Tuesday Featured Artist - Throwing on the Hump -by Euan Craig

Euan The Potter, Euan Craig
A blog post is rare from this potter in Japan, at least that have been sent to my blog list.

This one is great.  Not only a nice lesson in tools, but a bonus of a YouTube showing how to throw rice bowls on the hump, using the "tombo" tool which he describes, and tells you how to make it.
Thanks Euan!

The Video HERE.

The entire interesting BLOG POST HERE

The last sentence of his long and wonderful blog is:
"What makes a great pot is a potter working in collaboration with the forces of nature, sloughing off the detritus of convention and addressing the issue of what it is to be human, a part of nature, expressing ones self through clay. "      

I may be a "hobby potter" in that I don't make production pots, nor do I make my living as a potter.  My health precludes such, as well as my age.  I asked Euan for permission to post his very informative blog...and am still waiting.  I guess he's busy making pots.

and more practice

I forgot why I started talking about practice.
I made 21 tiny pots off the hump...well several humps actually.
And what I finally was able to do (almost) is cut the pot off the hump with a smooth even bottom.

When I started, it was lopsided, and needed a lot of trimming.  What!  As much work as making a full size vase, center and trim each little darling.  And you can't sell anything less than 2 inches high for anywhere more than $10.

Then I found even those with skinny necks were hard to trim, unless I threw a chuck that it would stand inside.  So I figured out a short cut...using the rasp that leaves a bit of texture, but is quick enough to take that extra clay off the bottom sides.

Glaze to left is a combo with first being dipped in Floating Blue, then in Raspberry.  The one to the right starts with Floating Blue, then Clear to get a mottled blue effect.  Green in front is Matt Bronze Green on the right, and Glossy Green on the left.  All of these tiny pots were with Little Loafer's clay.

Another favorite glaze combo...these three greenish vases were first dipped in Glossy Green, then into Satin White.  Love the runny mottled mix that comes out!