Sometimes things don't go according to plan.

These two were prototypes for a series of dishes or plates combining a textured finish on the edge with a simple, clean centre.

On the first piece, I wanted to draw attention to the centre with a contrast in texture, thinking this might be ideal for food presentation. Initially, I thought this area might just be burnished to focus on cohesion and simplicity, but later considered that a clear transparent glaze might highlight this while being more practical.

And here was the first mistake… I thought I had tested this black glaze and clay body combination – but clearly I was wrong and produced something pretty gross. At best, it might look like old porridge, but there are definitely worse comparisons to be made.

The second piece used a different combination of clay and glaze, but I bisque fired it too quickly and it cracked. Luckily, it was thin enough that I could still test the glaze, which came out great.