Irabo (Runny Ash Glaze) Shigaraki Clay Tsubo

This is an Irabo glazed and paddled Shigaraki clay pot. I use Hamada's recipe: dobai (wood ash) 4 parts, Amakusa stone (you can try a grolleg clay body) 1.5 parts, and Odo (ochre) 2 parts.
copyright 2005 Lee Love

I brush a thin coat of Irabo (runny ash glaze) on the bottom and then dip a regular coat at the top. This allows for the glaze runs, without sticking the pot to the kiln shelf. The Irabo pots are always put on shells just in case.
copyright 2005 Lee Love

These runs stopped exactly where I hoped!
copyright 2005 Lee Love

This is from two days ago. It was still coming down. Jean's teaching classes were cancelled, so she took the time to go to the Yakuba (City Office) to have our taxes done. The office was slow, as she hoped the snow would do, but she saw Fukuyan, the "retired" Forman from my teacher's pottery. They actually help you prepare your taxes here!
copyright 2005 Lee Love

We just had about 8 inches of snow. Our Akita Taiko loves it.
copyright 2005 Lee Love

This is a nappa (chinese cabbage, used for a kimchee type pickle) in the field. They tie them with rice straw and it helps them last into the middle of winter. They are far gone now.
copyright 2005 Lee Love

The grandfather working on this has made it about twice as long since I took this photo.
copyright 2005 Lee Love

Veggies in winter storage
copyright 2005 Lee Love

Shimaoka in the '70s. Notice the two "Western" deshis/apprentices.
copyright 2005 Lee Love

This is a calligraphy my grandfather Hashimoto drew. It hangs in my study, overlooking the computer. It is of the Daruma, "rollie pollie" doll. There are many visual puns, but the main phrase says, "Seven times down, Eight times up!" I live by these words drawn by my Grandfather. I am not a gifted person, but I am not afraid to make mistakes and I never give up.
Copyright Lee Love 2005

Shigaraki clay, hakame slip inlay, wood fired
Copyright Lee Love 2005

Shigaraki clay, hakame slip inlay, wood fired
Copyright Lee Love 2005