Jack Troy


Photos from a workshop held May 11th and 12th, 2013 at Shoreline Community College, followed by a three day wood firing, with the kiln unloading the next Saturday.

For more information on Jack's pottery, poetry and teaching, visit his website.


Making


Jack Troy texturing the side of a cup with a stamp
Texturing the side of a cup with a stamp
Commenting on a newly made cup
Putting the spout on a pitcher
Removing clay from the foot of a bottle while throwing
Stamps made using cabbage leaves and spring cut-off wires




Finishing


Trimming the foot of a cup. Jack threw these in the morning and trimmed them in the afternoon. In answering a question, he said he liked to trim as thin as he could, until he could feel the porcelain or clay start to give. In some of his porcelain cups that I have, if you hold the bottom up to the light, on the inside of the cup you can see the light glow through in some areas.
Trimming the foot of a cup. Jack threw these in the morning and trimmed them in the afternoon. In answering a question, he said he liked to trim as thin as he could, until he could feel the porcelain or clay start to give. In some of his porcelain cups that I have, if you hold the bottom up to the light, on the inside of the cup you can see the light glow through in some areas.
Using a Surform tool - a wood rasp - to soften the sharp edge between the trimmed bottom and the side of the bowl
This was one of the more humorous parts of the workshop for me. On the second day, after Jack had finished trimming, he threw some bottle forms, then started making these pillow forms. Everything looked reasonable until he started bringing in and flattening out the top, at which point it looked like the pot surely had to collapse. We all sat around, riveted with ridiculous expressions on our faces, waiting for the inevitable - which never happened. Jack made it work just the way he wanted it to.




Loading & Firing


Jack tending the just-lit kiln
Jack and Brendan fitting new bricks for the kiln door. How happy was Brendan that his door bricks were missing? Did he say?
Jack tending the just-lit kiln
Working on the firing schedule
Getting wood for the kiln
A kiln god at work
Stoking the upper firebox
Putting a little smoke out
Poking around
Helping hands with the kiln
Firing on into the second evening




Unloading


Unbricking the door
A first peek inside
Unbricking the door
Handing the work out
Examining a piece
Passing out a piece
Some pieces from the firing
Some more results
A bowl by Jack Troy next to a piece by Matthew Allison
Jack holding a bowl in the crook of his arm




Works

Most of the photos below are of previously fired works Jack brought to the workshop; the last two photos are examples of what I and one of my former students got out of the firing.


Jack examining one of his bowls
Stamped cell texture cup
Stamped net cup
The foot of the stamped net cup above, showing Jack's signature carved on the inside edge
Textured cup
The foot of the textured cup, showing another version of Jack's signature
The inside of the textured cup
A recent tea bowl
The foot of the tea bowl, showing a stamped maker's mark
A piece by Sarah Wang
One of my pieces

time well spent

closeup view Jack Troy cup, links to Jack Troy artist page

time to explore

link to newest page of ceramic artist links, including link to Scott Parady, pictured

time flies

Link to monthly image blog