Kate Johnson on sun 2 jan 05
Hi Meg--thank you, I'll look for it!
> There is a fabulous article entitled "slip decoration in the age of
> industrialization" written by Donald Carpentier and Jonathan Rickard in
> the book
> CERAMICS IN AMERICA edited by Robert Hunter and published by the Chipstone
> Foundation -
At the moment I have the tobacco soup mellowing--going to try it with both
tap water and distilled, to see if there's a difference, and also with and
without a dash of vinegar. I used a cigar rather than a cigarette, and to
my surprise it smells rather pleasant. (I know terbaccy's pizen, Lili, but
I'm trying it first as "they" did.)
>
> Donald is a master in researching and reproducing ALL the early slipware
> techniques including Mochaware and the book contains step-by-step photos
> of the
> process - a must read if you are interested in any of these procedures
Donald's done some amazing stuff at his reconstructed village! I've been
aware of his work for years--maybe from Early American Life Magazine--that's
one reason I was so excited to come across a couple of the recent books with
recipes and instructions!
At the moment I have just buggered up another effort at feathering--was
going to try the do-it-flat, let it get leather hard, THEN put it in a mold
trick. It looked beautiful!!
I went out to lunch, figured it would be leather hard by the time I got
back. Er. Well, what happened was that I was drying it on a piece of heavy
cardboard, apparently NOT a good idea (must get wallboard scraps!) because
it appears to have stuck, unevenly, and by the time I got back it had
developed big _wet_ cracks on two sides. I tried to dry it a bit more so I
could get it in the mold to continue drying, but...more cracks. So. Gave
up on that one and have yet another small marbled bowl, instead.
This morning I started another plate, too, using the new mold-plate I found
at Walmart last night...nice gently upcurved edges, very period looking.
Rolled out the clay, put it in the mold, smoothed it, and added black slip
before going to lunch. Figured that, too would be about right to slip trail
by the time I got back. Which it pretty much was, but...I'm still either
not finding the right slip trailer or not learning the proper hold.
My chicken now looks like a merganser, so just turned it into a duck.
Lines are too thick and too uneven, so piddled about with adding contrasting
dots of slip. decided oh, what the heck, feather THOSE, judiciously.
It's bizarre but it has a certain, um, charm...it's now out of the mold and
hopefully drying more or less evenly...
Anybody tried the Mary Wondraush slip trailers made from inner tubes and
ballpoint pens? I'm going for that next...the position they're held look
more natural for me...
Best--
Kate
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