http://debstudio.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/failures/ Ceramics, Design, Decoration Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:50:28 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://debstudio.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/failures/#comment-20 debstudio Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:16:38 +0000 http://debstudio.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/failures/#comment-20 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 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

]]> http://debstudio.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/failures/#comment-19 Elaine Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:07:16 +0000 http://debstudio.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/failures/#comment-19 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. :-D 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.

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