Height: 30 cm, 30 cm; diameter at base: 9 cm

Here, I was trying to find colour combinations that worked, that complemented one another, against the dark clay. With these two cylinders, I first darkened the black clay (which once fired turns into a dark tan shade) by sponging black underglaze all over, and, in places, with two coats.

Once bisque fired to cone 06, I used a glaze which is sensitive to the thickness of the coat, and to the surface beneath it. I knew the mossy green glaze would give me a variety of tones, and then all I had to do was add another squirt with a slip trailer, and a few splatters with a glaze-loaded toothbrush. Finally, I used the atomiser for a light spray of transparent over the remaining blackened surface.

The result was Moss on Black.

Stoneware. Black clay, underglaze and glazes, poured and splattered. Fired in oxidation to cone 6

Height: 26 cm, 33 cm; diameter at base: 8.5 cm, 8.5

Moss, lichen, creepers; from the darkness, to the light.

Stoneware; black clay, with underglaze and glazes. Fired in oxidation to cone 6

Pair: Height: 30 cm; diameter at base: 9 cm

Creepers, reaching to the light.

Stoneware; black clay, fired in oxidation to cone 6

The black clay, which once fired, turns brown. Here the raw clay is coated with sponged on black underglaze to achieve a darker colour. Yellow slip is then squirted with a thick swoosh onto the still raw surface. Once bisque fired, other glazes are applied using either a slip trailer or a brush.