Watering Cans II
This spring I have been continuing my journey exploring leather and ceramics together through watering cans. Instead of focusing on round or oval forms, I have been trying darts and seeing how they alter the energy of the pot. Does a dart here make the pot look like it is about to lift from the table, or does it hold its weight precariously in a way that screams to be held and liquid poured?
While making this series, I initially had a look at my previous batch, and decided to make fewer with the bulb spouts, and more with a thinner spout for reaching house plants on high shelves. Making a long spout like this proved challenging, as the opening at the end is narrow and does not leave much room to play with during its construction. I used a slab technique and fashioned it around a long narrow cone I made from clay and bisque fired to use as a tool that can fit inside narrow spouts. From here it was a question of attaching, and designing whether it needed a handle overtop or not.
The other major change in this iteration is its temperature range. These are made using cone 6 soda firing techniques, rather than cone 9/10 so as to lower the amount of time I spend firing and use less gas.
Last the leather handles- this time it was much easier to make the handles, and attach using a rivet press so I could avoid hitting my work with a hammer to adhere the rivets. I love the idea of a teapot or something more food related being designed with a leather handle but worry about the food safety of a leather handle as it is tricky to wash. That being said- I am not sure anyone is marinating steaks in their hand made teapots so maybe it could be fine!!
I really have enjoyed designing these, and will admit I have enjoyed using them too! My garden and house plants are well under way this season and I am excited to see if the watering cans can enhance my green thumb. My house plants are looking lively, and my outdoor garden needs some sunshine to combat this rainy spring. But the plants all love the watering cans!
