Monday, September 23, 2019

THREE IN A ROW

Typical Monday, made a good solid plan for studio tasks on Sunday and executed it today. These three in a row covered pieces and lids are close to the finishing touches for, you guessed it, the third kiln load of pots that should finish this terra cotta cycle. On the board are two taller covered forms and one covered serving bowl, all three will be finished off in carved black slip, tebori style with something just a bit new added. At the moment I am unclear what the next cycle will be and I suspect due to some back log it is likely to be terra cotta. Though I have a few things in stoneware I would like to pursue for myself, orders and commissions take precedence over  following an idea at the moment. I have to admit, I love making covered pots from serving bowls to cap jars and beyond, truth is that I really enjoy covered pots in general as well, especially mizusashi. The hidden space, the volume hinted at from the form interests me plus the bonus of the mysterious contents. Over the years I have had customers tell me that they use my lidded pieces for every conceivable use from pet food to the final resting place of loved ones (i.e. ashes) which has also included the ashes of a cremated pet snake which was fired on one of my large plates that I had made, garbage fired style and later housed in a jar from the same firing, well what little was left over. This leads me to wonder what's in your jar?

(And just in case someone wants to know why three, it is simple, that is all that fits on an average ware board.)