THE LOST VASE

I've been working with a low-fire clay (doesn't have to be fired at as high a temperature as the other clays I've been using) and I'm finding it's limitations the hard way. I tried to make a tall vase by making it in two sections. First I threw the bottom half, measured it's top with the calipers, then I threw the top half. I opened the clay all the way to the bottom since this part is made "upside down" meaning that when it was turned upside down it would be connected to the top of the first half . I painted the bottom section with colored slip. It looks like camouflage here, but will fire out green and blue. Cobalt Carbonate looks pinkish in its raw state.

the top section, as I said above, is made upside down. The edges of both pieces have been scored and slip or 'magic water' will be applied to help the parts adhere to each other.

As I worked to form the top section, the clay absorbed way too much water and started to deteriorate. I compressed it, hit it with the hair dryer, set it under a warm light and walked away for a couple hours so that I'd not be tempted to keep messing with it. When I came back it was nice and stiff. I applied the magic water to the scored edges and turned it upside town onto the lower section and started to join the seam. Slowly, as I pressed the rib against the join, I saw the bottom section begin to bulge, twist, and blob over...lost.

Back to the wedging table! The good news is we finally got some snow!!!!!!!! YEA! Here are the first foot steps in the snow going into the kiln building.

ttfn