Dipping with Pussycat

When I work, my pussycat always accompany me. His name is Sotoy. The picture shows preparation for glazing the pot. The application technique is dipping. In my workshop, dipping is the main technique, besides spraying and pouring. Dipping and pouring I think the safest technique for applying the glaze (healthy factor), moreover the workshop doesn't have safety facility, such as spray booth, no good ventilation, masker etc.

As long as the pot can be dipped or poured, don't spray it. Besides the description of above, spraying is more complicated and needs extra energy, especially in the preparing process. Sometimes if we lack expertise in spraying, the layer is too thin and mottled. We must have principle for practicality, any shape can be dipped or poured with any support either by hand skills or tools. Spray may be effective if the pot has large size.               

Glazing for the most people is the most troublesome activity. Impatient people may not be appropriate for this activity. In glazing we must doing carefully and neatly. Doing the glazing improperly will yield an unsatisfactory final result. May be there are people who disagree of this statement, on the contrary is the most pleasure activity. How about you?                    

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