underglaze tests – Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis https://www.gillianmcmillan.com Tue, 11 Nov 2014 04:39:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Stoneware pots for the next salt firing https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2014/11/10/stoneware-pots-for-the-next-salt-firing/ https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2014/11/10/stoneware-pots-for-the-next-salt-firing/#respond Tue, 11 Nov 2014 04:39:04 +0000 http://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/?p=4780 I spent October just using stoneware clay. It is a mixture of Plainsman H550 and H570 which I found suited my needs best when I was working at Medalta. The smoothness of the 570 (almost a porcelain) and the iron-bearing 550 combine to give me the best colour in a salt firing. I’ve made some tumblers and goblets because two Granville Island customers asked if I would but everything else is just whatever I felt like making.

Stoneware work
Stoneware work

As I mentioned in my post about Dan Severance there may be some bright colour possible with using Speedball underglazes. So you’ll see that I have some test cookies to go in the next firing, and I put some underglazes on four little vases and a mug, resisted it with latex and sprayed the pieces with my usual blue slip.

P1020964

Now the work has all been sprayed with blue or ‘red’ slip and some titanium dioxide, and have been bisque fired. How can I now wait until mid-December to get these in to our next salt firing? But I’m glad to have them ready. Watch for photos later.

Bisque fired pots (two by Eric M at the back)
Bisque fired pots (two by Eric M at the back)

I am now getting on with making more of my regular colourful earthenware jugbirds. I must say that the red clay is a delight to throw.

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