Making "handle" by Pulling

1. Shape the clay like a carrot

2. Grasp, squeeze and pull gently
downward the clay with water 

3. Keep pulling to extend

4. Leave for a few minutes

5. Cut into pieces

6. Bend into circular shape

7. Handle in complete

8. Ready to attach to the mug

Usually when we make a handle for a mug or teapot, we just coil the clay. Sometimes it looks little bit weird as a whole of form. There is an alternative for that, i.e. by pulling the clay as description of above. The result are more elegant and natural. To get this ability only one word, practice.

When you bend the long clay sometimes the clay cracks (fig 6-7). You can add a little bit dampness the clay by water. Another problem is attachment handle to the body of the mug or teapot.  Often the bond between body and handle not quite good. The bond will have cracks or separate when they dried in the leather hard state. The causes could be that you don't damp both handle and body or damp one side handle or body only. The standard procedure are scratch the body and apply a  fluid slip into both. Actually just smear with water is enough making in good bonding. For this you can use toothbrush. The point is you must damp both sides, use water or slip.        

Mug Series #2

Complexities of Teapot

1. Pelubangan bodi untuk spout bisa menggunakan mata bor

2. Sebelum masing-masing direkatkan, bodi dan spout-nya dikasari dulu
dengan sikat gigi basah

3. Sebelum direkatkan, profil bagian belakang spout diiris miring
sehingga mengikuti kontur dari bodi teko

4. Setelah spout rekat pada bodi, batas sambungan keduanya ditambal
dengan tanah liat lembek

5. Teknik 'urut' pembuatan handle

6. Sebelum handle-nya dibentuk, diamkan beberapa lama
sampai menjadi tidak terlalu basah

7. Handle yang sudah dibentuk

  

8. Teko yang sudah lengkap

Dalam membangun sebuah teko, 'moment' adalah hal yang penting. Bila salah satu komponen teko tidak memiliki kondisi kelembapan yang sama, maka resikonya adalah tidak menyatunya dengan kuat diantaranya, sehingga timbul keretakan atau malah lepas dari batas sambungannya. Bagi sebagian keramikus, membuat teko adalah hal yang paling 'merepotkan' terutama dalam hal teknis pembuatan. Karena harus membuat beberapa komponen teko, seperti bodi, spout, handle, dan tutupnya. Belum lagi masalah 'moment' tadi.

Bagi saya, bentuk teko adalah bentuk yang paling lengkap segala kerumitan, kesulitan, dan estetika keramik secara umum, khususnya jika dibentuk menggunakan alat pelarik / putar. Seorang belum bisa dikatakan sebagai ahli putar, jika ia belum bisa membuat sebuah teko. Selain masalah teknis di atas dalam konteks benda fungsional, teko harus kelihatan unity (ada keserasian antara masing-masing komponen teko). Misalnya kalau bentuk bodinya bulat, bentuk yang lainnya pun demikian (paling tidak mendekati) atau keseimbangan posisi  spout dan handle pada bodi dalam menciptakan bentuk teko yang elegan. Selain itu aspek ergonomis pun menjadi pertimbangan yang lain.      

"Amazing Moment"

Inilah saat-saat yang paling menegangkan, menunggu detik-detik akhir terlahirnya sebuah aterfak yang sangat unik dan eksklusif ke dunia ini. Pembakaran merupakan fase terakhir dari sebuah rangkaian fase yang begitu panjang dan melelahkan. Saat itu karya harus senantiasa diintip dan dipantau, agar mereka bisa mengatasi titik kritisnya dan kelak menjadi sebuah master piece. It's amazing moment, I think..  

Mug Series

 

My Workshop #2

I have 3 kilns, the one is big and the others are smaller. The big one has a capacity of 1/4 cubic (using plate 35 x 50 cm.) and the smaller ones has a capacity of 1/8 cubic (using plate 15 x 20 cm.). The first kiln that I had were the small one in 2001. I bought the second one. The kiln was not in good condition so it must be repaired. 

In 2002, I made the kiln (the big one) with my friend. I designed the kiln whereas my friend  made construction and installed the materials of the kiln. I bought the material kiln by my self such as shelves, ceramic fiber, burners, etc. At that time If I bought to the kiln supplier, the cost would be twice more expensive. In 2010, I bought another second kiln (the small one). My friend's work shop got bankrupt, beside the kiln she also sold everything in her work shop. 

 

Specialized in table ware and interior element ceramics Spesialisasi membuat keramik table ware dan elemen estetik dalam interior

The Witness

I usually put one cone and a small test piece for firing. In the picture there are two cones where one of them is just for test. I make my own cone, so every cones running out and make a new one, it must be tested by firing for temperature accuracy.  For small test piece, I made it from bisque ware which have been glazed and a hole in the middle, so you can draw it out by a steel rod.

The position of cones must be seen clearly enough from peep hole. In the bottom picture, you see the silhouette of the cones. Sometimes when temperature reach vitrified point, cones are not clearly enough to be seen by naked eye, it's a like the heavy fog around the pot. So to figure it out you can blow gently the peep hole by mouth in several times until the chamber atmosphere clear again. Remember to not get too close to the peep hole when you blow it, otherwise your mouth will be burned.

Specialized in table ware and interior element ceramics Spesialisasi membuat keramik table ware dan elemen estetik dalam interior