|
All of my vessels are made from earthenware clay either formed on the potter's wheel, or, as with my Ikebana vase, slipcast from my original design, then refined and altered on the potter's wheel. My pottery is decorated with either Sgraffito style carvings or a "chattering" technique.
Sgraffito, meaning "to scratch," is a design carved freehand through several layers of color, revealing the contrasting clay body underneath.
"Chattering" is actually a fault that can occur while trimming a piece of pottery. If the clay is too dry or the potters wheel is moving too fast, the metal trim tool will begin to vibrate, causing small indentations in the clay. I have learned to control and enhance this fault, producing a subtle texture in the pottery. I have developed a special technique for the application of color that highlights the texture. Many people comment that the final piece has a translucent look of glass.
Once the decorations are complete, the pots are allowed to dry thoroughly and are then put through a first firing (called a bisque firing) in the kiln. Clear glaze is applied and then the pots are fired again at a temperature near 2000°F. |
|
Pottery by Gayle Pritchard |
