Three Images from Japan

Three lovely images from Japan.  Only the photograph of the Geisha is one of mine the other two I have cribbed from a DVD about Japan - mostly as a experiment in photographing the TV screen.

The marvels of texture and colour on anagama pots.

Here are two more close-ups of pots fired in our anagama kiln.

Two More Close-ups

The result of a long firing and very even and regular stoking the flame patterns have been written into this platter.  The white edgings on this cut sided vase only happen in a very hot firing and is quite unusual.  What wonderful results can come from fire on clay - nothing else was added.

Some Close Ups of Glaze Effects

These two pictures are close ups of the glaze effects from the long wood firing in our Anagama,  The pots go in the kiln without any slip or glaze coating - just dry clay.  The firing of about ten days gives many coatings of ash which melts and combines with the clay surface to produce these magnificent colours and effects.  No wonder we thought it worthwhile to put so much effort into the firings.

Images

The evening sky taken from my window last Sunday with the moon and Venus in close proximity.  The rose is not from my garden but from a garden in Havelock North where the frosts are much less and the late roses were still flowering well.

From My Garden

This year my Hamamelis or Witch Hazel is flowering beautifully and this calyx from a persimmon has such wonderful colour and patterns.  There always seems to be something different to find when the weather is nice enough to be outside.

David's Photographs

This is a very much photographed lighthouse in Cornwall, UK and I thought David's portrait of the seagull was particularly good.  I hope David does not mind me using his lovely photographs on my blog but I have not taken any interesting pictures for some time.