Is this how it ends?

I spent a day and evening in the studio Thursday afternoon to Friday morning painting work for my what was supposed to be my last maiolica firing at Sheridan. But later in the day when I came back after sleeping I found a small bowl that I overlooked and didn't finish painting. I plan to finish painting it and firing later today. Friday was the last day of classes and I have to move and decide what to do next. Monday afternoon I have an interview at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto for one of the residency positions in the ceramics studio. And I'm hoping the work I made this week will be good enough to bring to my interview. Today I have to prepare work for a Soda kiln and photograph some work to include in my slide presentation for the interview.

I have included some wood fired tea caddy's being used a s bud vases. I often grab wild flowers and place them in small pieces to change the scenery of my work space. 

 

This was my studio space this year at school and this photo shows the aftermath of my marathon painting session. I will miss this space and the classmates I worked with this year.

5 days until…

I can hardly wait to get into the photo studio to shoot my work from the wood kiln. Wood firings are hard work but are worth it. There is always something exciting that happens during the process. The work for the Tea ceremony has been an inspiration for me when considering making work for wood kilns. I am currently making work last minute for a wood firing on Tuesday. Hopefully the rush will allow me to focus on intuition and produce work that looks fresh and immediate.

Unloading the Wood Kiln

Here is a quick video of Kass and Jenny unbricking the Wood kiln.
More pics and video to follow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtIvC-ThT38

I have included a post by my instructor Tony Clennell about the firing.
http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com/2010/02/tired-bones.html

Image update

Here are some of the pieces from my last kiln firing.

The first set is on the way!

So I have started on my bowls for the empty bowls fundraiser at the Gardiner museum. I am considering glazing them with maiolica and leaving areas open for terra sig. I am not sure it can take the thermal shock yet. I am centering the bowl on the wheel in preparation for trimming.

I'm going on strike till winter gives in to my demands!

I had a successful kiln firing by my standards today. Which was nice considering how miserable I have been all week. I can't sleep, eat, think, read, write or draw. I have to post the pics soon. It was a good firing because the glaze melted fairly consistently and there was little snow in the decoration. (I will explain this in a latter blog that I shall write about maiolica glaze flaws which should be exciting and I'll have tonnes of pics for that one.). I had originally planned on throwing some large composite forms for the upcoming wood firing.  Then decided to take it easy and throw small vases and pitchers.(Jugs! sorry Tony Jugs!)

Empty Bowls

It's time to start thinking about making soup bowls for the Gardiner museum's empty bowls event.

I am not sure what I am going to do this year but look forward to the challenge of making some interesting soup bowls to donate to this worthy cause.

Wednesday May 19, 5–8 pm
$45
Members Priority Tickets go on sale February 1
Public Tickets go on sale March 1
Join us for the 18th annual Empty Bowls. Purchase a ticket, choose a bowl, and savour sumptuous soups by some of Toronto’s famed chefs, brought together by Chef Jamie Kennedy. All proceeds benefit Anishnawbe Health Toronto, an aboriginal community-based health centre.

http://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/eveelc.aspx#specialevents