getting used to" time. It's different. But, oh so sweet!

It took me a bit to get used to the power, the torque, the quiet. I "listen" to my other wheels and have learned to gauge what the speed is by the hum of the motor. The Venco Direct Drive is really quiet, so I had to adjust to that. Other than that, it is great! And it fit very nicely into the throwing table that Ronnie built for me for the other wheel.

The clean-up is so easy that I find myself cleaning up after each throwing session! And for me, a really messy potter, that is something.

One of the reasons that it is so easy to clean is the larger hole for drips and slag. Those little holes on the older ones just get stuffed with clay, causing a huge backup problem. It's one of those "DUH" ideas!!!

Also, there is no where for the clay to hide under the wheel head. That is all enclosed!!! Crazy idea, eh?!!! Brilliant!!!

As I said before, I'm a very lucky girl!!! Throwing, throwing, throwing!

Wicked Wednesday WOW!! Kimi Masui

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:33:00 +0000

Yep, she's a WOW!!! I'm always on the prowl for someone who creates glaze colours that I lust after! And Kimi's work is oh so wonderful!

Kimi Masui is a third generation Japanese-American living in California. She states that, "All of my pieces are hand-thrown and/or hand-built porcelain and glazed with formulas that I have developed over my three-decade plus career. Most of my professional life has been devoted to making sophisticated functional ware, and recently I have focused on covered vessels."

Kimi Masui

So where has she been all my life? These glazes are super WOW!! and so is KIMI MASUI!!

In Search of the Elusive .... What Is It Called??? Sang de Boeuf or OxBlood or Copper Red

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:00:00 +0000

I suppose I'm a bit obsessed. I want it! I NEED it! I've got to have it!

SANG DE BOEUF! COPPER RED!! I've tried and had some good results, but I want MORE!! See more blog posts I've written about copper red glazes by clicking here!

....but what is it really called???

There are various names for the elusive, glossy red glaze.

Here are the names that refer to the red glaze (that I've found so far!):

Copper Red

Sang de boeuf, which is the French name meaning 'Ox blood'

Lang yao hong (lang yao red), the Chinese name believed to have been named for Lang Tingji, one of the imperial kiln supervisors.

Just to confuse things further, sang de boeuf is also called flambé glaze!!!

All in all, it all refers to a glossy, rich, bloodied glaze that can be slashed with streaks of purple or turquoise and is used to decorate pottery, particularly porcelain. The glaze is described as resembling the floor of a slaughterhouse, crushed strawberries, apple peel or, as it is known in the West, sang de boeuf(French for “oxblood”)".

EVERYONE has been chasing copper red glazes for a really long time!!

First, it was the Chinese, then the French, then the English....then all the rest of us!!!

The Chinese are always ahead of us. They may have even discovered (if you can use that word, see article here) America a century before Columbus!! Such an amazing bunch of people! If you have visited there, you know what I mean. The people of China are multitudinous. They throng, thrive, and bustle. They have a culture that is far more ancient than anything in the USA or Australia - the two countries in which I have lived. AND they had this pottery stuff nailed centuries ago!

Sang de boeuf Ming Vases

This article chronicles the history of that gorgeous red glaze we all crave: Click here.

To give you a short version of the history of sang de boeuf (I really like that name!!), porcelain shows up on the radar during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220) in the city of Jingdezhen, and the city is known to this day as China’s “capital of porcelain.

After porcelain, "The sang de boeuf glaze first appeared during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). The disappearance of sang de boeuf glazes occurred along with a slowdown in porcelain production during that period’s war-torn later years. When it resurfaced during the ensuing Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), use of the glaze was perfected and some of the finest pieces of sang de boeuf emerged. This was particularly so during the reign of K’ang-hsi (1654-1722), the fourth (and best, some say) emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Examples include vases, bowls, teapots, urns and other vessels. "

EVERYONE recognises the difficulty in achieving this glaze. “It’s sophisticated and refined, and it’s difficult to achieve,” says Tina McEown, an antiques dealer and collector in the Valley. “It’s fired with no oxygen, which can cause the color to change, and it’s fired many times. It’s not simple.” The above paragraphs are from this article.

In Europe, Theodore Deck, the “father” of French ceramics and one-time director of manufacture for the country’s famous Sèvres porcelain factory, was well-known for his sang de boeuf.

William Howson Taylor, co-founder of Ruskin Pottery, is said to have fiercely guarded the production of such pieces and destroyed all of his glaze recipes (can you believe it!!!)before his death.

Work of Willliam Howson Taylor

Ernest Chapelet, a French ceramicist, devoted his later life to producing sang de boeuf.

Ernest Chapelet, French Ceramicist
©Jason Jacques Gallery

Ernest Chapelet's work
©Jason Jacques Gallery

Ernest Chapelet's Work
©Jason Jacques Gallery

In the early part of the 20th century, Bernard Moore, an English potter, (website with information on him) experimented with Chinese glazes and tried to recreate the sang de boeuf glazes.. He produced some successful flambé and sang-de-boeuf glazes on a stoneware body at his small factory in Stoke-upon-Trent. He worked in association with William Burton of Pilkington pottery in Manchester, which made experimental decorative ware of all kinds.

Bernard Moore, Master Potter, A book on Bernard Moore chronicles his life and his pottery.

An Advertisement on Bernard Moore's work

This is an example of Bernard Moore's pottery.

So why are we still chasing this elusive butterfly of copper red glazes, high fire glazes, porcelain, and pottery in general. Looks like we would have figured this out to the point that it can be replicated fairly easily. But with recipes being destroyed and history repeating itself, there are a bunch of us out there with our butterfly nets chasing copper red!!!

Keep the faith and keep going for the red!

Ponder, ponder!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:18:00 +0000

I've tried using my new stamp on the bottom of my pots, but am thinking now of adding it on the side of the pot. I really like these two pots and their use of their stamps. Ponder, ponder!

Pottery by Chen Ching, as seen on Marian Marcatili's Facebook

As seen on Fine Mess Pottery Blog, pottery by Nick DeVries

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Mirror Time: Does that rhyme with Miller Time??!!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 05:25:00 +0000

I recently re-read Lana Wilson's article in Clay Times, titled "Developing Your Own Style" in an effort to redirect myself for my next body of work. Her advice throughout the article is well-put and rings true as to how to best "figure out what we want our clay work to become."

However, even with this excellent advice, (the best of which is probably "Go to your studio...and make...), I found myself still adrift in a sea of information, choices, interests, and desires!!

What do I want my clay work to become?

Where do I see myself in 5 years time?

In the article, Lana challenges us to write a brilliant, short description in third person describing our work in five to ten years time....

Difficult....

But when you think hard enough, it will become apparent. It is actually what you have dreamed of all along.

Mine would be to create for myself (and others, if the Clay Gods are generous to me!!) large, interestingly-crafted platters, bowls, serving pieces that are gloriously colourful in rich, amazing glazes that can be used to pile with glorious, delicious food to serve to a group of friends and family on a regular basis. That is my whole desire.

So when you break that down, my goals should then be to:
Create large, interestingly-crafted pieces, and to
Develop rich, colourful, amazing glazes
The rest...food and family are in a different basket.

That really helps! It narrows my efforts and keeps me from wandering aimlessly from project to project, looking for the right thing.

I would love to be known for my glazes and that search will never end .... probably!

I've Made My Mark! Pottery Maker's Marks

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:15:00 +0000

I've always had trouble with signing my pots. Nothing seems to signify "Me".

And, as you know from the Antiques Road Show, pottery's makers' marks are significant and through time tell a lot about a place, culture, styles of the time, and the financial situation of the time. Potter's marks also change and history follows that progression to learn about the sociology of that time and place. Pottery can be such a significant legacy to leave behind!

BIG RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT MAKE AND KEEP CRAP!

When it said that we are making Future Relics, it's true! Check out the blog by that name - I love the name of the blog, "Future Relics" - so apropos!

Click HERE to go to FUTURE RELICS blog.

In deciding what to do about a potters mark, I decided to look at some old pottery. It is fascinating and the maker's marks tell the story of the artist. A good resource for researching potter's marks is: International Ceramics Directory

My mom started collecting a few Van Briggle pottery pieces and I have added to that collection a bit, so I'll use their pottery markings as an example. A website dedicated to the work of Clement Marot Hull, a Van Briggle potter, demonstrates the various types of markings on Van Briggle Pottery.

Source

So it has become increasingly important for me to come up with a good pottery stamp or mark for my pots.

Previously, I have signed pots like this:

I don't think that my mark was very professional and definitely didn't add to the artistic nature of my work! It was simply a conjoined MW for Marian Williams.

In an endeavour to correct this problem, I had a former student get a chop made for me while he was in China - Thanks Bruce!!!. Unfortunately, it didn't make a deep enough mark on the clay, but I loved the design!

Recently, I emailed Tools 4 Clay to see if they could make a stamp from the chop. Joel Socwell worked out what I wanted in a stamp and made the chop. I highly recommend their services if you are wanting a stamp! They were great to work with and really did a great job! Their website is www.4clay.com

Here is the result! I love it and I think that it will be more professional and more ME!!

Only one little problem...it is so small, I was afraid that I might lose it! So I had my wonderful husband, Ron, drill a hole (sorry to www.4clay.com!) and he added a copper wire to provide a handle for the stamp! Brilliant! I can hang it up and shouldn't lose it!

Here is the mark made by the new stamp from Tools 4 Clay! I think it looks awesome!

It's So Zen!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:00:00 +0000

Click here to see a demo of Zen Brush and Doodlecast. Be patient-there are a couple of lags-my bad!

I'm always doodling - drawing pots - so when I heard about Zen Brush app for my iPad, I decided to try it!!
It's such a great drawing program! So fluid! And if you have a stylus for your iPad, it works even better!
Give it a go- I think you will enjoy it! And you may come up with a great new design.
The demo video is made using another cool little iPad app called Doodlecast.
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Honourably Mentioned! Wahoo!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:07:00 +0000

Wow! I'm flattered, pleased, and so chuffed about my honourable mention by the Pottery Making Info blog on the Top Blog 2012 list!!!!!

Check it out at Pottery Making Info -click!

I'm listed under Tracey Broom's Blog at Number 8!

8. Tracey Broome… Clay

Tracey Broome Clay

The Personal Pottery Blogger

Total 2012 posts: 278

Mentions in the Clay Blog Review: 39

Blogger Tracey Broome (North Carolina) gives us insight into her personal struggles and success with clay.

He does such a great job of synthesising and pinpointing all the great info in pottery blogs out there! Not a small task! If it's not on your reading list, it should be!

If you like this blog, check out honorable mention: A Love Affair With Clay.

Thanks again for the Honourable Mention!

Oh Oh Here She Comes! She's a Man-Eater!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 03:58:00 +0000

I think this music video from Hall & Oates aptly describes my She-Totem!!!

Oh Oh Here She Comes! She's A Man Eater!

As I opened my kiln, I'm cringing, thinking of the damage that could have occurred!

Yep, RATS! the feet to the totem exploded! Oh well-could be worse!

The two-sided breast plate made it! Yeah!

On the back side, I wrote things that are behind me or are in my past.

On the front, of course!, there are breasts and imprints of the things I LOVE!

Here is the breast plate from the side.

Other breakage was minor - fingers and such!

The leg sections all made it!

The tummy section looks good! Notice that the intestines spell "E" for Elizabeth! My only and BEST baby!

The backside of the tummy is just textured.

Damn those dirt-dobbers! (Wasps) I fired a piece that they had filled with their concoction and it fired hard as a rock! Guess they are potters too!

The head had a bit of damage, but not too bad!

More appendage damage! Rock On!

Here's the leg sections as they will fit together-too bad the feet blew up-will have to make them again!

This is the base for the tummy and also the guide for the "thigh" section of the legs.

When put together, it will stack up a bit like this.

The head will have the "hair" added in.

Only a few more pieces to make/fire/glaze and the final assemblage can begin!

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I Must Have Been A Very Good Girl!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Marian Williams) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 10:22:00 +0000

I don't have many vices- don't smoke, only a glass of wine occasionally, but I do cuss- actually quite a lot!!! Other than that I think I'm a pretty good girl!

And Santa (my lovely husband, Ronnie) must have thought so too - cause he got me a new Venco Direct Drive Pottery Wheel!!!

Can't wait to see how it works!!!!

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Location:Tweed Valley Way,Tweed,Australia