So a week ago I got pretty irritated that I had a bowl crack through the bottom and foot during the drying. I posted about it on FaceBook and got plenty of suggestions, sympathy, and one good reprimanding.
My knee jerk reaction was that I'd had enough of this and that I was gonna go back to groggy stoneware clay. I've been having clay problems of this sort for a while now and I admit it's mainly due to the way I make pots, especially bowls. I leave a lot of clay in the bottom so I can make a nice foot. The white stonewares I have been using tend to really dry out unevenly. Or to go dry on the tops while the bottoms are still super wet. I know there are ways to deal with this but I honestly don't like damp boxes or putting pots under plastic, (or shower caps as one person suggested) for days as they even out.
Anyhow, long story short I mixed up 5 stoneware bodies to test in my next firing and made pots from each one. That, along with a special order for a big vase, took up all of last week.
The pots made from the groggy stoneware above felt so nice to make and trim. Ah, I was in heaven. But I know already that I won't like them as much as the pots that are made from the clay that cracks. That clay really looks beautiful in soda and accentuates my stamping. My slips do some really beautiful things as well.
I mean my god, just look at that:
So today I got back to work in the studio and made pots from the white stoneware. (For those of you who care I'm using B-mix and in the past I've used Loafers Glory) (Both look amazing but don't really do great for my footed pots).
Right, so what's the point of this? Mainly that I guess right now I'm going to try and work out things with this clay for the sake of getting the surfaces I want on my pots. I'll have to learn to roll with it and maybe put up with some plastic on certain pots. It's all a balance. Give and take. I don't think you can have it all in this clay game. Once you think you may have it then just wait, you'll be rudely awakened with some cracked pots, an over fired bisque, glaze crawling, or another of the thousands of things that can happen.
It's a struggle. Right now I'm not happy with it but I've got to make the pots. Also, I know those surfaces really make my day. I've got to be able to make a good foot though. It's important to me and to the look of my pots.
