Terra Sigillata

I have been experimenting with how I finish off my pots. I've been adjusting my firing temperatures and settings. I have tried out new decorating techniques and designs. I have mixed up new glazes, some engobes, and a terra sigillata recipe.

This piece is my favorite so far. I used a slip known as terra sigillata. The names means "sealed earth" and has been used to seal, or cover, wares since ancient times. It completely transformed the twilight blue glaze I have. (The luminary below is an example of the results I have had previously from the same glaze, without the base coat of terra sig.) The richness and variation of blues and browns that gather around the pot are all thanks to this new slip I am using.

I employed a brand new tool on this pot too. I applied wax resist using an underglaze applicator instead of a brush. The wax gums up on the brushes, making them hard to use. This applicator creates smooth, bold lines. I framed the fruit with wax before applying the colored glazes. This technique has two benefits. First, it allows the color of the terra sig to remain visible, which gives the design more definition. It also keeps the glazes where I want them, not allowing them to blend with each other.

I plan to work more with a terra sig base and see what else I can make happen. I like the warmth and depth it gives, the sheen and shimmer. The highlight, so to speak, of my week.

Art Pin for the Cubs

A troop of boys came over to my studio recently to learn a little about pottery-making. The Cub Scouts have pins to earn in various fields, one being in the Arts. After a explanation of the craft and a quick demonstration, each took a turn on my kick wheel. They learned above all, I think, that some things are harder than they initially may appear. Knowing the first time on the wheel does not a good pot make, I also had them build a small sculpture they would be able to keep. Their hands have been shaping various materials, like play-dough and sand, for years already, so the skills needed for this task have developed to a higher degree. They pinched, scored, molded and fine-tuned such beautiful pieces, that they were gleaming with satisfaction by the end of the afternoon. I let their sculptures dry and later loaded them into the kiln to be fired. These boys will be able to display their pieces with pride. They ardently earned their Cub Scout Art Pin. It was a successful day.