Imbolchottie@AOL.COM on thu 15 jul 04
Hello Ivor, OK, stronger, for me starts with attachments. I've seen some
exquisite work done with straight b-mix involving handles. In hands with far
more experience I've seen long handles that can support the weight of baskets.
I've never found that 'ZONE' where my handles attached did not crack in the
drying or the bisque fire. When I started exporing teapots a few quarters ago, I
had some nice looking teapots (generic, but pleasant) but since a teapot
consists of numerous attachments, very few made it through the glaze process.
1:7, to be precise and honest.
I've found I can also shape better with the B-mix with grog. Enclosed forms
are now easier. I can pull in, up, then out again. It's been fun playing
with 5 pounds and see how many different angles I can pull the clay, and yes, I
can go higher.
Victor Bryant has a page "Web Tutorials for Potters" and while there I found
a page of classic Greek shapes for vessels. I know some were done in
sections, then assembled, and some are thrown as one piece with attachments. I
downloaded that page and have it up in the studio opposite the wheel I work on. I
never could have tackled these with straight b-mix, or B-mix Pristine, I'm
tempted to call it.
The page by the way: http://www.acss09.hemscott.net/index.html
I hope it's ok to post that and within the Clayart etiquette, but it's a
great page. I've introduced ceramics into my history lessons when I teach and the
kids find pottery much more interesting than memorizing dates of wars, petty
political parties and geographic boundaries. The daily vessels, tile work and
mosaics of Pompeii make it far more interesting for the kids.
I digress, so sorry -- stronger -- better attachments and more shapes. How's
that Ivor? Hope everything is well with the group and on your patch of terra
firma in So. Australia. I hope that provided some clarity from this groggy
head of mine.
I'm looking forward to a long weekend of throwing -- and you know, hand
building again, what a joy. I've made more boxes with the groggy b-mix -- I've
forgotten how much fun sitting down and building by hand is.
Take care, Functionally Yours,
Jonathan in Los Angeles
(who is probably going to be looking for an electric kiln soon. Hopefully
one that can handle ^10, but I am aiming for ^5 - 6 and large enough to fit the
body of a professor in)
Sue Leabu on fri 16 jul 04
Have to say I have found the same benefits from B-Mix w/Grog, especially in
regard to attachments. I really loved throwing regular B-Mix (no grog), but
attachments needed too much fussing/attention and cracked too often, that I
would limit my forms to plates, tumblers, teabowls and the like.
The big test for me will be to see how it looks fired in the anagama. B-mix-
no-grog is just really beautiful. Definitely the nicest commercial claybody
I've wood-fired. Hope the grogged version is just as nice.
Sue, Kalamazoo
On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 21:46:52 EDT, Imbolchottie@AOL.COM wrote:
>Hello Ivor, OK, stronger, for me starts with attachments.
snip
>I've found I can also shape better with the B-mix with grog. Enclosed
forms are now easier. I can pull in, up, then out again. It's been fun
playing
>with 5 pounds and see how many different angles I can pull the clay, and
yes, I can go higher.
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