Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Finished Pieces : Enormous Dragon Pot from this Summer

I've posted my Tony Clennell inspired pieces and the leaf (and snake and roses) plates...  I still need to post the remainder of my pieces from the summer, except the set of 7 large mugs and a few other items I still need to glaze, and ran out of time.  One which I may use for the Raku firing in early October.

But tonight I was to post the big dragon vessel which I threw back in May 2017, and have been allowing to slowly dry, and then it needed to wait while the gas kiln at Shadbolt was replaced.  It waited so patiently, but I am super happy to have it done - without any cracks - and home.  It is currently sitting on our fireplace hearth in the living room.
Enormous hand thrown ceramic three-dragon pot, pottery by Lily L.

Huge hand thrown ceramic pot adorned in dragons, pottery by Lily L.

Huge hand thrown ceramic pot adorned in dragons, pottery by Lily L.

Huge hand thrown ceramic pot adorned in dragons, pottery by Lily L.

Gigantic hand thrown ceramic dragon pot, pottery by Lily L.
I was nervous about glazing it, but I think the glazing worked out perfectly.  I sprayed a bit of Ash Yellow on the dragons.  So when I covered the whole piece in Tam's Green (one of my new favourite glazes, for sure), I was hoping it would "break" on the dragon spines and details, to reveal some yellow.  I think it shows through a bit.  The eyes are Red and Black underglazes, coated in Clear glaze.  They turned out perfectly.  Beyond my expectations.

Here are the three dragon faces.  I tried to make each one unique.  Which one is your favourite?
Dragon faces from gigantic hand thrown ceramic pot, pottery by Lily L.
Before our instructor, Jay, demonstrated throwing a similarly size pot (also in 2 pieces), I had never even seen such a large pot being thrown.  I could have never imagined that I would throw such a piece, and then finish it so perfectly.  I don't know how I'll match this feat.  But I'm sure some day I will match and surpass it.  That's what's so wonderful about pottery.  There's always more to learn and try.  And I have a big backlog of ideas in my head, waiting for the opportunity and skill to make them a reality.

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