Sunday afternoon, I made a larger prototype for my organic shaped bowl for which I had received an inquiry from a buyer on WSC . The glazed bowl to the right and on the bottom is my original bowl that I have uploaded to the site and while large at 8″ across and accomodating 24 oz. of liquid, the new bowl will be serving size large. Leatherhard, it measures 12″ across and 5″ high (though it will shrink during the bisque fire) - based on similarly sized bowls it will hold over 60 oz. of liquid. This will make an awesome set!
I only lost 1 bowl during my experimentation - but now think that I can easily replicate the larger sized one. I know I need another studio tool - a huge rolling pin, right now I’m using a standard sized one which just doesn’t cut it when one needs to roll out slabs larger that 12 inches wide. Yes, folks, I hand-roll my slabs of clay at my studio. I have access to the electric slab roller at the guild, but I wasn’t inclined to drive over to there to do my experimentation this past weekend. Now, the trick will be to dry it slowly to minimize warping when I fire it.
Today is a good day - bright, sunny and just right for a morning jaunt in the park after I drop my daughter off at school. I hope to get a good 6 hours in the studio before it’s time to pick up my Mile High Scholar at the end of the school day. Yes, she sure has made me proud this year!
Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with this image:
Bubblicious, white earthenware with acrylic paint by my daughter at age 9
He greats me every morning, pierced tongue sticking out at me, when I stumble down the flight of stairs to the kitchen looking for my caffeine fix. Thanks Jazz I love him!
I must get moving now,
Cynthia
Tags: mile high scholar, organic bowl, stoneware, wholesalecrafts.com
Entries (RSS)
Hey Cynthia, congrats on passing your smart gene to your daughter. You should be able to get a used slab roller pretty cheap. Not elecric but less to break down. I use ours all the time, plus you can gauge your shrinkage if you have a uniform thickness to start with. My travelers all get put under plastic with just a couple of small holes in it for a few days before thin towels. Also leave them molded for the first 24-36 hours. But then we have +-10% humidity. See ya!
I’ve thought about a table top slab roller, John, but I’m really having space issues. Though, I must say I roll a pretty mean and even slab! I did let my bowl set up on the form I used for at least 24 hours before moving it and covered it. It’s still covered and since it’s fairly thin is not pretty much leather hard. I don’t want to manipulate it much until Friday.
Hi Cynthia, the new blog looks great, good job!
I have updated your link on So Cal Potters.
Peace;
Chris
Aaah Cyn, those bowls are just exquisite and remind me of softly delicate seashells! ‘Bubblicious’ is so adorable and made me smile, you’re daughter is very talented like her Mom!
Love those rumple edged bowls…I would eat from them every day…may favorite slippery noodles. I think your bowls rock and I bet you sell all that you make!
Thanks Chris!
Thanks Lynette - I have a personal fondness for the bowls myself, and I’m wanted to create a bowl with the look of delicate edges - but it’s quite durable. Ya never know though, until they go out into the wild by themselves. (both children and bowls :D)
I love Asian food, Heather - and I would imagine having some type of rice bowl or udon soup in one of those bowls. To date, the one I have kept has only held fruit.
Cute Bubbilicious.
The bowls are turning out great.
I think so on Bubbilicious - it compliments my daughter’s morning demeanor!
GORGEOUS…chips please.
Hope to see your bowls in person some day, they are beautiful. Congratulations on your first prospect from WSC. Your daughter’s artwork is wonderful too.
I don’t have a slab roller either (been looking for a used one). I find the slabs rolled with a slab roller have less warping though. I put a garbage bag over a large board, roll a slab at the college and lay one slab on top, then a sheet of plastic and another slab and so on. I take the slabs back to my studio to work on them. Be careful not to pile up too many slabs otherwise they will be too heavy to lift (I’ve done that). I can store the slabs under plastic for several days before they get too hard to work. Pastry rolling pins come in a large size 18 inch, I think - how large a slab are you needing?
By the way what type of rolling pin do you use? I am thinking of getting a silicon or aluminum one since the clay sticks to the wood one I use.