Clay Body - Reduction Look In Oxidation

[Foxden 32]

I used to make a clay body with 10% Redart and some medium grog which yielded a beautiful brown surface with the grog exposed where left unglazed and fired to Cone 10 in Reduction.

 

I am visiting friends and am in a situation where I can't do any reduction cone 10 firings and am restricted to cone 6 electric and wanted to make some tiles with portions of the clay unglazed.

 

Are there any clay bodies or suggestions that might give similar results in oxidation. It's a small project and I am not really in the mood to do a lot of testing of clay bodies. Lazy, I guess.

[Marcia Selsor 1,786]

I think you should call your local supplier wherever you are and ask them what they have available for your needs.

Marcia

[Denice 604]

What cone to you fire to know?   Denice

[Foxden 32]

Cone 6, electric.

[Marcia Selsor 1,786]

Most suppliers used more locally mixed clays with some exceptions. Where are you? That would be a huge help in pinning down a supplier. If you are doing ^6 Ox. , I like dark clays. But I can't say what is available near you at the moment. If you are in Blowing Rock, NC you are closest to High-water Clays.

http://www.highwaterclays.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=35

Looks like Speckled Brown Stoneware would be what you would want.

If you are near Philadelphia, the Ceramic Shop has over 100 clay bodies to choose from.

http://www.theceramicshop.com/store/department/6/Clay/

 

 

Marcia

[Foxden 32]

I am familiar with Highwater Clay bodies. They are pretty much the sole supplier at the University here. The colors are too uniform in oxidation. Here is a photo of my own clay body in reduction, cone 9-10 which is what I am after. I don't know if I can achieve anything like it in an electric kiln.

[bciskepottery 959]

 

A combination of oxide/underglaze washes with a soda ash wash over them might do the trick (literally and figuratively).  The vase above is Highwater's Little Loafers.  I've also used their Red Rock with soda ash wash and ended up with a nice brown result . . . much darker than the normal Red Rock speckled brown.  Unfortunately I can't find a picture.  All cone 6 oxidation. 

[Babs 903]

are  theses once fired Bciske?

[bciskepottery 959]

are  theses once fired Bciske?

No.  Bisque at 05, then glaze fired at 6.  I apply washes on bisque, then soda ash before loading.

[Marcia Selsor 1,786]

Foxed,

Your stoneware @^10 looks like my clay body at ^6 reduction. Nice texture and groggy.

It is tough to get that in Ox. as you say...uniform..thats is the nature of the beast. I agree with bcisk 

that the soda ash wash will make the clay appear a bit richer.

 

Marcia

[Foxden 32]

I think I will try using Highwater Brownstone and wedge in some course grog from some light bodied stoneware clay. I'll try the soda wash on a sample to see if I can get something close to what I want. Thanks.

[Joseph Fireborn 1,286]

How did the sofa ash go foxden? I have been planning on trying that next. Seems to enhance and add a little randomness to electric.

[Foxden 32]

The course grog added texture which I was pleased with, but the application of a soda ash wash didn't enhance the color. Looked the same as without it. I will try again and use more soda ash. I would like the clay to begin to have a sheen.

[Joseph Fireborn 1,286]

Thanks for the follow up.

 

I am going to try it in a few days. I am going to spray the soda wash on my pots though. If my elements suffer but I get the look I want I am ok with it. Going to start small and edge up though. I will post any good interesting results.

[Babs 903]

I've found the soda to give great  subtle sheen, I mixed it in hot water to get  a more saturated soln. Sponged it on.  1/3rd C to 1C water or more soda.  I think Bciske recommended.