Rachael Padilla

In Progress

Added 2024-01-31 23:39:45 +0000 UTC

A collection of photos featuring the progress of two pottery pieces.

The first three photos show a chawan in the drying phase. It's still a bit wet, but firmed up: the leather hard phase. I carved this from a single lump of clay, working on first the inside and then the outside. As I carved, I strove for the look and feel of knotted wood, with an elegant femininity. Hopefully slow air drying this piece over the course of three weeks will prevent cracks similar to those I've had in the last two chawans.

The following photos feature a chawan just a little further along in the process. In these photos, the piece has been bisque fired. The stage at which glaze is added. I did some detail work using an iron oxide, which will darken areas upon being fired. I allowed the oxide to drip and run over the outer edges. Next I coated it with a few layers of clear glaze (it will fire to clear but looks rather opaque at this phase). You may notice a slight crack on the interior, probably from the pot drying too quickly.

I'll be sure to post more about these when they've gotten through their firings in the kiln!