Cast Recording

I was sent a great blog post by Jeremy Brooks, who is teaching a Tools, Materials, and Process class at the University of Michigan. The class is working on a project where they have to create a cup and a cast of their mouth to work as a cup holder. It is a really cool experiment of art, design and process.
Jeremy sent me the post with this note.

"My mold making class at the University of Michigan has really enjoyed working with your slip. For most of them, this is their first experience with casting slip. It is incredibly plastic for a casting slip and I am impressed with how far they can push it."

Of course I love to hear great reviews about how functional and versatile our Clays and Casting Slips are!

__________________________________________________________________________________

Slipcast is brought to you by Matt and Dave's Clays

Clays designed by Scientists to work for Artists!

Porcelain for the People!

Technical Update

Spotty 

I had a customer ask me about some small spots that she had noticed in her clay.

I investigated the problem to see what was going on. What I found is that this is a problem with our raw materials supply. The proof of this is in the two photos above. The top photo is our High Temperature Porcelain for the People Throwing Body and the bottom picture is our Mid Temperature Coup Casting Slip. Unfortunately, there are a few little Red Iron Oxide spots in the bodies. The reason that we know that the problem is in the raw material supply and not our process is because the Clay and the Casting Slip are processed in completely different production lines. They are never touched by the same equipment.

Part of making a clay that is so great to work with is we have to diversify our materials. Most porcelains are made with one clay source. The predominate clay used is very white but not particularly workable. To make our clay workable, we blend that clay with some American Kaolins that help the workability. The problem with American Kaolins is that they are contaminated with Iron Oxide and Titanium, which can cause spotting and tinting of the clay. Sadly there is nothing we can do to fix the problem, as we are at the whim of the quality of our materials.

We have always said that our Porcelains for the People line of clays  are the most worakble, but not the whitest porcelains out there. Unfortunately this is one of those situations. We hope you understand, we want to do the best we can for our customers, but sometimes there are things that are beyond our control.

Crazy

On another technical note, We have had a few customers ask about having some of their old glazes craze on our bodies.  We understand that this can be a big frustration for those experiencing crazing. Part of making a body that is so rugged in the firing is that the body is not designed like other clays that you may have used. Unfortunately as there are tens of thousands of glazes out there and every glaze fits every clay differently.
To help everyone out, we are working on some glazes that are designed to fit our bodies perfectly.

As you can seen in the picture. this is the clear gloss on Porcelain for the People. This glaze is not just craze free, but it has been put in an autoclave that creates 150psi in a steam atmosphere. If it won't craze under those conditions it won't craze at all.

We just have a little more tweaking to get the glaze as  glossy as possible and check it's qualities on our upcoming Snow White and Stonedware bodies,  and then we will give you the formula. You read that right. We are going to give you the formula. All yours, Mix it, match it, trade it with your friends.  So keep your eyes peeled right here on the blog the formula will be coming at you really soon.

After that, we are also going to give you a Matte Glaze and then onto a Mid Temperature to match The Coup.

So, thanks for all your support, and know that we are doing our best to give you the best ceramic experience out there.

__________________________________________________

Slipcast is brought to you by Matt and Dave's Clays. 

Porcelain for the People!

Clays designed by Scientists to work for Artists.

Check out our new lower prices!

I can see right through you

Hey All, 


So I've been doing some tests on the new Snow White Mid-temperature Casting Slip. This is our upcoming Ultra White Porcelain and it is fantastic!


I thought y'all would like this. This piece has been fired to Cone 6 and is full vitrified and fully translucent! I am super psyched. I've never seen anything like this, Have you? Not to sound creepy, but you can see the light passing through my fingers, through the clay!


Snow White is almost ready for public consumption, just a few more tests to run and finalizing artwork. 


Here is a button so you can see the whiteness.  

 _______________________________________________________________________________

Slipcast is brought to you by Matt and Dave's Clays. 

Porcelain for the People!

Clays designed by Scientists to work for Artists.

Check out our new lower prices!

Southern Iced

I have heard from a reliable source, that Southern Ice will not longer be supplied in the United States. From what I was told there was a flood at the mine delaying product and that the suppliers decided that the product was not worth importing anymore. Now, my source is one of the largest users of Southern Ice in the U.S. and they told me that they had inquired about importing it themselves and that they found that it was not a viable option. So it looks like this is the end for Southern Ice in the U.S.

Which makes it a perfect time to try Matt and Dave's Clays! Experience the best porcelains you have ever used. Made four throwing and building, there is no other clay like them out there. 

And coming in 2011, Snow White, The best working, whitest Porcelain on this side of the Equator. In fact if you can provide me with proof that you are currently a Southern Ice user in the U.S. (Email me pics of Souther Ice in your studio). I will send you a box of Matt and Dave's Snow White to try for just the cost of shipping. $11, to anywhere in the U.S. 

Hit the ground running with this transition. 

Email your proof to info@mattanddavesclays.com

 ________________________________________________________________________

Slipcast is brought to you by Matt and Dave's Clays. 

Porcelain for the People!

Clays designed by Scientists to work for Artists.

Check out our new lower prices!

Come one, come all, for Lower Prices at Matt and Dave's Clays!

Hey folks,

I have been exceptionally busy recently. Too much going on, but I guess that is the way I like it. 
Part of being busy is getting some things done here at Matt and Dave's Clays. 

The first thing is that we finally have all of our products back in stock! We hit a shortage there, in between y'all clearing us out and a shortage of materials from our supplier conspired to put us out of stock on everything. We now have our full line of Clays, Casting Slips and Building Slips ready for you. 

On that note, we also have some big news, because of the support that all of you have shown for Matt and Dave's Clays, we are now able to announce Lower Prices!

Our amazing clays are now $27 for 30lbs. That price is shipped to your door, anywhere in the United States for the same $27!

That is not all, we have also lowered the prices on our Casting Slips and Building Slips. 
Casting Slips are now $35 for 2 Gallons and Stuck Up Building Slip for just $10 per bottle.

Not only that but our awesome Tee Shirts are now only $20! Everything is cheaper at Matt and Dave's Clays. 


We love helping people make thier studios a more productive time and we hope you love what you are able to do with our clays. 


Get yours now, right here over at our website.

Pretty for the People

Today is a good day. We got new boxes with a new design here at Matt and Dave's Clays! I really like them and think they are pretty sexy, if I do say so myself.

Unfortunately, those of us who order directly from our website, you know that you are stuck with the USPS flat rate box  (Their regulations, not mine). So, to see these boxes in your own studio, you are going to have to ask your local clay supplier to carry Matt and Dave's Clays.

Also, our back to school sale continues! It has been a rousing success so far and we know that not everyone is settled into their studio just yet. So hop on over to the website and get your clays.

*Update. 
I'm sorry to say that because of the rousing success of our sale we are currently out of The Coup body. We Still have Coup Cast Away Slip and Coup Stuck up, but get yours while it lasts. 


___________________________________________________________________________

For a limited time, Matt and Dave's Clays is having a back to school sale!

Right now, you can stock up on both our high temperature Porcelain for the People and our mid-temperature body, The Coup!

Even better, our Cast Away, casting slip and Stuck Up, building and attaching slip are also on sale.

Get all your clay supplies for the new school year or just to stock up your studio.

Our amazing clays are only $24 for 30 pounds, shipped.

Cast Away can be sent to you for only $35

You too will be Stuck Up for just $9

Head over to our website now.

www.mattanddavesclays.com

Back to School Sale!

For a limited time, Matt and Dave's Clays is having a back to school sale!


"No way" you say?
Way, we say!


Right now, you can stock up on both our high temperature Porcelain for the People and our mid-temperature body, The Coup!
Even better, our Cast Away, casting slip and Stuck Up, building and attaching slip are also on sale.
Get all your clay supplies for the new school year or just to stock up your studio.
Our amazing clays are only $24 for 30 pounds, shipped.
Cast Away can be sent to you for only $35
You too will be Stuck Up for just $9
Head over to our website now.
www.mattanddavesclays.com

 

Pottery for the People

Dan Finnegan, one of ceramic's OB's (Original Bloggers). Got his hands on some Porcelain for the People and turned it out. He made some lovely clam shell boxes. I can't wait to see how he finishes them. I love the variation of finish that people have been giving to the clay.  Whether chunky or refined the clay really sings.

I hear from some little birds that we have been getting shout-outs down south. At both the Alabama Clay Conference and the  North Carolina Potters Conference. The buzz was in the air about Matt and Dave's Clays. We love that kind of buzz. And it is only rolling on, as we will be at NCECA in Philadelphia. We have a big presentation planned and we hope to see you all there. Details to follow.

Putting it to the test

As they say the proof is in the pudding. Tony Clennell a potter up in Canada stopped by Pottery Supply House in Oakville Ontario, our awesome new supplier, in the Great White North. Tony picked up some Porcelain for the People and put it to the test.  He made some gorgeous teapots with the clay and here is what he has to say about it. 

Well it threw and trimmed like a dream. Usually if I can throw porcelain I hate trimming it. This seems to have a coarse particle size that makes for trimming with some expression to it.
I tortured this clay. I dipped it in my local slip clay, slaked down the trimmings and mixed in some sand with the casting slip and laid it on thick. It took the punishment.

See Tony's full review at his blog.  


I love it when people torture our clay. Tony's teapots of Fred's 75 hour Anagama  really show how rugged and versatile the clay really is. That is something about this clay that really goes unrecognized. How much torture the clay can take. It has been designed for versatility, both in execution and technique. It not only throws better, and thinner, but it is also designed to resit torque and distortion that is common with porcelains thrown on the wheel. That kind of torture opens porcelains up to everyone.  Beginners should no longer be afraid of Porcelain. This clay gives beginners and casual potters the great clays that the master have been keeping to themselves for all these years.


If you are feeling slightly sadistic, and want something to torture, go ahead and try Porcelain for the People. You wont be disappointed.

For our Canadian Customer we sell exclusively through Pottery Supply House. If you are in the south, try Atlanta Clay or for the rest of  the U.S. you can head over to www.MattandDavesClays.com and we will ship directly to you.   

I Wood

Fred Herbst a semi-local from Corning NY, sent me these pics of Porcelain for the People that he fired in an Anagama.  For all of the resources we have here in Alfred, the one thing we don't have is an Anagama. So I can't thank Fred enough for putting the clay through it's paces. a The clay developed a wonderful color and survived the rigorous 75 hours at cone 11/12 with flying colors. Thanks for the Pictures Fred!

Also, The response to The Coup, our Mid Temperature version of Porcelain for the People has been great! The clay has been flying out the door.

This clay is everything that you want with a mid fired clay. Solid and vitrified with a wonderful color. It works unlike any clay you have ever used, great for wheel or the sculpture. Responsive to the touch, yet with a ruggedness that you have never experienced with any other porcelain. Combined with Stuck Up-the building and attaching (and decorating) slip and Cast Away Slip, they form a trinity of clay working that have never been seen before. 

Don't forget, Matt and Dave's Tee Shirts are available now. Printed in good ol'  Ypsilanti, Michigan, these fashion statements will set you apart from the Pottery Proletariat!

Oh Canada!

I Love Canada!
As you may know, I come from Maine. The joke there is that Maine is just un-annexed Canada. We love Hockey, French, and Doughnuts. All things Canadian. Now we have one more thing to love in Canada. That is Pottery Supply House in Oakville, Ontario.

Why do we love PSH? Becuase they are now carrying the full line of Matt and Dave's Clays Products! Porcelain for the People and The Coup! How cool is that?!


What is even cooler? PSH is doing something that I had a lot of requests to do but could not pull off. That is ship across to Canada! You will have to contact them to get the details, but this makes our clay available to all of our friends in the Great White North.


Stop by and get some clay!


Also, I wanted to let everyone know that Tee Shirts are now in and available at out online store!

Store

Pottery Supply House