Oh MY!!!!! A huge thanks to the almighty Kiln GODS!!!
I snuck up to the studio about an hour ago.... to crack the dooor :))))) the temps were under 400° so it was safe to open a bit more. Hell, opened it far enough. I mean far enough!!!! Babbbbbbby!!!!!
I got it RIGHT!!!!!
I am so overwhelmed with joy right now I am still not sure if I am dreaming, but it hurts when I slap myself in the face so I must be awake<GGG>
The reduction was about a 90% success!!!! I got my reds. Repeat, I got my REDS!!!! Yeeee haaaaaaaaa!
I say only 90% success on reduction because I did cut the time shoprt(reducing). I could look back at my noters here(and will later when I calm down<G>) but if memory serves me correctly, I only did the reduction soak about 1 hour and only about 10 minuted of heavy reduction where I had the smoke pouring out of everywhere. I believe had I let tht go another 20 minutes or so I would haave had 100% reduction.
Back to the 90% deal. It is not bad though. Not bad at all. most or all of my reds came out properly with the exception of a few flash spots where it didn't reduct. But I'm talking minimal lack, and to anyone whop hasn't an idea whaty I was trying to achieve, these peices are beautiful. And for me to say that about my stuff, you know I got it right. Oh the joys of it all.
I haven't unloaded the kiln completely, about 30%. But enough that I could look in with a flash light and se4e that my reds are DEFINITELY red and not athe slightest appearance of green. August done something good
As I sit here, I have a bowl(about 10" diameterX 4" high. Completely red. Well, red with a few purpleish blue speckles. which is an added bonus the way I see it. Apparently some of the material moliclues that were floating around int he kiln found rtheir way into the bown. and quite uniformly. Almost wondering it is wasn't just something in the red glaze itself, but nothing comes to mind that would give it any hues of blue. I did have my woo blue pieces uin there too, and the recipe uses a bit of cobalt. Cobalt as you know is very strong stuff, and the timiest bit goes a long way.
Okay, on to the other glazes. I admit some peliminart disappointment with my celadons. Most of them just turned out to be a rather dull mustard brown. I was hoping for something different, but a number of them did achieve close to the desired effects.
My Temmaku glaze worked quite well also. Well, where it was applied thick enough. The results(where glaze applied correctly) is a rich shiny black where super thick which breaks way to a rich brown to a dull iron brown as the glaze becomes thinner.
My woo blues are as stunning as my reds!!!!! Such rich color it almost looks surealistic.
Finally, one of my favorite things to do(which I only did on a limited number of peices this firing) is to double or triple dip a peice in red/woo blue/celadon, or combinations of them. And I had the kiln gods looking down upon me with a nod of approval there too. Especuially the red/woo blue. So brilliant the hues. I have blue dripping/blending into purples into stark red. The effects sort of remind me of paintings during the, oh shoot, mind block....
What is the era during Monet's time? Impressionistic? anyhow, it is great. These are the things that seperate a nice piece of pottery from those that demand extensive attention. Drippy, dreamy, screaming "Look at me, look at me. Ain't I beautiful!"
So I do declare that my excitement is causing me to babble a bit here, so I will stop gloating for the time being! :)))))
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Well, you would be most welcome to come up for a visit any old time -- to build a kiln or just to visit and go tripping around in my canoe...
I don't know if I could get time away from the family to mosey on up your way, but if we can make some arrangment for the latter part of the summer, I would do my best to be there with bells on. I would even throw my potters wheel in the bed of the pick up and I garuntee I'll have you spinning decent pots within a day or two. You know, let me talk about my wheel for aq moment. It is the best investment I ever made. It's a brent 1/3 hp electric. I bought it used off a friend here in Pa back in '84. He use to do huge urns on it. Got a job teaching in Taos, sold me the wheel for $200(now they are over $650 new). I had to replace a belt shortly after buying it. But then set out on the road (you know the saying "Have wheel, will travel"
Well, me and my wheel have spun pots on the beach in Virginia, in Kansas, in Boulder Co. and finally on the beaaches in California. and now it is back home in Pa. So many special times spend with that wheel, it has become an extention of my very body! Blah blah blah. So if we can arrange it this summer, I would help you order the proper supplies, and with your welding experience, I can forsee us building a decent sized(propane) kiln in a matter of less than a week. Figuring on a kiln about 9 cu ft.(really that is a most ideal size for a one person set up) I would guess that the cost of supplies be no more than $900. Of course if you have access to free or cheap angle iron and some sheet metel(for the frame) we could build it for less than $600.
Woops, forgot one added expense, kiln shelves. They are not really cheap, but if you keep your eyes peeled(I could do the same) you can often times find used shelves from potters that can be had rather inexpensively. So let's give some thought to this over the next few months. Truth be told, I'm pretty amped to build a kiln. I can't build another here quite yet(remember that corp safety guy? he's a major PITA, and setting up my current one was costly to do it his way. I ended up running bout 30' of double insulated chimney pipe, and even though I told him 1 1/2" gas pipe was sufficient, he went with 3" pipe that needed to run the lenght of the wharehouse for aa total of about 200 feet of piping. And 3" pipe ain't cheap. Not to mention the Rube Goldberg safety garbage that is on the kiln. Talk about a cumbersome ordeal to get the kiln going. Ah, but I digress nd ain't gonna harp on him here because after all, today is a day of celebration>
The stars were definitley lined up for me for this firing. I haven't felt this was in more years than I can remember.
I almost want to forget about stocks completely and get baack to spinning more stuff. With this firing being a success, I have a trememdous amount of ur4ge to turn out another load within a month. But I also need to start thinking aabout some sculpture for that EAM spring show. I doubt pottery alone will get any accepts. Of course, if I get a piece with a glaze effect that is awesome enopugh, that would be a shoe in also.
Okay nuf babbling.
BTW, only about 12° here and we have about 7-10 inches of snow on the ground. And to think only day before yesterday it was 54 here. Spring is definitely on the way. Hve to start thinking about the garden soon too.
Oh, P.S> I loved those sand paintings/designs. Wow, talk about the essence of be here now. I love that kind of stuff. Make a statement and then let nature have the lst word as she takes it out to sea. Beautiful. thnks for sharing. |
