01 June 2011

Bird Barrage...the Second Coming

3 Lonely Lids
I had a slip problem on the bases of these three lids but I plan to ask a wood turner friend to make new ones....might be even cooler than clay? They only stand about 4 " high.
This firing was the 'cleanest' to date...fewest seconds ever and the fewest needing refiring. If it will help I stick them in the electric kiln at LibertyTown and give them a bit more heat. 

"PETE"  Tea Jar  8.5"x4"x4"  
My last posting was mostly small tea jar sized pots. The rest of these get bigger and more elaborate. 
"EDGAR"  Lidded Jar  11"x7"x5"
"OMAR"  Tea Jar  15"x4.5"x4.5"  
Most of the birds get the crackle slip/ ash glaze treatment but these nutty rich brown ones are all kaolin and cobalt slips. They are a pain to photograph.
"GRAHAM"  Tea Jar  11"x5"x4.5"
These next two are so fat and I know that I'll be making more. They completely crack me up! I have to play the Russian stacking dolls trick (matryoshka)...a bird inside of a bird inside of a bird...having done a bird on top of a bird on top of a bird, why wouldn't I?
"IVAN"  Lidded Jar  8.5"x5.5"x5.5"
"HORTON/HILLARY"  Lidded Jar  12"x8"x5.5"

I made "GILBERT"at the same time as "IVAN", thinking of Laurel and Hardy. 
"GILBERT"  Lidded Jar  15"x6"x4.5"
This bowl and the double headed vase I think of as 'trophy' pots. They're pretty outrageous for a boy who has spent his days making mugs and jugs. I'll figure out a lid for these bowls next time.
"BORIS"  Pedestal Bowl  9"x16"x10"
I made one of these double headed pots for my last firing and expanded on that idea this time. I made 6 of different sizes and and shapes and surfaces. When I made these two I was afraid that they might not be big enough. Now that they're fired I like them a lot. The others are bigger and quite grand. I sent one off to a show in Texas already. Houston, that is. 18 Hands Gallery. More on that another day.
"YUL/YVETTE"  Vase  10"x17"x8"
"ZAZU/ZORA"  Vase  8.5"x17"x9"

These two candlesticks are the only ones I made...another avenue to explore!
"FOSTER"  Candlestick  10"x7"x7"

"ELOISE"  Candlestick  13"x7"x7"
I'm not sure what to say about this 'bowling ball' except that it is probably my favorite piece from the firing...I think that the form is just right and the glazes are all softened by the salt. Plus he's got a great expression. I'm getting better at that. The early ones were a little static.
"UMBERTO"  Sculpture  24"x10"x9"
This last piece will never make it into my humble photo studio. It's just too big. 4 different slips, all attempts at a blue green, turned out to be shades of blue. Tallest thing I ever made!
Top Dog  Bird
4 Bird Totem  40"high

10 comments:

John Bauman said...

Wonderful! I can't believe how quickly you've learned what these are.

Cindy Powers said...

Congrats on a great firing. What fantastic birds. I especially love the candlesticks.

Mr. Young said...

Love those "trophy" bowls Dan! Great stuff!

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

Birdalicious! Great idea to pair those lovely lids with wood-turned bases. Beautiful pieces.

Anna M. Branner said...

REALLY loving these birds. FANTASTIC.

cookingwithgas said...

Oh, that Graham.
I think he has some one liners that would work good at a bar.
In fact I think we have met in a past life...

Hannah said...

Really amazing, that stack of birdies is magic.

Unknown said...

You are in the "zone" that's for sure! Love the names and personalities; I only wish I could see them in person.

Frank said...

Honored to be the “Woodturner friend” Can't wait to bring in what I worked on this past weekend....

Quietly Otaku said...

I love the candlesticks, I'd imagine they'd look awesome with a little wax dripping down them!