[QotW: Whether hand building or throwing, assembling or decorating, do you stand or sit?]

I don't throw.

I stand for 99% of the time, moving around from this bench to that, finding a tool, stamping my feet to warm them in the winter.  Moving in or out of the shade in summer.  

I sometimes sit when glazing, but not in my studio, only at the centre. 

I did sit last summer, but only because I put a low table under a gazebo to create shade when it was really bright.

[QotW: When looking for Ceramics related reading material, do you look for technique\, guided process, aesthetic, or historic related reading?]

In my early days, I read whatever I could get from the local library, or was available in the pottery room at the local community centre.

 

Now, I'm more choosy, but most of my reading is this forum, and the rabbit holes (links) provided by everyone here.

[QotW: To wedge or not to wedge?]

I only slab build:

 If new/previously recycled clay is cold (8 months a year)  I cut and drop on the concrete paving greenhouse floor to warm/wake it up.

I do wedge recycled slurry as it comes off the plaster drying blocks.  But only just, and small amounts.

 

I do make new students wedge clay, straight out of the bag/recycled.  It's good practice, as otherwise they are not aware of the feel of clay. 

[QotW: Earthenware or mid range Stoneware, What is your preference and why?]

Wow @Pres, you posted this question 21 hours ago and no-one has yet replied......

For me, the answer has to be "both".

I like ^6, but my little kiln doesn't.  The one at the community centre likes ^6, but no-one else does, or needs ^6.  

So, for some purposes, ^04 is fine, the glazes are more plentiful (UK), they come in every colour including special effects.  They suit the users at the community centre, and make my life as the advisor and firing tech much easier.

 

But for mugs, outdoor pots, bonsai pots, casserole dishes, I still want ^6.  Or higher and wood fired.

[QotW:Electric or gas reduction firing at any cone you choose, which is more work overall and at what stage of the pot making is it more work than the other? Also, is firing one way more enjoyable than the other?]

Can't comment much, except that when my Pottery Association offers a wood firing weekend, I sign up without hesitation.

[QotW: Do you protect your kiln floor with a kiln shelf to start your shelf build, and if so do you use a full or pair of 1/2 shelves?]

Whole shelf on small posts.  1/2" or 1" - don't remember.  I only have whole shelves - 13" diameter.

[What’s on your workbench?]

And here are the finished vases, not on the workbench, but on the hearth.

[QotW: Now that Spring is on the way what will be your first task in the studio?]

I made some pots a week or so ago and now they're dry.  So today's task was to load and fire the kiln.

Before that could happen, of course, I had to make space to roll the kiln out from under the greenhouse staging, and into the middle of the floor.  So I also had to move stuff away from the kiln, and from on top of the kiln.  Also had to lift and store the anti-fatigue mats that keep my feet warm.  Then had to sweep the floor. Silver birch seeds get everywhere!

[QotW:What studio habits do you have that others have warned against?]

Sticking dry clay "chips" back on

Eating/drinking in the studio

Finessing after I've removed my apron

 

[Different colour inner/outer bisque fired pot]

What @Hulk said!

Front/thicker pot is probably underfired.  

[What’s on your workbench?]

This week's effort: 

Somewhere in there is a matching set of 4, to replace the set that are too friendly with gravity!

[Clay Slabs Crack When Bent]

3 hours ago, Hulk said:

Aye, have also pulled the block from the bag, sliced like bread, water spray each slice, wedge......

I do this too. 

If not in a hurry, spray, stack and wrap in a damp towel, then in plastic.Wait 24 hours.

If in a hurry, I slam wedge - stack, drop onto floor, squat, pick up, cut in half (like a sandwich), stack, drop, squat.............  Do that 20 times and it really evens out the moisture.  If you drop onto a piece of plastic, you can grab the side edge of the plastic and roll the clay into the other hand.

[Pieces warping/getting stuck to bats]

On 2/28/2021 at 4:36 PM, Miriam Ash said:

I love the idea of a tapered tool but Bill Van Gilder's is sold out. Can you give me some examples of plastic containers you use?

Cut off top of a plastic bottle.

Cut the bottom off a funnel.

Yoghurt pot.

Flower pot.

Blah blah blah

[QotW:What studio habits do you have that others have warned against?]

What is coffee?  Fruit tea here.

[Adding broken ceramics to fresh clay?]

23 hours ago, Min said:

Glazes can change appearance significantly if fired to a higher or lower temperature than originally so there is that aspect to it too.

This would worry me.

 

Also, mixing clay and glazes is a recipe for disaster.  My best suggestion would be to mix and match old and new as mosaic, not firing them together.

 

[dipping glaze application weirdness]

On 1/30/2021 at 2:02 AM, Callie Beller Diesel said:

Sue Macleod explains deflocculation

A quick google found this:

https://suemcleodceramics.com/how-to-make-a-saturated-epsom-salt-solution-to-flocculate-your-glazes/

 

[Pugged Clay Becomes Short]

On 1/2/2021 at 5:52 AM, Sbsoso said:

using the exact same process, and this problem is brand new.

They are using the same clay body they've always used.

Go back to the supplier.  If processes haven't changed, must be source materials.

[QoTW: following last weeks question of the week; would you give up any of the technology you use in ceramics now and go back to a simpler not as technology advanced method?]

On 12/7/2020 at 5:19 PM, Min said:

woodfired one, if it came with people to help chop wood

me too

[QoTW: following last weeks question of the week; would you give up any of the technology you use in ceramics now and go back to a simpler not as technology advanced method?]

No. 

What tech do I actually have?  Kiln controller, slab roller, stick blender, lights.

[What’s on your workbench?]

On 12/3/2020 at 2:33 AM, Mark C. said:

covid is on the rise now even here behind the redwood curtain.

Seems like it's rising everywhere.  We've just had another 4 weeks lockdown.  Now my county is on tier 2, but looking at another local lockdown as my nearest town has rising cases.

Too cold for pottery, concentrating on spinning and knitting.

[QotW: Do you draw a line in the sand about technology when it comes to your studio or anything Ceramic?]

If technology can provide me with a tool, such that I can produce something,  with less stress and pain caused to my body, I'm all for it.

It's a bit like the photography argument.  Digital cameras and photoshop doesn't make you a good photographer, it makes you good at producing a finished picture.  A good photographer can produce a good photograph on scene, and doesn't need to spend another hour sitting at a computer removing/enhancing.

To me, a potter is someone who makes pots.  How they are made, how quickly they are made, doesn't really matter.  So long as they "stand-up" to the role.  A mug has to feel good, keep liquid inside, not burn the hand that holds it.  A sculpture must look good, not fall over/explode/disintegrate.

Going back to 3D printing.  I know nothing about it, but, is it faster?  I see it can make shapes that the hands would struggle with - as pictures above.  But, can it make a dinnerware set faster than a wheel-thrower can, or a factory producing slip-cast/jigger-jolley ware?  I don't think so, not yet, therefore it is not a replacement for traditional pottery, but who knows what the future holds.

[Bisque firing ,bungs in and out when.]

The big kiln at the centre only has one bung.  As it fires over the weekend ( I set it up on Wednesdays - at least I did, until covid), I'm not there to play with bungs.

Same with my own little kiln, side bung is in, top bung is out.  As it goes on overnight with Economy 7 cheap rate electricity the bungs stay put.  Can't be messing.

[What’s on your workbench?]

17 hours ago, Callie Beller Diesel said:

It's snowing here now.

Snow?  Yeah, heard of that, think I saw some in the sky, was it this decade or last?

[QotW: What is the silliest thing you have done or seen done dealing with Ceramics?]

23 minutes ago, Benzine said:

 

I've actually thought about doing that in my classroom with students. 

 

DO IT!

[QotW: What is the silliest thing you have done or seen done dealing with Ceramics?]

29 minutes ago, saltedfire said:

No thanks.  It's boarder line embarrassing to me.  It's bad enough that I talked about it.

but it's fascinating for the rest of us.  No need for embarrassment, we've all got our idiosyncrasies.