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LeeU

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Posts posted by LeeU

  1. Quick question---for single fire, cone 5-6, standard white clay body---if I used Manganese Wash "as is" all over on this piece, would it accentuate the texture/outlines, like for the pig, or should it be applied over-- or under--a clear or ivory glaze OR would I be better off not using it and doing something else???? I haven't used the managese before but am willing to take a calculated risk.  Thanks-the piece has to go into my next kiln load regardless. 

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  2. I have a fully functioning home studio and would like to "pass on" a lot of it now! But: (1) I'm emotionally obstructed-just can't do the sorting/labeling/organizing/marketing , even calling on helpers is just too much right now, and; (2) I have too much $ invested to just give it away (plus need some money soon for a pending family situation). So--maybe I'll get lucky and pass on before I fret too much over the current state of affairs LOL.

    If that should be the case, I have dumped it, in my Will, in a friend's lap. He's instructed to either give it all to the NH Potter's Guild (they'd have to take everything, no cherry picking--if they want my L&L 23EZ & nice Brent wheel,  the tools, etc. they gotta take all the containers of dried clay trimmings & dried  glazes too) or he may sell everything  and keep the proceeds.  NH colleges/university have suffered the same down-turn for ceramics departments and even just scattered courses as other states have, so donating to a school is a non-starter. 

  3. I didn't have my own tools, other than the barest of the absolute basics, when I was getting into ceramics. I was on welfare, a Pell grant for art school, raising a child by myself, and, well duh, never had any money. My favorite tools were a few gismos I made from  1/2 to an inch & a half-thick live branches from some southern tree-like magnolia or crepe myrtle. I was into texture & sculptural curves (still am) so I crafted them to multi-task & to make interesting surfaces. They served like a potter's thumb, a throwing stick, and other variations  recognizable standard tools. Stopped claywork to go earn a living & packed them away in a lovely special box. But I lost them all in the shuffle, when I moved from VA to NH.  Now I've got just about every tool one could ever want, tho no high-end metals or master-favored designs, and no Griffin grip, which I guess isn't really a tool anyway LOL . My favorites these days are still those unintended for ceramics--the turkey quill, the drawer knobs, the pastry cutter, the dental tools, chop sticks, etc. etc. And, yeah, the fingers!

  4. On 2/18/2024 at 10:49 PM, oldlady said:

    smooth a few more of those sharp corners so they do not look as though they broke by accident.

    You are right oldlady-some did just crack off and I deliberatly left them as such (my "honoring the survivor" stylistic aesthetic, my artwork as related to trauma).  I do smooth all edges, then I  close my eyes and feel the piece all over to be sure nothing is sharp.  Upon reflection, I guess the pieces would look better if I go ahead and  made those areas more curved. I'll try it!  Thanks-- to you & also to  Bam2015

  5. In a recent QotW (2/15/24) about how often we fire our kilns, I disclosed some personal functional limitations that I'm coming to grips with, that significantly change how and what I do with clay. "The next fire is my first post-diagnosis test run--will she sink or will she swim?? The main challenge is that construction is fairly rough & funky , but I don't want the pieces to look too rough & too funky,  so I need to turn the heat up under the burner labeled "visually appealing", and pray." This is the first greenware heading into this new phase. I'll come back post-fire with the results. My tag line is (still) "Sculpturally Functional Ceramics ".  Most of the work is draped bowls/catchalls/small trays and tea light bases.

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  6. My last fire was last August and when I read the QotW I thought I'd best skip this one. Well, I feel much better after reading Pres' comment about not firing since last September!  I keep a log.  Began in 2014 , when was doing 6, then 4,  then 3; since 2020, averaging 2.   Always low production w/ hardly any pressing deadlines, a too-big kiln, and self-permission to just go w/the flow of Lee-Life.  I should have a kiln load ready by March. I've had to adapt  "everything" involved w/the process to minor cognitive impairment (MCI), a result of minor TBI (traumatic brain injury). It is not--or so they say--progressive.  So, theoretically, once I get the hang of what I really can & can't do, I should be good to go w/no surprises. My motivation & level of acceptance took a near fatal hit, but I'm beginning to enjoy exploring a new style. The next fire is my first post-diagnosis test run--will she sink or will she swim?? The main challenge is that construction is fairly rough & funky , but I don't want the pieces to look too rough & too funky,  so I need to turn the heat up under the burner labeled "visually appealing", and pray.

  7. I'm trying out a new ^6 white w/grog and am in the process of rehydrating 50 lbs, in batches. It was already hardened by the time I got it. It had taken 2 months for the company to get it to me in the first place, so I was already ticked when it came "half baked", so to speak.  SInce they had refunded my payment I decided to just "let it go" and didn't bother to ask for a fresh replacement. I'll be using it to fill my kiln for an early spring fire. I got some new glazes I'm eager to try, so this will keep me busy for the next 2 months. 

  8. When I returned to clay work after a lengthy career detour, I had a blast trying out a wide variety of commercial ^6-^10 bodies. I loved exploring the grays, browns, black, tan, whites, iron, grog, etc. (never reds-no can do-the staining makes me cringe). I lost access to wood firing when J. Baymore's anagama kiln went dark due to the closure of the Sharon Art Center  & the pandemic, which kept me from using the NH Potters Guild kiln--so my woodfiring days are gone. For woodfiring ^10 I loved Troy's T437 porcelain-the way it shows flame color (pic). For ^6  loved  Sheffield's T-3 Stoneware-a light buff, fine grog.  My favorite at the moment is IMC's Dragon Fruit, a speckled light gray that looks a bit like granite (pic).

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  9. I have a hard time imagining that best sellers could be ranked based on (implied? perceived? known?) preference for certain surface decoration and/or colors.  So many choices, so many makers, so many buyers, so many locations!! I'm now very interested to see what sellers here have to say! Also whether there is any insight as to whether location, time of year, sub-populations in the region, comments from buyers, other variables, etc. seems to influence what sells best. 

  10. On 1/10/2024 at 10:13 PM, Katie S said:

    I cannot for the life of me figure out how to upload pictures on here

    In the light blue field below the text comments field, see the paperclip bottom left--- you can  click  on the hyperlink for "choose files" to upload from your own files.  If the size exceeds capacity, it will tell you & then just reduce it in any editing program.  I use Paint (on a PC w/Windows)  & set my pics at 600 pixels for the max  measurement or reduce by a percentage.

  11. Much of all of the above from all of the posts, tailored to home studio/low production.  While not a "tool" per se, my most crucial non-pottery-intended item is my  UpCart that "climbs" up and down stairs-a dolly-the econo model can handle over 100 lbs...had it for years and it is essential for getting things in/out of my house & studio. I can barely lift 50 lbs of clay anymore-and even 25 is hard on a bad day, so this thing is a real blessing. 

  12. For inventory, I use a spreadsheet. I head the columns to tell me what I want to know  and use separate worksheets for each broad category (ex. Bowls and Trays)   I use alpha codes for types of ware (ex. BW = bowl, TR=tray) and then a number (BW13; TR11). I take a pic of the piece & insert a tiny thumbnail in the sheet row for that piece. I write the code (Item No.) on masking tape & put that on the bottom of the piece.  I make columns for the other things I want to know, like glaze/clay body info, size, type of fire, price, physical location (in storage/box4,  or at Lisa's Boutique, etc. , whether it's on my webpage,  plus status: sold-NFS- gifted, whatever I want to keep track of. Always have a col. for Notes (like TR11 is in storage, but needs refire)

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