#failureisalwaysanoption

[dawnatkin]

Total glaze failure, and I absolutely love it. 💙💙💙 #glazegeek warning. This is my blue crystalline glaze. As is true for most crystallines, it is very finicky. Even though I use smooth porcelain, I have to burnish the piece to create a perfectly smooth surface for the crystals to form. The glaze must be exactly the right thickness when applied, because it needs to move (aka: run and drip) in the kiln, so the height of the glaze area is also important because it can change the glaze’s “runway.” Finally, the kiln must reach top temperature quickly, then cool to 1970° and hold there for 4 hours. Everything has to be just right. 🐻 I believe the cold, wet weather made the bisqueware slightly damp when I glazed this cup, so it didn’t hold as much glaze as it needed. I’m doing test tiles to reproduce this result, because today’s fail will, hopefully, become my new favorite glaze. I love these variations. Especially how it changes with the height of the glaze area (see last photo). It’s like three glazes in one! #failureisalwaysanoption . . #failureispartofsuccess #happyaccident #creativityeveryday #pottery #ceramics #crystallineglaze #etsy #etsyfinds #etsymudteam #clayartsutah #makers #makersmarket #potteryofinstagram #handmade #handbuiltpottery #handmadeisbetter #lithologyceramicart https://www.instagram.com/p/ClBtsK3rRDN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[c-u-r-s-e-d-o-b-j-e-c-t-s]

I'm a little bit overdue to build something stupid, so...roughing out a plan to rectify that situation asap. I've got a MIJ Jaguar neck that I recently did a refret on, a pre routed standard Tele body (thankfully no string through was drilled), a pocket full of idiot ideas, and ain't nothin' gonna stop this from happening, not even the very obvious issues here. Nah, it'll be fine. The wrap around bridge will allow me to get the 24inch scale that's required, and to deal with the break angle, I'm going to build a solid shim for the neck pocket - guessing about 2mm, we'll see. I'll move the bridge pickup towards the neck by a few millimetres so it's not right on the bridge, then do a massive smugglers route under the pickguard (of which I'll cut a custom one, using this as a very basic template). Then decide on switching/control options, and a coat of the finest paint that $6.50 can buy. Should be fun!!! P.S please feel free to point out anything huge I might have missed here! #mashup #customguitar #justforfun #guitar #failureisalwaysanoption #telecaster #jaguar #shouldntbeleftalone #beexcellenttoeachother

[dawnatkin]

I am often asked how I always get my glazes to stop running at just the right place. Well.... Fiddlesticks. I have been pushing my kiln a degree hotter each firing to see how it affects the crystalline formation. Apparently I found a temp that is too high. The entire kiln load stuck to its chips. Of course, that is why I use chips under my pieces. I will be able to grind and diamond sand these into perfection, but not today. Too loud and exhausting. Today, I’ll remember that social media shows us amazing successes, but there are plenty of failures behind the scenes. It wouldn’t be any fun if it wasn’t a challenge. #failureisalwaysanoption #glazeporn #lifeofapotter https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVlT2hgblw/?igshid=1pnmti97hc6gd

[c-u-r-s-e-d-o-b-j-e-c-t-s]

Thank goodness for test runs, right?!! Ahahahaha. I've been seeing some AMAZING gold leaf finishes lately, and I just had to have a go. Well...I mean I'm going to have a go, this was just a run to try a few different methods. This is the result of the crumple and burnish, with egg white as the size (glue). Obviously very messy, but damn good fun. I've had a go at a clean less sketchy run on the back of the body and I'm starting to get a feel for it. A few more attempts on test bodies first, then something incredibly daft for, a Jazzmaster perhaps? #failureisalwaysanoption #experiment #telecaster #goldleaf #guitarfinishing #guitar #brisbane #cursedobjects #beexcellenttoeachother

[c-u-r-s-e-d-o-b-j-e-c-t-s]

I wanted to try an experiment to help explain how important prep work and fine sanding is prior to adding clear finishes (particularly for those wanting to use tru oil). The experiment kinda failed but that's okay. Left hand side has been sanded up to 600 grit, while on the right its only up to 320. Once finished, I'll have worked up to at least 1200 all over. Why? Because I have a weird obsession with sanding, and also Tru Oil hides nothing, if you are lazy at this stage, you're going to kick yourself for it later on. Have a rad Sunday out there! #wip #stratocaster #mahogany #yourhogany #guitar #guitarbuilding #guitartech #cursedobjects #customguitar #beexcellenttoeachother #stayrad #blackcatboneguitars #brisbane #failureisalwaysanoption

[dawnatkin]

🎶Oh what a beautiful morning. 🎶 I love the rain. A mile up the road it is snowing, but here in the valley it is just gorgeous. ☔️ . I’m also enjoying exploring the carved angles on these cups. I got a bit carried away with pushing on this one and caused the rim to warp, so it has to live with me. Yay for failures!!! . . #failureisalwaysanoption #makearteveryday #lifeofapotter #ceramic #pottery #claytalk #etsyshop #etsymudteam #porcelaincup #autumninspired #lithologyceramicart https://www.instagram.com/p/CVA0EETg17O/?utm_medium=tumblr

[dawnatkin]

#glazegeek warning! The swoop I use as the line between glaze and carving is certainly a visual design component, but primarily it is a glaze test on every one of my pieces. It lets me see what the glaze does when it has anywhere from 1/3 - 2/3 of the piece to run. Runny glazes are easy to control when they have under 2 inches of glazed space. Frankly, they just behave themselves and stay inside the lines. Between 2 and 3 inches they require attention to the amount of glaze, and I often make the bottom half inch a bit thinner to slow the flow before it reaches the carving. But space more than 3 inches allows the flow build up momentum. There is weight to that glaze when it turns to liquid in the kiln, and gravity does its work. 3.5 inches (first slide) is a lovely little drip. 4.5 inches (second slide) is a mug buster. I’ll try to gently grind that off, but big drips like that usually take a chunk of porcelain with them. 😢 The experiments with glaze all the way to the bottom continue, but I am not admitting defeat on my signature carved design. I will figure this out. . . . #failureisalwaysanoption #100dayschallenge #100daysofhandles #ceramicglaze #pottery #ceramics #mugshotmonday #coffeemug #handmadeisbetter #claytalk #etsymudteam #pottersofinstagram #creativityeveryday #glazingpottery #makeart #lithologyceramicart PS: All my work is suddenly blue. Some subconscious thing going on there. 🧐 https://www.instagram.com/p/CLCcgEDDUlV/?igshid=m0zflg1kxxj5

[walkingmymind]

It didn't try hard enough. Failed. #failureisalwaysanoption (at Pasadena, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAjI8UvD2c5/?igshid=1p8qjw64km2ab