[Slip Cast in Bisque Bowl]

Thanks Peter.

[Slip Cast in Bisque Bowl]

I have been doing slipcasting lately with some one-piece plaster moulds that I made.  

I would like to know if I can slip cast in a bisque ware bowl.

I just threw the bowl in the picture to try this. Am i wasting my time? If you think it will work, I will also make a foot ring mould. Thank you.

[Slip Base by Susan Feagin question]

Thanks Min.  

And thanks Calle and High Bridge

[chromium oxide and Manganese Oxide]

So I think you are wondering if these highly toxic glazes will be poisonous by touching them on the finished surface.  I don’t know if they would be harmful like this, but to ease your mind, you could coat with a matte clear glaze to insure that they would be covered without messing with your look.

[Slip Base by Susan Feagin question]

I would like to mix the slip recipe by Susan Feagin in Ceramic Recipies. 

Susan writes:”For batching: I weigh out the ingredients and make a 5000-gram dry-mix batch. When I’m ready to make colors, I measure out a 500-gram portion of the dry mix into a container, measure out dry Mason stains, and add that to the dry-mix slip base. Then I add water, mix, and sieve to make the slip smooth and perfect for brushing.” 

I am wondering, how would I mix the 5000-grams of dry ingredients thoroughly enough to use small portions, without creating airborne chemicals?

Thanks,

Karen Borg

[Kiln Rust]

Ok, it’s really good to know! One less thing to worry about. Thanks Neil

[Kiln Rust]

This black dust has started to show in these spots on the floor under my L&L E-Quad Pro. I am very concerned. The kiln is in the garage. The garage is partially underground as we live on a hill. It does not seem like an excessively damp space. Is this rust? What else could it be? What can I do?

 The kiln is about 5 years young.

Thanks for any insight!

Karen B.

[Important Ceramic Artists Who Should Be Known]

Toshiko Takaezu. 1922-2011 She was awarded Living Treasure Award in 1987 in Hawaii. Known for her closed forms. She was my first influence when I started learning in 1982. 

Michael Zakin. 1913-2005 She was one o the first women to build and fire a salt kiln, and her work with carbonized clay is in major collections internationally. (I have one). She was close to Karen Karnes and was an incredible teacher who established The Old Church Cultural Center in Demarest, NJ. That is where I first encountered her in 1989, She created a different world in her classroom, where the world was good and creations were nurtured.