Spraying Glazes Continued

So why spray glazes? I'm attracted to atmospheric firings, wood, salt and soda. I like the way the clay catches the fire and it paints the surface. one side of the pot maybe different from the other side that didn't catch the flame. I want the surface of my pots to be rich and varied. I try to approach spraying like the spray gun is the flame of the glaze. I usually start with a base glaze and then a light modifier sprayed on top. This glaze is usually a matte glaze. I use a glossy glaze to highlight certain areas. This is a thin application depending how much I want it to run. A good spray booth is esstential, otherwise you'll have to spray outside. I spray about 3 to 6 glazes on each piece. The glazes then flow into each other leaving traces of the process. Like with all things in ceramics, this takes practice and patience. The first pots I sprayed ran and fuse to the kiln shelves.

Tips for spraying glazes

I have been using a spray gun to apply glazes to my work for about three years now. I think spraying allows for more control and variation of how the glaze looks. I'm not a big fan of lines that result when you dip your pots into glaze. I also don't like solid colors. I want my pots to be rich and varied in color. I want the viewer to engage and explore the surface
Alright, now you might be asking yourself how do I spray glazes? Well first you need a good spray gun. I use a gravity feed spray gun. Geil kilns use to sell a good one, but I don't think they sell it anymore. I purchase mine from tooltopia.com and you can always get one from harbour freight. I would get one that is inexpensive, because the glaze will eat away at the nozzle overtime. It can easliy be replaced with another. You want a gun with a larger tip. I recommend one with a 2.0mm nozzle. This allows for less clogs and more material to pass through. Gravity feed is better then syphon. It uses less air. Of course, you'll need a compressor. 18 to 30 gallons should do. Make sure you put it away from you, because it can be like a small dog barking at your feet. On the next post I'll talk how I spray.

New Work

Here some new work that came out of the kiln. This is the first load that I was really excited about in a long time. Check out my website, chrislivelypottery.com, for more images.

website

I have just finished creating my new website. I used a company called otherpeoplespixels.com. It was easy to sit up. I think it is important in this day and age to have a website. It allows you to get your name out there and hopefully reach a wider audience. You can visit my website at chrislivelypottery.com. Be sure to tell a friend. I have been in the studio lately. I was asked to make a dinner set for the first time. This has been a challenge, but fun. I made everyhing today, 12 plates, 6 bowls and 6 tumblers. I have also been trying more abstract things like making forms oval, cutting and assembling various parts.

The month of October should be a good one. I'll be going to two workshops. The first is Chris Gustin. He was a artist that really got me into ceramics when I was beginning. The second one is Tom Coleman. I know I will learn a great deal and it will have an impact on my work.

I'm back

I've been away for awhile. Things have been busy with teaching and other things. I have been applying to teaching position, so I'm hoping something will happen. In the meantime, I have been cranking out pots. I had a successful sale earlier in the week. I have been trying new stuff with the underglazes and people seem to like it. I'm switching back to the p10 porcelain because it allows me to make larger forms. I might try some more sculptural forms.

empty bowls

Finally did a glaze firing of just my work. Everything turned out well. I had to use Thor's hammer to smash a couple of rejects. I'm trying out a new glaze, sea foam green. The glaze produces different shades from green to light red. I think I might stick with my earthy colors and use this glaze on some pots. The empty bowls fundraise was tonight. They had a great turn out and most of the bowls were bought. Its a good feeling to know you can do something you love and help out others.

Busy Week

This has been a busy week. The kiln firing turn out good. The bowls were spectacular. I will be doing another one this week. We have to have all the bowls done by this Friday. I went bowling with my fellow adjuncts on Friday night. It was a fun outing. I won the second game. On Saturday morning I helped out with a church kid's workshop. They made clay mask, tiles and pinch pots. The kids were creative and great. In class this week we'll have another critique and start another project. I need to start cranking out the work. I'm thinking about trying larger work and try stacking pots. I'll see how that goes with the porcelain.