For the past 6 weeks I've been learning about making clay/ceramic tile for my bathroom remodel. Sparked by my building the wood fired oven in the front of the house. We've been talking about this for 2-3 years and are getting close. I've done all the research and know what I want. I'm planning to make tile that embodies all the flora and fauna of the forest we live in. Trees, frogs, birds, under story plants and yes....even the slugs who make me crazy. The tile research has been a LOT of fun and has sparked the ceramic neurons in my archival brain. I'm working at Open Arts Studio, just 5 blocks from work. They've been very nice and give me run of the place as long as someone's there when I'm working. I go in after work on Mondays and any other time I can get away. I took a ceramics class my senior year in college and then when I REALLY needed to get out of the house after all the boys were born (3 boys in 4.5 years). Haven't done any ceramics since but boy, has this stirred the creative juices!
Today Wayne and I took a field trip to Seattle Pottery Supply and then to Seattle Woodcraft in the SODO district of Seattle. I'm looking at a potting wheel (used) and Wayne is very interested in kilns - gas, electric and even wood fired (it's the engineer in him). He sat and read the books on Raku kilns while I wandered the store....drooling the whole time.
We have room and I even have a studio....it just needs heat. It's fine in the spring/summer/fall but it's 30 degrees here right now and pretty cold to work with clay.
I love losing myself in the creative process! When work sucks, I can go and play with art.....always a great mini vacation. MUCH better than doing bodily harm....don't you think?
Pic of the tile to follow.....soon.
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