CRYSTALLINE GLAZED CERAMICS
RUTH GILLETT
CERAMIC ARTIST
ABOUT RUTH
I fell in love with throwing over 10 years ago. This is the kickwheel I make almost all my pieces on. I can move it around depending on the seasons.
But I don't like pots to go out into the world naked, so I had to get better at researching my own glazes.
A glaze chemistry course with Matt Katz gave me the knowledge I was lacking. A new 80l Nabertherm kiln provided the power I needed.
3 years on, I am still fascinated with crystalline glazes.
WHERE TO SEE
Online Exhibition
My work is included in this exhibition, alongside ceramisists from Anglian Potters who I really admire, like Peter Deans, new people who I have seen over the last year or two come on so fast, like Karen Callinan and Sharon Ellis. And for the first time I am in a show with another Crystaline Ceramisist, lockdown has tempted long standing member Maurice Young to show with Anglain Potters again.
What am I looking into now?
I took advantage of an online course with other Crystalline glaze researchers, got a number of new ideas to research and answers to some old questions.
I have started throwing with porcelain clay for the first time. Having no deadlines gave me the freedom to just keep practicing. I am starting to get a handle on this notoriously difficult clay now. Using it with existing glazes gives different results, so there is a whole body of testing to be done.
I am also looking at slip casting as a base for crystalline glazes. I am working on making my own slips. I believe I can get different effects from the same glazes using different clay slips in a slip cast mould.
And glaze chemistry of course - will I ever be happy with a pink crystalline glaze? Been working on that on and off for 2 years now, still not happy with it. But I have some good test tiles. Just need to get it to work on a piece.
Oh, and as this lockdown shows no sign of ending, I made you an online shop. If you see something you kinda like, drop me a line and I can give you more photos, answers, whatever would make it more like a proper conversation, like it should be.
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