Jennifer Rhinesmith on mon 30 jun 97
Hi All, I am not very experienced with oxidation glazes. I need to know
how I can get 'close to' reduction effects in the electric kiln. I love
to do reduction gas firings, but know only have an electric kiln in my
store/studio. Any help would be great. Thanks,
Jennifer Rhinesmith
Alpine, Tx
jrhi479@wolf.sulross.edu
Paul Lewing on tue 1 jul 97
Jennifer,
I made the switch from ^10 reduction to ^5 oxidation about 11 years
ago, and I can tell you from the experience of thousands of glaze
tests that you will never achieve reduction-looking results in
oxidation. You'll just frustrate yourself if you try. This is not to
say that oxidation glazes cannot be as interesting, or have the depth
or texture of reduction, but very few reduction effects are
reproducible in oxidation.
Better to use oxidation for what it's good for. It's more consistent,
for one thing. And in reduction, texture is easy but color is hard,
whereas in oxidation the reverse is true. But texture is easier to
get in oxidation (although not necesaarily the same textures you get
in reduction) than color is to get in reduction.
Personally, whether I was doing ^10 or ^5, I always wanted both on the
same piece. I wanted that celadon next to that lime green, that
copper red next to the cadmium red. I can get a lot closer to that in
oxidation than I ever could in reduction. All in all, I prefer ^5
oxidation.
Just enjoy it for what it is, don't try to make it be something it's
not.
Paul Lewing, Seattle,
where we have the furnace on and it's threatening rain again.
Karen Gringhuis on sun 13 jul 97
Dear Jennifer - We all love reduction firing but my advice to you
when one has an electric kiln is to quote Cher in "Moonstruck" -
"SNAP OUT OF IT!"
There's a whole world of COLOR out there just waiting for you
& your elec. kiln. Go for it. Expand your knowledge &
experience & GROW. IMHO "close to redtn effects" will
always be just that - close to but never really there. Why
bother?
Take your favorite bases, back out the redtn. colorants &
test new ones for ox. - Cerdec inclusion pigments, Mason
stains, oxides - alone or blended together. Throw in
lithium for breakup. Try some titanium.
If you need a base, tell me what surface (glossy, matt, etc
)) & cone you want. If you're at C/9-10, watch for my
posting of Karen's t
Touch requested here by some other people - it's similar
to redtn. in ox. But.....color is more fun!
Regards, Karen Gringhuis
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