Everyone Hold Your Breath! And Tip-toe Softly!!!

Truly a labor of love, I had forgotten how much I loved playing in the clay.

This clay I am working on is a white porcelain clay when moist and fires to a brilliant stark white.
Working on this piece I forgot to breath sometimes for fear it will collapse as the clay is still in its delicate form. This is a hand built piece, I do not throw clay on a wheel......well....... I have been known to throw clay when I have gotten miffed and hurled some across the porch. That's my definition of me throwing clay.



The clay is in it's leather hard form just right for carving, then once finished, I smooth it all down with water and fine art brushes. I have never worked with porcelain clay before so I will be on pins and needles until the firing is complete. I have only worked with low fire clays so this will be the first time I will take my kiln up to a hotter degree and fire for a longer period of time. I wanted to work with porcelain to capture that special translucent glow porcelain has once you hold up a piece to the light.

I made an oil pot for this luminary with wick holder. Once its fired, I will glaze the oil pot/wick holder inside and out to prevent oil seepage. It will be the only thing I will glaze.

From past work that I have seen, if you really smooth out the piece well, it looks lovely without any glaze.

 I do not want my pieces to have a shine to them but since this is my first time working with this clay, I will just have to see what transpires once I open the kiln. 

Opening a kiln after the cool down process is complete, its like Christmas morning opening that special package. But then, you could be getting something that does not suit your fancy.

This piece will be a luminary and if my vision for this piece turns out, I will be in hog heaven (as the south would say).


So.... all my work is now drying and I will fire next week. You have to give these pieces much time to dry, the longer the better.