Techniques
Glazed pieces
More information coming soon.
Saggar Fired pieces
WHEEL THROWN STONEWARE CREATED BY CONSTANCE A. ELEK
Decorated with Volatile Materials in Saggars.
Each unique piece of pottery that I have created has been hand turned on my potter's wheel. When bone dry, the item is sanded to remove all throwing lines and then burnished to create a smooth surface. Occasionally, a second clay, a terra sigalatta, is then brushed on the surface. When this is dry, the pot is then hand rubbed and burnished with metal ribs and soft cloths. This creates a smoother satin finish. Each piece is then fired to bisque in an electric kiln. A second firing, using a gas kiln, is then utilized. Each item is carefully prepared within a secondary chamber, the saggar, which is generally a heavy, stackable, course fireclay container. Some articles are wrapped in copper wire, surrounded with combustible materials, i. e. sawdust, straw soaked in copper or iron sulfates, pecan shells, seaweed, kosher salt, etc. Great care and much thought go into positioning each pot, the volatile materials used and placement within the kiln as each change modifies and affects color potential. Once loaded, the gas kiln is then fired to over 1800 degrees. When the kiln is cool enough to open, each saggar is removed and carefully opened. The best pots are dusted, washed, sealed with a wax medium and polished with a soft cloth.
Please Note: These pots are relatively soft and porous from this process and therefore do NOT hold water. They are for decorative use only.
Horsehair pieces
HORSE HAIR POTTERY CREATED BY CONSTANCE A. ELEK
Southwest style pottery is hand turned on a potter's wheel. When bone dry, the piece is sanded to remove all throwing lines and then burnished with metal or rubber ribs to create a smooth surface. A second clay, a terra sigalatta, is then brushed on the surface. When this is dry, the pot is then hand rubbed with soft cloths, which creates a smoother satin finish. Each piece is then fired to bisque in an electric kiln. A second firing, using a gas kiln is then utilized. Once the internal temperature reaches approximately 1650 degrees, the pots are removed with tongs, welding gloves and a lot of caution, and are placed on fire bricks to avoid temperature shock. At that point, I then have approximately 5 seconds to decorate the pot. Actual horse hair from the mane (not the tail) is then placed on the surface of the pots, and the hair is immediately reduced to ash. Their image is forever burned into the clay.
Please Note: These pots are relatively soft and porous from this process and therefore do NOT hold water. They are for decorative use only.