Roll, cut, smooth. Roll, cut, smooth. Roll, cut, smooth. You get the idea. There is a lot of repetition in the making of handmade tiles! There are also a lot of steps. Roll, cut, and smooth are the first three. Then comes slow, careful drying, bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing. The main thing about handmade tiles is that they take time! We have found that drying slowly is required to achieve flatter handmade tiles that are easy to install. Yesterday, Kent and our friend Lance spent the entire day rolling out clay tiles and cutting around wood templates Lance made.
Kent and I have done a few tile projects by commission. I have made custom tiles for a wine wall and, more recently, a carved tile for an antique piece of furniture. Kent’s tiles were used in a Parade of Homes House a few years back, and we also tiled our gallery bathroom this past year. It is fun to get off the potter’s wheel occasionally and challenge ourselves to try new things.
Kent and Lance spent an entire day rolling out clay tiles because Lance and his wife Chrissy are building a new home. This is not just any home. Their house has a contemporary spirit reflecting the couple’s design sense. Their home embraces industrial materials and natural finishes, and although it is not yet finished, it inspires house envy in most who drive by! Lance offered to make the tiles with Kent since he has taken classes at Blue Sage Pottery and knows his way around our studio. It means a lot for someone to want your art featured in their home, and Kent is excited about this project. Check back for updates about how they glaze the tiles!
Cutting the tiles around the wood template.
Working on the edges of the tile.
Ready to dry the tiles!