PEEK AT MY PROCESS
PEEK AT MY PROCESS
From the pottery wheel to finished product
The Creative Process
One of the things I love about pottery is that it can be used every day. It is so functional, yet it brings beauty into the everyday. The earrings you put on in the morning, the cup you hold with steaming coffee that starts your day, the cheeseboard that is gathered around by friends; it allows art to becomes a part of your daily life. I think about all of this as I design and create each piece.
Getting Started
From Sketch to Wheel
To begin I like to start with a sketch and usually add watercolor to help bring the design to life. I have loved working with watercolor recently; the way it flows and moves is magical.
Once I have the design in place, I start by taking a lump of clay and I form it by throwing it on the pottery wheel. Some of my pieces are hand built (like my trays, cheese boards, and jewelry) using a slab roller.
After I make my pieces, I let them dry. I then turn them upside down on the wheel and trim them. This gives each piece a nice clean base to decorate.
Design
Next, I sketch out the design in pencil on the clay and then paint it using an underglaze. The whole piece gets painted, even the bottom. Here is a picture of the designs being painted with the underglaze . Isn't my little helper just the sweetest?
Firing
Next, I fire each piece in a kiln. This is called a bisque fire. The kiln will get to about 2000 degrees. After this initial fire it's time to glaze each piece to give it a nice finish. The glaze is what makes them food safe and ready to be used and enjoyed.
Second Firing
And finally, the piece gets fired one more time. This is called the glaze fire and will again reach about 2000 degrees. I typically start firings at the beginning of the day and the kiln cools all night while I’m sleeping. In the morning the kiln is ready to open… I love this part! (It’s like opening a gift on Christmas morning!)
The Finishing Touches
From Kiln to Shop
If the piece is getting a gold luster accent, I add it at this point and then fire it one more time. Finally, after all this hard work these little treasures are ready to go from my hand to yours, ready to be treasured and used by you.
