I'm just starting to blog and expect to include information on my Art processes - Raku Pottery and Fused Glass. I have been studying pottery for 20 years, focusing on Raku firing. I have been working with kiln glass for 10 years, focusing mostly on dichroic jewelry but also experimenting with larger pieces.
I studied pottery with Audrey Schmitz at Northern Oklahoma College. I began taking ceramics classes as a stress relief and quickly became addicted. We learned many clay processes including pinch pots, slab building, coil pots, throwing on a wheel, as well as combining multiple processes to make one piece. We also experimented with many types of firing. The first was Raku since it gives such rapid results. I loved it from the start. We also used our electric kilns for oxidation firing and we had a large gas kiln for reduction firing. I have not yet had the opportunity to experiment with salt firing or wood firing. I enjoy the different glaze results of each type of firing. But, I have always come back to Raku.
I learned glass on my own using existing kiln knowledge and working together with a good friend Betty Biederman who had taken a class in San Antonio. She learned the basics and I had the experimental attitude to just jump in and start trying. We had a lot of fun and mostly only successful results.
My limitation with both Raku and Glass has been equipment, or lack of. I have an electric kiln for bisque firing my pottery, a Raku kiln powered by propane and a weed-burning torch, and two glass kilns, the largest being 16" square. It is amazing what can be done when you can't buy all the biggest, newest, and best.
I enjoy the problem solving that comes with art. Many outside the art world would not even realize this but those that are involved understand what I mean. Glaze mixing is like chemistry class all over again. Compatibility of materials can cause many frustrations. Figuring out how to combine pieces or processes involves a lot of trial and error.
I am now in Taos NM where I started visiting in 1996 when my mother moved here. I finally moved in 2010 and love it. The art community combined with the absolutely beautiful environment is hard to beat.
In future entries I hope to include information about my work and processes I have tried.
I studied pottery with Audrey Schmitz at Northern Oklahoma College. I began taking ceramics classes as a stress relief and quickly became addicted. We learned many clay processes including pinch pots, slab building, coil pots, throwing on a wheel, as well as combining multiple processes to make one piece. We also experimented with many types of firing. The first was Raku since it gives such rapid results. I loved it from the start. We also used our electric kilns for oxidation firing and we had a large gas kiln for reduction firing. I have not yet had the opportunity to experiment with salt firing or wood firing. I enjoy the different glaze results of each type of firing. But, I have always come back to Raku.
I learned glass on my own using existing kiln knowledge and working together with a good friend Betty Biederman who had taken a class in San Antonio. She learned the basics and I had the experimental attitude to just jump in and start trying. We had a lot of fun and mostly only successful results.
My limitation with both Raku and Glass has been equipment, or lack of. I have an electric kiln for bisque firing my pottery, a Raku kiln powered by propane and a weed-burning torch, and two glass kilns, the largest being 16" square. It is amazing what can be done when you can't buy all the biggest, newest, and best.
I enjoy the problem solving that comes with art. Many outside the art world would not even realize this but those that are involved understand what I mean. Glaze mixing is like chemistry class all over again. Compatibility of materials can cause many frustrations. Figuring out how to combine pieces or processes involves a lot of trial and error.
I am now in Taos NM where I started visiting in 1996 when my mother moved here. I finally moved in 2010 and love it. The art community combined with the absolutely beautiful environment is hard to beat.
In future entries I hope to include information about my work and processes I have tried.
No comments:
Post a Comment