Hybrid vases, cone 6 white glaze and glaze calc program
Hybrid Leaf Vases
I liked making these 2 vases – the bases were made from slabs of clay and the wheel thrown neck was added after the hand built portion of the vase had set up (not quite leather hard) enough to withstand having the neck addition. I also made a bisque texture plate using ginkgo leaves from the little tree I planted in my yard – though I haven’t used it yet. The white glaze is new for me – it’s from Mastering Cone 6 Glazes by Hesselberth and Roy, pg. 108 “Faux Majolica”. There’s a great interaction between the white and the aqua color glaze where they overlap that I really like.
In an effort to use and store a limited number of glazes and all the associated raw materials in my small garagio, I thought this white would be good as both a liner and I might like to try painting some stains on top in the future maiolica style. I decided to be conservative and only made a 5,000 gram batch just in case I didn’t like it, but I have to say, it fires terrifically!
In regards to glazes, I decided to bite the bullet today and purchased the Digital Fire Insight Glaze Calculator after testing several different programs, even a free glaze calc program. I’m all about free, unless it isn’t working for me and this one isn’t a terribly intuitive program – but that really applies to me only. Maybe now that I have the glaze calculation program, I can add my glaze recipe page to my website. I’ve been too lazy to format tables in word for my recipes and it would be really cool for others to see the analysis that accompanies each.
Square Bottom Mug – hand built from slabs of clay
I really like the way this mug turned out – round top, square bottom and the faux majolica MC6 glaze interacts nicely with this green one too! In an effort to move away from the templates that ceramicist, teacher and writer Annie Chrietzberg gave to everyone this past summer during a workshop I took here in Denver, I tweaked her template just a tad giving the mug a square base instead of a round one. The tweak was minimal, but effective.
Speaking of Annie – I wonder if her ears are ringing right now…I enjoyed spending a couple of hours with her yesterday in my studio. She’s warm, funny and very generous with her knowledge. Oh Earth to Annie…thanks for stopping by!
Meanwhile, yesterday was hectic and I didn’t get a chance to do all my daily Internet activities such as responding to blog comments, answering emails etc. In the am, I took my daughter to visit the Denver Center for International Studies, which is a 6th grade -12th grade public magnet school in Denver. Denver residents are lucky to have school choice – but we are also cursed because choosing a school is like applying to college. She will be starting middle school next year and we’ve narrowed our choices down to 4 including the one above, Denver School of the Arts, Morey Middle School which has a gifted magnet program, and one other neighborhood school.
My first choice for her is the international studies school – it’s so cool, they start studying a foreign language in 6th grade (French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese or Japanese) and they visit countries where their language is spoken starting in 9th grade. Her first choice is Denver School of the Arts – but they only accept 20% of applicants. Besides, does our family need more than one artist? DCIS accepts about 50%, Morey is an automatic in – and the other school is just an extra for decision making purposes. All 3 of these schools are urban & very diverse – and bonus upon bonus – they provide busing!
The downside to all of school choice is that applications are due by Dec. 12 for following year and include essays, interviews, teach recommendations, test scores – all for 6th grade! It’s a little overwhelming for both of us. I promised her that if she decides to go to DCIS, I’ll take classes in whatever foreign language she picks. Wouldn’t Japanese be cool? Of course I’d sign up to chaperon field trips whenever possible!
TGIF,
~Cynthia
Ben Stark
November 14, 2008 at 11:57 am //
Those new glazes are really nice–as is the square bottomed mug! Did you texture the bottom as well?
I couldn’t imagine having that many schools to choose from! And such a wide range of focuses. Good luck choosing the right school for your daughter. (by the way–nothing wrong with another artist in the family
Mary T.
November 14, 2008 at 2:22 pm //
Okay, if being an artist is good enough for Mom, why not for daughter? I mean is that bias I’m hearing from the Earth Mother Granola Crunch? Tech! Tech!! Surely not! I like the new glaze, too.
Cynthia
November 14, 2008 at 3:23 pm //
Ben – Yes, the bottom is textured as well. It’s crazy having to apply to public middle schools. We are really casting a wide net.
Mary – Of course I would support her in whatever school she chooses. No bias on my side at all – it’s so hard to separate myself as a mom who wants her to have a secure financial future and the artist in me who wants her to do what makes her happy. In the end, I know the 2 can coexist. I did ease up on wanting her to apply to Denver School of Science and Tech – she’s a math wiz, skipped 5th grade math this year. But, as soon as she heard that students had to wear uniforms and go to summer school, she said she would sabotage her application.
that’s my rebel girl.
Meredith Heywood
November 14, 2008 at 3:28 pm //
Wow, it makes me want to start all over.
What great hand building. I love all the texture and the glazes show off the work.
Too many choices at 6th grade. How many times will someone change their job over the course of their work life time?
How can someone know what they will do in 10 years?
It has to be really hard to choose.
Both mine were raised in the county public school system. They offered my son 4 gyms his senior year.
He moved on and finished somewhere else.
Our daughter moved to a large city and in with my mother to finish public school. It was hard to leave her friends but it open doors for her which were not here.
Plus they only offered one class of advanced English at the same time as Drama class- the guidance councilor asked me why she needed any art class.
Hum- do you know how I make my living?
Whoops- this is not about me.
I hope she has plenty of choices all her life and enjoys the years to come!
Japan- road trip!
Cynthia
November 14, 2008 at 4:12 pm //
“How many times will someone change their job over the course of their work life time?” Exactly!
All the magnet schools have great academic ratings – including school of the arts so that satisfies the mom in me to a degree.
I’m all about the road trip right now
ang
November 14, 2008 at 5:55 pm //
wow impressive, really like the new mug, spiffy!
Jerry
November 15, 2008 at 6:22 am //
love. that. mug.
Undaunted
November 15, 2008 at 7:59 am //
I hope between you and your daughter you are able to make the right choices for her.
Your vases and mug look great! I see what you mean about the way the two glazes interact where they meet.
Cynthia
November 15, 2008 at 11:02 am //
Ang & Jerry – Thanks
Linda – We will make the right decision, and if it’s not right, she can always transfer. It’s just making me slightly crazy since it would be nice to do this one time only.
Undaunted
November 15, 2008 at 4:23 pm //
That must ease the pressure, knowing that any decisions you make are not set in stone, but it would be nice to get it right first time! I’m glad I don’t have these pressures, but I’m sure having such a great daughter makes it all worth it.
denise
November 15, 2008 at 5:02 pm //
I love the contrast in the vases, and the glazes look fantastic together. Like the way they emphasise the contrast/form.
Oh, Japanese field trip, hai! But gosh, essays, interviews and tests to select/apply to school, already. Sounds a daunting process. I hope your daughter is enjoying the excitement of choosing and dreaming about the possibilities.:)
Linda Starr
November 15, 2008 at 5:48 pm //
Your mug is beautiful, both texture and glaze. I love the white glaze and the almost pink hue – is that what is termed faux majolica? Really wonderful.
Cynthia
November 16, 2008 at 11:32 am //
Linda U. – Yes, it does ease the pressure knowing that she could transfer. And, I have to remind myself that this is middle school – not college.
She is a great daughter – I’m so lucky to have her in my life.
Denise – Thanks for the comments! Japan is on my list of countries to visit in my lifetime. I’m sort of kicking myself that I didn’t travel there when I worked for United Airlines. Doh…
Linda S. – Thanks! No this isn’t the faux majolica look, I was just using the glaze as a white liner. The white glaze from MC6G is formulated to take stains painted on top without running like traditional majolica on low fired earthenware. If you have the book, take a look – it can also probably be found at libraries.
AnneWebb
November 17, 2008 at 7:52 am //
Hey Cynthia..
That glaze combo works on that mug. Great photo as well. Fun to see these pieces evolving.
Lots of people these days really prefer a white liner glaze for functional ware.
Hope things are good with you!
Cheers!
Anne