[Clayart] mel's plate

[mel jacobson via Clayart]

For the last two years I have been working on a series
of pots without a recipe. I have written nothing down.
It is all based on my 70 years of making pots and glazes.
The work may be "intuitive".

I am using the electric kiln, cone 6. My clay body is mel 6
that is variable percentages of redart and black iron oxide
to color the clay. it is totally vitrified. My pug mill is busy.

In many ways, this is a continuation of my Hare's Fur study
with Joe Koons (now dead for ten years.)

The 5 x20 tony/ron recipe is very stable, and works at both
electric and gas ranges. I tend to fire gas at cone 7.

I use spoons for oxide insertion. add as I observe from firings.
I have increased the silica to make the glaze run a bit. As any of you know,
Hot fire makes glaze run. I also down fire to increase that movement.
(about an hour and a half...back to cone 4...sort of.

I am using cobalt, copper, chrome and a variety of old oxides that hang
around my studio. Rutile, Ochre, Manganese etc. The brown/honey black glaze
is a variety of oxides added by whim. My blue glaze has both a touch of copper
and chrome. And, that changes from firing to firing. In reduction I get deep purple.

As I said years back on clayart...."my work often is an idea, or theory, never
a recipe. Like bread, it is an idea, and pot roast has many ways to complete the
same dinner.

At 91 years of age I want to surprise me. I want my own intellect with clay to run
the series. This week we won the lottery. I have about ten of those wonderful plates.
and the bisque kiln is on to make twenty more.

I am very content living alone in this wonderful rural Wisconsin community. I am watched
over by about ten families. And my next door neighbors see that I am well cared for.
My pots are being given to all. The Baldwin Hospital is alive with friendly people who
say..."I love my mug Mel". Sugar works.

I am blessed with three new great grand children...one named Melvin. And family that is full
of love.
Mel

website: www.melpots.com
WWW.clayartarchives.com