Post #382309 by Babalu on Sun, May 25, 2008 2:14 PM

Let me start of by saying thank you Conga, Cammo, Tiki Trav....and Robin...Robin, the check is in the mail lady!...you are most certainly in my will. :)

Well guys, I fired the bowl last weekend and it didn't make it through the firing. The reason the firing failed is simple, and is something that one learns in basic Ceramics 101...Any air that is trapped in the clay will force it's way to the surface, sometimes in an explosive manner. This is what happened here. Two of the little bird man faces blew right off. This is what happens when you rush work, like I did on these 2 birdman faces right before I left for Hong Kong.

Yes, it was a bad day last Sunday, but it got better...I took the Bird out for a swim, and then we munched down a whole box of Honey Bunnies. Everything was fine in the world after that.

Believe it or not, quite a bit of good came from this firing...1. All the sculptural elements that I was worried about fired out good. I know now that I can work with this low fire clay just fine. 2. I also have a big piece for which I can test glazes on..."then it gets the hammer". 3. The 4 heads are fine too and can be reused...so this is what I'm going to do...

I have now started bowl #3...

I added this construction shot below on no. 3 as I don't think I showed how I attached the base on the last one...

And Kelly...Kelly you have given such wonderful support to this thread and project - thank you! Folks, Kelly just asked me to make a bowl, she had no idea that I was going to try and build the Taj Mahal. Kelly, for being such a good sport and letting me have big play time with this project...I hand built this little mug just for you. I guess everyone likes a fez wearing monkey...so here ya go kiddo. Now, I still have to fire and glaze him too, but he should be just fine. My daughter said that this baboon looks like he should be chasing roosters around over in Hawaii?

He's very thin and light. He was sculpted solid then hollowed out and the parts reattached. I had no idea what to name him, so I just called him "TC" as a way to thank those folks who have been bouncing around on this thread with me.

I picked a baboon as I think the color ways that I can use on him will look nice. You know, I don't think baboons have tails?? I guess this one does :)

I don't have many mugs yet in my collection, but I put ole TC here next to some of my favorites that I own so that you can get an idea on how big he is. I hope you like him Kelly, and if this 3rd bowl doesn't make it, I'll build a 4th...I know it can be done.