Covered ^6 stoneware box

Pausing on vacation photos….  On Thursday, it was easy to pry myself away from my computer and head out to the studio for the first time in a long time.  Some how, I didn’t melt or implode when I didn’t have access to a computer while on vacation and decided it’s just better for my sanity to sign off for the day after finishing my coffee and to leave it off till the next day.  I don’t know about you all, but my lap top sucks a lot of time away from my day.  Anyway, I warmed up by making a covered box that I textured with embossed paper.  I did something a little different this time around, I added the knob and feet while the box was still fairly wet.  I had issues the last time around of adding feet after the body was considerably dry and having them fall off and “glaze glueing” them on post bisque fire.

Coiled ^6 stoneware bowl

Then I went into regression mode.  I shouldn’t say that.  I didn’t have an agenda, and didn’t feel like throwing – so I decided to start coiling a bowl.  I tried coiling the bowl using a large plastic bowl coated with WD40 (in background), but that didn’t work so well.  It stuck to the bowl and then I remembered some large hump plaster molds I made last year and pulled one out.

Interior of coiled bowl is smooth, outside rough

Much better.  Coiling is meditative, but hardly a time saver.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed the process  so much that I made another one yesterday.

It's a generous 12" across in diameter

I like that there is no clay waste using the coiling method – no trimming etc. etc.  All the futzing is up front.  I even made a coiled mug and decided to try my hand at pinching a bowl.  Also not as easy as it looks to get the walls an even thickness.  I’m not sure either coiling or pinching are techniques to continue using in my future clay career, but it was a good way to ease back into the studio.

Now, I need to lace up my sneakers – off for a 7 mile run with my training group (I’ve been dreading it since last night, but I know I’ll feel good once I get out there!)

Cynthia