or the first batch of bowls, I mixed up an ‘Oil Spot’ glaze by John Britt and Dom mixed up a copper rich glaze.  The community gas kiln of the Paramount Visual Art Center held 250 bowls roughly at a time.  We also mixed up about 50 glaze tests in search of three other glazes to use on the bowls.  We had great help glazing from three dear friends of mine: Catherine, Meg and Dana.

The glaze tests gave us the information we needed to then mix up three more glazes: a warm speckled white, a soft satin blue, and a translucent gray glaze.

The firings were successful, the glazes turned out beautifully.  A gas kiln burns natural gas as a source of heat, and the firings lasted 10-12 hours with a two day cool-down.  Three of the firings were completed before the first weekend of Bouja, and the fourth between the two weekends in early Oct.  

The Paramount Visual Art Center graciously took me up on a labor exchange for the firings.  I will be mentoring in their clay studio at Open Studio Night every Thursday from 6pm to 9pm for the school year. 

After one of the firings, we asked my Mom and Dad to help us celebrate by christening the bowls at the kiln with ice cream.  

My parents & Dom pull the ‘car’ of the kiln out from the shell after the pots have cooled.  

                                                                                                      Mom says the bowls work good!