Dennis Johanson
Dennis Johanson
Dennis will be at studio #12 at the scout lodge during the 2025 POST tour.
My Celebration of Colors
I bought my first wheel and started throwing pottery for real 48 years age. I had been doing hand building up to that point, taking classes from LBCC, Corvallis High School, and OSU Craft Center. Then I discovered I needed glazes of my own and a kiln to fire things in. Many books later I learned the art of glaze chemistry and firing schedules for Cone 10 Clay bodies.
Three years ago I again started searching for new glazes. Not wanting to make large quantities of each glaze like I had in the past, I started making small Mushrooms that I could glaze fire and keeping detailed records of each glaze allowed me to test several glazes. I still could not produce bright reds and purples because those colors would always burn out at the higher kiln temparatures, Cone 10 or 2345 F.
Two years age I started creating my Porcelain clay bodies with the color elements encapsulated in the porcelain. Now instead of hundreds of glaze samples I had created hundreds of different clay bodies and tested them with Mini Pots, not all to my liking. Still no bright reds or purples. Not giving up, I invested in Cone 6 Porcelain or 2232 F, and purchased premade glazes and I started making small Gnomes for color testing. And Yes, I now have lots of Mushrooms, Gnomes, and Mini Pots. My pottery skills range from Horse Hair Raku to Bird Feeders, from Utilitarian Pottery to Whimsical Beach Birds, and more.
Last Month was my big break as I now have Bright Reds, Oranges, Yellows and Purples. And I can duplicate the glazes and clay bodies with the same results at any time. So now I can share with you My Celebration of Colors.
My Celebration of Colors
I bought my first wheel and started throwing pottery for real 48 years age. I had been doing hand building up to that point, taking classes from LBCC, Corvallis High School, and OSU Craft Center. Then I discovered I needed glazes of my own and a kiln to fire things in. Many books later I learned the art of glaze chemistry and firing schedules for Cone 10 Clay bodies.
Three years ago I again started searching for new glazes. Not wanting to make large quantities of each glaze like I had in the past, I started making small Mushrooms that I could glaze fire and keeping detailed records of each glaze allowed me to test several glazes. I still could not produce bright reds and purples because those colors would always burn out at the higher kiln temparatures, Cone 10 or 2345 F.
Two years age I started creating my Porcelain clay bodies with the color elements encapsulated in the porcelain. Now instead of hundreds of glaze samples I had created hundreds of different clay bodies and tested them with Mini Pots, not all to my liking. Still no bright reds or purples. Not giving up, I invested in Cone 6 Porcelain or 2232 F, and purchased premade glazes and I started making small Gnomes for color testing. And Yes, I now have lots of Mushrooms, Gnomes, and Mini Pots. My pottery skills range from Horse Hair Raku to Bird Feeders, from Utilitarian Pottery to Whimsical Beach Birds, and more.
Last Month was my big break as I now have Bright Reds, Oranges, Yellows and Purples. And I can duplicate the glazes and clay bodies with the same results at any time. So now I can share with you My Celebration of Colors.
