Although they take longer to make and are tricky they are worth the time and effort. It's a fragile balance for each process.
Throwing the pot on the wheel
Getting the right Leather hard state for carving (a small window of opportunity)
Cutting and carving the organic pattern (it could all go very wrong at this point and collapse!). Then smoothing of the cut edges with a wet sponge (breaking the fragile structure could happen at this point because it's weakened by all the previous processes, plus using water makes the structure soft).
Handling with kid gloves at the dried greenware stage before bisque firing.
If it manages to survive all that and come out the bisque firing unscathed it's a good day. They are unique pieces that speak for themselves. I tend to put a simple glaze over them, so it doesn't detract from the beauty of the object itself. I particularly like the patterns they make when light passes through them.
They're part of my limited collection.
You can find them @Etsygonpotty.
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