water-like glaze

Making a pot is the first challenge or expression, what to do with a surface is a whole other kettle of fish. What moves me very often is water. Running water, still water, over rocks, over leaves, frozen, melting......you get the picture. Glazes have an affinity to this visual in that they melt, run, flow, can be transparent. I choose to work with ash glazes for a variety of reasons. Ash is a local, non- industrial ingredient, it is interesting to explore what is right in front of us[me], and I like the not completely controllable properties of ash glazing. Ash has micro ingredients that contribute subtleties and surprises with each batch. Sometimes the surprises aren't happy ones like when the glaze runs off the pot and onto the kiln shelf, but more often than not bowl interiors have lovely pooling, swirls, especially if layered over pond clay slip. Just be sure to bisque the slip, to burn off gasses that make the glaze bubble.