Colorado Art Studio

Colour in Clay by Jane Waller
Last summer, I started some experiments using mason stains to color porcelain to use in my work. I was inspired by an article in Pottery Making Illustrated featuring the work of Chris Campbell, a few years ago. My colored porcelain pendant experiments
I didn’t get far and became distracted by other techniques I wanted to try and life itself. I still have a few blocks of colored clay, but at this point, they probably need to be reconstituted. I was reminded of my experiment the other day, when the green pendant on the right sold. I was quite pleased that someone bought it, and had recently been considering removing one of these from my Etsy Shop for my own use. My “agate” ware thrown pots from 2005 using 2 different stoneware bodies
I checked out some books from the Colorado Potters Guild the other night when I attended new member orientation, including Colour in Clay by Jane Waller. As I glanced through the book, the section on “agate” ware caught my eye and I remembered some of my own work, now long gone from my possession.I have a whole bucket of porcelain slip in my garagio right now that I plan on staining soon to use in my work here at home. In addition to Chris Campbell’s work, I love the work of Jane Peiser and Vince Pitelka.Meanwhile, I picked up 25 pounds of ^10 porcelain to make some work for a gas firing that the guild is going to do in a few weeks time. They’re having a workshop on how to fire the big gas car kiln and I’d love to sneak a few pieces in.

Have a good weekend,

~Cynthia

Greenware, porcelain with colored slip and black stain, 7″ x 6″
Greenware, porcelain with colored slip and black stain, 9.5″ x 4″
I was a busy bee at the Art Student’s League of Denver yesterday. That is where you will find me most Wednesdays until it’s time to pick up my daughter from school. I brought all my bisque that I had fired at home this past weekend to the league to glaze fire, since I haven’t made any bucket glazes at home yet. I’m trying to decide on a palette. As you have probably noticed, I tend to favor cool colors such as watery blues, aquas, whites etc. Could it be my Pisces nature showing through?

The 2 vases above were an attempt at a technique called Mocha Diffusion. Lest you think I was hyped up on a double caf non fat mocha latte while making ceramic ware, let me quell your confusion. Mocha diffusion is a technique where an acidic stain is applied to wet slip. Where the acidic stain and alkaline clay collide, the stain forms a dendritic pattern much like a fern or fossil. The original recipe calls for urine or tobacco juice as the acid and either iron oxide or manganese as the colorant.

I tried a little less drastic and alternative route after having watched a Robin Hopper video. I used apple cider vinegar and black mason stain. I didn’t have the ratios correct, so I didn’t exactly achieve dendritic patterns, but still like the effect. I also didn’t have any iron oxide or manganese on hand, so made do with the black mason stain. I should have read Robin Hopper’s article first - the suggested ratio is 1 heaping tsp. of colorant to 1/4 c. vinegar. I’ll try again after I have the correct ingredients…no not urine, but iron oxide. I also added water to my mixture which diluted the acidic content. I won’t do that again. I chalk it all up to learning. As soon as these are bone dry, I’ll bisque fire to cone 04 and then figure out how to glaze these pieces.

Must go now,

You know I couldn’t just end this post so quickly…. I decided to go out an preserve an image of my crab-apple tree that is almost in full bloom right now. Why, you ask? Because the Denver Metro area is under a Winter Storm Warning. We’re expecting up to 12″ of snow by tomorrow. Today may be the last time I see the blossoms until next spring. It’s going to be a little cold out in the garage studio tomorrow!