Good
Bad
Ugly
I've been working with some new glazes and for the most part, I am happy. But you know, sometimes no matter how much testing you do things just don't come out right. For example look at those nasty glaze drips up there. Might be somewhat interesting on the rim of a pot but not on the bottom of these pendants. And then there is the just plain ugly, what was I thinking, kind of glazing. Oh, well live and learn. There is always another kiln load to look forward to.
Now lets talk about down right ugly. I live in West Texas. July is hot, dry, sunny, and arid. What's up with the 75% humidity, gray skies, thunderstorms, and intermittent rain? This is market weekend. Oh wait, I live in West Texas. The weather is unpredictable. Whew, I'm glad I got that one figured out.
Have a great weekend everyone!
21 comments:
What are you talking about...I love what you call "down right ugly". I know we can always find the imperfections in our work, even the most minute and because we are our own worst critics our mind can not be changed. However, I think that little flower is SWEET!
I don't mind the "nasty drip" at all. Adds character, a bit like ears and noses!
We have been getting into the 100s this week. In the shade. With the same high humidity levels. I feel your pain.
And down with deviant glazes that misbehave in the kiln!
Hey LeAnn....we just enjoyed a little rain here, it was very welcome but yeah, now the humidity. Happy to see you are getting some nice colors out of your kiln, we got a box of new glazes in the mail today, so exciting!
Keep playing & good luck this weekend
First of all - YAY, more starfish! Oh, and they were featured on my blog today, btw.
Secondly, except for the drips, I don't see anything that's really "UGLY" up there. But I totally get being super-critical of one's own work. I am the queen of that ;-)
Still, unless there's something actually wrong (like the drips), I'd list 'em anyway. Maybe knock 50 cents or a dollar off the price - I bet they sell anyway!
those are not bad drips, I can show you drips! lol
I agree with Greer, sometimes drips add character,but if they are butt-ugly, you can grind them off and fire the piece again.
Pam
i don't see ugly..but understand the feeling about drips..i discovered a hot spot in my kiln was making some of my glazes do that..drives me nuts..
oh that rain..might be from the tropical storm moving up .
a couple of years ago my friend had to evacuate from Ruidoso NM cause the hurricane followed the rio grande right up to NM..weird.
Actually...I think the ones you call ugly are kind of watery reflective looking, like transforming into something...neat!
The starfish are incredible!
One never knows what will come out of a kiln but I think all of what you have made are pretty great looking!
About the weather - the hot, dry arid is apparently vacationing in Germany. Shall I tell it to go home?
About those "bad and ugly" pieces - while I understand that you would critize drips - because that is not what the glaze was supposed to do - but where is the ugly in those uglies? That dark green pendant looks beautifully mysterious and I even have beads that it would probably look lovely with. The other pendant and the flower - look gorgeous to me. Maybe you were expecting a different result - but I don't see anything ugly here.
From the glaze point of view... just totally advise (take it or leave it... just throwing it out there)...
The "bad" ones: top left blue - try at cone 5 instead of 6, it looks similar to one I have that was driving me nuts at 6 and acts perfect at 5.
The ones with the nasty drips, not sure if you are dipping or brushing them on. It looks like 2 of the same/similar glazes I also use, and have the same issue... I find that thinning it out helps, then even doing a very watery thin brush coat after it is "glazed" to somewhat wipe off excess glaze from texture helps with too much puddling and that drippage...
Also those "nasty drip" ones... I find that sometimes I get a surprise beautiful finish - like a greenish/blue color with purple/pink dots when they go into the kiln in a specific way... I wish I knew how...
Maybe in the middle of the larger kiln, maybe slower firing, maybe faster... maybe when a storm front moves in, barometric pressure drops and shifts colors in there. It drives me nuts, but I love it when it comes out nice... gotta make 5 to get 1 good one glaze...
Hope for no rain on "your parade" this weekend! Have a wonderful show!!!
~Marsha
i would like make as bad, uand ugly than you..for me it will be perfect!! héhéhéhé!! I love your "perfection"
Your ugly is way prettier than my ugly.
Oh, if the glaze drips are sharp or poky... you could always tool them down so that they're smooth.
Funny, I have the same problems sometimes. And while I think they are ugly, I decided to put them out there too with the good ones.... and to my surprise sometimes they are the first ones they sell! So now as long as they are not defective any piece that I don't like the glaze results I show off.
First time poster, I enjoy your blog. Good luck with your show, lots of sales!
i have to smile - i really enjoyed the comments on this one... the ones from your peers all sharing the same experiences... the ones from your designers appreciating the imperfections - i like what sharon said about watery...
and what do i think? i think that kilns are like genies in bottles - and the mystery of what your kiln load will look like at opening is fascinating... of course, i am not the one cursing a tested piece - but everything is an opportunity to learn! i do love these lotus flowers...
LeAnn, Things like your post bring back to my school days. I remember we were reminded of the quote by the famous potter and philospher, Paulus Berenson, that said something like, "When we get something from the kiln that we do not like, we should put it away for a while and look at it with new eyes later." Ceramics is a great art form for learning to "let go." We have preconceived ideas of how something will come out of the kiln and these notions are what do us in. Easy to say but hard to do! I don't think the ugly are not ugly ... so I think you should host a seconds sale and let us have them at dirt cheap prices! LOL
I don't think they look as bad as you think! I love the dark green one! But like Kelly said, sell them anyways, just at a discount and make sure it says in the listing why they are cheaper. :)
I hear ya about the humidity. I feel like the Wicked Witch of the West Texas. Help!!!! I'm MELLLLLLLLLLLLLTINGGGGGG!
It is funny and fascinating to see how different people are. When I get a perfect drip piece I consider it the gem of the lot. :) I had a great-aunt artist who purposly dripped white glaze (just one drip per) on her perfect gold pieces. I have one of them and I wonder about her and if she was nuts. ;) lol
Ugly? Crazy! I love them!
LeAnn your work looks great.Ugly?????? Don't think so.
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