The majority of my pieces are slip cast from my own vintage molds. These molds are made of plaster and the slip is poured into each and after a length of time that involves lots of experience and intuition, the mold is opened to reveal the piece, now called green ware.
Molds can only produce so many pieces. Each time the mold is used the details wear down a tiny bit, over the time the details dull and eventually the mold is no longer usable. This makes pieces from vintage molds all the more special.
Greenware
Examples of
green ware. At this stage each piece must be "cleaned" - all the seams
and rough edges must be smoothed. Greenware is very fragile, it's just
dried mud. Now I can also alter the piece to my needs. Once
the piece is cleaned and completely dry it's fired to nearly 2000
degrees for 7.5 hours.
Bisque
The sample pieces after the greenware fire, now in bisque form. This is were the fun begins!
Glaze
Each piece has
four coats of color glaze. Each coat of glaze must dry completely
before the next is coat is applied. Glazes in their liquid state are
not the same color as when they are fired, so I must trust what I think
the glaze will be, not what I see. Many of the glazesI use are my own formula, this allows me to get the colors I like.
All flowers and leaves are made by hand as well, and must go through the
same greenware to bisque firing. They then are attached to the painted piece .
When I have completed all the painting and the piece is totally dry,
two coats of over glaze are applied. I always brush on the over glaze,
I never dip. This makes sure all the delicate flowers and leaves are in
place and covered properly. It takes longer, but I have much more
control. The over glaze actually fuses the flowers and leaves to the
piece in the final firing. This final firing is again to nearly 2000
degrees for another 7 hours.
The picture above shows the same teapot after it has been painted with
glaze with all the flowers and leaves attached, and finished piece
after the final fireing.
The Kiln
This is the
best part! After cooling for 7 to 10 hours, depending on the weather, I
get to open the kiln and take a peek! Each time I open the kiln it's
like Christmas morning because I am never real sure of what I am going
to get. This is when I find out if flowers have slipped or if the
colors are off. Glazes are tricky and sometimes they fail, and you just never know why.
After all the pieces are cooled they are logged and photographed. I then upload them to my store where you can shop and enjoy!
My Assistants
Custom orders are welcome! Just contact me with any ideas you have and let's see if we can't create something special for you!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
