China

Day 9, in the studio at last!

Went for it today and was first to arrive at the studio. Have a large air-conditioned space but nobody to share it with sadly. Picked a bag of best quality porcelain and a bag of Tian Bao clay which is rich in oxides, a great contrast in clay bodies when fired in reduction. Have been inspired by round windows in Chinese houses and the lovely example in my artist friends garden. Layered the two clays and torch fired one surface to make the cracks. After lunch, created a second piece in porcelain, both will be fired and one bridge will rest on the other to create a circular hole in the middle like a polo. The colour contrast will show so much better after firing.

Then made two box forms with slip which will have deep red and a blue oxide applied tomorrow, maybe even some celadon which comes out a translucent turquoise. Drank copious amounts of green tea from my new teapot to keep me going. It will take a while for the work to dry and I won’t be able to take it back with me. Making enquiries about shipping the work home. Heard the noisiest Cicada I have ever heard on the way back from the cante