Demo Pieces for Classes

When I teach, I like to be able to show a piece being made - typically by demonstrating it from scratch. Many times when you watch videos they are edited to make it look good, but not with all of the parts left in. I also like to be able to show the finished piece. Perhaps, after it has been bisque fired, and then show how I might glaze it. And finally I like to have the finished piece to show.  So much goes on in the process and takes so long between stages, I do my 'cooking show' magic by having the same piece in multiple stages. This takes some extra work, but I think it's worth it as a teaching technique.

Here is a large platter with a decorative rim. I demonstrated how to make this in the studio for students. They got to see how I formed it and made the special rim. Next I showed how to make the handles and a week or so later I glazed it during a class dedicated to glazing. I made this particular piece from a clay body that i normally do not use, so my glazes might look or behave a little differently. Out of the kiln..... beautiful color and shape. but I immediately heard some very disturbing pings. Clay and Glaze need to "fit" together, and I knew immediately that this clay did NOT like my glaze! It sheared in two pieces from the stress between the clay and the glaze. Complicated chemistry , but using my normal clay body corrects the problem. Watch the video.......

Here is another piece that was used as a glaze demo in class last week. 2 colors working in concert.