Creative Glazing

Today has not been much of a day for writing, but it has been a day for thinking and other creative endeavors.  For instance, I raku fired the two masks below today. The one on top was glazed with copper luster number 4; the one beneath with dragonfly glaze.  Last week, I made another one similar to the one on top, but it was not dry enough for bisque firing last week, so it may have to wait awhile for glazing and firing.

I could have done more today, but I managed to leave my pottery/sculpture tools at home this morning, so I had nothing to work with, aside from firing. In two more days, or less, I’ll have an opportunity to make amends.

JSBlog06-1 JSBlog06-2

About John Swinburn

"Love not what you are but what you may become."― Miguel de Cervantes
This entry was posted in Art, Just Thinking. Bookmark the permalink.

17 Responses to Creative Glazing

  1. Trisha says:

    I never expected a New Yorkie accent coming out of a Texan, Juan. As for us Californians, we consider that we are nil of any detectable accent. Only traceable local lingo in SF Bay area…words you won’t find in any other part of CA, so I’ve always been told.

  2. Juan, my wife’s name is Janine. I won’t tell her you find her forgettable. 😉

  3. jserolf says:

    Interesting you say that, Trish, because the owner of this dry-cleaners (from New York) I frequent finally got around to asking me where I was from.
    “South Texas,” I said.
    “I thought you were from New York,” he said.
    John and I bear similar accents, and that’s because we come from that swath of territory, inclusive of California, New Mexico, and down to South Texas. There’s a distinct difference between South Texans and North Texans.

  4. Love that Conjunto video, Juan. Flaco Jimenez is incredible.; I don’t recall knowing anything about Santiago. I don’t have a clue what they’re singing, but I love the sound!

  5. Trisha says:

    Funny, I would not have thought in a Spanish sung song, Juan, but a fun one nevertheless. I was thinking geographical, more than accents. No you don’t have a southern accent. You sounded to me like New York, or perhaps Jersey to me! I was surprised at that!

  6. jserolf says:

    I don’t know that you can call John and me Southern, Trish, and I think John would probably agree. North or South Carolina is Southern like Mississippi or Alabama, but Texas men like me or John could be considered Californian, because the accents with California, New Mexico to West and South Texas are the same. Neither John nor I really sound like we’re from Dallas or North-East Texas.

    You heard my accent, Trish. You have to agree that it’s not really Southern — and if memory serves, Juan, John, and Jeannete’s (do I have your wife’s name right, John?) accents are similar.

    If you’re going to typify John and me, then I’d say this is the song:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KGY3-_B0gI

    Now, as for you, my dear….. I’d pick this one, because you’re such a hippy girl:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-aK6JnyFmk

  7. My blog is available; you can use it however you see fit. ;-0

  8. Trisha says:

    Oh, though I’m very south, but you two, John and Juan are real southerns…dedication time! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVRxdPWV3RM

  9. Trisha says:

    Oye, Juanito I take your word. Oh, do tell later, though!! I’ve no problem with long, slow films. You know why? It’s the closest to reality that we can experiences that is not our own life, but similar!

    John, sorry for using your blog like this, and we are guilty of such, but I know no other Romeo than he, and impressive he can be! 😉

  10. jserolf says:

    I would love to tell you what he said. That’s a deal, Trish. And, I don’t want to say anymore on that because already I’m taking away from the purity of the experience. It’s a slow moving but thoughtful film.

  11. Trisha says:

    Juan, after reading this, I intend to see “Leviathan”, but only if you promise after having done so, and through my impression, you tell me what the the “Siberian” fellow had to say! Sounds interesting, especially to my Slavic blood!

    John and Juan: Wish I could post my artifacts that are of the Juan persuasion here. I have a few, and you would not believe the ingenuity!! Bloody mind boggling, best conversation pieces I’ve ever own!! 😉

  12. jserolf says:

    That appears to be part of my lesson for the day, John and Trish: CULTURE, though mostly in regards to what we see or fail to see for me, and most of my film class — after critically viewing Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Leviathan” (2014).

    This is a “must-put-on-your-list Russian film,” you two, as it not only took several awards at Cannes, but an Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language film (2014) — and — a real silent surprise type of plot that’s promised — nuff said because I don’t want to spoil it for you.

    While after the film, the entire class was ready to critically break it out and take it apart, complete with a whole set of notes and answers, one student in the class (Serbian) brought out something that completely by-passed us all.

    “Wow,” I said.
    “Incredible,” said another.
    “I never saw that,” others chimed, too.

    What he said in a near singular sentence blew us away and blew us into utter silence, as we listened and practically begged for more of his explanation. He was Serbian, after-all, comparatively of some Russian culture.

    That brought us into a whole other dialogue concerning Russian CULTURE and what we as Americans cannot see in what are world-away innuendos.

    As Trish says, that “type of art you’ve suggested is quite common here,” and she is correct. Now, too, I think of John Swinburn (a Tejano) in Arkansas — more, possibly “other world culture.

    But back to the film — please see it! It’s as slow moving as a Chekhov play, but the pay-out is incredible and well worth the watch.

  13. Trisha says:

    Ahhahaha, Juan!! Actually the type of art you’ve suggested if quite common here, and appreciated, believe it or not. However, John is right and knows best in this case.

    John, you’re not the kind to end up in the cooler, and beside that, orange is a difficult color to pull off for the majority of us! 😉

  14. Juan, I will most certainly give your suggestion the consideration it deserves! 😉 Actually, I’d be arrested, I think. I am in Arkansas, you know!

  15. Juan says:

    Sudden brainstorm, John, and a sure thing for block buster sales! Okay….get ready for it…..ready?

    X rated phallic symbols! Now, don’t shake your head no so quickly, my friend, and no, I’ve not had anything to drink; it’s nearly 7:30 am and having coffee before class in fact…

    Of course, these “things” would be sold as an oddity, but no doubt every youth and old person would hang such a piece — large or small — over their mantle place. You know, a conversation “piece” something like, “Wanna see my etchings?”

    Imagine come back points of commentary from friends, “Look at the size of that thing!” And following the cultural adage of the elephant trunk, up for luck and down for poor fortune.

    Hey! If nothing else, you would certainly be the talk of your pottery group!

  16. Trisha says:

    These are masks are very well done, John! You’ve found your vocation. Keep up the good work!

  17. jserolf says:

    Whatever you are doing, you are certainly tapping into your creative nature!!!

I wish you would tell me what you think about this post...

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.