It's the weekend! Though a broken night of sleep (it was a hot a sticky one, and the power went out sometime and came back on at 3am, turning on my TV...), I stayed in bed until 9am this morning and feel so much more alive for having caught up with some sleep. Today I have no plans either (other than to go for a long run this evening), so it's been great to have a lazy morning so far.
First thing on the agenda - sand the bases of my new batch of pottery (made and glazed before I went to Canada, fired while I was away). I had enough pieces i've actually used up my sanding blocks, so will have to wander and get some more paper to finish up. This was definitely a mixed batch - some I love, some did not come out so great, but it's all a learning curve. I'm a little sad though, with my teaching load this semester, I think pottery is going to have to take a back seat until after christmas. I was hoping to pull out some pieces for xmas presents, but now don't think that is going to happen. I'll talk to the instructor this week and see if he minds me sitting in now and then just to keep my skills up, he's been great letting me do that, but know this is the busiest season for him, so there may not be any spare wheels. If only there was more than 24hrs in a day....
Tomorrow i'm off on a hike, up Mt. Olympus with a friend, should be fun, as long as it's clear. Apparently you can see the whole island from up there, and one of the trailheads is just behind my house, so it's a good location. From what i've heard it is quite a hike up, so it'll be some good exercise......and we're already planning to top it off with a dip in the ocean and ice-cream. I'll definitely take photos.
So here are some photos for BSA, some of my favorite pieces from this batch!
Lined up on the deck ready for sanding..
Three grades of sandpaper to get the bottoms smooth. The clay the class uses is very sandy, it makes it easier to work with for beginners and you don't have to work so fast. I personally love porcelain, which the instructor had some left over for me to play with once. You have to work much faster with porcelain and can't take it through a million shapes before you decide which one you like (one of my favorite things to do!). I think I might make the switch though, as it's softer to work with and I haven't really got to experiment much with it as yet. That's for my next time! 
I need to improve my moniker on the bottom.....
My two favorite mugs so far - aren't they beautiful! These two are actually gifts, and are special. The brown on the bottom is made from Antarctic mud, from my coral site on the Western Antarctic Peninsula. These two mugs will go to my two colleagues Dave and Craig who invited me on their 3 Antarctic cruises, and gave me the time to collect corals just for me. 
They came out better than I imagined, and the photo really doesn't do justice to them. I love the way the turquoise dripped down there, not a look for all, but just what I wanted. 
Doesn't this bowl just scream ice-cream? It does to me. In fact it might be right now......
I've started making a few of these little goblets. Just the right size for a glass of port....:0) I love the small little beaker,just the right size to fit in the hand, probably the thinnest thing i've made, but alas, the glazing on the inside is a mess! It's all a learning curve. I can definitely see a pottery studio in my future.
7 comments:
oh my gosh! it's stunning, rhian!
These are AWESOME! The gift ones are so neat! And yes, definitely ice cream for that one (Bubbie's, perhaps?!!! Have some for me! :) Where is Mt Olympus, or is that just your name for it? If it's the real name, I def. missed it while there :\
Mt Olympus is up in the back of Manoa - you can get to it by going up the Waahila Ridge or by the trails up the back of Manoa Valley. On a good day I can actually see it from my house, so it's going to be fun to hike it! It's cloudy today though, so hoping for it to clear for tomorrow!
Wow, you are so talented with the pottery. Absolutley love the Antarctic Mud ones.... Keep up the great work. I can see an art studio opening in your future. DW
Thanks...:0) I've always known I wanted a creative space, now I know I can't buy a house without a basement or shed to put a wheel and kiln in!
What are you teaching this semester? I should be grading homework assignments right now... arg.
Oh, Rhian! I am just catching up here with your posts. Thank you, thank you for all your pottery photos. i love the antarctic ones--that you actually made them with Antarctic mud. And the glaze color reminds me of the incredible blue green that one sees when looking through many layers of ice. You definitely were the perfect way to finish the day today! I love the goblet shaped piece as well--yes, for port, but perhaps you could make a slightly larger size for wine. Of course then you enter into the problem of making a set...Oh dear, there is always so much more to learn.
Post a Comment