Fall Colours

Red-billed Jugbird

When I take a good look at my latest pots from the soda kiln I see that the most successful ones were sprayed with slips that produce orange and yellow flashing. So the general look is very Autumnal.

Green-banded Grooved Jar

 

When Claude Morin from Moose Jaw and I were working towards firing the salt kiln at Medalta, ten years ago now, we selected a recipe and mixed up a flashing slip called ‘Blair’s Red’. It’s predominantly the popular Helmer’s slip. I used that quite a bit for this firing, along with some ‘Lorna Meaden’s Yellow’. I keep trying for the traditional blue orange peel of salt glazing but in the soda kiln I find that wherever the soda hits I get luscious blue but the back side turns very dark. I think that the techs (Linda, Jay and/or Tony? I don’t know) used a generous amount of soda and a good temperature was reached, so that’s just how soda works and I must adapt. I was happy to see that the sploosh of titanium dioxide over any blue I did use produced the hoped-for green in some spots.

Orange Jugbird

 

But I have to say again that the consistent all-over orange peel that is much more attainable in a salt firing than in a soda firing is my preference. Being able to join a soda firing two or three times a year at Shadbolt Centre is a super privilege and I shall continue to take advantage of that, but the truth is that if ever I am offered the chance to add some pots to a salt firing again I shall be one happy camper. Joining Jackie Frioud’s salt firing last year for her workshop was a special treat. Her blue slip which she applied on my pots gave me the nicest surface I’ve had on my pots in some years. Please contact me if you would consider including me as a helper and financial contributor to your salt firing, any time.. perhaps next year. Fingers crossed folks. And I promise not to insist on ‘heavy salt’ .. any salt is super.

Gold-billed Jugbird

 

 

 

 

 

That said, I find that I am enjoying most of the pieces that came out of this month’s soda. The jugbirds are warm and alert, the green-banded groovy jar turned out really well and the smaller mugs, yunomi and dishes will make good Christmas gift offerings. I shall take just three dark pieces from this firing and ask the technicians to place them in my next soda firing with the dark side out and I know that will make them deliciously smooth and bright. As Tony said as I left, ‘you expected 100 percent?!’

Gillian McMillan

Gillian writes blogs about ceramics in and around Vancouver and sometimes talks about other Art, her garden, travels and family.

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