I Got My Clay (76+) Pieces Fired (opinions Welcome) Dial Up Beware&#33

[Torrean]

I tried to put the two pieces I made yesterday on here and it said I have posted more pictures than I am allowed. Soo I'm going to see if I can post them in this post or if the limit is per thread.

14
difficulty=5
time=2:00
This piece was supposed to be a long thin cave but I made it too wide and the roof kept collapsing when I flipped the piece for cutting.

15
difficulty=3
time=1:00
Smaller version of 14

16
difficulty=4
time=1:00
This was my first attempt at adding a floor. I think it turned out pretty good

17
difficulty=5
time=1:45
This is a version of 14 and 15, except this one has a floor. I'm planning on putting this one in my ten gallon, I hope it fits.

 

[valleyrich]

You got frustrated on the last piece (number 15) didn't you? It looks great. Love the idea but I can see frustration in it. I'll see if I can find you some tools to help hold up the roof. This would look really good in my tank. Anna would LOVE it!!!

 

[Torrean]

All right here's my fired pieces. They are listed in order of unpacking not order of construction.
All construction times are estimated amounts of time I could build one now not how long it took to build that particular piece. I have a stopwatch now so the times should become more accurate once I reach my third firing. Weight is after firing too. It takes a long time to post in this thread so please reply. I value your opinions and would like any suggestions you can offer. I do get benefits from organizing this and posting here though. I've already sent many people to this thread to see my work. Hope you enjoy these I worked a long time on them.

1
1. Time = 45 min
2. LWH = 3.5 X 3.5 X 8
3. weight = 1 1/4 lbs

2
1. Time = 45 min
2. LWH = 7 X 7 X 3.5
3. weight = 1 1/2 lbs

3
1. Time = 1 hr 15 min
2. LWH = 10.5 X 6.5 X 3
3. weight = 1 3/4 lbs

4
1. Time = 15 min
2. LWH = 2.5 X 5.5 X 4
3. weight = 1/2 lbs

5
1. Time = 1 hr
2. LWH = 9 X 5.5 X 4
3. weight = 2 lbs

6
1. Time = 20 min
2. LWH = 2.5 X 5.5 X 4
3. weight = 1/4 lbs

7
1. Time = 1 hr.
2. LWH = 8 X 7 X 3
3. weight = 1 lbs

8
1. Time = 30 min
2. LWH = 6.5 X 3 X 3
3. weight = 3/4 lbs.
no pic same as other tube really just smaller and with smaller holes

9
1. Time = 10 min
2. LWH = 4 X 4 X 1 1/2
3. weight = 1/4 lbs.

10
1. Time = 45 min.
2. LWH = 7 X 7 X 3.5
3. weight = 5/8 lbs

11
1. Time = 30 min
2. LWH = 4 X 4 X 4
3. weight = 6/8 lbs

12
1. Time = 1 1/2 hrs.
2. LWH = 4 X 9 X 7
3. weight = 1 1/4 lbs.

13
1. Time = 1 hr.
2. LWH = 11.5 X 3 X 3
3. weight = 1 3/4 lbs.

14
1. Time = 1 1/4 hrs.
2. LWH = 5.5 X 5 X 6.5
3. weight = 2 lbs.

15
1. Time = 45 min
2. LWH = 7 X 7 X 3.5
3. weight = 3/4 lbs

i broke this piece...woops

16
1. Time = 1 1/4 hrs.
2. LWH = 9 X 6 X 3
3. weight = 1 3/8 lbs.

the floor busted out of this one =(

17
1. Time = 20 min
2. LWH = 4 X 4 X 3
3. weight = 1/2 lbs.

18
1. Time = 45 min
2. LWH = 9 X 4 X 2.5
3. weight = 1 lbs

19
1. Time = 30 min
2. LWH = 4 X 4 X 4
3. weight =3/4 lbs

20
1. Time = 1 1/4 hr
2. LWH = 12 X 6 X 3
3. weight = 1 1/2 lbs

21
1. Time = 1 1/2 hr
2. LWH = 7.5 X 7 X 10.5
3. weight = 2 1/2 lbs

22
1. Time = 1 hr
2. LWH = 6 X 6 X 7
3. weight = 1 1/4 lbs

 

[Torrean]

23
1. Time = 45 min
2. LWH = 8 X 7 X 5.5
3. weight = 1 1/4 lbs

24
1. Time = 45 min
2. LWH = 5.5 X 5.5 X 6
3. weight = 1 lbs

all

I hope I get some responses. This is an easy way for me to show people, I might sell to, my work so i guess it's worth the effort just to show you guys and be able to show customers but i'd really like some feedback.

 

[mandy82]

I personally think they would look good with a glaze. I have a hard time finding colorful things to go into my tank without crossing the cheesey line. Colorful pottery would add the color I am looking for. I really like the ones that are flatter (like 3, 7, 13, 18 and 20). They all look great though!

 

[Torrean]

I appreciate the feedback mandy. I am planning on putting on the tag that I will glaze any piece upon request and for a small aditional charge. There are a couple reasons why I don't want to glaze them.

1. It would require another firing, and I have no money.

2. I would have to buy glaze and well I have no money.

3. And most importantly, as long I don't glaze these pieces they remain porous. This means that water will pass through them. If oxygenated water passes through the porous piece of pottery then the ornament will be colonized by aerobic nitrifying bacteria (the bacteria in your filter) If I glaze the piece then only the outer surface of the piece will be colonized and since glaze is sooo smooth it will greatly reduce the outer surface area of the piece.

What colors do you think would look nice? Keep in mind that after these pieces have been in the tank awhile they turn kinda green. At first they are a bright purple then as time goes on they get more and more green. I think It's really pretty.



EDIT: I forgot to mention that I can blend clays. I haven't done it yet but I can take too clays of different colors and make a coil pot out of them. Like a deep brick red (if i can find a safe one) and the purplish peach color of the carolina buff clay that I use now. Or I could take more than two kinds of clay and do the same thing.



Another edit: Are many members enjoying this? Let me know. If you looked through my thread and you enjoyed it then say so please. I see lotsa views but not many posts. I know you wanted to see them when I posted the poll. How do you feel now?

 

[Ami]

I like the ones with flat tops too (like 7 and 13), the reason being because you could use them to make a sand bank thingie in a tank and that would be cool.

Like a rabbit warren type of thing. You could tie riccia / java moss to the top to make it look like glass.

Ami

 

[Torrean]

Thanks ami. Another benefit of the flat tops is the fact that the pieces are stackable. I'm planning on building massive pieces out of multiple pieces once I start making some money and I get my technique down. So do you think I should keep one side holeless so that the sand can be piled against it?

 

[mandy82]

Almost any color would look good...mostly reds, greens, blues. Something subtle, not too bright.

 

[Torrean]

Here is an in tank pic. It's a small piece with a jellybean in it. I think i've discovered something. These pieces, once placed into a tank, take on the color of the gravel and the other surroundings the light is reflecting off of.

Here's a few more

 

[mandy82]

I like it!

 

[mandy82]

OMG! I didn't see the new pics until now. I REALLY like the two that are in the bottom picture. How much were you planning to sell them for?

 

[Torrean]

The two in the ten gallon with the jellybeans aren't for sale. But I can make pretty much exact replica's if you like. I need to do some market research so I can't promise this is what I'll sell them for but the small hut in the ten will probably be sold for about $10 and the tube in the ten will probably be about $15. not counting shipping.

 

[mandy82]

That's not bad pricing considering that the ornaments at wmart are about the same price for the size except they have those goofy looking plants attached to them.

I've looked at them more and I've done a little more thinking...I like the color of the pottery itself.

 

[Torrean]

=) I'm glad you like it. I do too. I think glaze would deform the piece lessening the grooves of the coils. I'd like to glaze a few one day just to see what effect it has but I like the color of the clay too.

You guys just don't know how happy it makes me when people comment on my pottery. I put a lot of effort into them and I'm really glad you guys are enjoying looking at my work. BTW mandy are you located anywhere near winston salem?