Developing a Slipped Surface

Slip is basically liquid clay. In this case, a specific formula of ceramic materials I've chosen for their specific properties. I've decided to color this first coat of slip with a specific ratio of  iron oxide and cobalt carbonate for a dark reddish brown once it's fired. The consistency of my slip is like buttermilk for this particular application. I'll lay on a variety of other colored slips over this, as well, not unlike the way I do an underpainting when I'm oil painting.

Dragon Platter Sculpting Complete

Photos of the completed claywork.

Now I'll begin developing the surface with colored slips.

Small Shino Serving Dish

A definite shino shiner in my book. Porcelain w/shino glaze with other glazes on top, as well as a sprinkle here and there of wood ash. Shinos are such interesting glazes, especially in reduction (gas or wood) firing. They have the potential for so much variation, both in color and texture - all in the same glaze on the same pot.

To illustrate my point about variability, the burnt-orange color inside of the dish and the whitish rim seen below are the exact same shino glaze. This is where ceramics is like jazz. Those who aren't into it won't think much about it, while those who dig it, REALLY dig it. Control freak that I am with the clay and my forms, I love letting the glaze and the fire do its thing on top.

New Vases in Progress

Two of the new vase forms I'm working on. The first photos show the bare clay pieces and the last photos show these vases covered in a white slip. I like to use a slip that's formulated not only to make glaze colors brighter (like on porcelain), but help the glazes melt out just a touch more than if they were on the bare stoneware. I'll post more photos of these once they've been glaze fired.

Lidded Casserole

With a copper red glaze and a thrown knob.

Here's the casserole prior to bisque firing:

Shino Tea Bowl

Shino glaze with other glazes on top.

Two Vases

Porcelainous stoneware with a combination of glazes.