Saturday, October 15, 2011

Clay Play 102

Previously I promised progress. Well, I'm not sure everyone will agree, but I see progress, and I learned from even the mistakes in said progress. Take this vase, for instance. It's a wee bit taller than previous works. I imprinted leaves from various plants in the yard, and I had hoped to use various glazes to create fall colors. Even though I inquired on the use of different glazes to achieve my purpose, I didn't express myself clearly. I used iron oxide red in the veining and imprint lines of the leaves, and then I added an underglaze in burgundy, yellow orange, and tan to the leaf outlines. Later I learned that the glazes only stay in the imprint, thereby eliminating the effect of the iron oxide and having no effect on the coloring of the leaves themselves. I also learned that not all leaves are created equal when it comes to veining. The best leaves for this came from my dogwood tree. Though not an entire success, I'm pleased (generally) with this vase because of the shape, mainly, and what I've learned through my mishaps.

This vase is a lovely mistake. Though perhaps too short, I like the shape. The ragged edges around the top were the result of not knowing how to use the needle tool effectively to cut away a mistake. But, I decided to try and make them look like petals. I'll concede that they don't exactly look like petals, but I like the effect. My greatest disappointment is that it is too short, but it may make a good bud vase. I dipped this in a raspberry glaze that was rather glumpy, but I lightly sanded down the "glumps" hoping that would prevent them from bursting and leaving gaping holes. It worked, so I count some measure of success. I glazed the rim and painted trios of dots on the with circumference an antique white glaze. Thankfully, I refrained from using a band of antique white below the bulge. Not a grand little vase but "interesting."

And here I have saved the best for last. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with this bowl, though some may think, "Big deal." You've never thrown on a wheel, then. I really like the shape of this. I dipped half of the bowl in Falls Creek Sand glaze and half in Turquoise. This is my favorite glaze combo/treatment yet. You'll see more of this in the future, I promise. This is probably the first sellable piece I've produce, but I plan to give it to a special friend next week. I can always make more, right?!

Next week, I have a raku mug that I've rather pleased with and perhaps a different shaped bowl and mug, if I can get them fired, glazed, and re-fired again in time for posting. Keep checking back for more poetry and pottery.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Memory Wrapped in Rice Paper

When I think how far Ting Ting Jahe ginger candy has traveled
just to bathe my mouth in fiery sweetness, I blush at the indulgence
represented by this soft amber nub wrapped in translucent
rice paper, a pearly layer of starch disguising waves
of creeping sweet and ginger released as the tongue kneads
this gem against the roof of the mouth, its bite lingering
on the tongue's surface and the throat's opening.

It's sweet sting so like the memory of you.

I don't consider the cost of sending this extravagance
halfway around the world.
I think only of extracting the flavor
as bitterness, softness, and sweetness melt away.
When little is left, the pliable nugget reduced
to a thin grainy layer, sweetness is lost in bitterness,
intensifying at the throat until nothing
remains but the sting of ginger,
a faint sweetness.

So like the memory of you.

©2011 R.M. Talbot

This poem was inspired by three things: "The Traveling Onion" by Naomi Shihab Nye, my favorite ginger candy, and the bittersweetness of some relationships. I looked for a link to Nye's poem on a poetry site and couldn't find it, but you can read it here.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

In the Ladies' Fitting Room

We look in the mirror, each line reminding
us of how quickly time is slipping through.
We each tell the other, I still feel young, or
Fifty is the new thirty. We still have time.

Secretly we think, How much longer can I show
cleavage? When is death more likely than finding
a partner? Am I doomed to grow fat and dowdy?
We each tell the other, We still have time.

©2011 R.M. Talbot

This is my response to Poetry Picnic Week 8: Friends, Relationships, and Everyone Around. A shopping trip a couple of years ago with my beautiful best friend Glenna provided the inspiration.

Impossible- Haiku Heights Challenge

Elegant words are
Impossible when life's noise
drowns the muse's voice

©2011 R.M. Talbot



Friday, October 07, 2011

Clay Date #2

Week 2 of pottery detour produced three more bowls--bowls that I had thought held a promise of improvement. My how shadowy memory is!
Yes, there was some improvement, though quite modest. In my mind, I had thought my bowls had gotten bigger and more "finished" in appearance. If they are bigger, they are only a wee bit bigger. On two of the three, as you will see, I've used stamps to create a design.

The top bowl was supposed to have been a soup bowl, but one would have to fill it about five times to satisfy one's hunger! I've included my lens cap in the photo to help with scale.

The tea bowl above (which IS the right size for sipping tea) and the soup bowl above were embellished with stamps. I then rubbed iron oxide red into the crevices of the design; then I glazed over each piece with peridot. Each bowl has an interior glaze of chino green, which I really like.

The last bowl may become another small dog bowl. It is glazed in a honey amber, which I like, but I think I may mix it with something in the future.

The process of throwing, firing, glazing and re-firing takes some time, which is why I'm on week 2 with the finished product and on week 7 of the course. I didn't glaze anything this week. By only going once a week, I'm further prolonging the process. However, I have been throwing each week, and I'm trying to squeeze in a second day of work in the studio. Subsequent pieces, I believe, will really show progress. I have two vases, two bowls (which is where growth is clearly evident) and two mugs. Of course, memory may be better than the reality!

Either way, I'm hooked! I love the feel of the clay spinning through my hands and the magic of creating something with at least some aesthetic appeal using a lump brown clay.

Come back soon--there will be more poetry and more pottery soon!

Sunday, October 02, 2011

What Once Was

Shards of jagged glass
swept to the center of the room.
A hint of what once was
when the thing was whole,
complete and solid.

It no longer holds the promise,
the bright, fresh-squeezed juice
of a new day,
the breaking dawn
or birdsong.

Time hangs
in that hour before dawn
in the stillness of a silent night
in the shatter of a broken vessel.
Shards of jagged glass
in the center of the room.
Stepped over, swept aside,
no longer whole,
complete and solid.

©2011 R.M. Talbot