Illustrated is
a simple thrown and altered katakuchi pourer from two firings ago. Thrown round
and pushed oval, a spout was pulled while still really wet and once tooled, I
added a thick layer of white hakeme slip around the piece. This is pretty
typical of the results I am getting with plus or minus effects unless I really
go for a simpler look or a really, really runny one. I think you can see from
the underside of this piece that though the glaze ran quite a bit creating a rather
nice, multi-color cascade around the form, gravity was a bit impeded by the
foot which is the intent and let’s be honest, the constant hope. Where multiple
glazes, gravity and heat seem to come together, the results are as much a
mystery as they are bonus. Though I said this surface is somewhat typical, the
more I build up the surfaces the more serendipity plays a role in the final
object and in this case the flowing glaze runs around the exterior and the way
the surface runs from the spout into the center of the katakuchi are about as I
would absolutely like them to happen even though my hand can only gently steer
the outcome. I realize I have said this before but if this was completely controllable,
I would have to move along and as long as there are surprises including
becoming one with the firing plinths, I would not want it any other way.
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