New Work-2013 ("Possibilities", Circular Hand Saw)

I finished up another piece and photographed it with the other new work recently.  This piece is titled, "Possibilities".  It is hand made using slabs of earthenware as well as press molded additions.  I fired the piece to cone 6 and used glazes, tool dip, as well as enamel paints for the surface.  I'm interested in exhibiting this piece, but haven't decided which exhibition I should try to enter it yet.

New Work-2013 (Remnant)

This piece is titled "Remnant" and is hand built using earthenware slabs, with press molded additions as well.  I fired the piece to cone six and used glazes as well as enamel paints.  I'm glad it's done so I can update my portfolio on my web page as well as concentrate on new work I'm creating at the moment.  I fired this particular piece multiple times.

New Work-2013 (Technological Dependence)

Here is an image of a new piece I finished up recently.  The piece is titled, "Technological Dependence".  I hand built the mechanical form using terra cotta slabs, along with press molded additions.  The phone is slip cast porcelain, which I Raku fired, with a Raku glaze I made.

Wood Kiln Firing at University of Saint Francis

This week I helped fire a wood kiln at University of Saint Francis, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  I was lucky enough to get to put in a piece and hopefully it will turn out…at least interesting.  While I was there I got to meet Steve Smith and his two assistants.  He used to be the Chair at Defiance College in Ohio, and now is a full-time production potter and sculptor.  His studio is up in Angola, Indiana and it was a blast hanging out with him, and feeding and stoking the kiln Tuesday morning.  I returned Tuesday night for a later three hour shift and left with the kiln firing even on the top and bottom (2136).  I can't wait to visit Steve up in Angola and check out his studio.  Pictured below is the kiln we were firing at University of Saint Francis.  With help from the ceramic students, I'm sure the firing went well.  Ryan Bredlau is currently teaching the ceramic students at Saint Francis as well as being the Art Department Technician…he's a busy guy and it was great to help him out.  I'll be teaching at Saint Francis next semester, so it was nice to meet some of the students as well.

Pictured below is the kiln we were firing.

Raku Test Tiles/Cell Phones-Update

Well I have been working on refining the placement of my phones in the kiln I'm using, as stated in an earlier post.  As that work continues... I'm still working on my cup, vessel,  and a plate I threw earlier.  So, as those pieces are going through the drying stages, I'm getting ready to hopefully put them in a bisque firing this weekend.  Here are some images of those tests I did.  I didn't sieve the glaze I made up, so I'm assuming the glaze could look smoother without the larger particles in the glaze.  I've also made up a white raku crackle glaze, but I'll have to take a picture of those phones and post them in my next post.  Enjoy.

                                                              This glaze test was applied with a single thin coat over a black slip.
The more "copper colored area",  is a result of a thicker application.

This glaze test was applied with two
 "normal coats" of the glaze over a black slip. 

Here I applied two normal coats over black slip,
notice the larger glaze particles within the glaze.

Here is another test, this phone also has two
coats of glaze.  Notice that each of these phones
pictured have been placed in different areas of the kiln
and how it affects the glaze (heat differences).

This phone also has two coats,
as stated in the other tests.  With these tests
I tried to keep the application process the same.
The tests are also about location(placement) in the kiln.

This phone has the glaze applied the same as the others.

Here are the glaze tests all together,
as well as some phones that are without any glaze.

Raku-Firing Underway

I have been working on some glaze testing for my cell phones using raku glazes and will post some images soon.  Here are some images of the kiln I'm using at IPFW and the reduction chamber I'm using as well.  I'm starting to figure out the kiln and how the areas in the kiln, in relation to temperature, affect the glazes I'm creating.  I really love the process and how you the control is really out of your hands in reference to the reduction process.  I'll post some images soon of what the test glazes look like on the cell phones and test tiles.

Cordless Drill Batteries

Here is an image of the cordless drill batteries I have slip cast.  I created the prototype, from images I took of a real battery charger, and then created a five piece mold to use for slip casting.  I didn't want to ruin the battery, so that's why I took pictures and then made the prototype.
I created a porcelain slip-cast clay body and then went to work.  The chargers took a while longer because I was only using one mold to create the form.  I didn't mind though, since I was working on other work as well.  Here is an image of the slip cast battery chargers on my shelf.  I've done an initial bisque firing and will fire them to cone 10.