VIRENS

I keep working on the various greens that I work with from the multiple Oribe formulas to the old standard medieval green to see what more I can wring out of the copper glazes. The small yunomi pictured is part of a set of six that I made in which I soaked the glaze at high temperature for just a bit and then let it cool as slowly as I could. The results were better than expected and have that lush, verdant quality that only green glazes seem to possess, a depth and richness that cloaks a pot in a comforting warmth and attractive invitation. The deeply impressed decoration has filled up with extra glaze making fro a really dark green appearance and the impressions also help in the function of the yunomi making for a sure grip. I am pleased with this glaze, it is simple to make, simple to use and simple to appreciate when it is fired, what more can you ask from a surface?

YOHEN

Illustrated is a large and simple yunomi with a rather interesting glaze over thick slip. The glaze is called yohen, for kiln change and varies depending on how the kiln is fired. Using a feldspar/amblygonite base the glaze is capable of a wide array of surfaces including this highly iridescent one especially over slips with varying additions of oxides and carbonates. For those of you unfamiliar with amblygonite, it is a rather neat material having certain properties similar to both spodumene and lepidolite and is worth testing out from cone 6 to10. All in all this a rather fun glaze to use and the texture and movement added to the piece with the use of a thick slip just adds to the experience.