tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76150085855181108932024-03-12T21:45:22.563-05:00Sheridan Ray PotterySheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-60569370885738402722012-08-13T20:08:00.001-05:002012-08-13T20:08:50.482-05:00Just a quick updateHello everyone,<br />
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It has been a very long time since I have posted anything on this blog and I am going to try and fix that. I know it is not New Years but I am going to make a resolution anyway. I am going to try and make a post at least twice a week so I can keep everyone up to date on what is going on in the world of Sheridan Ray Pottery.<br />
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First off I would like to let everyone who does not alread know that my wife and I at the beginning of the summer had a little baby boy. His name is Simon Christopher Ray. I will post some pictures in the next couple of days of his last 10 weeks.<br />
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Second. As of this past Friday my wife and I are now home owners. We purchased a house just down the street from Metamora High School where I work. It is also just down the street from Metamora Fields Golf Course where I play so the best of both worlds.<br />
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Third and Fourth. I am in the works of planning and building a new studio and wood fired kiln. <br />
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That is it for now. Until next time.<br />
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SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-86831958328687223642010-12-25T00:33:00.003-06:002010-12-25T00:36:08.451-06:00Merry Christmas!!Merry Christmas Everyone. I have been lazy with the blog as of late but there have been many things going on that have taken <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">precedence</span>. I will get into that on another day. As for now Merry Christmas once again and Happy New Year.<br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-80115101279628714202010-09-11T16:26:00.002-05:002010-09-11T16:29:31.865-05:00Just an UpdateSorry I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">haven't</span> been posting as much as I would like to be. I have been having sales these past couple of weekends and my time has been pretty much dedicated to that. I did get to go to the driving range yesterday with my brother and I am paying for it today. My whole body is sore. I just want to let everyone out there in blogger land know that after the sale this weekend and after I make my clay order I am going to be getting back to the studio full time to make pots for a Christmas sale. The tentative dates on that are going to be the first two weekends in December. Once I get all the details figured out I will let everyone know for sure. Until then have a nice weekend.<br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-31330731982961276732010-08-21T19:10:00.002-05:002010-08-21T19:21:20.327-05:00Sale PicturesHere are some pictures from the sales that I have been at the past two weekends. The first two pictures are from the Washington Fine Arts Festival which was last weekend and the last two pictures are my table setups from this past sale in Eureka. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/THBrdAKchkI/AAAAAAAAALE/awrP2bWg7Qw/s1600/IMG_1441.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508020490278307394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/THBrdAKchkI/AAAAAAAAALE/awrP2bWg7Qw/s200/IMG_1441.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The big jars sitting up in this picture are 4 lb. jars and besides the blue one they are all gone. I really like the amber colored jar with the slip trailing and so did the person who got to take it home with them. I am going to do some more of that slip trailing under the amber glaze because it turned out really nice. I want to come up with a crackle slip to put unding the amber glaze. I think it will be really sharp. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/THBrctxHXAI/AAAAAAAAAK8/qhlHL3xvmRU/s1600/IMG_1440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508020485340224514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/THBrctxHXAI/AAAAAAAAAK8/qhlHL3xvmRU/s200/IMG_1440.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This picture is also from the sale last weekend. Almost all of the pots on this book shelf are all sold.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/THBrcK4bPNI/AAAAAAAAAK0/D9K__gjwFmA/s1600/DSC01429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508020475975646418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/THBrcK4bPNI/AAAAAAAAAK0/D9K__gjwFmA/s200/DSC01429.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the first of the two pictures from this past sale in Eureka. I sold about half of the pitchers and quite a few bowls. I am going to be hurting for pots for my sale in two weeks but I'll survive.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/THBrbgxYnBI/AAAAAAAAAKs/L452ZfFv8J4/s1600/DSC01428.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508020464671824914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/THBrbgxYnBI/AAAAAAAAAKs/L452ZfFv8J4/s200/DSC01428.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'd like to stay and chat but my uncles are in town from out of state and they are trying to get me to go celebrate so this is going to be cut a little short. <br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-11724085269500581192010-08-10T17:13:00.004-05:002010-08-10T18:06:27.714-05:00Fresh Pots From the KilnSo this is something that I havent done as of yet on this blog. I have been working on glaze testing for almost the past year trying to get things just right. While I wasnt glaze testing I was either making pots, clay, or something else probably not all to productive. I have just recently got my glaze to where I want them, for now, and am finally glaze firing my work. This is all happeneing right in the nick of time because I have an Art fair this weekend and I am hoping with these glazes to do well. The link to the website with all the information to this weekends sale is here>>><a href="http://www.washingtonfinearts.org/uploads/eMailPromo.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.washingtonfinearts.org/uploads/eMailPromo.pdf</a>. I am also having barn sales during the first two weekends of September. Enough with the talk on with the pictures.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS6wJRjdI/AAAAAAAAAKE/IotmjAm7RHM/s1600/DSC01395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503912126421503442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS6wJRjdI/AAAAAAAAAKE/IotmjAm7RHM/s200/DSC01395.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These are three of my four new glazes. I also have a cream glaze that is in the next picture. I am probably going to stick with these 4 different glazes so that I only have four buckets of glaze hanging around. Right now I have some different layering tests in the kiln so I hope to have pictures of some of those tomorrow.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS6evShvI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/_y14UukuAJw/s1600/DSC01396.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503912121749112562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS6evShvI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/_y14UukuAJw/s200/DSC01396.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is my cream glaze. I am really happy with how this one turned out. I am not sure if you can see it from this picture but a couple of these cream mugs that were sitting next to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">green</span> glaze in the kiln got some green blushes on them. It is a very subtle blush but it makes the pot that much better.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS5zmDaeI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/k-vFgb1esTo/s1600/DSC01399.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503912110167648738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS5zmDaeI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/k-vFgb1esTo/s200/DSC01399.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So here is a group of pots that came out of the last firing. I really like my pots to cater to the kitchen and garden so I wanted to make glazes that even though they were different colors would match each other. The green and blue together <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">aren't</span> the best but the cream, amber, green or cream, amber, blue look great together.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS5fGTnEI/AAAAAAAAAJs/MA2svTtJm6M/s1600/DSC01418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503912104665783362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS5fGTnEI/AAAAAAAAAJs/MA2svTtJm6M/s200/DSC01418.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is one of the layering tests I was talking about. This particular load of pots started with disaster this morning at about 10. On top of these bowls in the kiln was a large floor jar that ended up exploding during the firing. Luckily the jar was a bone dry jar so that all the pieces were easy to clean up but none the less I was kinda sad. These bowls survived just fine since they had a kiln shelf to protect them from the debris but I wont see how they turn out until the next firing. The glaze combo on these is my cream glaze as the base with a ribbon of my amber glaze. I have this combo on a vase I believe in the firing that I am unloading tomorrow.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS4zmHiCI/AAAAAAAAAJk/jCNTBCkecd8/s1600/DSC01419.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503912092988049442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TGHS4zmHiCI/AAAAAAAAAJk/jCNTBCkecd8/s200/DSC01419.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last but not least glazed pitchers. These are going into the kiln tomorrow morning. There is another set of them on sawhorses just to the right of this picture but they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">haven't</span> been glazed yet due to their size. They are about 15 inches tall and my glaze buckets are just a little bit to small. I did find some 10 gallon rubber maid plastic garbage cans online that will be perfect for pretty much any glazing I have to do. Hopefully I will get those by the beginning of next week. I am also hoping that now that I am glazing pots and firing again I will be posting a heck of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">a lot</span> more. I found that when all I was doing was making pots the posts were sort of redundant. Oh well...... Cheers!<br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-56358810779708942152010-07-13T21:18:00.001-05:002010-07-13T23:37:33.297-05:00Lets try this again...So I have been a very bad blogger for the past six months. I am going to try and keep up with things a little bit better. My goal is to try and post at least two times a week. During the past couple of months I have been a potter, coach, babysitter and student. I was a track coach during the spring and when you add that to making pots all day that left me very little time for blogging. Now that track is over and it is Summer I am not only making pots but I am babysitting my neice and nephew a couple of days a week. On top of all of that I am taking a couple of classes at a community college so I will be able to start substitute teaching. I have been doing a lot of things lately trying to get ready for an art sale mid August and a barn sale in September. I am in the middle of testing some new glazes so hopefully in a couple of weeks I will have a full set of working glazes.<br /><br />In the picture below is where I store all of my bisque pots before I fire them. Right now I dont have any working glazes that I like so I am gaining bisqued pots at a crazy rate.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g19khThI/AAAAAAAAAJM/kl8wlryg7xQ/s1600/DSC01345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493583231894769170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g19khThI/AAAAAAAAAJM/kl8wlryg7xQ/s200/DSC01345.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These big pots I made today. They are about 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall. I am able to make these pretty fast thanks to a weed burner I bought a couple of years ago. I am able to make each pot in about an hour and a half.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g1AK1wDI/AAAAAAAAAI8/l5peaAxUAp4/s1600/DSC01348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493583215412494386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g1AK1wDI/AAAAAAAAAI8/l5peaAxUAp4/s200/DSC01348.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>The next two pots below were fired in my friends Joe and Christy Cole's wood fired kiln. The show that is mid August requires a few pictures of pots for the juried section and these are two of the pots I chose to get pictures taken of. The blues on the sides of the pot are due to the close proximity to the ember bed in the kiln. There is now glaze on the outside of the pot all of the color and flashing is due to the wood ash and flame from the firebox.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g27hMpDI/AAAAAAAAAJc/_E3ZVQfeHSI/s1600/DSC01317.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493583248523830322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g27hMpDI/AAAAAAAAAJc/_E3ZVQfeHSI/s200/DSC01317.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g2eE1EjI/AAAAAAAAAJU/5Y4cbpgHoks/s1600/DSC01316.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493583240620216882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g2eE1EjI/AAAAAAAAAJU/5Y4cbpgHoks/s200/DSC01316.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This last picture is a test glaze that I am working on. I just did a test firing and this test glaze I just threw together and I am really pleased with the results. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g1kjIzwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/qLVh5PxhoIo/s1600/DSC01346.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493583225178083074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/TD0g1kjIzwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/qLVh5PxhoIo/s200/DSC01346.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-38715465069906387222010-01-10T10:55:00.000-06:002010-01-10T10:58:36.948-06:00Long Time No See...It has been really crazy over these last few months and posting has been sort of put at the way side. Just to recap I was married in November, had family in town for both Christmas and New Years and I moved my studio to a new location. I will post some pictures here in the next couple days of these events.<br /><br />As for now I am in the middle of testing some cone 6 raw glazes. I have a pretty good group of base glazes that I am going to work with over the next couple of weeks. Once again I will post some pictures of these glazes as they come out of the kiln.Sheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-62768382579827129942009-09-03T22:22:00.000-05:002009-09-03T22:41:01.653-05:00Another day of pottingToday I made more lids for small 1.5 lb canisters I made yesterday. I also made some 3 and 5 lb pitchers. I got a little carried away with the third pitcher back. It seems to have more hip than belly....<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SqCJIBlu6uI/AAAAAAAAAIM/lbbEbaavfCs/s1600-h/DSC00828.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377448726039030498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SqCJIBlu6uI/AAAAAAAAAIM/lbbEbaavfCs/s320/DSC00828.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is a tow piece vase that I made about 20 min. ago. I really like how it turned out. The base is 7.5 lbs and the neck is 2.5 lbs. I threw the base and then took my weed burner to it to stiffen it up. I then threw the neck on my treadle wheel and added it to the stiffened base. I joined the two together and refined the shape of the neck. I am thinking about adding some handle to this piece but I am not sure. We will see how I feel about that in the morning.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SqCJHpjuIjI/AAAAAAAAAIE/r_POmx4i-Pw/s1600-h/DSC00830.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377448719588139570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SqCJHpjuIjI/AAAAAAAAAIE/r_POmx4i-Pw/s320/DSC00830.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anyone who has seen this blog has got to be getting bored of seeing pots that aren't finished.... I know I would. The reason I don't have any finished pieces on here yet is because my electric kiln is not in an area where there is sufficient power so therefore I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">haven't</span> been able to do any glaze firings. I am however spending the next couple of days at one of my uncles collecting and splitting wood so I can fire my small wood kiln on Sunday or Monday. I have fired this kiln once before but of course I didn't have enough wood to do anything. I am hoping that there will be enough wood to get the kiln up to temp. maybe I will have some pictures of finished pots on here. Hopefully....<br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-8561151386780504552009-09-01T22:07:00.000-05:002009-09-01T22:21:40.546-05:00TeapotsI did a run of teapots the other day and here is what I came up with. They are all relatively the same except for a few of them that I gave a decorative foot too. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sp3i1lmdhgI/AAAAAAAAAH0/6RnSsIx1sfo/s1600-h/DSC00816.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376702940404614658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sp3i1lmdhgI/AAAAAAAAAH0/6RnSsIx1sfo/s320/DSC00816.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is one of the ones with the decorative foot. I left enough clay at the bottow while throwing that I was able to scallop the foot. My fiance thinks that it looks like the teapot from Beauty and the Beast. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sp3i2Gz3cMI/AAAAAAAAAH8/odypNw92OKQ/s1600-h/DSC00818.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376702949319209154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sp3i2Gz3cMI/AAAAAAAAAH8/odypNw92OKQ/s320/DSC00818.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am hoping to be spending tomorrow splitting logs so I can give my test wood kiln another go. I am going to go at it a little bit different this time around but I want to make sure that I have enough wood to even get the kiln to temp.<br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-69835949093275934532009-08-26T22:43:00.000-05:002009-08-26T23:15:25.906-05:00Today in a nutshellToday I made some 2 lb. canisters and a couple of tea pots.<br /><br />Bellow are the canisters. I made a batch of about 400 lbs of clay yesterday and instead of letting it age like any smart person I decided to just jump right in and start throwing it. The clay didn't really respond to well with what I was trying to do but I fought through it anyway. I added some reclaim to the batch when I made it yesterday and that has made the clay slightly plastic but not as plastic as I would like. As you can see the canisters are straight sided as opposed to a bellied jar. I really like the look of straight sided canisters plus the straight sides take up less counter space.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SpYFDxxSVPI/AAAAAAAAAHk/bbUmFr61M3s/s1600-h/DSC00809.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374488767771071730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SpYFDxxSVPI/AAAAAAAAAHk/bbUmFr61M3s/s320/DSC00809.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are the lids for the Canisters. I try and make all of the lid seats all the same size. It really makes it easy to crank out the lids rather than measuring each individual pot and then making the lid. another good thing about making all of the lid seats the same size is that you dont have to make the lids right while the pots are wet. I made these canisters at about noon today. I couldnt make the lids right away because I had to go pick out a wedding cake but that didnt really matter because like I said I already knew what size to make ALL of the lids.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SpYFEg_Z1GI/AAAAAAAAAHs/UYNuCJD_K1M/s1600-h/DSC00811.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374488780446749794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SpYFEg_Z1GI/AAAAAAAAAHs/UYNuCJD_K1M/s320/DSC00811.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These teapots are probably the most successful ones I have ever made. I think they have a nice shape and where the spouts are connected they have a really nice seam that isnt over worked. Now all they need to do is pour well and I'm in business.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SpYFDCekojI/AAAAAAAAAHc/ZRN6vKNj6IA/s1600-h/DSC00813.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374488755076112946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SpYFDCekojI/AAAAAAAAAHc/ZRN6vKNj6IA/s320/DSC00813.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Till next time....<br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-24190167723226262102009-08-21T17:59:00.001-05:002009-08-21T18:24:35.946-05:00Random Pics...Here are some random pictures of pots I have made over the past couple of weeks.<br /><br />This double bellied pot is going to be a lamp... Hopefully.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qSkcqXoI/AAAAAAAAAHM/tuyHnBye0Mk/s1600-h/DSC00776.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372559378986196610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qSkcqXoI/AAAAAAAAAHM/tuyHnBye0Mk/s320/DSC00776.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I just made this vase today. I threw the base first using 7.5 lbs. of clay and then I added the neck which was about 2 lbs. of clay.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qSAUS5sI/AAAAAAAAAHE/BuZksvJRdBc/s1600-h/DSC00798.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372559369287427778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qSAUS5sI/AAAAAAAAAHE/BuZksvJRdBc/s320/DSC00798.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I also threw this pitcher today. My pots seem to be getting a little more belly than I am used to having. The reason for this, I think, is that the way I mixed the clay up this time around made it really plastic. I made a test batch of about 20 lbs in a 5 gallon bucket and mixed it to a slurry. I then dumped the bucket into a trough and let it air dry for about a week.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qRTj6eyI/AAAAAAAAAG8/yLvdbA6GNeE/s1600-h/DSC00797.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372559357273340706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qRTj6eyI/AAAAAAAAAG8/yLvdbA6GNeE/s320/DSC00797.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I fired this test kiln about 2 weeks ago and got it up to cone 7. I only had about 30 lbs. of propane so I knew I wouldn't get all the way to cone 10 but I thought I would give it a shot anyway.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qQyBf1dI/AAAAAAAAAG0/pPasrR3XPFo/s1600-h/DSC00783.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372559348270618066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qQyBf1dI/AAAAAAAAAG0/pPasrR3XPFo/s320/DSC00783.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is a picture of the ware rack after I organized it today. It doesn't look like there are many pots here but on the top shelf almost every pot is stacked in twos or threes.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qTEGJ1RI/AAAAAAAAAHU/M4w1llxS7fs/s1600-h/DSC00800.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372559387481724178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/So8qTEGJ1RI/AAAAAAAAAHU/M4w1llxS7fs/s320/DSC00800.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-28103577331150368812009-08-21T10:50:00.001-05:002009-08-21T11:04:25.119-05:00Here's whats going on.Its been a while since I have made a post. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">That's</span> because I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">haven't</span> been really doing a whole lot with pottery lately. My Fiance has a job interview in Chicago in a week or so, so I have been slowing down production just in case we get a call saying we have to pack our stuff up and head out. Besides posting on blogger I spent most of the morning cleaning up the studio and re-organizing my ware rack so that I am able to get more pots store more pots. My electric kiln that I have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">isn't</span> working as we speak so I am not able to glaze fire or even bisque fire for that matter. That makes things difficult because I am stuck with all of these really fragile <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pieces</span> of pottery that I cant store anywhere else but the ware rack....<br /><br />Recently I posted some videos on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">YouTube</span> of some different pots that I threw yesterday. If you are interested the links are...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JId3gEp2hiE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JId3gEp2hiE</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VCziJY5OhU&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VCziJY5OhU&feature=channel</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF7QeQ3Dpoo&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF7QeQ3Dpoo&feature=channel</a><br /><br />Let me know what you think. I am planning on making some more video once I get some clay made. I just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">received</span> an order of about 2000 lbs. of dry clay, but as I mentioned earlier I might not be in this exact spot in a month or so. If anyone in blogger world is in Peoria, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">IL</span> this weekend I am having another pottery sale so you should stop by. I have mostly the same stuff as my last sale seeing as I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">haven't</span> had a chance to fire anything new. I am also going to be in two up coming arts and craft shows around the area so hopefully I can get rid of some of my inventory so I can start really throwing again. <br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-7514276929479943382009-07-29T06:04:00.001-05:002009-07-29T06:42:41.627-05:00Some Random PhotosThis past week I have been making a few pots and mostly just getting things ready to try out my reduction kiln converter. These four pictures are just some random pictures of what has been going on lately. This first picture is of a lidded bowl, or sugar bowl. Whatever you want to call it.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SnAx2gNzuOI/AAAAAAAAAGs/ZqXX_l09jgc/s1600-h/DSC00756.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363841968628807906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SnAx2gNzuOI/AAAAAAAAAGs/ZqXX_l09jgc/s320/DSC00756.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These are the ash test glazes for the first firing of the reduction kiln. I have some other tests that I am going to put in there but this is what I mixed up yesterday. They are pretty simple recipes and that's because I am not one of those potters who wants a ton of stuff in my glazes. It starts to get to a point where you are spending to much money on glaze material when there is only 1-2 percent in the glaze. Not worth it. These are all raw glazes and they contain somewhere between 20-30 percent clay. There are three different sets of tests each containing a different clay. The first is just OM 4 ball clay, the second is Ohio Slip, and the third is Redart. The Ohio slip is a clay similar to Albany Slip. For more information go to <a href="http://www.akclay.com/">www.akclay.com</a>. I am hoping I can get at least one good test from each set so I can make a couple of different ash glazes. I am planning on having an amber ash, temmoku, blue ash, greenish ash, and maybe a glossy opaque ash of some sort.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SnAx2EqL74I/AAAAAAAAAGk/7jSwdLyKpps/s1600-h/DSC00767.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363841961231642498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SnAx2EqL74I/AAAAAAAAAGk/7jSwdLyKpps/s320/DSC00767.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is the Electric kiln reduction converter. I was supposed to get this is 4-6 weeks but about 4 days after I ordered it, it showed up at the front door.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SnAx1oO_RNI/AAAAAAAAAGc/o6eLGiFlkgQ/s1600-h/DSC00755.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363841953601373394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SnAx1oO_RNI/AAAAAAAAAGc/o6eLGiFlkgQ/s320/DSC00755.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the Converter with the kiln on it. This kiln has another section but I am only using this whole kiln as a test kiln so I don't need a whole lot of room for many pots. I might do a shelf or two but that would be it. I just have to figure out how to work the thing now. The instructions aren't really all that good but I think I will be able to figure it out.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SnAx1InkoeI/AAAAAAAAAGU/_sfYcWnWijY/s1600-h/DSC00768.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363841945114550754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SnAx1InkoeI/AAAAAAAAAGU/_sfYcWnWijY/s320/DSC00768.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cheers.Sheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-19837843741123726912009-07-20T22:38:00.000-05:002009-07-20T22:44:00.315-05:00WowToday I put a coat of adobe on the little test wood kiln that I built. I will post some Pictures of the kiln tomorrow. I finished putting the adobe on at 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ish</span> so there <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wasn't</span> very much light for a good picture. In other news I just found this video on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">youtube</span> and it is awesome. The URL is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDqNYcFWno">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDqNYcFWno</a>. It is of two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Jingdezhen</span> potters throwing huge amount of clay together. Check it out.<br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-34189010579968776852009-07-11T00:22:00.001-05:002009-07-11T00:45:15.238-05:00Follow up pictures part 1Here is a picture of Christy happy to be stoking<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlglhZg0AwI/AAAAAAAAAEA/242bUMMkhlE/s1600-h/DSC00632.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357073012471628546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlglhZg0AwI/AAAAAAAAAEA/242bUMMkhlE/s320/DSC00632.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Second chamber. Pretty light load.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Slglh1jj_QI/AAAAAAAAAEI/xZQL9G9_etM/s1600-h/DSC00553.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357073019999354114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Slglh1jj_QI/AAAAAAAAAEI/xZQL9G9_etM/s320/DSC00553.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlglirP9raI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/X8OuoBIQ0GU/s1600-h/DSC00621.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357073034412666274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlglirP9raI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/X8OuoBIQ0GU/s320/DSC00621.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the big bottle after it was taken out of the kiln.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgljNHRFiI/AAAAAAAAAEY/8iauUK9hf94/s1600-h/DSC00639.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357073043502994978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgljNHRFiI/AAAAAAAAAEY/8iauUK9hf94/s320/DSC00639.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Nice bit of reduction.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgljRE-VII/AAAAAAAAAEg/_pkNhshk-vI/s1600-h/DSC00650.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357073044567118978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgljRE-VII/AAAAAAAAAEg/_pkNhshk-vI/s320/DSC00650.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-33666632679859857662009-07-10T23:21:00.001-05:002009-07-11T00:22:08.445-05:00Huge couple of weeksThis past week I spent helping Joe and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Christy</span> Cole up at the Windy Ridge Pottery in Wisconsin. It was a really cool experience for me because it was the first time I had really been around a larger wood fired kiln. I have been to Mark Hewitt's pottery in North Carolina and seen those kilns but I only spent about an hour all together around both kilns. <br /><br />Our first project while I was there was to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">re coat</span> the kiln with a new and improved adobe mix that contained some local red clay. The original coat looked sort of grey and boring and you can see that one below.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWkeXs-xI/AAAAAAAAADY/c6B-D4Q5vZY/s1600-h/DSC00511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357056572640787218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWkeXs-xI/AAAAAAAAADY/c6B-D4Q5vZY/s320/DSC00511.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The New coat on the kiln has so much character. It has a nice dark red to orange color due to local clay. The new coat of adobe held up pretty well during the firing. There were a couple of cracks in the first chamber but that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">didn't</span> really seem to effect anything.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWk6BeCcI/AAAAAAAAADg/ZkOCVpNFfPs/s1600-h/DSC00536.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357056580063726018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWk6BeCcI/AAAAAAAAADg/ZkOCVpNFfPs/s320/DSC00536.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is the stack in the first chamber of the kiln. If you go to the Windy Ridge pottery blog you can see a couple of other pictures of the other chamber and the light stacking that it had. In the front of the actual stack there is a row of unglazed pots and to the right of the taller bottle in the middle is one of the pots that I was able to get into the kiln. Throughout the firing that bottle and almost everything to the right of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bigger</span> bottle for some reason got knocked over.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWlH4d6II/AAAAAAAAADo/KMiOu8pB73g/s1600-h/DSC00544.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357056583784065154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWlH4d6II/AAAAAAAAADo/KMiOu8pB73g/s320/DSC00544.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This picture is for Joe. On their blog they had a stokers gallery but Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">didn't</span> seem to have a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">picture</span> of himself. This picture is so perfect because Joe is stoking what looks like half of a tree into the kiln. That slab of wood lasted quite a while before it finally burned all out. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWlpUHfzI/AAAAAAAAADw/Bswlu1AtWA4/s1600-h/DSC00659.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357056592758406962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWlpUHfzI/AAAAAAAAADw/Bswlu1AtWA4/s320/DSC00659.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is that Bottle from one of the previous pictures. Some time during the beginning of the firing the taller bottle in the middle of the stack broke so Joe pulled it out of the kiln so the pots behind where is was sitting could get a little more ash. In the process I think my pot got knocked over but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">I'm</span> pretty sure that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">wasn't</span> really <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Joe's</span> fault because it was teetering before he started poking around. It was about one or two hours before we stopped stoking in the first chamber that Joe decided that we should pull the pot out of the kiln so I could take it home with me. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">didn't</span> know exactly how well that was going to work but he assured me that everything would be fine. He told me that David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Stuempfle</span> does it all the time so I trusted him. Good thing I did because the pot looked pretty sweet for hanging out in the firebox most of the firing. I will post a picture of the next time I post.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWmGKob_I/AAAAAAAAAD4/Yc3CvZorcJc/s1600-h/DSC00694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357056600503250930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SlgWmGKob_I/AAAAAAAAAD4/Yc3CvZorcJc/s320/DSC00694.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />While at the pottery I found out how much I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">dont </span>know about being a wood fired potter. I mean I am able to make the pots and all of that stuff but after seeing how much goes on and how much you really need to know about kiln design and function I figured that I needed a little more training. Joe and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Christy</span> helped me come up with a list of possible <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">apprenticeships</span> and/or residency <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">opportunities</span>. Hopefully something comes about. If anyone out there in blogger land knows of any good <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">opportunities</span> that will keep me close to a wood kiln I am all ears.<br /><br />I also found out about a wood fired workshop while at Joe and Christy's but of course I missed the deadline by about 4 days. I thought I would try my luck and email the guy and lucky for me he still had a spot open so on Aug. 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">th</span> I will be making my way to Strawberry Point, Iowa for the workshop. It seems like an awesome experience because we will be building, loading, and firing a wood fired kiln based on a Korean design. It should be fun.<br /><br />I will post some more pictures from Wisconsin soon. Until then.....Sheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-51364641285774717612009-07-01T15:23:00.000-05:002009-07-01T15:47:23.183-05:00Here are some pictures of my first wood kiln. As you can see I am probably breaking every rule when it comes to proper kiln construction but I had to work with what I had. For the floor I used some beat up and broken brick that I had and filled the cracks in with sand. On top of that I took three 2'x3' kiln shelves I had and set them side side making a 6'x3' floor. I then made a 4.5" wall all the way around and up 11 rows. I had some insulating brick so I used those up a little higher on the kiln because I started running out of hard brick. I finished the top of the kiln with 3 more kiln shelves. The stoke hole is on the side because I wanted to conserve kiln space and I didn't want to worry about getting a little to excited and knock over the bagwall. I have some intake air holed in the front of the kiln but there was not even close to enough of them. There was very little draft in the inaugural firing and I blame it on that. The exit flue might be a little small too, but those are quick fixes. I also have to add a layer of adobe over the whole thing so I can fill in some of the cracks and openings. I think that will help with the draft too. For this first firing I just wanted to see if the kiln would even work so we just tossed wood in for about an hour and we got it pretty hot. Maybe 1000-1200 degrees. Not certain but it got hot enough quick enough to crack one of the kiln shelves that is being used as the lid. I had a feeling that might happen but I w<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvHBxmfbvI/AAAAAAAAACg/XN-SDTckcJ4/s1600-h/DSCF0051.JPG"></a>as willing to take the chance. Anyway here are some of the pics.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvK-TrTlHI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Ojxx76ICdyo/s1600-h/DSCF0051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353595753842578546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvK-TrTlHI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Ojxx76ICdyo/s320/DSCF0051.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvHCeGcIYI/AAAAAAAAACo/gOFKgGQflDc/s1600-h/DSCF0061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353591427313705346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvHCeGcIYI/AAAAAAAAACo/gOFKgGQflDc/s320/DSCF0061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvHC7sVjwI/AAAAAAAAACw/_7yUZHOj-yQ/s1600-h/DSCF0064.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvHBxmfbvI/AAAAAAAAACg/XN-SDTckcJ4/s1600-h/DSCF0051.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvHC7sVjwI/AAAAAAAAACw/_7yUZHOj-yQ/s1600-h/DSCF0064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353591435257286402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SkvHC7sVjwI/AAAAAAAAACw/_7yUZHOj-yQ/s320/DSCF0064.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-54405269282889452092009-06-20T12:20:00.000-05:002009-06-20T12:53:52.246-05:00Its been a whileIts been a while since I have made a post but that is for good reason. Lately I have been getting quotes on steel buildings so I can build a studio and sales gallery. It seems like it would be pretty straight forward but Its crazy how many different places have steel buildings and the different kinds of buildings there are and all of the options one can choose. Once I figure out all of the details I will post some picture of where I will eventually build the studio, kiln, and when my fiance and I have enough money a house. I have also been drawing up some kiln plans for the kiln I would like to build later this summer. Thanks to Joe Cole I now a supply of brick I just have to come up with a design that will best suit my needs.<br /><br />Anyway enough of all of that. Here are some pots that I have been making lately. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">haven't</span> had much time to throw but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">here's</span> what I have so far.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sj0c5lXL_4I/AAAAAAAAACA/fyJYgfr-Ebk/s1600-h/SDC10008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349463707993505666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sj0c5lXL_4I/AAAAAAAAACA/fyJYgfr-Ebk/s320/SDC10008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The jar on the left is supposed to have handles on the neck but it was a little to dry before I got to it.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sj0fT4ehRlI/AAAAAAAAACI/O0R296F_Y50/s1600-h/SDC10009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349466358824388178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sj0fT4ehRlI/AAAAAAAAACI/O0R296F_Y50/s320/SDC10009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Bowls...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sj0g2ia1NsI/AAAAAAAAACQ/K5uYHiT6xm4/s1600-h/SDC10010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349468053710386882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sj0g2ia1NsI/AAAAAAAAACQ/K5uYHiT6xm4/s320/SDC10010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Trimmed Bowls...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sj0g2-_DY5I/AAAAAAAAACY/E-aJdMkoBCs/s1600-h/SDC10011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349468061378503570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Sj0g2-_DY5I/AAAAAAAAACY/E-aJdMkoBCs/s320/SDC10011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is my first attempt at an umbrella pot. I thought it turned out really nice. It is a little small for my liking though. Since it was my first one I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">didn't</span> really want to much each section very hard and through the whole thing of center. I really like the shape so I think I am going to continua making these.<br /><br />Alright well breaks over. Back to work.<br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-14679520431351445382009-06-10T18:45:00.000-05:002009-06-10T19:05:30.195-05:00SALE!!!I know it is last minute but I would like to let everyone know that I am having a sale June 13th and 14th from 8 to 4. Here are some pictures of pots that I have available.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SjBHIVQfhhI/AAAAAAAAABg/Q94MytFkVnQ/s1600-h/P6100103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345850966159623698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SjBHIVQfhhI/AAAAAAAAABg/Q94MytFkVnQ/s320/P6100103.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SjBHyWzj94I/AAAAAAAAABo/XJ2k8v3ctBo/s1600-h/P6100105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345851688129656706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SjBHyWzj94I/AAAAAAAAABo/XJ2k8v3ctBo/s320/P6100105.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is one of my favorite pitchers I have ever made. I love the shape and the way the wood ash interacted with the glaze just worked.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SjBIa8hUQPI/AAAAAAAAABw/wzjAKr-FUr4/s1600-h/P6100107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345852385448444146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SjBIa8hUQPI/AAAAAAAAABw/wzjAKr-FUr4/s320/P6100107.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SjBJC3tnWBI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Wg2Kl3d__Hw/s1600-h/P6100108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345853071352616978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/SjBJC3tnWBI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Wg2Kl3d__Hw/s320/P6100108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last but not least are flower pots. I know it is a little late in the season for these guys but this was the best time for me to have a sale. There are some more just off screen to the left but I think this picture gets the point across. <br /><br />SheridanSheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615008585518110893.post-77360645203843137772009-06-09T20:51:00.000-05:002009-06-09T21:23:31.198-05:00Hi<span style="font-family:georgia;">So here is my first post on this blog. For everyone who doesn't know me, which is most likely everyone who visits this blog, here is a little background info. My name is Sheridan Ray and I am a recent graduate from Monmouth College. I am 22 years old and am in the process of setting up a pottery in Metamora, IL. Right now I am working out of my parents garage making stoneware pots which I fire to cone 10 in my electric kilns. The eventual plan is to move the pottery out to the country and build a studio, wood kiln, and eventually a house.<br /><br />Here are a couple of pots I have been working on lately. I recently went to a Saturday morning farmers market in Peoria and found that I needed to make pots that were a little more fancy so here are some of the forms I came up with.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Si8UbzklCBI/AAAAAAAAAAg/ejcB7g0vaN8/s1600-h/P6090099.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345513750644721682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Si8UbzklCBI/AAAAAAAAAAg/ejcB7g0vaN8/s320/P6090099.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Si8VNTYHSaI/AAAAAAAAAAo/aR5lzWhC0dY/s1600-h/P6090102.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345514600995965346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Si8VNTYHSaI/AAAAAAAAAAo/aR5lzWhC0dY/s320/P6090102.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Si8WMj6-ZeI/AAAAAAAAAAw/nO6ERz8nmQ0/s1600-h/P6090101.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345515687768909282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LBSGBh8h3tk/Si8WMj6-ZeI/AAAAAAAAAAw/nO6ERz8nmQ0/s320/P6090101.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am most happy with this last pot. The base is about 10 pounds and the neck is 3. Before Shrinking it is about 2 feet tall. The problem I have with making pots like this is that I always struggle with what to glaze them in. I have an amber ash glaze that I used back at school but that was in our big reduction kiln so I am not sure how that will translate to the oxidation firing. I think it will be fine but who knows. Till next time......</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sheridan<br /></span>Sheridan Ray Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762579202095602549noreply@blogger.com1