33 Bowls . . .

. . . for a wedding.

Welcome to a "Test Fest"

The Ceramics scholarship I received required creating and completing a project to benefit the Ceramics department.  I decided to do a lot of testing -- colorants in engobes, glaze combinations, underglazes, and foil saggar "ingredients".   These were exhibited in the studio at end of the semester.  

Perhaps I should have clarified the meaning of "Test Fest".  The first day of the exhibit, when the Ceramics I students arrived for class and saw "Test Fest", they about turned around and walked out, thinking they were going to be given some surprise quizzes.  Sorry, guys!

Guide to the Four Centers

Test results were set up in four separate "centers".  This brochure explained each center's test results and provided sources for more information.

The Four Centers

Foil Saggar Pot

This semester's class with Bob Smith (bobsmithraku.com)  is all about low temperature firings.  I am falling in love with it!

The vase came out of our very first firing.  Designs are created by fumes from various ingredients packed inside the foil package (kind of like a baked potato).

This particular pot was "decorated" with:  copper wire, salt, sugar, poppy seeds, Miracle Gro, steel wool, bronze wool, copper carbonate and horse hair.  Who knew?!  (Our instructor, apparently.  :-)  )

And I was thrilled it received 2nd Place at the Parkview Fine Arts Festival!

Sgraffito Mountain Scene Plates

These plates probably give new meaning to the phrase, "Eating off the land".   (Ooooo....maybe it's better to hang them.  :-)  The foot on each plate is trimmed with a deep-enough crevice to accommodate a nail. )  

Two of these are actual Colorado mountains.  Can you tell which?