More Boxes!

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Cat Sheridan

Tea-Bowls 20 – 23

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

I really enjoy the variety of this group. I formed #20 with legs from a single slab of clay (a nice change of approach and a good challenge on keeping it loose) #21 is an actual tumbler with a rounded bottom (webble-wobble and all) #22 is really tight, clean, and symmetrical and #23 is the largest I’ve stretched the size of the tea-bowl with a soft bulge of silhouette and hint of a lip. Having this much variety in such a small group of tea-bowls makes me anxious to see how far I can push the form for the remaining 77! For those curious, the white powder you see on the forms is actually cornstarch; I use it as a barrier so the clay doesn’t stick to surfaces when i’m hand building.

Float Blue Glaze

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

Float Blue glaze has been the most popular of the glazes I’ve used. I find the variety of vibrant colors within the glaze quite interesting. As you’ll see in all of the pieces in this post, something as simple as a little texture or whether it’s geometric or more angular changes the way the color manifests.

I was unable to find much in the way of history on this glaze which makes me think it’s one that’s been developed within the last century if not the last 50-30 years.

coffee mug

espresso mug

tumblers

shot glass

tumbler

cup

tall glass

set

nesting

Jun Ware

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

Jun Ware also has a deep rich history, originating in China in the first century. It typically shows as a brilliant sky blue and a bit thicker than most glazes which allows for some really interesting possibilities for controlled (or uncontrolled) drips. If you’d like to read more on Jun Ware, you can find great resources here: http://gotheborg.com/glossary/jun.shtml and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun_ware

excellent glaze movement and small embellishments in the handles.

Simple elegant handles. Movement and play in the glaze.

excellent glaze movement and resting drips.

Large box with handle embellishments

with handle embellishments

Orange Red

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

The Orange Red glaze used on these pieces was developed by techs at CCAD. This is one of my very favorite glazes for its near matte finish and variance in color. The deep red is so inviting and lush it reminds me a bit of red velvet cake.

Tenmoku

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

Tenmoku is quiet a storied glaze also, with deep roots in China as well as Japan. Known well for being a dark nearly black brown with an oil spill like finish it often has big movement causing lovely or disastrous drips.

small tenmoku open

little robot open

tenmoku little robot

Ironstone Box

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

Today is the day! If you are in Columbus, Ohio, I hope to see you at the Winter Flea at Strongwater, 400 West Rich Street, 43215, 12 – 5 pm.

Small Ironstone

Small Ironstone, open

1″ box finished with the Ironstone glaze on the outside and Sumiko’s white on the inside.

This is my new favorite! I find I gravitate to the smaller pieces with lovely understated flourishes.

Itty Bitty, open

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

As promised, here is the itty bitty box open! And a bonus photo of my curious kitty Mona, photo-bombing.

Itty Bitty open

Mona Photo-Bombing!

Production Mode

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

Slabs for the big one

the big one

Here you see the rolled and prepped slab along with cut sides

here you can see one formed next to the cut sides

I liked the form so much I decided to do one much larger

and of course I can’t not do a couple little ones

I had a little extra textured clay and made a small round lidded vessel

Sometimes it’s helpful when trying to comprehend the amount of work going into forming these vessels for one to see the “underbelly” of the production beast.

Love-Bird Boxes

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Cat Sheridan

The glaze found and settled in the crevasses of the texture on these love-bird boxes, hooray! There’s something really lovely about the surprise of ceramics, no matter how much you plan there is an addition of chance that can create happenings that can never be duplicated. I’ll be sure to try this textural approach on more pieces with different glazes as well.

I think these two boxes embody one of my very favorite quotes: “Consider everything an experiment.” -Sister Corita Kent