my (mug) creative space

Seeing as mug production has been so dominant in my posts of late, I thought I would share a little more about what happens before/after making the basic form.
My feather mugs started life as this tiny teeny drawing in my sketch book after fiddling around with handles and realising that I could make both right and left handed mugs,

I made a slightly snazzier sketch (partly as concept drawings are compulsory at college, partly cos I like them!)I throw the basic form on the wheel, then trim and stamp my initials on the base, and attach the handle,Leave to firm up overnight, then do the real fun stuff that first got me hooked on ceramics - painting.I'm getting pretty speedy with my feathers. I use Duncan EZ Strokes as they give great colours in the first coat - most ceramic colours require at least 3 good coats to get a strong colour. I only hope they don't drive me crazy with boredom too soon.After a bisque firing, I roll glaze the inside of the mug with cobalt gloss glaze, then the outside with clear gloss glaze and fire them to 1280C.And they come out looking beautiful like these! After today's work I should have about 14 mugs ready to bisque fire - yay!

(Can you tell that I'm missing college production reports?! Old habits, huh.)

See more creative spaces over at Kootoyoo's blog :)