Failures
May 28, 2008
I feel like my time is scarce, and in fact it is. Whatever free time I have, I make pottery. So it was a big disappointment to have such a bad glaze firing.
But since I started learning ceramics all my teachers always said: prior doing something new, specially with glazes, test first. I never did it since I have no kiln. The firings at that school happened 3-4 times a year, so never tested in advance.
But I know what happened with this one. The velvets are not compatible with my recycled clay and all of them peeled off.
After so many disappointments with end results I feel like stopping make it. Shall I do it?
How much longer I would have to experiment to have beautiful pieces?
Deborah
Entry Filed under: design decoration interior pottery. Tags: ceramic pottery glaze clay.
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1.
Elaine | November 7, 2008 at 10:07 pm
You can’t be put off doing something you love by the occasional failure. Testing is fundamental to success in ceramics as there are so many things that can go wrong. So before you do your very lovely and elaborate decoration – and put all that time and effort in, you must be sure of your materials. It is well worth making the time to do your tests. Set time aside and think about what you intend to achieve and note. Make a bunch of tiles – abut 16cm x 16cm and test rings too if you can – like a fat ceramic napkin ring. make sure you photograph and document what material you put on, eg slip, glaze, underglaze – the brand, the temperature fired to, the method of application. If you can, establish a notebook of recipes and photographs for your reference and in relation to your own work. With that foundation you can not only explore decoration with greater success and fewer heartbreaking losses, and we’ve all been there, but you might also discover unique combinations and reactions of say – glaze over a glaze that nobody else has achieved and may be stunning. So my advice is set aside some time for tests – you will not regret it.
2.
debstudio | November 23, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Thank you Elaine for yr time and explanations. It is funny becuase 30 mins ago I just finished to glaze last 3 months work and I was thinking that all that effort may not be paid off.
Will follow you advice and prior doing new glazing adventures with my drawings, I will make tests. More important I decided ceramic is something I want to keep doing and for this I need a kiln.
2009 will be the year for it if all goes well.
Thank you again