2023 was my first year adapting to retirement life. Every morning I would arrive early at the studio to see how the previous day’s firing had turned out, then decide on that day’s experimental approach. Living with this sense of anticipation day after day made for a fulfilling and meaningful life.
In March and April, I mainly used a mixed iron-red glaze on No. 6 clay body to fire teapots and rabbits; in May, I mainly fired a mixed iron-red glaze on No. 500 clay body; in June, I fired the No. 2022816B glaze on No. 2 clay body. That’s how the first half of the year went — the glaze results across all three types were quite good, and the specific firing methods and process were recorded at the time.
No. 6 clay body mixed glaze rabbit and teapot
No. 500 clay body with mixed iron-red glaze
No. 2 clay body with No. 2022816B glaze
In the second half of the year, I focused my main effort on “innovation.” First, I hand-threw and fired gold and silver cups — the results were good, but for various reasons this only reached the experimental stage. Second, I successfully fired the “Bright Moon” cup. Third, I mastered the firing process for dragon-pattern glaze (fish-scale glaze). Fourth, I obtained a new process for a bright black glaze with red showing through the black. Fifth, I obtained another firing method for silver cups.
“Bright Moon” Cup
Bright Black Glaze
Dragon-Pattern Glaze (Fish-Scale Glaze)
Gold Cup Fired with the New Method
2023 was the first year of a new journey, and overall I am quite satisfied with it. Going forward, I may reduce mass production and focus more on creating individualized pieces, as well as pursuing the firing of larger works.
December 17, 2023
