The course starts next week, but I bought my sculptural clay and starting throwing this week already. I got off to a slow start, taking the first hour to trim two pieces from last week. Then in the remainder of the drop-in session I threw the following 6 pieces.
I love the shape of this first one, and was amazed that it is almost exactly what I had set out to throw. I was trying for this flattened top, and may try to do some piercing work on the top. I'm seen something similar, which I liked.
This second one I liked less. It looks like it can't decide what shape it wants to be. But it does have a nice viewable surface at the top for decoration, so I think it will work out well.
I'm not sure about this third one, the shape is very unexciting to me, but I think with some decoration I can make something of it.
It looks a bit like a wasp nest, but I think this piece will be an easy one to decorate. I found that the sculptural clay was very easy to throw, but challenging to finish with an even edge on the top. I kept having the edge break on me, as I brought it in, so I was pleased and surprised to end with it fairly close to what I had set out to throw.
The first four were thrown from 1200 to 1400 g of clay. I was thinking simple cylinder when I threw this one, but with 700 g of clay, I had a bit more than I needed, so I pulled in the top, and I am SUPER happy with the shape of this one. It already looks great to me, and it's not even decorated.
So I tried again with 500 g of clay, and got the cylinder, which I want to turn into a pierced candle holder.
So this is my 6 items. Not bad for 3 hours of throwing (minus cleanup time).
So as I understand it, I'll need to trim and let these dry, and then apply terra sigillata before sending them to the bisque firing. So I have much work ahead of me, but I'm excited and already dreaming of which raku techniques I can apply. We'll be experimenting with naked raku, horsehair raku, obvara (yeast) raku and others. I can't wait.
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