mmm candy canes and egg nog

Merry Christmas everyone!! Its been really really cold so i havent been throwing except these last couple days! But anyways heres what ive been up to!

These are some orby/reverse dimple cups that i have been wanting to try out. These are the first ones that i have made and i really want to make more. They are alot of fun because there's so many possibilities for different styles and textures but i can still keep the same basic shape and idea. I plan on working with these alot more in January and hopefully i can come up with some cool ideas! On these cups there are three dimples (thumb, index, and ring finger). I was thinking about making these cups both left and right handed but i think instead i'm just going to make all the cups a size where your hand can fit into the dimples on both sides. If that description didnt make sense, it will once you see the cups in person! Happy Holidays and i hope everyone is having a great break!

The key to throwing quickly is to understand what the clay can and cannot do. You'll understand what i mean once you watch this video. This potter throws a large bowl shape in four-five raises (not counting any coning and counting his rib raises).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzFBpy-LsQY&feature=related

slow week

This week i spent alot of time glazing and loading kilns and not so much time on actually making stuff. i was able to finnish my lidded jar and i started another vase/jar (havent decided yet) today. Here's the jar that i finished this week.

The texture is from a scoring tool that amy got me but ive found myself more interested in the texture it creates rather than its intended use. I like it because it creates more of an organic texture as apposed to the metal rip scrapes that are evenly spread out. I wish the lid on this jar was bigger but i like that it follows the form of the body. I'm not sure if i like the handle but after trying 3 or 4 others i think that this one is the best looking one so far.

Planters?

I threw two forms this week with the idea of a planter in mind. I dont think that I'm going to actually make them into planters but i like practicing throwing larger and working with the techniques.

I like the shape on this one but i wish it was a little thicker because it makes me worry about it breaking. The bottom 1/4 looks a little sketch but i left alot of clay so that i could remove it from the wheel without having to worry about warping the planter. Since i left alot of clay i can just trim it all off next week and hopefully it will look good! I dont like depending on trimming to complete the shape on my pots but with things this big it just seems necessary. Hopefully this year i will be able to  throw and remove pots this big off of the wheel in one day instead of having to wait for them to dry.

This one may seem alot thicker than the other planter but i left the rim alot thicker than the other pot, hoping that it will help with the structure. When i trim this the form of the body will continue,(basically all of that clay at the bottom will be gone). When i trim these i will post more pictures!

I also threw some more cups and a lidded jar this week but i forgot to take pictures whoops!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcHv4I9_oDo&feature=related
A very beautiful form that i really want to try. I'm not sure what it is but if i was going to make something like that i would probably throw it the same...but cut a lid after it is leather hard...if that makes any sense.