Dasani's Art & Amusings

 I was just about to go to bed - the doggo needed to finish dinner - so I grabbed a new book that I just got in the mail (Thank you Ebay!) and opened it to a random page.  Here's what I know:  Traditionally low-fire ceramics are fired to a higher temperature for the bisque (first) firing and then a lower temperature for the glaze (second) firing.   Bisque (First Firing)                                                  Glaze (Second Firing)       ~1915F                                                                           ~1890F or  ~1830F This is done primarily for two ...

 I'm doing some digging into Maiolica research.  I've read Piccolpasso's three treatises on Maiolica a couple of times, and I'm going to go back and dig into it again as both of the last times I've read it, I've come away with different and more information. Each time I've found things that have lead me towards different research and rabbit holes to fall into as well!  One of the things that Piccolpasso talks about in his treatise is that the ceramics were created on a potter's wheel that would have a wooden mold attached to it in order to make the plates or bowls.  This makes complete sense to me, as Piccolpasso was living in the area of the Castel Durante potteries.  These potteries were making mass quantities of pottery for different households, castles and even for the Pope. That said, the artists needed ways to cut time down on making the pieces, and using a mold in the creation of bowls and plates and other dinnerware, makes it considerably easier ...

 Tonight I decided that I really needed to work on updating my website with the work that I have been working on over the past year.  I added to the photos for a couple of pieces of ceramics - Even Greater Escape and the Dragon Pitcher.  I added pages and started working on the last couple of updates for pages: Breastesez and the Pelican Medallions that were made for Vito and Vici.   Admittedly it is a bit slower going, remembering how to make the changes and most effectively work on the website - even IF the website is a google sites website! But it's like riding a bike, how to work and adjust things comes back somewhat quickly and starts to even and smooth out and things fall into place!  So if you haven't seen the large platter or the dragon in person - now there are some photos! :-) 

 Well it's 2024.  I have a doggo curled up next to me as the wind blows outside.  I'm drinking my water and thinking about setting goals and making plans.  As 2023 wrapped up I realized that I'm struggling a bit with setting goals, and consequently reaching those goals.  Be it due to my lack of....lack of focus mainly, or time, or generally getting distracted.  A lot of my focus was lost last spring when Henson got sick and I had to say goodbye to him.  But I know that I need to get my focus back.  I decided to create a bullet journal to help with daily and longer goals.  I have to set it up at this point, but now that the first semester is over, I have a bit of different time that I can work on this and other goals and plans.   I set a number of goals in 2023, I kept track of them via a google sheets, I called it 23 for 23 in 23 and it was a list of things to do 23 times during the year - it included simple things like watching mov...