Ode to Fong

I was watching some you tube videos of Fong Choo and I was just amazed! He's so talanted.  Then a friend of mine suggested I look at him and, I don't know, I just felt it appropriate to make one in honor of him.  I think he only makes teapots... and makes a living at it.  Needless to say, an idol of mine ;).  I borrowed some techniques from him: the handle and the feet.  He also makes a lot of pots in this cone shape.  I added the swirl lines and my style of spout and the frillies around the edges.  Thank you to Fong Choo for being awesome and a great inspiration!  Fong glazes in great colors and I can only hope I don't mess this teapot up when I glaze it.  We shall see...

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mini

This teapot was done on time! Haha I swear.  I already bisque fired it and tried to glaze it, but my elements pooped out on me.  Just one thing after another...uggg.  but one I repair them, ill post more pics of the mini teapot.  Just wanted to update you and show I made it! Haha

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Poppy

Here's a pic of "Poppy".  I like her, I wish the lid fit better, but what's new haha.  I like how the black ran. It softens the lines. I also like how the colors dulled a little. I wouldn't normally say that, but in this case, it works better.  The clay is a warm brown and pretty earthy, so this is why the duller colors look better to me.  The spout twisted a little, but more than I thought it would.  I like this happy teapot.  I wish the clear coat was a little more on the matte or satin side, not as shiny, but it'll do :).

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Thumbelina

teeny weeny! Yep...if you think making small this is easier...think again! Haha I threw these pieces on the wheel as a challenge to myself and for a contest...and this blog haha. Lots of reasons there.  A long time ago, I made little coffee mug earrings on the potters wheel and I was so proud that I had made something so tiny, well, I'm even more proud now :).  As if teapots weren't difficult enough, now let's make 'em mini! Haha I saw a call for entry in one of my pottery magazines that asked for pottery that can fit into a cone box.  This call of entry reminded me of my earrings, but this time I wanted to make a teapot!  Also, one of my students, Abbi, suggested I make a mini teapot a couple weeks ago. So....for all these reasons, I've made this mini pot :).  I think ill put little spiral feet on her and do something with the lid.  Trimming this piece will definitely be the toughest part!  Also, something so small will be difficult to glaze! Something simple would be best, I think!

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Decisions, decisions...

Well, I've been taking pics for two hrs and I can't take anymore. Ha. I think these are the 4 I'm going with.  I need opinions.  "Victoria" is in a gallery until the 5th of may, so she's out :(.  But if there was another you prefered, let me know :). Also, do these pics look stupid? Haha are they good enough for a book? I'm taking them to a photographer to edit but any advice?  Seriously, I need opinions and input! I won't take offense, any idea is welcomed :).  Thanks!

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funky monkey

too much? ha idk, but i like it. its different.  i just hope all the additions dont pop off. i like how its round and square. the lid was difficult, but worth it :). itll prolly need a simple glaze :).

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Fresh From the Kiln

April 20th is right around the corner.  This means I have to decide on 4 of my pots to submit for the new 500 teapots book by lark publications.  Any input and favorites is appreciated!  Having said all that, I'm please with the way this glaze firing went.  I love the white on with the blue and big handle.  The blue did crazy cool stuff on top of the white :).  I also love the first one pictured.  The brown/black with the dark blue and lines gives it a very masculine feel.  Which is interesting because I felt it was so womanly with all the curves.  I tried a technique called mishima.  Well, I sort of did...I don't fully understand it yet but where you see the lines, I carved out the dark glaze and glazed over it with white, then added the blue.  Idk...its my take on mishima. Ha. The NBC news teapot (that's what I'm calling the double walled one because...well...that's what it looks like) is good. I like it. I don't love it.  And I have the big green one. Ha its not the glazing its just the overall shape and huge spout and handle. :)

Ok, so there you have it.  Four new babies.  I'm off to go price photographers...so any input on which four would be appreciated!  Thanks!

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New, New, New, New, New

All kinds of newness going on here :).  The red clay is sort of new.  I've used it before, but not lately and never for a teapot.  Another new technique is the use of slip as a pain/glaze.  I used slip on the victoria teapot but this time I thinned it out and brushed it on :).  Thanks to a fellow potter for the awesome advice of using a blender to whip up the slip, it was very easy :).  Once I applied the white slip to the red clay, I did the next new thing: applied underglazes to leather hard clay.  I chose a painterly approach of the poppy.  The weather has been so nice and I have a three day weekend off of work, so I was feeling a tad bit whimsy and that's why the flowers look like they do :).  I'm happy so I wanted my flowers to look happy and free :).  I pulled the design together by using a technique called sgrafitto (idk the spelling on that).  This is carving through slip or glaze, revealing the claybody underneath :).  I just think there are a lot of layers here and I'm loving it.  I wanted to keep the teapot shape simple so you can just focus on the happy poppies :).  Yay for spring!

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Cutting it close!

It's bad when I was thinking of a title for this blog and I had to second guess myself to see if I've already used this same procrastination themed title...uggg.  well at least I made it!...by midnight! Woohoooo!  This teapot came into my head on Tuesday morning and I've been sketching it out all week, however, only now have I made it. :)  I have a lot of excuses as to why I was so late in getting this teapot up, but ill spare (the three people who read this blog )the "tea"tails...hahahahaha I'm tired and obviously crazy...

This teapot started out as a bowl that I shaped into a taco!  It's sort of like the darting teapot, in that the initial shape is nothing like the end result.  Lately, I've been having more fun with the assembly than the throwing...which is interesting, since I love the throwing process.  I think I just like the transformation(plus I've been making dinnerware sets in my sleep, which don't get my wrong, is awesome and a blessing, but. A bit repeatative)

As far as glazing goes, it looks kind of like a sun to me so idk, maybe something scenic.  April 20th is fast approaching, which is the deadline to submit entries for the Larke publications 500 Teapots book! Ahhhhh I want to have a piece in there sooo bad.  Soon, ill want people to start voting on their favorites.  :)

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