BVCuma on wed 17 jul 02
Isn't that subject line just a definition ?
_____________________________
John,
Sounds like the fox (cunning mind)
can't get what it wants...sour grapes! : )
=20
GB is your definition of a bad glaze material?
I guess you would add unwashed wood ash to your list!
I'll tell you these are my favorites...
along with the unfritted ulexate compounds
that I manufacture which also contain soluables.
I would agree rubber may be a "bad" glaze material...=20
but GB...come on.
I have found that I seek out unpredictability...
frustrating as it can be...
the "racers" are equally rewarding!
Even if something unknown happens in the bucket or elsewhere,
adjustments, compensations etc. can easily be made...
sometimes unforeseen "problems" lead to=20
otherwise inconcievable "solutions".
One door closes and another opens...
and a new day dawns.
The way I see it,
It is not so much getting the carrots we chase...
but developing awareness through sensitive observation
of our motives/desires/circumstance that presents the=20
opportunity to transcend these fleeting thoughts/emotions/imaginations.
Via the realization of an intelligence which is beyond the ignorance of =
mind.
Its not the pot we capture or the material we claim
Or whatever creative endeavor we choose or life we live.
but the difficulties and surrendipities of our existence
that we are consciously or unconsciously in search of=20
that provide direction and focus to the process of self discovery.
The pot and its creation are but a device to invoke ourselves...
and yes at the other end of the spectrum
they are a beautiful realization unto themselves.=20
Beautiful! simply completely beautiful.
Getting back to your point...
Here is a bit of good advise I came across today
in Ceramic Technical #6=20
"Testing for Basic Glazes and colorants"
Authored by Pete Penell...
" The most stable glazes often produce colors=20
that are predictable, even industrial looking.
Potters tend to prefer glazes that exhibit more
variety in color and surface texture.
In other words, glazes that are just a bit unstable.
With that mind, you may want to do your color tests
on one of the tiles near the best one,
rather than on the best one itself."
He does refer to the usage of GB numerous times
without all the negativity that seems to go around these days,
specially when you consider that 80% of raku glazes
were based on it.
I used it extensively in my raku works
and got everything I wanted and much much more.
BTW, the grapes are rather tasty...=20
Bruce=20
Ron Roy on thu 18 jul 02
I am not surprised to hear Pete say this again - frankly I don't see how
anyone can say this if they have seen the glazes in our book - they are
anything but industrial looking - and stable to boot.
Perhaps the article was written before Mastering Cone 6 Glazes was seen by
Pete - it's the only logical answer I can think of.
What everyone except John has missed is in influence of cooling on glazes.
Some have told us they cannot believe samples of our glazes - in their
hands - were not fired at cone 10 reduction.
The notion that stable - well balanced glazes cannot be interesting or in
fact extraordinary from a potters perspective has become old fashioned.
Of course I don't expect everyone will agree immediately and some will
never I suppose - but many already know this if the letters we have been
getting are any indication.
RR
>"Testing for Basic Glazes and colorants"
>Authored by Pete Penell...
>
>" The most stable glazes often produce colors
>that are predictable, even industrial looking.
>Potters tend to prefer glazes that exhibit more
>variety in color and surface texture.
>In other words, glazes that are just a bit unstable.
>With that mind, you may want to do your color tests
>on one of the tiles near the best one,
>rather than on the best one itself."
Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
Phone: 613-475-9544
Fax: 613-475-3513
John Baymore on thu 18 jul 02
Bruce,
Sounds like the fox (cunning mind)
can't get what it wants...sour grapes! : )
=3D20
GB is your definition of a bad glaze material?
I guess you would add unwashed wood ash to your list!
I'll tell you these are my favorites...
along with the unfritted ulexate compounds
that I manufacture which also contain soluables.
I would agree rubber may be a "bad" glaze material...=3D20
but GB...come on.
Woah! Hey Bruce........ jeeze...... I was kidding around. Lighten up =
.
Yeah...... you got that one right......... wood ash is a terrible materia=
l
too . Particularly unwashed wood ash. =
That's why I've used it (unwashed and washed) and local clay and local
granite for 25 years here in NH in some of my glazes....very consistent a=
nd
highly predictable. And why I've been firing a noborigama with wood her=
e
for 21 years. And why I wedge granite rocks into my clay. And why I bal=
l
mill the river sand behind my studio as a glaze material. And why I
separate magnetic iron out of the river sand for brushwork. I really lik=
e
industrial controls and uniformity.
SO........... you're preaching to the choir here.
But..... (now my 32 years of "materials science" faculty background is
kicking in)........ GB is a highly variable impure material that can caus=
e
great variation in fired results in glaze batches when it is used to sour=
ce
the oxides. So.... it IS a pretty "bad" glaze material....by most
"Western" standards. (I prefer the Eastern approach for myself.) It'll=
drive those who are looking for high levels of consistency to drink. Whi=
ch
might be good....... so they can loosen up a little .
The header I saw just struck me as pretty "funny"..... that is why I
responded that way. Pointing out the potential humor in that line. GB
gets "kicked around" all the time for causing problems. It's the Rodney
Dangerfield of glaze materials.
Best,
..............................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JohnBaymore.com
JBaymore@compuserve.com
"DATES CHANGED: Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop =
August 23 - September 1, 2002"
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