Hand painted cherry blossom chawan / tea bowl. Doubles well as large sake cup or espresso cup.
Details:
~ White glaze inside; matcha green-brown glaze outside
My process:
I make this tea bowl (cup) on the potters wheel. Once the rim is dry enough to support itself, I turn it over and trim the bottom. Then I apply slip to newsprint paper that is transferred on to the pot. This allows me to layer the slip and to acquire a stucco appearance, much like on an old building. After it comes out of the first firing, I apply a black wash for an antiquing appearance to the outside of the pot, a white glaze to the inside, and a matcha green-brown glaze to the outside. This glaze varies throughout the cup based on the glaze application. Then after the wash, I paint my cherry blossom motif and that area is left unglazed. Then the pot goes back in the kiln the for its second and final firing. After it comes out of the glaze kiln, the outside of the cup where the cherry blossoms (and the foot) are wet sanded for a super smooth finish.