Thrown Off the Hump

 I have used the kurinuki technique for making my work since 2009. It is a slow process, but one that I love. In an effort to branch out on making guinomi (sake cups), I am starting to throw them off of the hump. I have been a hand-builder most of my ceramics career. I threw on the wheel for the years I as at ECU, but once at U of IA, I started hand-building and have continued to do so. Thus, throwing again is an adventure! Yet, I can still work the surface and foot by hand after it has been removed from the wheel.

A few guinomi hump thrown and hand trimmed. I like the fat rim.

My rudimentary set-up...an old Amaco (two speeds) with an added foot pedal, sitting on, and in, an old treadle wheel.

A Few Yunomi

 I had to miss the November 2019 firing of Gustin's anagama due to being in England for the opening of the sake vessels show I curated. Chris was kind enough to let me send a few yunomi to be loaded and fired. Due to the pandemic, it wasn't until late summer that I was able to retrieve them.

 

Yunomi

 Yunomi

Yunomi

Yunomi

Pieces from Mike Weber's Kiln

 A bit late posting, but I want to share a couple of pieces that my friend Mike Weber was kind enough to load into his wood kiln last summer. Mike always invites me to send a few works, and the results never disappoint.

 

Guinomi

 

Guinomi

Kintsugi

I had this chawan, which was in the June 2019 amagama firing, with a scar from being adhered to something after shifting during the firing. I had Danny Russo repair it, using urishi lacquer and gold powder. He did a fantastic job!

Kiln Construction Update

It has been awhile since I have posted due to COVID 19's affect on firings and my schedule. I have made some progress on the kiln(s). The small down-draft will be constructed first and the tunnel finished afterwards. In the meantime I have purchased brick to complete the down-draft. Also, I have converted an old electric kiln to a conversion kiln...what I am calling "Chokkuragama", which means "small kiln". It is close to being ready to fire for the first time. Here are some images taken before the winter set in.

Determining the down-draft fireboxes and exit flues.

 

Section where the tunnel kiln will be constructed.

 

One of several pallets of high duty refractory bricks.

 

 Converted electric kiln that will use propane and wood, with salt added.

 

Wood split for both conversion kiln and down-draft kiln.