Ceramic Pains

Some two weeks ago, this happy piece was pulled from the depths of the glaze kiln.And I was rather happy with the form. Not so much the glaze, but to me, it was just such a happy little piece. Until I realized that I did not actually clean the lip of the lid as well as I should've. And in failing to do this, the lid kissed the body, and stuck together they were!

To fix this, we have a wooden mallet in the studio. It's a handy dandy mallet. However, it is a bit abused, and thus, one side of it is a toothy, snarling mess. But whatever, right? I take this mallet and my piece and hold the lid and go to tap the lid, gently, just to loosen it. ...and miss. Or something. I'm really not entirely sure WHAT I did hit and didn't. However, one of those snarling, splintery teeth glanced off my thumb nail and went into my finger instead! Just to the side of the nail. Let's keep in mind this was two weeks ago, roughly. Now, let me also note that I am terrified of needles and stubbornly refuse to dig out a splinter. My finger hurt for days, and eventually eased up, made a strange brown spot, but generally felt okay.

A friend claims I am in denial, however, my mother thought it was a blood blister. I hadn't a clue what it was, I was just happy it didn't hurt! Over time, it was steadily becoming a raised bump on my thumb, and to cut the details, I eventually got it up. Lo-and-behold, it was a splinter! A rather large splinter. And it seemed as if it was either lodged between layers of skin, or skin started to grow under the wound, pushing it up, and thus making a bump? ..Maybe? Sorta like when you peel from a sunburn?

Anyway, happy story. The lid of my piece is seperate from the body and I no longer have a splinter in my thumb! However, I find it amusing that of all the things to injured by in a ceramic studio, I get injured by a stupid wooden mallet!

In any case, a little bit of info on the piece. It is a wheel thrown jar, thrown in two pieces, a leaf 'knob' on top, and made with a mid-fire clay (buffalo wallow for anyone in Texas). Coated in engobe during leather hard, charteuse swirls painted on with Velvet glazes, and dipped in two studio glazes. Combination? Don't remember. My professor would fuss at me for not taking notes in my sketch book.

In other news, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Greetings

Greetings to all of my fellow ceramic addicted artists! While I sit here in my student worker job thing, I decided it would make the perfect time to start this blog. I figured I tell you the usual, a little bit about me and my ceramic history, what I kind of intend on doing with this blog, and so on. Perhaps a schedule to follow, or possibly not as I fail at sticking to something. Like wet glaze trying to stick to a piece that's already been glaze fired, and vitrified. And moving on. I also warn you this blog could possibly filled with witless puns of the dirty kind.

History

I'm not entirely sure where I get my artsy love. My dad is one of those types that can't stop working, but is more involved with mechanical and instrumentation at a plant. My mom has just started to do massage and into alternative healings. My grandfather on my mom's side did some carpentry and I know my great aunt was a fabulous baker. Sadly, I never knew her or got to eat those delicious creations. However, I think its a little obvious that working with your hands kind of runs in the family. With the exception of my sister, who is a graceful dancer. ...So, she works with her feet, but that's beside the point!

I remember as a child, going through coloring books like crazy, and maybe doing a little picture book of my own for some family member that was coming down that was an artist. I don't remember which member it was, let alone her name. In elementry, I recall doodling unicorn horns all over my assignments, and getting fussed at for that. In junior high, I was more into writing. ...but also doodling all over things. That continued into highschool, and doodling on my band folder. Eventually, in my junior year, while I sat in the bottom group of the band, the director told me that if I "wanted to draw that crap, get out of band and go to art class." So, in my senior year, I left band and went to art class! I got my first taste of clay in that class and loved it so.

When I went to the local community college, there was a ceramic class. I joined with Debra Chronister as my professor, who still is today. It took a semester or three to find my niche, and when I first started to throw, I HATED it with the burning passion of the flame that runs the raku kiln. So I got more into handbuilding and sculpting. I've always had a fascination with dragons, and thus:

And many others. I spent a few semesters sculpting, while watching everyone produce more and more stuff, and eventually decided to go into throwing again.
For whatever reason, this second approach was much more enjoyable and successful.

Ceramic Likes

Some of my favorite ceramic methods are raku, stipling the top of my pots, and doing raised stipling with engobes. I particularly love ceramics as a community. The studio is like a second home with a second family. I love all the different, endless methods of altering clay, and I so so love the smell of damp clay.

Likes Outside Clay

In highschool, I volunteered at the local zoo, and did so for years. I've also worked at a couple of pet stores, so I obviously rather like pets. So much, that I have 3 dogs, 4 leopard geckos, a crested gecko, 2 bettas, a few guppies, an African dwarf frog, and a gerbil that keep me company and provide entertainment.

(Yes, this gecko has wonky limbs. Yes, she had MBD. No, she's not suffering still. Its all better. :D ) I still rather enjoy painting, digital art, chatting, baking, working in polymer clay, roleplaying of the writing type, and gaming ..sorta.

So...

Moving on. Schedule? As mentioned, I rather fail at them. However, I will try to post at least every other week, if not, more frequently. If you would like to see some of my stuff, look on Etsy at http://stormphyre.etsy.com/
You can also watch me on Facebook . And see what crazyness goes on at the VC Studio.