Clay Testing Pt. 2 (Bloating)

So here are the results from the previous blog. When I finally unloaded all of the tests I honestly didn’t know quite how to feel. I had an exciting feeling as there were a couple tests that had without a doubt given me a better sense of direction as to where I wanted the aesthetic of my work to follow. At the same time looking at all of the tests, the vast majority of them were over-fired. Looking at them again I do feel a renewed sense of confidence as I have mixed up a whole new batch of tests based on these results. All of which essentially flip the proportions of wild clay and fireclay as a starting point to raise the firing temperature. I’ll give the new recipes below the photos of the previous results.

The hope for the new tests is to get results similar to those of test #5 as well as test #2. Both of which have characteristics that I love. #5 brings the warmth of the clay body and #2 gives a gritty and rough feel. We’ll see if I can get both characteristics to work.

From left to right: Clay test with kaolin slip and half glazed, Clay test with dark slip and half glaze, Clay test with glaze, Plain clay test.

The recipes for the next tests are as follows:

Test #1a - Newman Red Fireclay 50%, Unami Creek PA Clay 30%, C & C Ball Clay 10%, G200 EU Feldspar 10%.

Test #4a - Hawthorn Bond 30%, Newman Red Fireclay 30%, Unami Creek PA Clay 20%, C & C Ball Clay 10%, G200 EU Feldspar 10%.

Test #5a - Newman Red Fireclay 40%, C & C Ball Clay 15%, Foundry Hill Creme 15%, Hawthorn Bond Fireclay 15%, G200 EU Feldspar 10%, Unami Creek PA Clay 5%.

Test HA - Hawthorn Bond Fireclay 45%, Unami Creek PA Clay 45%, G200 EU Feldspar 10%.

Test HB - Hawthorn Bond Fireclay 55%, Unami Creek PA Clay 35%, G200 EU Feldspar 10%.