Another Kiln Opening

[Watto]

Probably the best and worst time in a potters career. You don't know what the results will be, the good the bad and the cracked. Fortunately there were no cracks.
Here a few and you can decide which ones are the good or the bad, depending on taste.

[legoman_iac]

They're all terrible, let me take them off your hands!

[KIRKY]

I was thinking the same thing. Beat me by 3 minutes legoman.
Great pots Watto, well done
Cheers
Kirky

[Keels]

I like the pots Watto. You're getting better every time you bake pottery I really like the blue pot, what would you plant into that pot? Shohin trident?

[Watto]

I've got lots of tridents so I thought that would be appropriate, especially one with red leaves.

[GavinG]

Numbers 1 and 3 are definitely too good for you Watto... Both have nicely subtle glazes and good proportions. Are these commercial glazes, or are you rolling your own? And what temperature, what fuel/heat source, and firing how long? The usual.

G

[Watto]

I'll tell you Gavin as long as you don't tell anyone else
The first pot is a glaze made by my teacher and I was hoping to get a differential between the hills and the valleys, I think it worked OK. Just for you I have attached a close up.
Pot three is a glaze I made however its a secret formula, you understand. However the secret will be revealed at the grand unveiling of another project where all the details will be on show.
I used a commercial glaze on the blue pot and also glazed another pot with the same glaze but used a different clay to see the variances. I have attached a photo of the other pot, I'm not sure I like it though.
Firings are between 1260 and 1300 depending upon the circumstances, although all these were fired to stoneware. It takes around 12 hours (but I don't worry about that because my teacher does that for me ). I'm a lazy so and so!

[GavinG]

The straw glaze has varied very gently - perfect for a bonsai pot, it looks almost organic. It would suit a box tree, or a Chinese elm, I think.

The blue glaze has broken very nicely on the edges and contours. I would tend to keep it out in all weathers for a year or three to soften the effect, when you want to put a tree in it. A plum would show very well in it...

(So you'll be building a wood-fired monster in the yard fairly soon? Just askin' for a friend...)

G

[thoglette]

Pot three is my desert island pot from this lot (#4 is close, but a bit harder to use)
Once again, beautiful work