Throwing Shots Off the Hump- Video!

Robin Welch told me that he was taught to throw with one hand off the hump before he learned to throw with two: it took me a while before I got the hang of it, but it's worth practicing and learning. I use the technique to throw these shot glasses/cups, small dishes, lids and some bowls. These shots don't need trimming- stamp them, slip them and they're ready to bisc. I use 2 hands, as you can see from the short [and rather un-edited] Youtube video- click...here

Season of Fermentation

This year's wine fermenting vigorously after I transferred it to it's glass home for the next few weeks: I suspect I've posted similar videos in past years- every year I'm amazed by its energy! Click title for short effervescent video...

The Sounds of Clay

You'll need a quiet space and loud speakers to hear this- a binful of dried-out Naaman porcelain lumps slaking away thirstily in water. It happened late at night in my studio in Tsfat, where the noise was quite dramatic. Click on title for Youtube video.

Slab-built Mugs for the Salt Kiln - Video!

Click on the title for a rather long [but explicit] Youtube video- these things take time!

Why is the U.N. hostile to Israel?

I rarely bother you with political stuff, but,if you're curious about why we in Israel get such a bad press, I recommend that you click on the title & watch this [thanks,Jackie].

The New Kiln- Another Movie

Click.
This one has a voice-over sound-track,so get ready to turn down the volume.
By the way: K-43 bricks [mentioned in the video] are rated at 1760 degC,which is apparently equivalent to Orton cone 34,which I didn't know existed- thank you Yutong Refractory Company for the information.

Tel Hai Anagama Firing Movie

Click title to watch.

Click for Video

This started as a request from students Batya and Tami to work on larger lidded forms; I made one with them,then decided that the resultant cookie jar might be a useful addition to my production line,so made a few more and filmed the process. Parts 2 & 3 will follow when I've done some editing...

As If All This Were Not Enough

Which it probably is,but if I haven't wasted enough of your precious time already,you can click on the title and be transported to Youtubeland,there to watch a system I use to avoid inside and outside glazes running into each other. Some people claim to like this effect: I suspect it's more often a result of a lack of an alternative technique [it took me a while to work it out].

Plate-Fettling

A video of one of Friday's porcelain dinner-plates being trimmed.Click title to view...

Plate Up

Last on my "orders" list is a set of 12 porcelain plates,which means I need to make at least 16 to allow for trimming and firing mishaps,which means that the already-jammed studio is going to have plates on every available horizontal surface; once thrown,they're best left for a couple of days [covered] before trying to take them off their bats,which is why I'm throwing them on Friday [so they can rest over Shabbat].
In fact there isn't enough room for them in the studio,so yesterday I cleared out some space in the adjoining store-room,reminding myself that making some empty space is invariably a first step in making something new; you see this graphically when working on the wheel- the centred lump of clay is pretty useless [door-stop,paper-weight] until you make a hollow empty space in the middle of it; as the Tao Te Ching puts it,
"Profit comes from what is there
Usefulness from what is not there."
If you care to click on the title,you can watch me making plate #11; I'll try to film some plate-trimming next week,if you like. I haven't forgotten about that strange spout piece,nor the recipe for Slippo. Stay tuned...Shabbat Shalom...

Classic Stick-Up

Friday afternoon and once again I'm sticking handles on mugs,a favourite occupation.A brief but instructive video will be available in a few minutes when it's finished uploading to Youtube...click on title...Shabbat Shalom!
p.s.-ex-apprentice Goldie paid a brief visit today and questioned the recent spate of Klezmer backing tracks on videos,so we're back to internet reggae this time...

Fluting Video

As if all this blogging wasn't enough,I rattled off a quick video while fluting a lone porcelain bowl,and present it for your entertainment and edification. The technique is from ancient China via Bernard Leach via David Leach,although they did it with a piece of broken hacksaw blade - I use heated and bent watch-spring.Click title to watch. Off to Raanana iun an hour or so with Tel Hai bus,stopping at Hazorea teabowl exhibition.

Kiddush Cup/Goblet

This is how I make kiddush cups. I always enjoy forming the foot by pushing in the middle with a kidney; not to be attempted unless you remember to make a hole first. Click title to view on Youtube.

Filling Up

The studio is filling up with bisc; where I'm going to stack the next 2 bisc kilns I have no idea,but it's worked in the past.
Meanwhile I put some lugs on the porringers I threw on Friday [small steep-sided bowls with handles] and posted a clip on Youtube,which you may watch at the click of the title above.

Thumbstops - The Movie

A final flourish to the jug handle: a well-placed thumbstop is a big help when lifting a jug holding a liter or more. Note finger-print in slip on jug. When will I learn? Click title to view.

Pulled Handles

Another title to click,another Youtube movie. Pulling handles directly from pots is the most difficult handle technique to master,but undoubtedly gives the best results on bigger pots like these. In the movie I refer to the slip I'm using,which doesn't require scoring of pot or handle,doesn't crack on drying,but does smell a bit. I call it 'Slippo" and will try to find time to blog the recipe.

Shallow Bowl,Shallow Foot

A short video [click on title]. I thought I might have to scrap these bowls because they were too thin on the bottom,but remembered the pushed-in foot I usually do on goblets; I think I might have got away with it,but will only know after the bisc.

Fitting Handle

Someone asked,so click on title to watch v.short video. I didn't exactly intend it,but I like the way that the colors of the teapot from Meir's anagama] match the handle...By the way,I just noticed that I forgot to add the link to Youtube for the slipping video a couple of posts ago - it should work now.

Slipping Away

The first rule of pottery - if you want to sell,make it blue. My version [I've been using it for 25 years] is a blue slip,which I find more interesting than a blue glaze; it's inspired by David Frith's wonderful blue slip,which he makes using mixed cobalt waste from an old Welsh tin mine. My slip is coloured with cobalt oxide and red iron oxide [which is why the unfired slip looks reddish],added unreliably and by eye to the Hopper slip,and adjusted over the first few firings of a new batch 'til it comes out looking more-or-less like I think it should. There's a video to be watched if you click on the title. The astute among you will note that the bowl in the picture above is not the same one I'm decorating in the movie,for obvious reasons [if you're astute].