Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Firing results

Peeking through the peeps, I saw some nasty looking glazed oribe surfaces and some beautiful glazed oribe surfaces. The nasty surface was due to thickness and too much reduction (in those spots), I think. Anyway, most of the kiln was nice. This new glaze has a nice variation. Nice dark runs from the handles, and bleached out on the hot, salted face.

I think some of the glazed pots resemble some of fellow potter/blogger Michael Kline's surfaces. And I think that's okay. I admire him and his pots and I could never do it like he does. I think it's okay to share ideas and explore them and make them your own. That's what I'm doing each time I make, decorate, and fire pots. I just wanted to say that. Below is my artist's statement that I've had for a few years. I think it sums it up.

As a studio potter, I work diligently to make well-crafted wares for everyday people. It’s seemingly less about the “ritual of the table” and more about respecting a long tradition of craftsmen before me and discovering my own voice. As a contemporary potter, I often look to past traditions for inspiration. I’m interested in folk pottery of many origins. My native state of North Carolina, of course, offers a deep well of talented potters, both folk and contemporary, to look towards for inspiration. I want to continue the long tradition of making beautiful wares for everyday people. Simplicity in form offers a broad surface for me to embellish with lines, patterns, and drawings. Before I was introduced to the ceramics arts, I did a fair amount of illustration before and during art school. The combination of three-dimensional forms and two-dimensional drawings was a natural fusion of both my love of drawing and pottery, art and craft. It is my intention to bring together clear and abstract markings to engage the viewer to look closely at how design relates to the form of the pot.

back stack
front stack


This glaze runs! I may need to invest in a grinder.

8 comments:

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

I admire your pots so much. I can see the similarities with Michael Kline's work, but you each bring something different to the pots. Your work has a unique beauty and gracefulness. Stunning actually.

Anonymous said...

the oribe turned blue because it was over reduced 'oribe is supposed to be oxidized/neutral' maybe try a celedon or other transparent glaze

June Perry said...

Oribe usually goes turquoise when hit directly with soda in soda firings. My oribe stays bright green unless over reduced. Then it can get livery red; but so far It hasn't gone turquoise. I formulated it with more alumina and silica which gives a bright,green.
Sometimes I get just a bit of the red with the green can actually be quite pleasing.
Are you painting under or over the oribe. It looks like the brushwork is stable with the glaze.

klineola said...

Those pots looks really nice. I don't use Oribe, but maybe I should!
;-)

As far as the passing around of ideas, etc., 50% of my last kiln load was inspired by that little cup you gave me! It's not really about either one of us, these pots will be around a lot longer that we will.

Let's make more!

Kyle Carpenter said...

Thanks for the comments. Again, this glaze thing in new to me. I've been using flashing slips for seven years now.

Kline, I think we're in agreement, that it's okay to pass around ideas. That's all I was saying...that I was very comfortable with it and it seems you are too. Cheers, mate.

Now, time to grind some feet. Argh!

Hollis Engley said...

There may some over-reduced Oribe stuff in there, but overall it looks like a terrific firing. Some of those pots resemble the Rob's Green recipe I use in my gas reduction kiln when it over-reduces.

Kyle Carpenter said...

yaeh, i'm pretty sure that dark, opaque green is from too much reduction. i get uneven reduction most of the time. it's usually great because it give great variation with the tile 6 slip. In this case, not a great thing. I lost a few to this.

Anonymous said...

looks like a winner of a firing... some real beauties in there, love the closeup of the cups