Slip Trailing (not by me, but by some experts!)

Masterclass with Doug Fitch & Hannah McAndrew

https://vimeo.com/154575541 

Hannah McAndrew

 

This video is available through both their blog sites...as well as published in Ceramic Review.

I've enjoyed reading their blogs, when they have time to write.  It's pretty sporatic considering all they've been through personally in the last year...getting married, now expecting a child, moving.

So if you want to know more about these very personable people who follow a technique which is historical, check out their blogs HERE (A Devonshire Pottery) and Here (HannahMcAndrew).

 

Gone Fishing? (Tailgating)

The various relatives used to go tailgating before a big football or soccer game.  Do people still do that?

My kind of Tailgating is off in a grassy area under some big old oak trees, and under cute little canopies...with tables of pottery...and eatables, and other crafts...all local.

Support the local economy.  You probably already make an effort to do that. 

Yep, there's another of my new wall-pillows...and I've got 6 more thrown that are smaller and white clay.

This is a mid-way done shot of the glazing process for a plate.  Much more slip-trailing to be done...and remember the glazes will darken down with firing.  Just thought I'd tease you!

Tree Woman Plate

Finally got everything to go right.  I'm so happy about the slip trailing.

Ran into Asheville last week and bought new slip trailing pens.  Then started slowly drawing the outlines for a tree woman, centered on a plate, with many little spaces.

Then I filled in the spaces with different color glazes.  Then I waited a while.

All that slip trailing gives me a lovely cramp in my hands, squeezing with my thumb every so gently.  I added my 1X magnifying glasses over my regular glasses so I could see where I was working.

I'm so happy.

Detail of sliptrail glazing

My girls thought "what's a plate good for unless it's full?"

Plates Cat-altered (Cataltered, caltered?)

Remember a few weeks ago during the night my cat stepped across the drying plates?  (Mentioned in my blog here.)

Well, I used 2 of them to test some new glaze techniques.  Using slip trailing and glazes, and then dipping the whole piece into a glaze bucket.

Here are the results.

 My conclusion is that slip trailing is still a messy job for glaze, and it allows the 2 glazes I tried for the plates to just intrude over it onto the faces...they used to have chins.  Vertical surfaces are a real no-no for this glaze technique.

On the plus side, putting a thin coat of clear over the slip trailed and glazed portions does work, no crazing which our clear glaze often gives.  However I think it contributed to the blurring.

I really want highly defined black lines, within which I can use different colors of glaze.

If you have a recommendation, please leave a comment.  Thanks!