Demonstration on October 11, 2016 by Letha Cress Woolf on "How to Add texture to Pottery" during 2016 Red Dot Studio Tour
Article and Photos by George Plant
Red Dot ArtFest 101116
Red Dot ArtFest 101116
Potter Letha Cress Woolf beginning to throw a pot with visitor Marika Odins observing closely. The object of the session was to demonstrate methods of adding texture to pottery.
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By first pressing down in the center and then outward, Letha begins to shape the pot.Red Dot ArtFest 101116
With pressure outward from inside and sponge pressure on the outside the shape is refined.
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Using a Steve Tool, Letha generates unique textural patterns on the spinning pot.
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The finished piece ready for the next stage.
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Two finished pieces demonstrating a variety of textures.
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Some of the many finished pots and mugs on display at Alaska Mudhead Studio.
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This pot, thrown about 30 minutes earlier, has a now dried sodium silica and water solution applied to its lower portion.
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Using a smooth tool Letha expands the pot's diameter, stretching the silica surface layer to the point of cracking in multiple ways-- thus creating a "crack pot".
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This a finished example a texturing method whereby designs are drawn on a pot; the designs painted with shellac; surface clay around the designs rubbed off to create raised surfaces for the designs; fired once to remove the shellac; and fired again after applying colors and glaze.
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One of two propane-fired ventura downdraft brick kilns at Alaska Mudhead Studio. At right, on rails, is a car on which the pieces to be fired are positioned and rolled into the kiln.
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Heat for the kiln (to achieve up to 2400 degrees F) is supplied by a pair of propane-fired burner/blower assemblies, which are positioned at two holes in the rear wall of the kiln.
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Examples of soda-fired finished pieces on display in the Studio.
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Examples of salt-fired finished pieces, with a "crack pot" on the right.
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A view of a portion of the Studio showing finished and unfinished pottery pieces and a variety of pottery making materials in the background.
Two years ago, award-winning potter Letha Cress Woolf and her husband Steve moved from just south of Anchorage, Alaska, to Silver City. For about 30 years, in Colorado and Alaska, Letha taught art in its many forms. And she taught pottery-making to potters and to large classes of people learning to be teachers of pottery-making. On Tuesday afternoon this week, at her "Alaska Mudhead" studio/workshop at 371 Camino De Viento in Wind Canyon, Letha demonstrated three techniques to add textures to newly thrown pots.
First was the method of adding texture using a Steve Tool to add a variety of textures as the newly made pot turned on the wheel.
Second was creating a surface on a pot thrown earlier in the afternoon to create what Letha termed a "crack pot."
This involved applying a sodium silicate and water solution to part of the newly made potG