Blog - Page 15 of 36 - Marian Williams Pottery

Aventurine Glazes: I Have One! A Gift!

I recently received a gift from my good friend, Alanis Su, upon her return from a visit to Taiwan. It was a small bowl with the most incredible and interesting glaze – it sparkled as though gold flecks had been added to the glaze! I had never seen anything like it! and had no idea what it was!

By the way, the pictures don’t do it justice!

Then in two separate blog posts, I heard about a new glaze called aventurine! One blog post was by Peter’s Pottery from New Zealand, in which he states: “One new glaze that I am particularly interested in, is an aventurine glaze. This is a special type of low alumina glaze that contains an enormous amount of iron oxide. If all goes well the glaze will be full of tiny sparkling crystals, rather like a chocolate coloured night sky full of stars!”

The other blog post was by John Britt, USA, Facebook Page from ClayClub Blog featuring this video:

However, it’s been out there for quite a while. Here’s some more info on it if you want to know more:

Aventurine Glazes

Clayart Thread

So it seems that I have a sample of one of the new hot things in glazing!

Marian Williams-Alanis Su — Alanis Su and Marian Wiliams

Thanks Alanis!

How To Set Up A Marketing Stall For Your Pottery

How To's Selling Top Slid

Setting up a stall at the Gold Coast Pottery Market usually consists of putting out a table, arranging some pieces on the table and sticking a price tag on the pieces. Well…let me tell you…You need a stylist!!!

Burnpile owners, Krista Mathis and Morgan Lloyd

I was lucky enough to have my friends from Burnpile , Krista Mathis and Morgan Lloyd, to do the booth with me. Krista and Morgan are all about making it look great!

Firstly, they decided that we needed a backdrop (who knew!). So Morgan took down the bathroom stall doors out of an old building that we are in the process of deconstructing and used them to make a backdrop – muy cute, hey?! It’s on hinges, so it could be set up easily and adjusted when we got there.

Samantha Scout is always around and always helping!

Market Stall background — Market Stall Background and Shelves

He also made some shelving from recycled timber.

The backdrop for the market stall and a table created by Morgan Lloyd of Burnpile.

I had plenty of pots to take for the sale and I made cute little sales tags from my business cards (Moo Cards), hole punch, sticky tags and twine.

Price tags-business cards — Cards, prices and twine.

Mugs with cute little price tags attached.

We used his wonderful recycled timber creations for the rest of the booth.

Krista felt we needed to create a “homey feel” to the booth, so we took carpet, a chair, flowers, etc.

Here's that homey look! — Here’s that homey look!

But loading all the timber onto the truck made us look sort of like the Beverly Hillbillies moving to town!

Another aspect of the ‘styling’ is in the use of the photos that Krista showed me – edited and posted on Instagram.

copper red glaze — This is a copper red/rutile blue jug-a black frame helps a lot!

Cerami pendants — Stylized Photo of Ceramic Pendants

For the Burnpile Instagram display, she had the pics printed and then strung them on twine for displaying other pieces in the Burnpile range. Great idea, huh?! By the way, follow me on Instagram at http://instagram.com/marianwilliamspottery

A string of Instagram Snaps showed off additional Burnpile creations.

All in all, it was a great day, we got heaps of complements on the market stall and it made me realize that with a little effort, you can truly make things look more appealing to the buyer!

So get out there and start stylin’! or find someone to help you! That market booth should look fab!

Luv,

Marian

Wooden Stamps For Pottery

Creation Decorations Pottery Stamps Tools Tools and Equipment Top Slid

I just purchased a few stamps for making impressions in clay! They are awesome!

To get yours, go to the website for Gilbert’s Tree, a shop in Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia.

Happy stamping!

Marian

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Pottery Glazes Cone 6 Coyote Clay Glazes

Cone 6 Glazes – Trialing Coyote Glazes

Cone 6 Glazes Coyote Clay Glazes Firing Glazes Glazes and Glazing Top Slid

In my former life as a potter in Texas, I only had an electric kiln. I found Coyote Glazes just as I was leaving to move to Australia, so only had a few firings with their glazes, but was totally impressed by them. Since being in Australia and having a gas kiln, I have spent years learning the glazes, processes and techniques to achieve success in that type of kiln. However, on a recent trip to the USA, I bought and brought back sever 10# bags of Coyote glazes and 6 pint jars of accent glazes from Coyotes. I don’t want to give up my high-fire reduction gas fired work, but sometimes I long for the dependability and ease of the electric-fired cone 6 glazes. So far, I’ve had some good luck.

Back side of bowl-Red Gold Coyote Clay Glaze - Cone 6 — Back side of bowl-Red Gold Coyote Clay Glaze – Cone 6

Be sure to check out their website for great information on all their glazes, applications and suggestions for use.

Now back to glazing for high-fire reduction! Bring on the copper reds!

Marian

Altered Pitchers or Jugs

Creation Projects

I’m having fun with some pitchers or jugs as they call them here in Australia. In the USA, jugs refers to “breasts”, so I have trouble with that transfer in our common language. Sort of like, we say “fanny pack”. In Australia, they think that is super gross and funny – they say “bum bag”, cause in Australia, fanny means vagina! But I digress….

I really love altering pitchers! So here are some examples of the altered pitchers/jugs!

Tom Turner

Amazing Potters Copper Reds Glazes Glazes and Glazing Inspiration

Do I get crushes? You bet! Especially when I see a copper red! Tom Turner is my lastest crush.

Recently, I saw Tom Turner on Facebook -here is his link- Click here.

Tom is a long-time potter and quite the expert on porcelain as you can see from his video on YouTube:

Copper Red Glazes - Oxidation-Tom Turner — Tom Turner – Copper Red in Oxidation –Source

Tom Turner - Oxidation Glazes- Copper Red — Tom Turner – Oxidation Glazes- Copper Red –Source

What I saw amazed me and intrigued me! Copper Reds in Electric?

Tom says about these photos above: “From the retro (collection), a chemically reduced copper red oxblood fired in an electric kiln, no atmospheric reduction, all in the glaze.”

He does proper gas kiln cone 10 copper red reduction as well, but these are amazing! Gotta love those copper reds!

And gotta love Tom Turner!

Peace out! Lovelies

Marian

Paul McCoy: Ceramist, Professor, Director

Amazing Potters Inspiration

Recently I was fortunate enough to get to visit my alma mater, Baylor University, and speak with Paul McCoy.

Paul McCoy has been at Baylor for 28 years and wears many “hats” there! He’s Professor of Art, Ceramist-in-Residence, and the Director-Allbritton Art Institute – and then he fires kilns, talks to people like me, is involved in a gillion other things, and then acquires the Harding Black Collection!!!! Wow! I truly appreciated that he took the time to meet with me, show me his work and the Harding Black Collection.

Baylor University, Harding Black Collection, pottery, ceramics, — This is only a fraction of the Harding Black Collection housed at Baylor University.

My main focus on the visit was to see the Harding Black Collection (that post is coming and it was amazing!), but meeting Paul McCoy, seeing his work and the studios at Baylor was an added bonus!

Paul showed me around the campus, bought my lunch at the Baylor Faculty Dining Room, and talked to me for hours – I’m so lucky! What an amazing teacher, man, and philanthropist.

He’s one of those guys that is obviously loved by his students and the university as everywhere we went, – students, other professors, and friends stopped to say ‘hello’ – to a guy that they all obviously revered and loved.

Paul’s work and studio are fantastic! His glaze work, vessels, creativity and craftmanship are all amazing. Here are some photos of what I got to see! (Click on each photo to get a larger version.)

Paul McCoy’s Studio and Work

Work by Paul McCoy

Paul McCoy in his studio at Baylor University.

Vessels by Paul McCoy

Bottles by Paul McCoy

Pots by Paul McCoy

Close up of vessel by Paul McCoy

Plate by Paul McCoy

Cups by Paul McCoy

Ceramic Work by Paul McCoy

Cups by Paul McCoy

Work by Paul McCoy

Tools in Paul McCoy’s Studio – Baylor University

Large plates by Paul McCoy

Paul McCoy’s Kick Wheel in his studio at Baylor University.

The facilities at Baylor are wonderful! – a great deal better than when I took ceramic classes from Hilda Smith in the basement of the old Carroll Science Building!

Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building, Baylor University, Paul McCoy, Harding Black Collection

Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building at Baylor University

Wheels in Pottery Studio at Baylor University.

Pottery Studio at Baylor University

glaze test tiles

Salt firing kiln.

pottery, Paul McCoy, Baylor University, wood firing kiln

More wood!

Gas kilns at Baylor University

Side stoking doors on woodfiring kiln.

Wood for the woodfiring at Baylor University.

Wood ready for the woodfire kiln.

Kiln doors

Kilns.

Kiln wall

Backside of building – art building at Baylor University

If you are looking for more information about Paul McCoy, check out these links:

St. Alban’s Mission Market

Flye School

I have to say that although Paul McCoy is an excellent ceramist. and he is obviously a fantastic professor, one of his great achievements while at Baylor would have to be the acquisition of the Harding Black Collection. It is a treasure!

STAY TUNED FOR THAT POST!

Well done, Paul McCoy!

Peace out my potter sisters and brothers,

Marian

Shino Glazes! How To Make Your Pots Look Marvelous!

Firing Glazes Glazes and Glazing shinos Woodfiring

Love shino? Want yours to behave erratically? Trap carbon?

Here’s a couple of pieces I’ve done that did get good carbon trapping!

Shino, carbon trapping — Shino – sprayed over leaf with teal.

Wood firing coming up soon – so have to think in terms of shino and carbon trapping!

Fire away!

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House of Clay-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-Judith Wagenseller

The House of Clay in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Like Going Home!

Glazes Musings Studio and Equipment Workshops

I met Judith Wagenseller while attending Baylor University – yonks ago! – and we have remained and become the best of friends. Funny…when I was in college I really didn’t realize that her parents owned and ran The House of Clay, a shop that catered to china painters, potters, and all of those between. I took my first pottery class in college and that is where my LOVE AFFAIR with clay began, but Judith was not part of that class.

Gary Huntoon-Marian Haile Williams-Judith Wagenseller-Kerrville, Texas — Workshop taught by Gary Huntoon in Kerrville, Texas. Judith Wagenseller and I attended the class.

We did not really become CLAY SISTERS! until 1990 when I returned from Alaska and asked Judith to attend a workshop with me in Kerrville, Texas. Click here for a post about that! Concerning the pic above: Judith is in the red shirt on the right and, YES, I did have shorts on under that shirt! Geez Louise! What was I thinking! Anyway, we had WAY TOO MUCH FUN! and laughed our heads off as one lady was making a seat and formed it to her butt!!! Too funny!

We have managed to stay good friends through the years as our girls are close in age.

Liz Williams and Melody Black - looking gorgeous! — Liz Williams and Melody Wagenseller Black – looking gorgeous! and Yum!

Every summer a group of us would gather in Oklahoma City at the House of Clay for “Clay Camp” as we liked to call it. It was a great time for Perfect Margaritas at Pearl’s, group therapy through laughter and talk and we even did a little pottery!

Clay Camp-House of Clay — Clay Sisters at Clay Camp- Fran Ferrell, Hattie Wagenseller, Melissa Vanoy, Judith Wagenseller, Sue Haile, Marian Williams, Suzi Swinfornd and Barbie!

Judith has continued to run the House of Clay for many years and it is a great success and provides clay, tools, supplies, workshops, classes and pretty much anything related to ceramics to the Oklahoma City area.

My daughter, Liz Williams, and I recently drove to OKC to see the crew and we had a great time! The House of Clay becomes a family meeting point and I truly felt like I had come home!

We also had to make sure that Melody knew she was loved by us as she was facing chemotherapy the next week. Here is hoping for the best and fastest recovery ever, Melody!

One of the things that I love about the House of Clay is how on top of everything they are! The bisque ware for painting is awesome!

The latest in tools!

The latest in Cone 6 glazes! Check out these beauties! (Click on each pic to get a larger pic).

House of Clay-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-Judith Wagenseller-Cone 6 glazes

Cone 6 Glaze Samples

Cone 6 Glaze Sample

Cone 6 Glaze sample

Cone 6 Glaze Sample

They have fun and a great attitude!

Are wonderful with customers!

Provide great facilities for classes!

Classes are also offered at the House of Clay - love those Creative Industry wheels! — Classes are also offered at the House of Clay – love those Creative Industry wheels!

Offer classes! and have great teachers!

Marvin teaches a pottery class at the House of Clay and was doing a raku workshop the evening that I was there. — Marvin Embree teaches a pottery class at the House of Clay and was doing a raku workshop the evening that I was there.

Customers buying pieces for the raku class.

And she has a great assistant with an ingenious clay lifter device – see the video here:

The Clay Lifter is a device designed and crafted by Clayton Reece. It’s purpose is to alleviate the difficulty and back strain of lifting 50# boxes of clay. If interested in this device, contact Clayton Reece at ClaytonReece145@gmail.com or through the House of Clay.

All in all, it is a wonderful ceramics shop! If you are in the area, check them out. Facebook them as well!

Here is their website: House of Clay

But for me, it’s going to see that friend. You know the one that makes you laugh and that you love to be with no matter what you are doing!

Love to my clay sisters, one and all!

How To Make Mugs All The Same Size!

Creation How To's Mugs Studio and Equipment Tools Tools and Equipment Tutorials

I received an order for 18 mugs. Geez! Shouldn’t be a hard ask! But I NEVER make anything the same twice! I used to…so they want more…damn!

Anyway, after taking Malcolm Greenwood’s class, I now know how to get mugs consistently the same size with little pain! Firstly, you need to use the same amount of clay – Check out the previous post on how to determine how much clay you need for various pots – Click Here!

Tombo, pottery, malcolm greenwood, pottery tools — Tombo in a bowl.

Then you need a measurement device. The Tombo, originally created and used in Japan, is the niftiest tool ever! And I made my own, thanks to Malcolm’s class! All you need is a little bamboo, a drill and a wooden skewer- all set!