Day 10

Cactus pot

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I used white clay and green engobe on this one.

UPDATED: Fired pot

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Day 9

Crack pot

This time I mixed two different types of clay, majolica and brown.

This particular brown clay has 25 % of chamotte and the grain size is 0-0,2 mm.

Again, I overlaid the inside of the pot.
 This time with white clay.

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I persisted in creating cracks while at the same time

 I had difficulty with forming the shape and I am not satisfied with this one.

It cracked a litte bit too much.

At one moment it almost fell apart complerely but I saved it!

This happens when you have problems with control

 and when you are not able to stop at the right moment.

UPDATE: Fired pot

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The edge of the pot was to thick so it cracked at some points during 

drying. I then tore it completely so it can be equal.

Day 8

Crack pot

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I started with shaping the majolica clay. It took me a while till I got 

all the cracks and structure that I intended to achieve.

 I overlaid the inside of the pot with brown clay. 

Wonder what it will look like after the firing.

UPDATE: fired pot

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Day 7

Hanging plant pot or candle holder?

Basic shape from the white clay.

I created simple surface texture and I highlighted it with engobes.

This will be a hanging pinch pot 

therefore I punched holes from the side.

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 It can be a pot for some lovely cactus 

or maybe a holder for a candle.

UPDATE: After the firing

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Day 6

Crack pot

White clay, majolica clay, 

iron and manganese oxide

For the start I added some majolica clay to the bottom of the pot.

And then I started to make cracks.

What I had in mind was to fill up the cracks with an iron oxide

 and then when it dries completely to sand the surface of the pot with fine sandpaper.

It would reveal nice red cracks on smooth, white surface.

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But somehow, I like it this way and I think I will leave the surface as it is.

Maybe I will sand just the inside of the pot.

UPDATE: Cracked on the way to kiln :(

Day 5

                                                                 

Crack bowl

Today I started working with pink clay.

 I wanted to do some bigger and thinner pinch pot.

With chamotte clay that it's not so difficult because chamotte gives your clay the strenght.

The higher the percentage of chamotte is and the bigger the grain size is, 

the stronger the clay will be.

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This pink clay has 40 % of chamotte and the grain size is 0-0,5 mm.

At one point I added some white clay on the inside of the pot 

and I continued with stretching and shaping.

Eventually the cracks were formed and I liked the effect.

I continued with this process until the clay was too hard for stretching.

It cracked, but not much. 

This effect is something I could experiment with next time. 

Maybe I'll try to make bigger cracks on different clay.

UPDATE: Cracked during firing :(

Day 4

Luminary

I was in a big hurry today, so much to do and so little time on my side.

I really don't like it when I don't have the time to work relaxed and without a pressure but 

today was one of those days when things just don't go according to plan.

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This supposed to have a little dandelions flower decoration. But...

As you see, no sign of dandelions. I punched holes a little to soon, 

because I didn't have time to wait for clay to harden.

In the end it got some kind of stone texture.

When I captured this photos I noticed a little heart on one.

I love when this coincidence occurs when you least expect it!

(especially when you are not satisfied with your work) 

:)

UPDATE: After the firing

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Day 3

Hanging luminary

I love to work with pink clay. 

It has 40 % of chamotte so it's a little bit hard to shape in the beginning

but when you get a grip on it it's quite easy.

Chamotte clay dries faster than the regular clay 

and sometimes that's really good thing, especially when you're

 impatient or you don't have time to wait for it to become the leather hard.

I added some decorations in white clay and after I finished with it

 the clay was hard enough so I started to punch holes. 

I wanted to do something simple but...

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I was so into it that I exaggerated with all the holes and the texture in general.

 Not only that,

                                  I also added some manganese oxide to some of the decorations. 

                                           I intended this pinch pot to be hanging candle holder.

 I will leave it unglazed.

UPDATE: 
Fired piece without the decoration

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I didn't attach them very well and this pink clay dries a little bit faster from the white
so it fell off in the process of drying.
Nevermind, it looks just fine the way it is.

Day 2

Luminary

Today I was working with white clay

 and experimenting with manganese oxide.
Texture is nearly the same to the one I made yesterday. 

To be honest, 

I have a lack of inspiration this days but I like it anyway.

 It's another candle holder.

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 I used manganese oxide for the first time so I'm very excited about 

what the fired piece will look like!

You can find more useful informations

 about oxides and decorating here. 

UPDATE: Fired luminary

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Day 1

Majolica luminary

This is the first pinch pot I made for a project. 
I am obsessed with candles so this will be a little candle holder. It's still unfired.
I was working with majolica and experimenting a little with texture. 

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I partially put some yellow engobe on

 textured surface and waited till it was leather hard so I can make holes for the light. 

I will leave it unglazed.
 At some point I will put the photos of finished, fired piece. 
The images are not very good, sorry about that.
 It will get better with time :) 

UPDATE : Fresh from the kiln

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