HARRISON LEVENSTEIN
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Studio

At this point on my journey I rely on travel, residencies, and the generosity of other artists to provide me with facilities to make and fire my work. I consider myself to be in a stage of education and growth as a maker, wanting to learn and experience as much as I possibly can, while I can. I plan to eventually build my very own studio and kiln, but for now I am grateful to be consistently inconsistent.
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As with any potter, my process begins with my clay. The clay we choose to work with is our very first aesthetic decision. I am currently designing and testing my very own clay bodies. Qualities that I find desirable in a clay body are good workability, high-firing temperature, and their potential for beautiful color when fired in atmospheric kilns. My future studio will have a nearby clay source that I will be able to harvest from and create with.
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Spreading out to dry a batch of reclaimed porcelain with added red clay.
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This material is beautiful.
Most of my pots begin on the potter's wheel. Here I will take you through the process of making a cup.
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Every pot begins with centering.
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Beginning to take shape.
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Refining the curve.
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Opening.
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Refining the lip.
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Painting on a thick slip, brushed texture.
After throwing several cups like this, I then have to wait a day or so for the clay to dry out to a stage called "leather-hard". At this stage I can safely handle the pots without distorting their shape or ruining their textures, and finish the foot in a process called "trimming", or "turning".
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Clay thrown into a cone shape called a "chum"
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Chum holding the pot to be turned.
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Trimming, or "turning", a foot.
Finally, with the foot trimmed, I can go back in and decorate. I use a combination of tools including an xacto blade, to carve elegant designs into the surface of the cup.
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Planning decoration.
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Carving leafy patterns.
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Finally, the cup gets my signature stamp. A small "h".
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Finished!
What happens next? Read a little bit about the wood firing process here.
Huge thank you to Emily Kraus of Elouise Photography for the wonderful photos.
• Stay Centered •
  • Home
  • Work
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Process
    • Studio
    • What's Woodfiring?
    • What's Soda Firing?
    • Documented Firings >
      • Conrad's Kiln Shed
      • Chinnagama X
      • Chinnagama XI
      • Chinnagama XII
      • Ishler on Whidbey
      • Mill Creek Train
      • Mounds Anagama
      • Pigeon Point Fast Fire
      • Pixiegama
      • Santatsugama
      • Santatsugama 2019
      • Simon's Rock Train
      • Thunder Train I
      • Thunder Train II
      • Thunder Train III
      • Spitfire Anagama
      • Yamagama
    • Instagram
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • All Posts
  • More...
    • India
    • Red Lodge Clay Center
    • The Traveling Potter
    • Soda Fire Interview
    • Quartz Inversion
    • News
    • Contact