PLAYFUL

I threw this vase using a rather iron rich clay which I make myself, it is a bit labor intensive but I enjoy the way the clay throws and also what it looks like once fired. In this case I made a tall vase with lugs and covered the body in a bright white slip which was combed and then glazed over in one of my Oribe glazes. This Oribe glaze has a bit less iron than normal to allow the contrast between the bright body and darker, unslipped clay to stand out against each other. The indents at the base of the pot are from where I pick the piece up directly off the wheel head once thrown an accent I like and can be seen on many of the pots that I enjoy from Bizen, Shigaraki and Iga. The neck and mouth of the pot were man handled a bit to get them to warp which adds to the less than perfect and casual approach I was after while making the pot and hopefully come off as a bit less contrived and more playful and natural in feel. I enjoy making pots like this that come off the wheel nearly complete and in the throwing I can just shut down, let the music play and let the clay go exactly where it needs to.

I would also like to take a moment to wish a Happy Fourth of July to all that wish to embrace the spirit!