Burnish Clay Studio Blog

Studio Updates

Hello and welcome to the Burnish Studio Blog. It is the end of week six in the studio, so that means there is a big push to start glazing all the work you have been making this summer. There are only about ten days between sessions this time, so please get your work finished and out by the end of the first week of September so that we will be ready to roll when the fall session starts.

Thank you for your patience with the clogged sink. We will be fixing it as soon as possible so that it is working well again. When it does get working, remember to never put your clay in the sink, only in the buckets, so we can avoid this type of problem in the future.

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The Value of Practice

If you are looking to improve at throwing, there is nothing like practice. It doesn't matter how long you have been working with clay, or who you have studied with or learned from, practice is the one thing that will always up your throwing game. One of the most efficient ways to practice is to practice with purpose. This means that when you sit down at the wheel, you have a solid idea of what you are hoping to make there. Similarly, sitting behind the wheel of a car, hoping to go somewhere but not really knowing where you are going or the route you will take to get there will not garner very good results. Usually. 
It is much the same with throwing. If you sit down at the potter's wheel, and you are just wanting to "see what happens", not only will improvement be a challenge, it will also be difficult to measure any improvement that does end up happening.
Practice with structure. If you are hoping to make something you have never made before, sit down at the wheel with at least five balls of clay so that you can approach the project in different ways. When you notice yourself improving, acknowledge it and do not belittle any improvement you make. Finally, try not to compare yourself negatively with other potters. We are all on our own throwing journeys. Spending energy comparing yourself to people who are sitting next to you distracts from actually improving. 
And remember- have fun. Clay is awesome. You could spend your whole life working with it and still have tons of clay avenues left un-ventured.

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Tip of the Week!

When it comes to glazing, there are a couple things you can do to ensure that the glaze goes on your pot well. One is to either dunk the bisqued piece in water or run water over it. When you allow your bisque ware to soak up water before you glaze it, the pot will take the glazes on in a more even and balanced way. Remember to let your bisque ware dry before glazing, though. 
Another thing is to glaze the insides of your pots first. This way, when you glaze the outside, you wont have to worry about any of the inside glaze dripping on your carefully dipped outer glazes.

Bonus: As always, experiment glazing on lesser pots before you get to the ones you really care about. Knowing how you want to glaze your prized pieces before you start glazing will save you time, energy, and stress. Glazing should not be stressful, but fun. Make sure you give yourself every opportunity to be successful with it.

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Opportunities

Crysalis Emerging Artists Institute offers a three-tiered residency program. Up to 16 artists will be invited to participate in the 2023 hybrid residency program. This is a well-supported opportunity that offers both virtual and in-person components. For more information and to apply, visit the website. Deadline for applications is August 25.
Artists are invited to apply for residency at 500 Capp Street. This five-month program in San Francisco, CA runs from fall 2023 to spring 2024. The focus of the program this year is to create work illuminating experimentation around the boundaries of genre, medium and material. To learn more, visit the website. Application deadline is August 30.
The Bryn Du Artist in Residence program is accepting applications for its next cycle. This 8-12 week program is intended to offer an inspirational setting for artists while introducing them to the Granville, Ohio, community. Each opportunity comes with a stipend. To learn more and to apply, visit the website. Deadline is August 31.