We all know Christmas is joyous as it is busy, but when you make what you sell, the season is more dynamic than ever. And it starts early. This year I got a jump on it by ordering some new colors to make the season delightful for both of us. Fall is a time to celebrate color, from vivid reds and golds of the changing foliage to the earthy sepia and saffron tones that come with the changing light.
I started with some leftover ornament blanks from last year, painting the right side with white ceramic paint called underglaze, then coating them with the twelve new glazes I brought. Glaze tests are like suggestions; you only know what you have once you've tried them a few times.
These are the tests in their different stages. Some I love and some I’ll pass on to a fellow potter.
Last week I fired the first kiln load with the new autumn colors, one of many between now and the holiday shows. It was a small but informative batch, and I'm looking forward to playing more with my new color friends.
In this first lamp the new colors are the background green and goldenrod yellow in the bees. The center lamp uses sunrise orange poppies and plum over white in the background. Last are colors I’ve been using the red and blue, along with the new butterscotch yellow.