It all started out small, just a few small pieces, then I’ll switch over to stoneware….
Day 3 of the throwing binge,
I’ll just make a few bottle vases and collared vessels, I think….
While throwing I find myself reflecting on a moment during the opening of my show, Classic Forms Revisited, on now at the Gallery of BC Ceramics, Granville Island. A couple that collect my work were looking at a piece, as they were looking at it, I started to see the piece in a different light. When I created the vessel I had a bit of trouble near the top of the piece, the clay was a tich on the thin side and the vessel really wanted to warp. I loved the form and was determined to save it, so worked ever so carefully finishing it off. When it came time to glaze it, I decided to put my navy terra sigillata slip on it with the white crawl glaze, I had planned on glazing it with lithium and raku firing it, but because of the thinness of the piece I decided not to risk the raku firing. When I lifted the piece out of the kiln I was relieved by how it turned out and was glad that I had persevered with it. The glazing was perfect for the form, the vessel was tall and narrow with a visual lightness to it that was reflected in the weight of the piece. I was happy, but as I observed this couple gently turning the vessel around in their hands, looking at all aspects of the piece, I felt like I was seeing it’s beauty for the first time, a nice moment.
So, of course I want to make more pieces like that, the vessels in the next photo are inspired by the piece in the show.
I plan on giving myself one more day of throwing decorative vessels and then I’ll be switching over to stoneware as the shelves in the gallery are getting thinned out and my studio sale is coming up soon.
The last throwing day before switching over to stoneware….I can’t believe I made this many pots in one day, truly a throwing binge….great end to this latest body of work.
