12.30.2024 – #07-84,01 of the Eastern Oyster Study DRY
This is the first study of shell #07-84,01 that came straight from the drying rack this morning. The porcelain clay dries to a cool light grey. Once bisque fired to cone 05 or 1870 degrees Fahrenheit it will have a light warm cream color. Being a mid-fire clay, it will ultimately be heated to cone 6 or 2165 degrees where the unglazed or tinted porcelain will become even warmer in color. At this temperature the clay will become fully vitrified, or transformed into a solid glass like ware. The fact that it has survived the drying process is a great sign! We’ll see how it handles the two firing processes. Check back later and see how it turns out
Cheers!
Jeff.
12.29.2024 – The Boneyard
This morning I opened the ol’ Parragon 88 and found two of three pieces of work cracked during bisque fire.
The price I pay for the style of work that turns me on is frequent cracks and failures. Of course a more uniform thickness of the sculpture results in a higher success rate. Yes. I get that. The challenge then is representing a natural oyster and it’s variations of thickness and texture in porcelain in such a way it doesn’t crack during the drying process. If the piece dries completely without cracking, the odds of it surviving the bisque firing intact are pretty good. But with anything, there are no guarantees. Hence, I give you….The Boneyard.
I don’t know why we keep all of my work that missed the mark but we do and have from the beginning. Every couple of months we empty the space and relegate my sad little collection to boxes in the basement or recently to the garden in the yard. Yard Art.
The squirrels seem not to mind and the birds enjoy a good bath. I can live with that.
Jeff
12.18.2024 – Photography Day
Good morning, all.
Last Thursday I reconfigured the studio for photography and created still photos and videos for promotional purposes. The work looks great on film and I’m very pleased with the content.
The three most recent Eastern Oyster Studies fired well. Big things are happening on Wharf Rd!
Jeff
Eastern Oyster Study 01-78,08
14.5″ X 12.25″ X 6.25″
glazed stoneware
Eastern Oyster Study 06-81,03
16.25″ X 8″ X 5″
glazed domestic porcelain
Eastern Oyster Study 04-82,01
17.5″ X 13.25″ X 6″
glazed domestic porcelain
12.20.2024 – Eastern Oyster Study #07-84, 01 WET
green domestic porcelain
17″ X 14.25″ X 5.75″
built on 12.19.2024
