Bisque Texture Plate
Gingko Bisque Texture Plate about 12 inches x 18 inches
Last fall, I made a bisque texture plate by impressing leaves from a ginkgo tree that I planted in my front yard about 2 years ago. As you can see from the photo, it cracked right smack down the middle (a crack developed along one of the stems while drying and then during bisque firing, the heat did the rest). It doesn’t mean that I can’t use it anymore, but the crack limits the size of work that I can make with it. Each side is still large enough for me to make the base for a hand-built mug (see below) and when I had an hour to spend in my garagio the other day which wasn’t enough time to really get into any kind of production mode, but just long enough to test out some of this plate’s other possibilities.
Hand Built Ginkgo Printed Mug
Ginkgo Texture Close-up
The texture is pretty to look at, but also very delicate and fine which proved a little problematic for printing purposes. After my first try, the impression was spotty at best, so I had to smooth out the clay and try again. Since my bisque plate is fairly delicate, I placed a towel underneath the plate and then put my clay slab on top and used a rubber mallet to make sure that the entire surface would be left with an even impression. After tapping the slab with the mallet, I used a rolling pin and my favorite Sherrill rubber rib to smooth out the clay on the non-printed side.
Ginkgo Plate Trio – still green
Since I knew I didn’t have enough time to make a mug, I decided to make a few small tea bag/soy sauce dipping sized dishes with the amount of clay that I had impressed and ready to go. I’ve been lacking motivation after taking such a long break from my studio, but know that doing something even if it’s small, is a step in the right direction in regards to getting back into some kind of a routine.
Small Ginkgo Plate
As with any type of printing – whether on paper or clay, the reverse is always true and what shows up. If you take another look at the ginkgo mug (above), you’ll notice that the ginkgo leaves are not raised as compared with these little plates. That’s because I impressed actual leaves into the slab I used for the mug, and I used the bisque plate for this one which left a raised impression. I’m not sure which one I like better – I’ll have to decide after I glaze it. If I prefer the former, I’ll have to make another impression of the bisque texture plate and then bisque this one – or wait till spring when my tree leafs out again.
Pink Glazed Flower Pendant
I’m still making jewelry – this one is available in my Etsy Shop for $20.00.
Porcelain pendant with slip inlay – still green
To make the jewelry just a bit more interesting, I tried my hand at doing a bit of mishima or slip inlay on a porcelain pendant. After it’s glazed and fired, I’m going to add a ceramic laser toner decal for a third layer. It might be just a bit too busy with the slip inlay, glaze and decal, but it will be a good experiment. I was a bit too hasty when I removed the excess slip and then I sanded fairly vigorously on top of that. Note to self – don’t rush…. Once it’s fired, I’ll add a silver plated Aanraku bail (used by dichroic glass artists) to the back with epoxy glue.
Meanwhile, ever put the wrong cone in a kiln sitter and not realize your mistake until it was too late? I’ve over fired a kiln once before and you think I would learn, but luckily, this time I put a cooler cone in the sitter rather than a hotter one. Yesterday, I fired the kid’s work for my Tuesday clay class and this morning when I went to pop the lid open, everything looked just plain drab ugly. I grabbed the box of cones that I left laying out near the kiln and luckily I put a cone 018 in the cone 06 glaze fire. Thank goodness I noticed my mistake early enough and since class isn’t until tomorrow afternoon I replaced the cone with the correct one and am refiring the kiln as I write this post. It should be cool by tomorrow morning in time for me to unload and pack the work for class.
Bonus – it’s freezing in Denver today and we’re expecting a high of only 18ºF so my garagio will be nice and toasty when I head out in about an hour to work since one of my kilns is firing.
Have a great week,
~Cynthia
Linda Starr
January 26, 2009 at 11:42 am //
Hi Cynthia, love your mug and the bumpy textured handle.
The color of your pink pendant is beautiful. If I may ask, where do you purchase your bails; I have some pendants which would look nice with type of bails you use.
I just love your ginkgo impressions. The ginkgo tree I planted here just struggles along; the leaves are almost miniature in size; I’ll have to fertilize it some more I guess.
Can’t wait to see how your mishima pendant turns out. I think the layering will be beautiful, creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface and perhaps an antique look.
Cynthia
January 26, 2009 at 12:03 pm //
Thanks Linda! I purchase my bails from Ray Dichroic – an Etsy seller who caters to dichroic glass artists.
There aren’t many ginkgo trees here in Denver – I’m not sure it’s the right climate either. When I lived in Maine, they were everywhere!
Mary T.
January 26, 2009 at 2:24 pm //
I love the pendant too. And the cup is okay, but hey, what do I know about ceramics. Next to nothing. A toasty garage sounds great today! Not much of anything toasty around here today, is there. I nearly froze just getting groceries in the car and then out again.
Cynthia
January 27, 2009 at 7:15 am //
“And the cup is okay…” –
I love that you’re so honest Mary!! I guess toasty is a relative term – but it was a good 50 degrees above the outside temperature which was quite tolerable. I actually got a lot of work accomplished yesterday.
Eva
January 26, 2009 at 2:51 pm //
The gingko imprints are so beautiful, I think the plates will be great. I’m eager to see the results!
Cynthia
January 27, 2009 at 7:16 am //
Thanks Eva – finishing is always my struggle…
Nancy
January 26, 2009 at 3:07 pm //
Cynthia, the gynko imprints are so beautiful. Such a nice plain yet elegant touch. Also, I’m liking that pendant.
Cynthia
January 27, 2009 at 7:17 am //
You know what’s weird, Nancy, is that in my home I like things colorful and a bit unconventional, yet, when I dress, or glaze my ceramic work, I’m a bit conservative.
ang
January 26, 2009 at 4:06 pm //
hi C, the plates have come up a treat be sweet with a chun glaze or even your c6 red would be stunning
Cynthia
January 27, 2009 at 7:18 am //
I have some cone 10 clay in my garagio, Ang – I really need to pull it out since I intend to participate in a group gas firing at the guild next month. I was just checking out some of the chun glazes there the other day…
LB
January 26, 2009 at 11:19 pm //
Yay! There are items in your shop! I was sad when it was empty!
Cynthia
January 27, 2009 at 7:19 am //
I put items back in it in December, Diana, but I’m pretty bad at self promotion! Don’t ask me why…
Linda Starr
January 27, 2009 at 8:32 am //
Thanks for the bail info Cynthia.
Undaunted
January 27, 2009 at 5:05 pm //
Personally, I really like the raised pattern that the plate produced, rather than the sunken in pattern on the plate itself. Both are lovely, but there’s just something extra about that raised pattern.
You’ve won an award on my blog by the way!
Cynthia
January 28, 2009 at 7:37 am //
I kind of like it too – but am going to hold my opinion until I see it glazed. I’ll have to go check that award out
Meredith Heywood
January 28, 2009 at 6:06 am //
hi – I like them all- but what do I know!
You helped me think through the small tile I am doing for my son’s wedding- I hate to cast one small tile so seeing your positive and negitive in bisque have made me say hey- I could ……..
you are so smart!
STAY WARM! I would send you some of my 40 to 60 degrees if I could.
M
Cynthia
January 28, 2009 at 7:39 am //
I’m glad I could help! And- HAH – you helped me too. When I wrote this, I couldn’t remember the terms positive and negative for the life of me….
The cold front has broken – we’re expecting a high of 46 today – just in time since it’s a studio day for me.