A bunch of photos & thoughts from my first kiln firing!
And a big vulnerable share towards the end...
This week was a big one in the studio — my first-ever solo fire in the new kiln! I was absolutely terrified and had seriously low expectations (I have had challenges with glazing in the past at a communal pottery lab). I love and hate the build-up and mystery of firing. What I love is that it feels like a holiday, coming into the studio early before anyone else gets in, opening all the doors, making a coffee and waiting.
Sculpting is the part of the process that comes easiest to me. I love building things and making shapes out of clay. Working in 3D is so satisfying.
What’s more challenging is glazing. As a painter (and I think anyone, really) I want to be able to see the way things will look in front of me, as I go. Having to work from test tiles and picture how a glaze will look after firing is so hard!
I am still very much in the early stages of this learning process. Ceramics require so much patience and persistence. And as much as I want to be further along, what fun would that be? Maybe it’s a sign that I am doing something I love — I don’t want to skip steps. I actually want to do the work and keep coming back into the studio day after day to make make make.
That being said, there were a couple of pieces I actually really liked from this first firing. My dream goal was to have just one piece that I liked. So I consider this a major success to have liked multiple pieces!
While certain aspects are definitely translating from painting to ceramics, I am still finding my voice as a ceramicist. Some themes I’ve been thinking about are: organic/artificial, imperfection, maximalism, and repetition.
Can I tell you a vulnerable somewhat secret that I won’t share anywhere else online? My big dream is for gentle sentiments to turn into an illustration and ceramics studio. I would love to create functional items to sell directly to folks as well as wholesale in shops. Someday, maybe! 🌟
Of course, that’s a lofty idea, but it’s good to have a dream, yeah? For a while now I’ve struggled with how to make my art more commercial, and I think illustration and ceramics could be a good way to still be creative while also making a living. There’s only one way to know — onward we go!
Thanks for following along! :)
I love reading about people’s processes... and dreams! Bringing ceramics into the mix of your business feels so fun and fresh, friend. Yay for playing and practicing and dreaming!