When leaves fall as well as the temperature, it is time for me to call an end to my throwing season. Because my back porch is not enclosed, I throw things during the warmer months. The warmer months tend to be May through October around here. But much work remains despite putting my pottery wheel … More The End of A Season
The snow has melted. Temperatures on the rise. Dusted off my tool box. Unearthed my clay. Started some slab work. From a ball of clay to a slab of clay then onto the hump mold. Bowls made from a slab of clay air drying. Resting.
Life is close to normal around here. Flowers and trees starting to bloom. And I am back behind my wheel throwing things. I pushed “Publish” before I was done and since then I forgot what else I was going to say! So, with that I’ll bid you adieu. Until next time, stay well. … More Close to Normal
Finally, after a very wet, gray and dreary spring, an abundance of sunshine this week! *** I took advantage of the natural sunlight streaming through a basement window to shoot some new pottery pieces I made with new clay and glazes. I am pleased to say all of all of these pieces are pit free … More Wordless Wednesday: Straight Out of the Camera
After much thought, reading, note-taking and collaboration with fellow potters, I think I have discovered the reason why I have had pin holes. #1: The glazes were too thick. So early spring, I adjusted my glazes. The result was perfect on two of the three clay bodies. #2: It is a particular clay-body. After talking … More News! Not Breaking but News . . .
It was a crisp November day. I loaded the kiln for the last time of the 2017 throwing season. Flipped the switch on the kiln expecting the glaze firing to take 10 to 12 hours. When 10 hours passed, I suspected something was wrong. The results of the longest glaze firing ever . . . … More 22 Hours Later
Yes, there are time differences between countries, states and cities, but I’ve noticed time differences affect photography. The outside light changes through the day. You may not notice the vast difference in light as the day proceeds, but through a camera lens that light difference is magnified! Pictured below is one of my newest stoneware … More Time Differences
New glaze combos. Trusty favorites with a new twist. Unearthed and revived old glazes that I haven’t used in years. So, that is what the glaze is going on around here!
I am happily throwing things . . . on my pottery wheel! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Back Porch Studio (@pauline_backporchstudio) This throwing season, I am focusing on mugs and pet dishes. Not only are they fun to make, they are my best sellers.
I made another box but with feet! When I made the first one, I intened it to be a planter but it didn’t have drainage hole or feet to ensure airflow and drainage. Happy feet! Happy Friday!
Having a slab roller really simplifies things and conserves my energy verses a rolling pin! I was thinking about making this a succulent planter! However, I may need to rethink its design. A planter needs a pot with a drainage hole or feet to ensure better airflow. This box doesn’t have either one. So, what … More Taking A Stab At Slabs
After a lot of hard work dealing with unusual grog particles in my clay over the summer, I am happy to report not all was a loss! Tickled with the glaze results in these two turquoise & brown mugs! Just listed in my shop, back porch studio, on Etsy!
Glazing is not my favorite part of the pottery process but when my pieces come out of the kiln, glazing is well worth the effort! Most of my pieces have two different glazes applied giving the pottery one color on the inside and another color on the outside. This process involves a combination of pouring … More A Little Bit About Glazing
Though the calendar says it is autumn, Mother Nature says otherwise! I am thrilled by the warm dry autumn days because I can continue to throw pots on my back porch! Most recently, I have been working on plates. I have been using a certain mid-fire cone 6 clay for over 10 years and … More Summer Not Yet Over!
As the temperature cools, my throwing season is coming to an end. But, that doesn’t mean I’m done with pottery! I have more work to do 🙂 Follow me on Instagram for some behind-the-scenes shots!
I have been putting off making mugs because I have struggled so with making handles. It has been FIVE years since I made a mug. Well, I wanted to start making them again but wanted to learn whether or not there was a tool available for making handles verses pulling them by hand from a … More There’s A Tool For That!
Glazed Bottoms or Bare Naked Bottoms? These are my newest pieces: free formed shaped bowls made from a slab of clay slumped over a plaster mold. They are becoming my favorite to make; however, when it comes to glazing I cannot decide whether to glaze the bottoms or leave them bare and naked. Which do … More Bottoms. Glazed or Bare?
I am getting ready for my 2nd glaze firing. I am trying to be more meticulous about the glazing process and spread it out over a few days rather than do it ALL in one day. When I try to do ALL in one day, I grow tired and very impatient which is not a … More Glazing Day
When given lemons . . . . . .make lemonade! Save
This year’s throwing season seems to be going well! Very minimal mistakes plus,thanks to learning about an alternative way to take large pots off the bat, I have been able to throw larger pieces: plates, serving bowls, platters and pet bowls! To date, I have thrown over 35 pieces since Memorial Day! 😀 Unfortunately, I’m … More Oh Grog!
One reoccurring problem I have had was making large pet dishes (7+ inches or larger in diameter). In almost every single instance, I would ruin the pet dish when taking it off the bat. I had some extra time over the winter to research alternative ways of taking large pots off of the bat. I … More Try, try, try again
Well, this is a first! Apparently one of our cats took refuge in my drying box . . .on a bowl! LOL
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