There is something truly scrumptious about leather hard clay…it looks so soft, so edible, so inviting to the touch. Once the dusty unevenness of drying takes hold though, the clay looses something elemental. Personally, I reckon firing compounds the loss. The challenge for my own making is to somehow re-introduce leather-hard softness post firing. Over many years I’ve experimented with all kinds of ceramic materials, waxes and finishes. Some work well, others not so. I guess what’s important and ultimately fulfilling is the the continuing investigation, the quest for the perfect surface for that particular piece.
Featured image courtesy of Photopia Photography
