Any potters about?

[Shadow Wolf]

I loved taking the ceramics class in high school, and took it all three years that I could (couldn't as a Freshman for some reason). I greatly enjoyed it, and was starting to get good at it and done a few advanced pieces. But it's been about eight years now since I have done that (or many of the other art skills I learned then, such as making different sorts of jewelry). I hope one day to get a decent potters wheel though, and other things for making pots.

 

[Caladan]

Well, my lamp is finally done:

And it passes the test for all functional pottery: Add a wick and some olive oil, and it works!

Outstanding job Tarheeler! any chance of seeing bigger sized photos?

 

[Tarheeler]

Outstanding job Tarheeler! any chance of seeing bigger sized photos?

Sure:

It's a buff-colored stoneware clay bisque fired at cone 04 (1940 degrees F/ 1060 C), glazed with a iron red oxide, and then fired at cone 6 (2232 degrees F/ 1222 C).

 

[Tarheeler]

Ooooo pretty and better yet useful.

I have to admit I would be kind of hesitant to make a lamp - you would need a lot of confidence in your skill before hand to make it and be sure it would be safe. Great work.

Thanks! I was a bit worried at first as this is my prototype. I've seen a couple of things I need to change on the next one (the wick hole needs to be a bit smaller and the transition from spout to body needs to be a bit smoother inside), but this one is still pretty good.

I loved taking the ceramics class in high school, and took it all three years that I could (couldn't as a Freshman for some reason). I greatly enjoyed it, and was starting to get good at it and done a few advanced pieces. But it's been about eight years now since I have done that (or many of the other art skills I learned then, such as making different sorts of jewelry). I hope one day to get a decent potters wheel though, and other things for making pots.

It would have been nice if our schools offered things like ceramics, but a general art class is as good as it gets. We started out with classes at the local community college, and my wife will start teaching pottery classes there in January. I'll be starting on a small shop in the backyard this winter so we have a better space, but then we have to pick up two of everything since we both throw.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It would have been nice if our schools offered things like ceramics, but a general art class is as good as it gets. We started out with classes at the local community college, and my wife will start teaching pottery classes there in January. I'll be starting on a small shop in the backyard this winter so we have a better space, but then we have to pick up two of everything since we both throw.

My high school had ceramics, crafts, jewelry, and what it called "fiber arts" which was things like macrame or crochet. I'm not sure if they still have all that or not though since the guy who used to teach it all retired.

 

[Tarheeler]

My high school had ceramics, crafts, jewelry, and what it called "fiber arts" which was things like macrame or crochet. I'm not sure if they still have all that or not though since the guy who used to teach it all retired.

That sounds like an amazing art program.

The only exposure we had to ceramics was a single hand-building exercise in the eighth grade. We made a box and it was taken off site for firing. Our high school programs focus on drawing and painting; fairly low cost mediums that don't require a lot of equipment.

 

[Tarheeler]

My newest pots (spoilers because they're large pictures):

Spoiler: Green and white bowl, white stoneware

Spoiler: Sunflower yellow and gloss white pitcher

Spoiler: My first teapot; needs some work.

 

[Tarheeler]

Not pottery, but still....

My wife and I recently took a workshop with a sculptor working with the NC Museum of Art. It was a two-day workshop, and we each made a sculpture in a limestone block approximately 12x12 inches.

The finished works will become an exhibit permanently on display in our county. The idea was to make something that ties into the surrounding area in some way. Mine is a shamrock over the Scottish flag; the Scots and the Irish were the primary settlers of the area, and many of the local towns and landmarks carry their names.

 

[Caladan]

That is awesome.

 

[Tarheeler]

Thanks!

But now I have to add sculptor to the list of things I want to be when I finally get around to growing up......

It's all my wife's fault. She keeps on putting these crazy ideas into my head. :yes:

 

[Caladan]

It's all my wife's fault. She keeps on putting these crazy ideas into my head. :yes:

Tell her to keep doing it

 

[Tarheeler]

Tell her to keep doing it

Lol, I already have. Truth be told, I really like it; I was always into art growing up (particularly pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, and pastels), but hadn't done anything since our oldest son was born 18 years ago. These things are helping to get me to reconnect with my creative side.

And I had a lot of fun with the sculpture; the picture doesn't show it, but the shamrock sits about 3/4 of an inch above the flag, and the flag is another half inch above the base. There's a lot of depth and shape in it. But, man, am I sore. I do physical work for a living, but it's been a long time since my hands, arms, and back have taken a beating like that!

 

[Caladan]

Lol, I already have. Truth be told, I really like it; I was always into art growing up (particularly pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, and pastels), but hadn't done anything since our oldest son was born 18 years ago. These things are helping to get me to reconnect with my creative side.

And I had a lot of fun with the sculpture; the picture doesn't show it, but the shamrock sits about 3/4 of an inch above the flag, and the flag is another half inch above the base. There's a lot of depth and shape in it. But, man, am I sore. I do physical work for a living, but it's been a long time since my hands, arms, and back have taken a beating like that!

I can imagine. Once I have more time I might try metallurgy or pottery as well. Been thinking about it for a long time.
I have to say that I think your pottery is great and I love the fact that you are experimental.

 

[Tarheeler]

I can imagine. Once I have more time I might try metallurgy or pottery as well. Been thinking about it for a long time.
I have to say that I think your pottery is great and I love the fact that you are experimental.

I really appreciate that, Dan.

 

[Tarheeler]

My newest creations are bottles with approximately 1/2" openings. One is about 5 inches tall and other about 9 inches.

 

[Tarheeler]

I've bisque-fired a half dozen pieces, and I'm going to set them in a sawdust-fired barrel and try my hand at some "primitive" techniques. While the finished pieces aren't functional (in today's standards), they can come out absolutely stunning.

 

[Avi1001]

Looks nice, Tar.

There is a website, called Etsy, have you seen it ?

https://www.etsy.com

 

[Tarheeler]

I've bisque-fired a half dozen pieces, and I'm going to set them in a sawdust-fired barrel and try my hand at some "primitive" techniques. While the finished pieces aren't functional (in today's standards), they can come out absolutely stunning.

One of my pots:

Spoiler: Spoiler for size

They all need a couple of coats of wax before they're ready (I'll post more pics then), but I had a few turn out really well and a few that were disappointing.

But you never learn if you don't try, right?

 

[Tarheeler]

These are the best results of my sawdust firing:

Overall, some turned out really well, and others not so much. How much smoke ends up embedding itself in the clay is really random, and I had pots that were packed together come out looking totally different.

 

[Tarheeler]

We brought home our new (old) wheels this evening.

The first is an English treadle wheel with a concrete flywheel.
It's going to take some getting used and finding a rhythm on it, but I think it's going to be a lot of fun.

It's probably going to be my wheel, but Mrs. Tarheeler wanted to take for a spin.

This one is an old Amaco electric with a cone-drive system. Runs well, and trottles smooth.
Should be a dream to throw on.