Life was busy in August around the time of Aurelia's birthday so my celebrating with her got delayed until a couple of weeks ago. I had asked her what she would like to do for her special day and she requested going to a ceramic studio like I had done with Annika this past summer.
We got to the location before they opened so we stopped in at a Panera and had a little breakfast. After that we drove a little ways to the studio. We were the first customers there, so that allowed Rellie to take her time to look around to see what she would like to make. The pieces at the studio have already had the seams removed (at the greenware state) and been fired once. So that means the pieces are now bisque and less fragile—ready for glazing. In the past I had a ceramic studio of my own, with two kilns and about 30 students a week. My students first worked on the greenware, often using underglazes for such pieces as figurines. Then they were fired to about 2300 degrees. The next step would be to glaze the piece, followed by another firing. If gold or platinum was to be added, that would require a third firing.
Rellie chose a mug that was either a whale or the bottom half of a mermaid.
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| Rellie applying the aqua glaze interior. Once she had one coat brushed on, I set my timer for five minutes to allow it to dry. Then a second and third coat were applied, letting each coat dry for five minutes. |
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| Rellie chose a bright yellow for the exterior. She followed the same procedure as with the interior. |
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| I love the scroll work she chose to embellish the fins on the tail. It was applied with a bottle that has a pointed nozzle. |
With the glazes applied to the mug, it was ready for firing. The studio has two large kilns and has the customer return in a week to pick up the finished piece. My brother and I drove there Saturday to get the mug and delivered it to Rellie. She loved it!
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| Happy belated birthday, Rellie! |
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