Leftover Ceramics

These pieces, which were left in kilns as I departed for Hawaii, were nice surprises as I returned to school this Spring.  Especially since everything came out so well (meaning as predicted, no cracks).  

Orange Satin Matte sprayed at top, raw clay (with grog) on bottom half.  Soda Fired.  This piece was horribly off-center (top section vs. bottom) so the swirls were added to distract the eye.

White Volcanic Ash sprayed on top, raw clay on bottom half.  Soda Fired.  I think this looks like a lady, arms at attention.

These pieces were part of my last project of the fall semester.  All lidded forms (that still fit after firing!).  I had not previously had any luck with lidded vessels and was pleased with the way these came out.  There are 6 canisters thrown on the wheel... but the lids are also thrown as shallow bowls on the wheel, and then everything is trimmed.  Then the handles are pulled.  The most successful are the second and fourth from the left.  Successful as in those are the forms I sketched before I sat at the wheel.  They were intended.  The others are OK... lets call them learning pieces.  Looks like I have some glazing to do!

A peak inside one of the forms.  The depressed interior lip holds the lid.

This is the least fun part of working in ceramics: making clay.  Made more unpleasant in the cold, as this room in the back of the studio has no heat/AC.  All the clay at USC is mixed so that we can tailor the ingredients to suit the needs of the student.  It's also probably cheaper.  Recipes are pretty simple, each ingredient is measured by the pound and added to the mixer.  The part about adding water is tricky, because that is never included in the recipes.  You just have to add enough water to make it perfect.  If you add too much then guess what:  you're making more clay.  The only way to reclaim it is to add more dry ingredients.  I made clay on this cold morning and it took about 2.5 hours.  

The clay mixer (in motion).  It's basically a concrete drum that spins.  Not fun to clean.

Ingredients, usually packaged in 30-50 lb sacks.