Pottery portfolio – PKSA ceramics, traditional shaving and photography

Interests
Technique and tooling
Some exemplary works

Interests

KEEP PRACTICING – the saying of Simon Leach drives my journey in pottery. Considered as a hobby, it neither inflates any time pressure due to pending orders nor sets any serious economic considerations that would limit the journey. A luxury of making pots and decorating them to my own esthetics and technical interests maintains motivation. However, at some point in time, selling comes as a driver and checkpoint (if it is being appreciated or not), and as a means of emptying the shelves.

I’m primarily in ceramics addressed to wet shaving community. It allows to apply various styles and techniques to make those different objects used by them (us): sets of lather bowls, brushes, AS bottles and stands. Thanks to this community, their interest, demands, creativity and criticism, I managed to come over a kind of learning curve via various materials, styles, and subsequently various techniques.

Obviously, I’m not limited to wet shaving accessories. I’ve been throwing mugs, tankards, vases, bottles, flower pots, soap handlers, tumblers, coffee sets, carrousels, drums, birdhouses etc. Rather utilitarian ware than any exhibition artisan objects.

Technique and tooling

Wheel throwing
Stoneware ∆6 – ∆10
Kiln: electric (Rhode) and wood kiln (under construction)
Glazes:
- TC, Amaco, Mayco
- Own sets @glazy
Material: grog clays, porcelain
Other: nerikomi, cristallines (learning), self-designed decals

Some exemplary works

These are examples of work made in different materials and techniques. Other can be found in this blog, in my facebook profile.

Cristallines

Cristalline glazes are full of challenges. Throwing itself requires some extra attention and approach (even such trivial things like handles may require redesign), selection of the clay, finishing might a bit different. Even at that point some knowledge on chemistry might be needed – oh terrible chemistry! Then you need to prepare postuments and catchers that fit the main objects perfectly. Compose the glaze – just 3 words may translate into endless painful trials and confusions. Finally mounting and fixing all together and firing in extreme conditions that kill the kiln every time. Maybe, at the end one can get any satisfactory effect. The balance between costs and benefits is crazy. Unless on the benefits we put the author’s satisfaction that overweights all the rest.

Manual paintings and caligraphy

Aside from cristallines glazes, manual painting with angobes or over/under glazes is the most tidious yet satisfying type of ceramic works. I miss painting skills but that is so engaging that I do not stop regarless the quality of the effects. Hoping for some progress. The inspiration comes from the middle-ages creatures that some caligraphers put aside on margins in their manuscripts (a kind of private space for the author) and some architectural ornaments (like decorative gutters). The psalter of Sir Geofrey Luttrell is the amazing one.

Wooden-like

Althought it is just about pretenting and never fully substitutes the features of the orginal material, it brings some quality to wet shaving over the wood. Those who use wooden bowls for lathering for long time, they know all the disadvantages. I used the same decoration for flower pots and coffee mugs.