Inside our studio

[ronlang]

We purchased the retirement home of my graduate school professor, Dave DonTigny from Penn State University where we worked together in the, OMG, early 70’s. Dave had converted about a third of the 4 bay garage into a clay studio. When we bought the property in 2005 we finished the full conversion. What a change for us. Sharon and I have eked out studio space in the basements of our two previous homes.
The throwing area is also used as the glaze room when the time comes. Glaze buckets are stored below the counter and tables.

[ronlang]

I'll post a few shots that show the steps in making oval shaped containers. The first is a group of thrown round walls made without any floors that will be pressed into the oval shape when a bit less wet. Floor slabs are rolled out separately. After tenting all parts under plastic to ensure the moisture content of all components, including the foot ring, are as close as possible, assembly can begin.

[ronlang]

These are the thrown walls to be shaped into ovals after they have set up a bit. Floor and wall sections are scored or scratched with a pin tool and dampened to prepare them for joining

[ronlang]

Shots showing the attachment of the oval's wall, floor and foot

[ronlang]

All together now.

[ronlang]

Some shots of finished Nanban. This is how our claybody fires without any glaze. The atmosphere of a wood kiln, flames moving over the work for the entire 16 to 18 hour firing cycle, gives the clay wonderful variegation of tones and values. Add the deposit of ash that also occurs throughout the firing that melts and fuses with the clay (and subtly influences glazes as well) and you get some great results.

Group of fired Nanban pots

Nanban1sm.jpg (16.54 KiB) Viewed 1492 times

[ronlang]

And here are a few of the ovals finished. Most of the larger ovals are spray glazed and are often overlapping combinations of two or even three different glazes. Over the years I have tried to develop a group of glazes that work well for bonsai but also can be layered for different effects.

A tan and grey combination

OvalTanGreysm.jpg (15.35 KiB) Viewed 1489 times

You can see the ash influence on this one

OB51sm.jpg (13.93 KiB) Viewed 1489 times

A grey ash glaze that breaks gold in thin areas of application

OB79sm.jpg (16.1 KiB) Viewed 1489 times

[ED TROUT]

Beautiful set up Ron....wish I could get as organized ! Thank you for posting.

Ed Trout

[ronlang]

Thanks Ed
My dear wife is of German decent and she keeps me on the straight and narrow. I don't want to consider what my surroundings would be like without her!

Here are a few more ovals and squared ovals. All these were recently sold, BTW.

Best,
Ron

[dbrock]

I have a Podacarpus that needs a new pot. I purchased it from Miami Tropical and cleaned up the design work. It is more full now than this picture. The pot it is in is 16 X 12 X 4 plastic. I was thinking an oval a little smaller. The picture is taken from the new front. What do you have in stock that you think would look good with it. If anyone else has some thoughts, I would love to hear them as well.
Thanks,
Dale