The 'Break' is Over

Well, my Spring Break is over and I will be honest-I wish it could have been much longer!  However, on the good news front-only 42 days left before I take the “walk” of accomplishment!! YAY! Does anyone have a universal remote that can help me fast forward through 40 days?

Before the break the final fusion test results came out of the cone 10 reduction fire.  Also, my line blend tests between Kyanite and Soda Ash came out of the same firing.  I find it very intriguing how the dry material can react so differently than the liquid form of the material.  For example, in the fusion test, Kyanite kept its powder-like, white form-whereas in my line blend, Kyanite suspended in water reacted by coating like a glaze with a deep mahogany color.  The same type of radical results were found with my raw material Soda Ash.  In the fusion test, the powder form turned to what seems to be a corrosive liquid state that spread uncontrollably and turned to a dark glossy color that almost took over the full test tile.  However, in my line blend, which the material was suspended in water, the Soda Ash seemed to have little to no reaction and on some of the tiles, it seemed to have disappeared altogether.  We are unsure as to why these materials performed so radically different through the same firing process.  My intentions are to do a few more replications of the testing to see how the results compare.

On a personal note, I was finally able to reclaim my studio over the break and can now get back to the business of creating more art! PLUS, now that the weather is getting warmer-I can really enjoy my time in the (uninsulated) studio! YAY!

Fusion Final I

Fusion Final II

Fusion Final III

Fusion Final IV

Line Blend: Kyanite & Soda Ash (100A-100B) Kyanite is dark metallic sheen & Soda Ash is gray powder (large berries). Rest are mixtures of Kyanite & Soda Ash at 80/20, 60/40 and reverse mixtures.

Soda Ash Fusion Test

Kyanite Fusion Test

 

Spring is near, time for projects to appear!

The fusion tests from cone 6 fire have come back.  I am impressed to see that Potassium Dichromate did not continue its previous fusion voracity-it just seems to have stopped-hmmm?  However, its distant cousin, Red Copper Oxide, had no trouble in proving that it could do better fusing (it fused to the patty below!).  OOHH! Take a look at Cryolite, it is scary looking, especially since it looks like something one would find on a car battery!

My first bowls went into bisque this week as well as my line blends test ‘tiles.’  I cannot wait to see what they look like when I get to campus tomorrow J

On the home front, I have been ‘Spring Cleaning,’ so to speak.  I have many art inspired projects underway for the homestead and studio.  Right now, my throwing and pushing more clay has been put on a minor hiatus to allow for the homestead art projects.  I feel by getting the homestead artfully redesigned, I will be more open to much more inspired clay work J  I am so completely looking forward to it!  I really love being able to let my hair down and let all potential art influence me!!

Photo Gallery this week includes the Cone 6 fusion results and some snapshots of just one of the artful homestead projects I have been working on. Enjoy.

 

Fusion & Line

This week we got the first fusion test results out of the bisque. Very interesting how some materials react even at what is considered a lower firing temperature. Just take a look at what Vanadium, Soda Ash, Lithium Carb and Potassium Dichromate did at bisque!  In fact the Potassium Dichromate melted through the test tile and into the tile underneath. Good grief-kind of remind me of Thermite.  However, most of the materials remained in a powder form-this means their melting temperatures are higher. Although, I have been told that these materials, the ones that remain in powder form, can have their melting temps reduced by mixing with other materials.  Way to go chemical reactions. I may further test different types of fusion tests of my own curiosity in the future.

As for line blends, I decided to test Kyanite and Soda Ash.  Interesting choice, I know, but I do have a penchant to push the boundries ;)

My Line Blend test parameters look like this:

100% Kyanite / 0% Soda Ash

80% Kyanite/ 20% Soda Ash

60% Kyanite/ 40% Soda Ash

40% Kyanite/ 60% Soda Ash

20% Kyanite/ 80% Soda Ash

0% Kyanite/ 100% Soda Ash

Blend Dips:

2 sets of Blueberry Bisque

1 set Blackberry Bisque

1 set of Cone 6 washed patties

(yes, the test tiles are unique, but you work with what you have and I wasn’t able to get the proper test tiles completed before these tests began) However, I will be running another test run once I get the proper test tiles ready.

 

Just Another Day in Winter Wonderland

Well, after an interesting evening and morning-I think I can finally get this post out there.  It is amazing what electricity can do.  Honestly, even though I do enjoy good snowy winters, which are fairly rare in this region-I am definitely looking forward to Spring! Spring is probably the best season for me and the artist in me to be reborn out of the dismally cold, dark and ‘dead’ season of winter.  I really can’t wait until I can go back outside, in reasonable comfort, to be inspired by all that is around me J

Anyhow, I think I finally got the amateur video done of my Inquisitive Eyes piece that was in my final senior show.  However, there are some concerns with the video that I would like to address that could not be prevented due to the restrictions of space for proper display.  I think that I would like to do a second installation on the piece so that the visibility for taping can be maximized for optimal viewing.  Either way, I have included the first run video of the piece towards the end of this post. I hope you will enjoy it (even with its flaws).  An artist never stops learning J

I have also begun throwing again, after what seems like so long!  I have started with bowls and have challenged myself to get somewhat creative in their forms.  For some reason, the artist in me has a hard time with conforming to the ideal of what bowls should look like.  These are still bowls but they will have unique functions beside cereal or soup. I am also experimenting with my 'massacre' clay body to see how it does in throwing. So far, I can tell you it is dense but I do like how it throws :)

At the time of this post (after fighting with inclement weather and electricity) the bowls were not yet trimmed.  I will be doing the trimming after I am finished with the post (especially since I am home bound once again this season).

I assure you that is clay not blood (or is it?)