Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill is on the top shelf (of course!) and he is bone dry and ready for his trip to the kiln.  He will be biscuit fired this coming week.  From there he gets glazed and fired in the gas kiln.  That kiln is a large one so it will be about the end of March by the time he makes it through his glaze firing.

The Bison, Now Constructed, Waits For The Kiln

Here he is in the green state with his last bits added and subtracted.  From here he goes back under the plastic to dry slowly.

Buffalo Now Has A Face

Work in progress

Side view

I had some time today to get into the studio and with the help of a couple images I have done some more work on Mr. Bison.  He now has a face, a tail and some haunches.  He is still hornless but they have been formed and wait until they are firm enough to be attached.  After that I shall see if he needs ears.

Never Really Looked at a Bison

Slab Silhouette

Lisa with her boney box

It is January and things are cold and slow and yes it is a good to return to the studio.  I am pleased to say I can now sit down and work on small projects.  I have many mugs, three yarn bowl kitties, three yarn bowl owls, two yarn bowl elephants and one llama (yarn bowl) in process.

Among this bestiary comes something unconsidered by me.  What about"a buffalo in ..a sitting position?" My internet knitting friend, Pam the knitter asked.  She has a blog. You will find her at Yarn Goddess  so always a sucker for a challenge I proceed.

First stop was Google.  I've seen bison but have never really looked at a Bison.  As structures they are amazing.  They have all this mass up front--especially in their heads.  With all that bulk in front I find it amazing that they don't fall on their faces.

I have decided to do the buffalo form with slabs and pictured above is it first assembled.  It has a way to go as Lisa, one of the studio potters, can attest.  Her best guess as to what it was "Well . . . it's an animal."

OK so there are things yet to be done with this bison/buffalo so hang on to your britches.  This critter will get some haunches, a beard, horns, a face and so on.

Winter Solstice In The Studio

All was quiet in the studio today.  It was cool and dark.  This because it is the year end holiday break.  All the students are gone and the rain comes down which is unseasonal for south west Ohio.  I was there wrapping up loose ends earlier.  I am home now and have lit a small tree in honor of the shortest day of the year and in hope of better days to come.

In Loving Memory

December 2010, Hickory NC

Leap Off Point Blue Ridge Parkway Spring 2011

This entry is in loving memory of my son Paul Ernest Wuerzner who was born February 14, 1986 and died November 6, 2011.  I am still in shock but feel I must post something.  We all miss him so much.  

A Little Sheepish Perhaps

August is on the ebb and again I find I am looking at hedge apples.  Hedge apple as sheep and as tea pot.  They are demanding creatures, quite high maintenance but I am enjoying the process.  Here are a couple still green.