Kiln and test-tiles
So I work at a group studio. I like working at group studios, because I like seeing people. The down side is that I have to compete with people for the kiln due to the way the studio has set up the kiln. :/ So I managed to wriggle into someone else’s kiln last minute and he loaded it. Unfortunately there was a miss communication (my fault) and he loaded all my test-tiles.
Now I know this doesn’t sound too bad, but I’m trying to run tests of all the glazes over all the glazes. There are 20 of them and not a lot of test tiles that show what happens when you put one over the other. So I told him my test-tiles have priority. So he loaded all the test tiles, including 13 that were just one single glaze. Ergh. Toss and move on.
I also got some nice results on some cups and bowls. Some not so nice results on mugs, I was trying to do too much. Ergh. So back to work.
I’ll post some pictures of the results later. 
What I want…
I was watching Food Channel Challenge- Haunted Gingerbread. Then I watched Ace of Cakes. And I realized, as corny as it sounds to me, I just want to be the best at what I do.
I think its going to take some time. Also, since I do art, its not going to be something like running where there is one way to tell if you’re the best (getting over the finish line the fastest.) I would be one of several. And I guess best would be more defined by that sense of “you did what?! How?” I’ve gotten on my sculptures. Just the feeling that I am not only good at what I do, I’m doing something that no one (or very few) else is.
Self examination is always good for tearing down those strong, noble, and somewhat arrogant feelings.
Still. I want to be that good.
Towards this end I’m going to work my ass off. I’m going to experiment. I’m going to make mistakes and keep trying. And, I think, I’m going to get a MFA.
Catalogue
So I’m a member of the highly acclaimed Etsy Mud Team. On of the founding members, actually. :p A little silly but the mudders are a fun bunch and I do enjoy talking to them.
Anyhow, on their web-page they actually set up a catalogue of all the team members items! Makes searching for gifts so much easier.
We’re also in the process of doing our annual mug exchange. It’s in its second year. You can go to the blog to check out all the muggy awesomeness.
Glazing
I spent yesterday glazing. It can be a bit of a pain in the butt if you’re in a rush, but I generally enjoy myself. It’s a very peaceful process.
You sit down for a while with your test-tiles, and you see what you like. You take your favored glaze combinations and set up to use them, plan how you want them to lay on your object, and just start dipping or painting or pouring… whatever it takes to get done.
Then you get to fire and have fun opening a kiln. There’s just something radically special about opening a kiln full of work and seeing how everything came out! It makes me all giggly.
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In other news, if you’re in the Portland area and you need a talented potter and/or professional receptionist/ admin assistant, I’m looking for a job! Part time so I can keep working on this crazy art stuff. Not to mention I have found that I work better with some sort of structure in my life. It’s also nice to be able to help people, and get a job well done that isn’t necessarily drawing on my ceramic skills.
Ok. I’m back.
I just moved to Portland Oregon. Well, Beaverton, which is on the other side of the mountain, but I’ve got a very short light rail train ride to get into Portland. Also, my new studio — http://www.radiusstudio.com/ — is in Portland.
The new studio is a bit interesting. I never see the owners. I’m there alone half the time because they have give the members a studio key right off. The kiln pricing is either an awesome deal or outragiously expensive, depending on how you fire. You can hire out the kiln for $40, or you can fire piece-meal at 2¢ per square inch, but with a minimum of 50¢ a piece. Therefore your piece has to be 9×9x9 inches to get the 2¢ price. Of course, they don’t ask you to measure your own pieces either.
Most people just fire their own kiln loads.
The heater works, but its kept at 65˚ F at most, so its still cold. At least its not freezing like it was in my old studio, where I’d be wearing 3 layers to work.
They don’t have extensive test-tiles though, so I’m having to do that myself. :/ I mean, the test-tiles that are available are very random and not very good. So… yeay. They don’t have an extruder so I’m throwing cups, since I like to see what the glaze is going to do on the interior of a piece.
ANd that’s what’s going on with me now. I’ve been kinda’ treading water artistically since I got here, because I have no clue what the available glazes will do. *sighs* I need to make up some of my old favorite glazes for the studio, but since they already have several blues and greens, I want to make sure I’m not going to be doubling up on anything.
Oh, and faux shino looks like a warm toasty wood fired piece from the back of the kiln that someone blew gobs of snot over. XP Ew.
