Nick,
Looks like we cross posted!
Thanks! I find that most people prefer the shaded grey coloring, though it helps to have a variety of colors so people can pick a favorite. I also find that the white and blue coloring of the piece below does well.
My kiln's internal chamber is octogonal and measures 22" x 18". It is an electric and I fire once slowly to temper the clay over three days, then I add the shading and fire once more for a single day to 2232 degrees Fahrenheit. At that heat, the pores of the clay seal up and it hardens to a strength and density that prevents winter freeze damage from being a problem. I want my pots to be as winter hardy as the succulents I use in them.
Occasionally if invited by fellow potters, I will fire in wood or soda kilns, they also cook to high temperatures and add a nice surface texture to the work.
I have several different sculpting styles at work, even within an individual planter. I have found that combining pinch pots with coils and slab work can really add dimension to the piece, and often using only one of these methods can be restricting.
The materials that I use differ depending on the pot. The white and blue is porcelain with a cobalt oxide wash, shaded grey is a stoneware with a balance of cobalt/iron oxide wash, and the shaded brown colors are one of three darker terracottas/red stonewares with an iron/rutile oxide wash, I also do yellows like the one below with a buff colored stoneware and a chrome/rutile/iron oxide wash.
For all of them I paint on the oxide wash with a brush then wipe it back into the recesses using a damp sponge. For special pieces I will use glaze in a similar fashion.
Once I've completed my final firing, the bases of the pieces are lightly sanded. Then I set about mixing a quick draining soil and plant them using tweezers and rooted cuttings from my garden.
-Sol Zimmerdahl
