I have been trying to get a blue/green colour in glaze, and think I am getting close. I have managed to make an oxide wash in exactly the colour I want, but cannot get the right colour in glaze. I have therefore made two line blends with oxides into a base glaze, and am hoping to find the colours I have in mind. Ideally, before Ceramic Wales.
Closed and layered forms
I have built a couple of more complex geometric forms, one closed and the other open. The first closed form was tricky, as I have not used more than one layer in any of my slab pots in practice 3 before, as far as I can recall. Most of the joins were straight forward, except for one triangular panel on the base layer that was too tall. It meant that I had to compromise fitting the second layer in place. If I had made a cardboard maquette I would have been able to identify, and fix, this before starting to touch the clay. I have tried to make these without a template to work more freely, and I think it has worked. However I had to compromise a little here with the design. I have gained an understanding of how to layer slabs though, and can move forward with this knowledge.
The second piece was easier to make, as a result of the issues with the first form. I prefer the second piece. I have resolved the previous issue and simplified the form. I did use layered slabs, as I wanted to see whether it was something I could do with porcelain. I rolled the two slabs together and made an interesting tile, the rolling distorted and elongated the triangle and trapezium shapes, but produced an interesting effect.
Rob said ' have you gone organic'?
Reworking of rounded piece- again.
I have also reworked the rounded end piece on my 'street', rather than a circle I have used three arcs, joined by flat pieces. I like the arcs, and spacers, but need to flatten one side to join onto the other pieces.
This design has only partly worked, as one arc has an overlap. I kept it rather than cutting it off. This was a mistake. I joined the two arcs on the inside and then on the outside. Then for some reason I cannot fathom I cut out rectangles on the outside piece. I wanted to remove the whole piece, but it was firmly attached to one of the other arcs. I didnt have enough clay left to teplace it with a flat piece. I will just use it as a slip and glaze test piece. However I think maybe I can used two arcs and a flat piece to 'fix' the final piece that has been a problem so far. I will now switch the two end pieces round, so that there are curves on both sides, and this will balance the design.
UPDATE - Line blend results, just what I was looking for with the blue/greens.
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