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Category: Pottery
Raku Firing in Old Washington
Michael H. Dickman led a raku pottery activity at our community art center on Saturday, October 5th.
Here are a few clips from yesterday’s activity
Mollie Beusterien also introduced us to a hot glazing technique, called OBVARA, which was similar to raku in that it deals with hot pots.
my obvara vase what fun! Im so lucky to live in a community with so many creative people!
Carved Ginger Jar- Work In Progress
Finished carving the design for my second ginger jar. The colors will be a classic cobalt blue over white stoneware. I hope to have it fired and finished in 2 weeks
Scraffito Ginger Gar – Work In Progress
If you are curious about what im working on in the studio, here’s a sneak peek just for you (all). Hope you had a great weekend!
Pottery On My Porch-Mugs
Good morning everybody! a big thank you to my friends who came over yesterday to support my “pottery on the porch” project. A handful of you told me you were interested in driving a long way to visit. I want you to come visit, but before you do, I wanted you to see the pots I still have.
They are one of a kind and unique, so if you see something you must have. Get in your car and come over. I won’t be at my porch, but at the Log Cabin Print shop, which is 4 blocks from my house. I’ll have the pots there from noon until 5pm. You can also make a print while you are here! if you don’t see the perfect pot yet, stay tuned, I’m working as hard as I can and will have more pots on the porch in about 2 weeks. Have a great weekend , and thanks again for all your support!
Pottery on my porch -ripley ohio stoneware mug
I’ve got some new pots out of the kiln! It’s hard to get the feeling of experiencing a pot through a 2d photo, so here’s a little video to show them off.
If you are interested in the Ripley Mug, which is being auctioned off to benefit the Union Township Public Library – Ripley, Aberdeen, Russellville contact them. The auction closes this Saturday evening at their fish fry fundraiser.
If you want to see more of my pottery, stop by my front porch the next time you are in Old Washington!
Sgraffito chicken bowl -work in progress
I have been working in the clay studio, and havent shared many work in progress photos. In part, because 3d objects, like pottery, dont photograph well. A 2d photo does not accurately give the impression of holding and looking around a 3d object.
I have been working with a technique, called sgraffito, where the design on a pot is created by carving. It has a lot of similarities to printmaking, which makes it very interesting to me.
The design goes all around the pot, so instead of sharing a photo, heres a short video of the carved bowl. All the carving is done, but it still needs to be fired, so it is a work in progress.
printing and handbuilding in the clay studio: 11 August 2019
Posted on by Ken Swinson — Leave a comment
I’ve been busy in the clay studio. It’s been a learning curve, but I have figured out the technique to transfer designs onto pots.
bees and flower design 
shelf with bird and bee designs-ready for the kiln Now that I know what I’m doing I started a new design for rice paper transfers. The theme is Trees and houses.
positive of the design Today’s burn didn’t work out like I had hoped, but I have another screen ready, and will try again tomorrow
Using solar power to expose the design onto the screen now it’s time for a new color: Electric Blue!!
Electric Blue Underglaze…drying to screen print consistency I love surface decoration. One of my favorite forms is the rectangle or oval. It’s almost like a canvas for a traditional painting. Today I handbuilt a small oval plate.
painting white slip on an oval plate And I love my critters! Spent some time working on new ones:
clay cat 
clay cow 
clay dog 
another clay dog! Stay tuned to see the progress!
Painting/Printing on clay
I love jumping between and mixing mediums. I’ve recently been working in clay–after a long break.
A ‘Greenware’ pot – carving done and ready for the kiln I’ve been decorating with a technique, called sgraffito, where I scratch the design into the pottery before firing.
bisque fired pots-almost finished, just need glaze Here’s what sgraffito pots look like after the first fire. I love the contrast between the red and white clays.
Screen for screenprinting-burned by the sun As a printmaker, I have been curious about printing on pots. With the encouragement of a fellow artist/potter, I tried to print decals to apply to clay. After MUCH experimenting, I learned that relief printing does not give a thick enough layer of glaze, so I am taking my woodcuts and linocuts, and using them to make screens for screen printing
testing the design My only experience with photo transfer screen printing was a few years ago, when I took a workshop in Oaxaca, MX with artist, Marcos Lucero. In the workshop, we used the sun to expose the screen. It’s still taking some trial and error, but I am learning how to get a good exposure. Kentucky sun is different from Mexico sun–we have clouds!!
test print-a little bit overexposed Once I master the screen print part of the process (i love learning new things) It’ll be time for a NEW thing to learn: how to print using glaze, and then transfer the designs to clay.
Painted clay critters-work in progress Of course , it’s also possible to PAINT on clay–as long as it isn’t being used for food. These critters are almost finished. I LOVE painting on clay. It reminds me of canvas painting, but the textures and shapes of clay give it a 3rd dimension
pots being glazed for the final firing remember those sgraffito pots at the beginning of this post? Last night, i glazed them, and they are in the kiln cooling. We are going to open the kiln this evening, so stay tuned it’ll be exciting to see my first batch of pots…of course, the first batch is usually when I learn a lot of lessons, so hopefully the kiln gods are not too cruel.
Wallowing in mud
A few weeks ago, a friend gave me a book about transferring images into clay. As a printmaker, and ex potter, i was interested. Shortly after, they sent me ANOTHER book about printing on clay. Aat that point, i decided it was time to dust off my pottery equipment and make some things to try printing on.
The new mud room I thought it would be fun to hand build some of the characters from my prints and paintings.
Some of my clay critters I have not thrown any pots, other than for the occasional empty bowls fundraiser, since 2007. And was curious if i remembered how to throw a pot on the wheel.
Future mugs I did remember!!! Its like riding a bike!!!
Mugs with the bottoms up! 
One thing leads to another…more pots! Stay tuned! I hope to print and transfer some of my woodcuts onto these pots. Should be interesting!
Playing in Clay
I like switching between different media from time to time. Each media has it’s own strengths and weaknesses, and the change in perspective keeps it interesting for me.
my first piece-a little sheep, of course! It’s been awhile since I’ve worked in clay, so I thought I would try to create some painting/tile type characters in clay. My idea is to paint them once they are fired, so the finished piece will be a hybrid painting/sculpture.
followed by a bird and pig One thing I love about clay is the textures…of my tools, my fingers, of the clay itself. It should be a really intersting surface to paint!
another pig. i am working on a whole family! It’s also fun to ‘build’ something, vs, draw/paint. I find myself using both hands when I work in clay.
chicken If you are in a creative rut, maybe it’s time to try something different?!? Works for me every time!
another sheep and bird. i’m starting a farm! stay tuned for updates!
2d/3d critters by Ken Swinson