Well upon opening the kiln of my latest crystalline firing for a minute I was really excited, then on closer inspection of the two sculptural forms great crystals shame about the bloating in the clay. Hence the ecstasyand then the agony. I have managed to get some great crystals in successive firings which is encourageing for something that is so tempremental and difficult to achieve. Just when I am about to give up something spectacular turns up. The glaze and firing cycles for them are still pretty much a mystery to me 18months into my journey of discovery. I can see why ceramic artists that choose this glaze get obsessed and it becomes the work of their lifetime. I have to say I am not there yet though getting close. Hopefully the good will start out weighing the bad in results soon, maybe I am being impatient and there is much more work to be done.
by now Wendy
