a long overdue post . . .

i've had a major breakthrough in my technique.  getting the centering mastered has made it possible to get a better handle on trimming and footing, pulling, and other related tasks.  my handles are looking way better also.  also, i have found that chattering is occurring accidently but is a very pretty yet delicate embellishment and i have been keeping that as part of the finished pot.  i wish i could figure out how to do that intentionally.  having reduced the amount of water i use tremendously, i have also found the clay to be more friendly.  i was relieved when the studio mgr was demo'g something on a mug i was throwing and had issues w/the clay body's not being easy to keep wet enough to work with.  he resorted to pulling with a sponge.  so, these next items are what i've been doing during this time of epiphany.  click on the thumbnail to see the larger image.

this is a bowl i threw and footed.  the footing is very pretty, it think.  i need to manage the inside better.  i have the slight ridge towards the bottom on the inside of the bowl that i can't get rid of.  simon leach is always saying that's the mark of a new potter.  there's also a bit of chattering going on around the base.  it's somewhat visible in the larger image.

 

one of my new mugs.  the mugs evidence a lot of improvement.  i'm very pleased with them. 

   

   



here's a teapot i made.  i was trying to completely enclose the top so i ended up with a bottle/jar form instead.  i plan to make teapots out of these bottles whenever one happens.




I was playing with faceting here.  i plan to go back to it.  i have a slew of mugs i need to make first.  btw, on the mugs, they are starting out a bit larger but the shrinkage rate is phenomenal.

 

a dish i did.  i'm gonna hold off on making many more dishes.  i need to work the kinks out of bowls and straight cylinders.




the bowls i used for my 2d and 3rd attempts at making a square footed bowl.  i threw them with no base.  the second one will make a nice planter.



now the actual square-footed bowls (these are prototypes and thus need work):




a small hollow-rimmed bowl/teabowl:



i'm enjoying playing with hollow rims.  i have more tea cups for which i haven't taken pics.  i'll try to get some today.

the square footing is actually inspired by keith phillips squre mug.



regards