In the shop

After two years of teaching sculpture online, it's nice to have students back in the shop!

 

Beach Life

This little thing was my practice image for figuring out how underglazes work, so I could have a clue about it in order to help my students with their ceramic pieces. I just learned that real glazes look nothing like the color they will be in the end, and the beauty of underglazes is that they look like they will after they are fired. This photo was taken just before the second firing, which will set these colors. Before firing,  it could all be washed off clean. We will get another chance after this firing to adjust the color one more time, and also apply a clear glaze which will give it a shiny surface in the end, after the final firing. Ceramics is as close alchemy as any art form I've ever studied.

     This image comes from my time in San Diego, under a pier on one of the magnificent beaches. I'll try to tidy up the lines before the next firing.