Autumn in the studio: how the season affects the work
Autumn is the season Sakura finds most comfortable for making. The humidity drops after September, the clay dries at a pace that is easier to manage than the rapid summer drying, and the cooler air in the studio makes long throwing sessions less tiring. It also happens to be the season when the Tamba clay body looks its best out of the kiln.
How the weather changes the making
In summer, clay dries quickly, sometimes too quickly. A piece left uncovered for an hour in August can develop surface cracks before it is ready to trim. Sakura covers work in progress with plastic sheeting and damp cloths through the hottest months, which slows the process and adds steps to every session.
In autumn, the drying pace slows naturally. A thrown piece can be left to stiffen overnight without the risk of drying unevenly. This makes trimming easier and reduces the number of pieces lost to cracking before the first firing. The studio feels more relaxed in October and November, and the work tends to reflect that.
Glazes that suit the autumn palette
The ash glaze that Sakura uses on the breakfast bowls and jugs has a quality that reads differently in autumn light than in summer. The pale, slightly warm tone of the fired glaze picks up the amber and grey of the season in a way that is hard to describe but easy to notice if you put a bowl on a table near a window in October.
The iron wash on the exterior of the bowls also tends to come out with more depth in the autumn firings. Sakura's working theory is that the lower ambient humidity affects the way the wash dries before firing, leaving a slightly thicker layer that produces a richer result in reduction. She has not tested this systematically, but the pattern has been consistent over several years.
What to expect in the October and November gallery
The sixth firing of the year, completed in late September, produced the autumn batch that will be in the gallery from 18 October. The batch includes breakfast bowls, yunomi, dinner plates, and bud vases. The bud vases are particularly suited to the season: a single stem of dried pampas grass or a few branches of autumn leaves sit well in the narrow cylinder form.
If you are thinking about a gift for someone this autumn, a yunomi or a small bud vase is a practical and lasting choice. Both are available in the gallery on Saturdays from 11:00 to 17:00, and Sakura can wrap pieces for gifting on request.
The next firing after the autumn batch is planned for late November. If you want to know the exact date when it is confirmed, signing up for the email list is the easiest way to stay informed.