Studio day: 4/11/10

Today was a very good day in the studio. Last week I threw these pieces, two taller vases with the last of my balcones white clay and then the four tumblers with gruene butter. 

I haven't worked with that very supple, darker body clay in about two years and as soon as I started centering the first ball of clay, I was reminded how different a groggy clay can be from these softer bodies. I found myself using too much force as I was building my wall...and what do you do when you're struggling to get the feel of a new clay?

You go back to basics. I'll probably use the rest of this bag to make some cups and smaller items until I resume my comfort level with the soft, grog-free bodies. 

Fun tumblers though, huh? 

Grog: bisque-fired clay that has been pulverized and re-added to clay to minimize shrinkage in firing. Very "groggy" clays feel a bit like mud with granules of sand in it. Gruene has virtual;y no grog. Porcelain is a clay body that also has no grog and handles like practically melted butter.