I have been concerned about finding a glaze that will be semi translucent, a strong bright colour, and wont drip off the piece sticking it to the kiln shelf. Metal stilts and ceramic triangles keep the pot off the shelf but are designed for earthenware, not high temperature stoneware firings. Props can only go so far -and sometimes no further as previously demonstrated by this piece:- Part of the problem is that I put the glaze on too thickly and part that it runs too much, so although I did not damage the kiln shelf there is no realistic chance of removing these props. Should the base be completely unglazed? I want to avoid that. Whilst at the Park and Pens Postfests I discussed this problem with a number of people and also thought further about the design. I was advised to try ceramic wadding - not something I had come across. Dave later showed me how to make and use it. You need equal quantities of alumina, china clay and flour, made up into a fairly stiff, almost dry dough like paste. This is formed into little balls on which to rest the piece during firing . These little balls become friable and (fairly easily) chipped or ground off. The next problems are design, getting the right glazes and glaze application. This one was spray glazed and fired with wadding. There are no 'potters tears' on this piece. Although the colour is similar the glaze recipe is different and the glaze is applied in a thinner layer - both may be a factor. It did however prove difficult to spray the glaze into the carved grooves. Even with directional spraying the glaze in some is really thin. I have not solved the glaze recipe problem. Although this one has not run, and is a nice colour others in the range were not.
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AuthorI am indulging my passion for ceramics by undertaking studies for an MA at UCLAN Archives
August 2021
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