left:

      A key to consistency is throwing in numbers. I throw at least 15 mugs in succession, the same form, the same size. I find this a great discipline. It takes about an hour to throw 15 mugs. The handles and robin insignia are added after the original form is allowed to dry 24-48 hours.

        I’m currently throwing two separate clay bodies. One is tan in color after it’s fired, the other comes out a dark chocolate.

Both clays are stoneware and available commercially.

the pots

        After a piece is thrown, it’s air dried until the clay becomes semi stiff, extra clay is then trimmed from the base. Once trimmed and handles or other alterations are complete, the pot is allowed to dry in open air. The time a pot must dry before it can be fired depends on a number of factors, but it usually takes about a week.

        Dried pots or “wares” are loaded into the kiln and fired to 1950°F. This first firing, called bisque, hardens the clay and makes it absorbent for glazing. Once glazed, the wares are fired again to 2200°F.

                                Special care is taken to ensure all pieces

                                are fired to maturity.

below:

bisque pots ready for glazing.

left: the robin stamp

        The robin is an original design created and used since 2005. It’s stamped into almost every piece.