Guarded

“Guarded” is a vessel that shows the uncertainty of opening up to people. The desire to push people away in an attempt to protect oneself from getting hurt. This tall vessel has long jagged pieces that are running up the piece. These are rough and dark, trying to protect the small opening and what is protected within.

Guarded started as a basic coil pot, similar to Chatter. I made the piece taller and slimmer, with a narrow opening.

I began to apply the texture after the vessel was a firm leather hard. I extruded coils, keeping them in a damp box to preserve the moisture, and then hand rolled each coil. This created a rough textured edge. I then cut one edge flat, and attached the flat edge to the piece. I then laid the pieces vertically along the vessel.

After all the texture was applied, the piece was then left to slowly dry and then Bisque-fired with a 48 hour preheat.

After the bisque-fire, I mixed an iron oxide wash and sprayed it onto the piece. I then wipe the excess off with a damp sponge so the oxide remained in the crevices of the texture. Be warned- this texture is the destroyer of sponges.

Lastly I fired the piece to cone 5 (2167F) and then the vessel was finished.