Don Ricardo Ceramics

Small kurinuki container. Blue and green Oribe glaze.

I’m not making much at the moment. The lure of remote hiking, swimming and camping along with creating woodwork for myself keeps me busy nowadays.

The slog of trying to promote and sell my ceramics has lost appeal.

Moving forward, I may not make much at all, and focus on a few pieces for myself.

In light of this, here is a piece I did last year, that sits along with some other favourites on my mantle piece.

The reward of creating is internal.

Newest collection of guinomi (sake cups) in white stoneware with various glazes.

I achieved some different finishes using black and red iron oxides under the glazes, and I found some blue underglaze at the bottom of a box, and that worked okay too. But honestly, I really like the plain white one the best, and it’s the only one not for sale. All the others on my Etsy store.

All carved while the clay was leather hard, using an old knife that I use about 90% of the time.

At this rate I’m going to be using one tool, one clay body and one glaze. 😂

I posted this a while ago, but decided to post again because I got some nicer photos and because it is one of my favourite pieces.

Probably the biggest vase I have made, and definitely my largest kurinuki piece, this was carved from a ten kilogram block of clay.

It is pretty dramatic I think. Huge gauges and crevices, large flat planes and high textured areas.

The glaze is a favourite too- green Oribe.

Some pieces I just don’t want to sell.

Latest batch of yunomi-tea cups. White stoneware, ash-based glazes. Aiming for a simplicity and calmness. Pretty much what I am trying to achieve in all aspects of my life. The world is so chaotic and noisy. I find peace in making. It doesn’t solve the problems of the world, but what does?

Some still available in my store. Link in bio.

New tea cup. Travel sized chawan. White stoneware shows off a simple ash glaze.
Ash glazes are just so lovely and easy to make. This is what I used:
40 wood ash
40 feldspar- potash
20 ball clay
(each are percentages)

The glaze will change with different ashes, temperatures and can be used with wild clay(crushed dry) for amazing results. There is also the cost savings to consider when you look at the recipe. Minimal spend for great results.

The wood ash is from Australian Ironbark.

A new yunomi (tea cup). Vanilla ash glaze.

My new coffee and green tea cup. Just right. The glaze has such a nice low sheen and subtle finish.

I really think, for me, going back to a simple white stoneware really helps get my glazes right. It’s like a blank canvas.

I have more new tea cups on my Etsy shop, with the link in the bio.

Best wishes until next time!

I have to be honest. A majority of my glazes have been a disappointment to me. I really felt they were my weakest link in my ceramics. I was going to quit.

The best words I heard was Dan from was “Mate, you have only just started, don’t give up now.” Thanks Dan.

I took those words and refined my glazes, and you know, I produced a batch of 14 tea cups (yunomi) that I was pleased with. Every single one.

This is one of them.

This, and the others are available on my Etsy store. Link in bio.

Yunomi with Japanese Oribe glaze.

Gasteria excelsa in one of@my favourite pots. Black clay with iron-rich wild clay cracked slip. The slip is used as a thick paste, that that is dried before shaping the pot.

The wild clay is just so beautiful and deep red. Dug locally in Sydney, down the road from old brickworks.

Stay safe, stay sane, stay creating.

Getting back to simplicity. Speckled clay, white glaze. The iron in the clay melts slightly, creating a flecked bloom.

Just a simple tea cup.

Available in my store.

The world is just gone made at the moment. For me to stay sane it is less social media, no news doom scrolling, getting out into nature and fu***ng boycotting companies that are complicit in supporting of MAGA and Zi@nist ideology.

The fact that I can’t even say the name of the country that has caused destruction in ge@n0cide, with fear of being blocked or shadow banned, is appalling. Australia is currently hosting a know war criminal this week, rolling out the red carpet. WTF.

We have been betrayed by politicians, manipulated by corporate media, brainwashed by social media, abused by billionaires, and A.I. Tech bros don’t care about anything or anyone.

I have no answers, accept to boycott companies, read independent journalists, and if in Australia, vote for the Animal Justice Party or Greens in the next election. Labor has betrayed us.

Vessel bowl. White stoneware clay with green and white ‘sea foam’ glaze.

I kinda like this bowl. Carved from a block of clay, hollowed out and carved surface. It has an appealing chunkyness and I like the thick glaze.

Working on some new pieces, but at a leisurely pace. Will post soon.

The world is just so crazy at the moment. I’m just keeping quiet. Less social media and news is the only way I know to stay sane. Maybe you feel the same?

Please take care of yourself out there.