Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Bowls and Cylindars



 Mother Nature has been very good to us here in North Carolina this week. The temps have been in the 60's and that means I have been outside. Goodbye cabin fever! I managed to throw a dozen bowls and half a dozen cups and get them trimmed. Like riding a bike. I haven't thrown in over a year, I think...
It took a few losses to get warmed up, but I made some right nice bowls, none the same of course. I don't know why this is, I know how to make bowls the same, I just can't get my brain to wrap around the concept.

 I can make the same cups though..and I like my new bat system, make a piece, pop the square out and move on to the next ball of clay. I have never used bats before, I have them, but they are old and warped and aggravating so I just risk warping the clay instead. Not this time baby, easy peasy!
Shelves are filling up with clay work, yeah! I'm just not sure how I'm going to like this red clay. My studio is so white. Maybe red for the wheel and white for hand building, I don't know. The glaze tests may help my decision, I'm going to test white and red bowls in a cone 6 soon......
I hope everyone is getting a little bit of this wonderful weather, so nice.

19 comments:

Sherry said...

We don't have beautiful weather up here yet, but the sun was shining most of today and that was a beautiful addition to an otherwise cold day.

You've been so productive and everything looks so fresh -- maybe that's the red clay. You are really very gifted with your hands.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Sherry, thanks. My mom says the same thing, it's just that I can't seem to keep my hands still, so I have to find interesting things for them to do, lol! Hope you see some warm weather soon, it's so nice to get outside and not be shivering.

Dennis Allen said...

Those are some nice looking bowls!

Tracey Broome said...

Thanks Dennis, they are now, wait till I glaze them, haha!

Lisbeth Williams said...

Beautiful work! No such luck with the weather, though....

Tracey Broome said...

Awww.... Sorry, looks like we get rain tomorrow, it was great while it lasted:)

Anna M. Branner said...

I feel like your shadow these days, one step behind you. Back to clay for me tomorrow! Not a year, but it has been at least 2 months....

Judi Tavill said...

looks good!!! feels fresh! jealous of your weather!

Trish said...

Looking good, Tracey.. nice red clay. Warm for February here too.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Anna, it's nice to go between the two worlds isn't it?!
Judi thanks, yeah the weather has been so great, won't last though:(
Hi Trish, I'm still debating this red clay thing......

Michèle Hastings said...

We create the same amount of slop and splatters with both dark and white clay... but there is something about that darker/redder clay that makes it seem so much messier!
I am sure it feels good to get your hands back in clay.

cookingwithgas said...

what clay body are you using? I like those bowls!

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Michele, the red clay just seems to stain everything I I guess it's just more visible

Tracey Broome said...

Meredith, I'm using standard 266 and Highwater raku clay

Lori Buff said...

They do look great, I'm glad it's come back to you so easily and that it's making you happy again.

Unknown said...

Obviously the red clay looks good to me! Now why can't i do that??... oh yes, skills and dedication and lots and lots of practice!.. is that ALL it takes ; )
They look great Tracey, i just wish they were sitting on my shelves!

Susan Wells said...

Yee Haw! Lookin like a production pottery in there! You making some beautiful pots!

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Lori, thanks just took a few glitches, but they are dry today and look pretty good.
Scott, practice practice practice! You don't even want to know how many I have thrown out:) I couldn't make a bowl for the longest time and then one day it just clicked...
Hey Susan, yeah they are nice until I glaze them, then it's anybody's guess if they will still be that nice:)

Amy said...

wow, you haven't lost the touch at all- beautiful bowls and teabowls! I somehow grew to like throwing without a bat unless the piece is big.... Adrienne taught me that! I just lift it off of the wheel.... works for me!