glazenerd Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 Thought I would post the beginnings of it now- in case the judges shoot me down. These are tiles because they are flat on the bottom side <eyeroll> So far I have the Grand Tetons, Monument National Park, and the beginnings of Needle Parkway in S.D. Was thinking of adding Devils Monument, and perhaps something else from the Rockies. Inspired by the mountain lake just 5 miles SW of Mt. Rushmore. "Mountain Lake in Winter" Glazing will be a trip. Nerd Matthew: Actually 3 times - once to bone dry (8-12%)- once in bisque (3-5%)- and once in glaze (2-3%). Porcelain and Stoneware will throw the most fits when it comes to curling and warping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I'll predict that glazenerd is also using a specially formulated clay for tiles and a ram press! These things have a very dramatic influence on how pieces fire. Also I would say that commercially made (ram pressed) tiles will be a league beyond what most studio potters could make. The pressure applied in the industrial setting increase the uniformity of the clay. For professionals I can see knowing the exact shrinkage amounts as being important. For beginners, I will stick to the advice "half the shrinkage to leather hard and half to the glaze firing". I'll get around to finding the exact numbers from a thrown piece with my clay one of these days... All of my tiles were made with just a rolling pin as per my instructional post. Unless pressure can be applied across the tile, the edges will curl a little as the tile dries to leather hard. This is why making the final cut after this stage has been reached is good advice! Scratching the backs helps mitigate crack formation in firing. The cuts only need to slice 3/4 of the way into the clay to be cleanly broken off. Avoid scarring your work surfaces! Smoothing the edges (top and bottom) helps compact the clay which will also prevent cracking. The round corners are also a good functional aesthetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Matthew: Ram press- No.. although I could. Custom clay -yes. I slab roll it, and let it set until bone dry. Does not curl, warp or crack. In your first picture, I can see where you passed the knife and pulled the clay past the side cut.( looks like a curled end.) When cutting, pull from edge to center, then from the other edge to center. This does not distort the edges of the clay on each end. Trick one: lets say you are wanting 6" tiles for the challenge. Then slab roll 12" wide minimum: and cut 2" off each side. The center is always more uniform in density than the outside edges. Then once it hits leather hard, trim off another 1/2" off each side. You still have plenty left for shrinkage. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 The watercolor Sky Blue and Black based loosely on some aspects of the Jackson Browne song Sky Blue and Black is what I am going for. The leather hard tiles. Currently 6x8" each. With iron oxide and combinations of zinc-cobalt in slips and clays. The final glazing will be done with clear/tenmoku/cobalt blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 wonderful painting! someone will have a lovely panel to admire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Awesome Matthew! Great, subtle textures, both with the slips and additive elements. The color scheme works great. It's nearly monochromatic, but then the clay adds a nice contrasting element. What are you going to do with it, once it is completed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Matthew: Must say I am envious and impressed. Painting is a skill I do not have, although I have attempted it many times. Well done! Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebekah Krieger Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRankin Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Beautiful Matthew! Can't wait to see the finished product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgpots Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I just finished carving the relief of the mountains. The tree branch has Barnard"s slip. I need to do sgraffito work on the tree branch. I have one more day of work before I let them dry, then bisque firing. Jed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Bisque fired. A brief moment of clarity as the cobalt comes to life. Different thicknesses of glossy blue/clear in the top and tenmoku on the lower section. A top coat of clear is added to even things out and also change the tenmoku to a lighter color. Funny how being finished is basically back to being a blank slate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Maybe I will have it grouted and hung before the challenge is over. Each tile is about 7.5" by 5.5". The bottom center tile cracked-- rather nicely and in a way that works very well with the piece. I would move the horizon line between sky and water up a little if I did this piece again. The transition at the tile edge lacks clarity. The glare on the bottom is horrible but with overhead lighting it is hard to avoid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Very nice Matthew! You just burnt through this challenge! You've got time to make another, and I have even started my entry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiselleNo5 Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 I happened to make a few tiles for a demo a couple weeks ago ... only five, and they don't really go together. However if I run out of time I fully intend to post them anyway! I'm a rebel! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 I happened to make a few tiles for a demo a couple weeks ago ... only five, and they don't really go together. However if I run out of time I fully intend to post them anyway! I'm a rebel! LOL I've still got a very nice set of 6. Need to make some more to finish the 9. Ummmm, when does this challenge finish? End of April, should be able to do this, just have to remember....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgpots Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 This is my final entry. Unfortunately it cracked to pieces... Next time I need to compress the tiles more. The good news is that all of the glazes I made by hand. The green matte did not show as many streak marks in testing as on the tiles. But, I really like the texture of the tree... Jed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 The people of this forum never cease to amaze me. Great stuff both of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 work in progress not sure it really follows the guidelines but is part of commission I'm working on (ala jackson pollock) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgpots Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 So will there be a "community challenge #6?" Jed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 well i didn't make deadline (life gets in way of pottery) after some issues. (see tests above)..... they are in kiln now ( i hope) i ended up making about 21 "tiles" ranging in sizes for a commission, ill still post when they are finished. from yesterdays glazing session ...... 9x 12 inch (ish) tiles. while a loose interpretation of guidelines these are destined to be used as platters for a pastry case, at local bakery. (but as i was glazing a saw the sheer mass of project I'm thinking wall piece) jackson pollock inspired Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 I failed too, with my numeracy not my potting..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 they look good, where will they go, chilly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 I failed too, with my numeracy not my potting..... its still 9, counting the negative space Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 they look good, where will they go, chilly? Thank you. (Run out of Likes, must be re-set on a different time zone as I think I'm on a new day here ! ) They're sitting on the "for sale" shelf at the centre. I made them to test different slips on different clays, and my first attempt at carving through slip. If I didn't already have enough coasters for the Queen's Tea Party........I'd keep some Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted May 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Sorry I managed to forget the challenge was ending. Will get it sorted soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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