Slip testing

This week I've been experimenting with Slip Testing.

To create a standard ceramic slip I blend up some of the same clay body the slip is going to be applied to with lots of added water to a thick creamy consistency; which then gets sieved.

*Another way to create slip is to dry out clay then add water to turn it into a liquid.

 I measure out the slip into litre's (1000ml)then add the percentage of coloured stain / oxide to the slip. This particular clay is a sandy coloured buff stoneware, to get a strong colour I add 10% to the slip. 

You can use less stain to achieve lighter colours, the percentage you use depends on the clay body you're applying it to and the finish you wish to achieve. If your using oxides, they are much stronger than stains so the percentage is likely to be less.

As you can see I have done 2 tiles of each colour, this is because I shall glaze 1 tile of each colour so I have reference to the colour without glaze. When you apply glaze it enhances the slip's colour and it becomes much brighter. The colour difference would be from a pastel shade to a bright strong colour.

 The remains of the tiles I made are left on the fabric, I love seeing this as it reminds me of the tiling that can be created with the pieces I've cut out.

Which do you prefer to add colour to your slips, oxides or stains?

Autumn Colours inspiring glaze tests

The best bit about Autumn has got to be the change in season, Autumn turning into winter. Yes its FREEZING and the weather is mostly miserable... but the nature is just glorious!

I just love walking out in nature and seeing the change, the colours transform to beautiful shades of auburn, yellows and reds; who needs to find inspiration for creative work on the internet when its right there outside.

I wasn't out in a beautiful park, I was actually at the hospital, but it goes to show you can find inspiration anywhere.

I seen the most stunningly coloured bush amidst the dying trees losing their leaves for the winter was this bush ablaze with colour, it caught my eye and I couldn't help but capture it!

I cant wait to try and capture the colour change in my ceramics.I feel some glaze testing is on its way!

The individual leaves are what I want to inspire some colourful glaze tests.

Glaze Tests in the kiln all ready to go!

Addicted to glazing!

Glazing is my absolutely favourite part of ceramics, the making process is fun but I just find glazing itself so relaxing! I'm not much of an academic person but there's something about doing all the calculations, testing this and that, take a bit away, add a bit of something else.

  I always practice safety in my ceramics workshop, I wouldn't have it any other way! Apron, gloves and mask are an essential part of work wear safety when working with hazardous materials.

As you can see below, I use digital scales, precision in weighing is key, I have the sets of scales;1 for large quantities, 1 which measures to two decimals and another which measures to 3.

My latest testing unintentionally turned out to be smiley faces!

As you can see ...I never get enough of testing! 

So many glazes so little time!!!

New Creations!

I felt a bit stuck in a rut keeping making the same old trusty home wares, the usual ...coasters,vases. So I decided I'd stretch my imagination and try something I'd never made before.

So as I sat at my sketchbook I began designing, fingers twitching to get making asap!

I've seen them everywhere and they're so pretty, luminaries! There's just something so magical about the way it illuminates the room, the patterns dancing around creating shadows.

Ceramic Luminary in process Greenware Stage, Hand built White Stoneware, Katherine Fortnum 2015 , photograph by Katherine Fortnum 

So the process began with a slabbed vessel then I used a variety of specialised ceramic tools to cut out holes, the beginnings of a pattern began to emerge...

The full process of creating the finished piece took all day, here's the finished piece (at green ware stage) ...far from over but its looking good!

Ceramic Luminary Greenware Stage, Hand built White Stoneware, Katherine Fortnum 2015, photograph by Katherine Fortnum 

Fresh out of the kiln, the colour transformation in the clay body becomes much lighter as the moisture has been removed from the clay during the drying process and the bisque firing.

Ceramic Luminaries, Hand built White Stoneware, Katherine Fortnum 2015
photograph by Katherine Fortnum 

I'm so pleased with how they turned out I'm tempted to keep one for myself! 

I had a really busy next few weeks with preparing stock for upcoming (dare I say the word!) Christmas fairs, it took me nearly a month to test them out! Here's the finished pieces in all their glory!

The way they illuminate the patterns around the room is just magical! I'll have a variety of different patterned handmade luminaries to purchase at my upcoming Christmas Fairs, I look forward to meeting you there :)

(upcoming Christmas fairs listed on my website)

Ceramic Luminary, Hand built White Stoneware, Katherine Fortnum 2015
photograph by Katherine Fortnum 

Organising my Ceramics workshop!

I love saving all my favourite images all neatly listed in folders on Pinterst (as everyone does) ...dreaming that one day I WILL BE ORGANISED and have a beautiful ceramics workshop, where I knowwhere everything is!

Well I decided it will happen!

It all started with a sketch, I will regain some storage room!

I already had heavy duty wooden shelves in my workshop but I wanted a way to hide away all the stuff whilst orgsanising and utalising space, so I decided I'd add deep wooden doors to the shelves and store things in them!

Once tested they fit well I had to take the doors off again as it was proving fiddly to get things attached while vertical!

I designated a space for each tool ...well as many as I could fit on at least! 

Soo many tools!

The finished door all hung up, that's one side down, door 2 to go!

An insider glimpse

I thought I'd share an insider glimpse into how I create my ceramics.

I create my pieces using a range of hand building techniques, exploring details on both large and small scale. Every individual element is constructed one handed!

Here's a collection of images showing the beginnings of pieces in creation.

Each unique piece is extremely challenging and time consuming to make as every element is individually constructed.

Katherine attaching an individual spike to the body of a piece in the progress

Here's a finished piece 'Natural Series #2', its part of the Natural Series Collection, consisting of 11 pieces inspired by delicate structure in nature. 

To view the full collection please visit my website, if you have any inquiries about purchasing or displaying any pieces please get in contact via my website.

Natural Series #2, hand built stoneware, 2013, 25 x 5 x 24 cm Katherine Fortnum, photograph by Nigel Essex

Newly listed on Etsy

Freshly out of my latest glaze firing! First piece to be photographed using my new studio photographing set up! What do you think?

(will post details about photographing booth set up soon)

Newly listed on Etsy, have a look :) 

Untitled, Hand built stoneware, 2015, 

3 x 13 x 15.5cm, Katherine Fortnum, 

photograph by Katherine Fortnum

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/234365268/ceramic-bowl-handmade-unique-nature