trying car camping with my jimny and making a bowl

i wanted to try my jimny for camping and also make a bowl for this month’s video.

i’ve always been interested in camping food, especially cooking over fire, and i ended up using this bowl for many different meals.

in the past, i used to do bikepacking, so i was used to traveling light and carrying only lightweight items. because of that, the idea of making a ceramic piece for camping never felt right. but after switching to car camping, i realized this could actually work.

for this bowl, i tried an epsom salt technique and made some simple, soft lines inside. i usually add epsom salt by eye, and so far it has worked well for me. i haven’t had issues like cracking or problems during the process.

i shared the whole process on youtube. if it sounds interesting to you, you can watch it through the link. the video includes not only the pottery process, but also some simple camping meals.

Epsom Salt Surface Experiment

I mixed Epsom salt into slip and used it to create these raised lines on the surface.

I’ve tested this technique before on smaller pieces, but this is the first time I’m trying it on larger forms. I made these bowls for myself — partly as an experiment, partly just to explore the surface. I really like how they look in their raw state.

Now I’m unsure what kind of glaze to use. Something that highlights the texture? Or something more subtle and soft? I haven’t decided yet. Let’s see what they become after firing.

 

 

A new Youtube Vlog!

A new video is now live on my YouTube channel.

From an sea walk to the studio this video shows the process behind my black clay cups.

Black Clay Cups After an Ocean Walk

Sometimes you are influenced by something without noticing it at the moment. These cups came out in that way.

After a walk near the ocean I went back to the studio and sat at the wheel. During the walk I did not take photos or focus on any specific detail. Later I realised that the soft surfaces of charred wood pieces on the sand stayed with me. Wood shaped by wind and time. Dark surfaces that feel calm and worn. Not fully rough and not fully smooth.

While working with black clay I decided to keep the wheel marks. For me they are not mistakes. They show the process. The speed of the hands and small pauses stay on the surface. Like in nature not everything disappears. Some things remain as traces.

The form was shaped by how the cup feels in the hand. Not by a strict plan. The soft curve at the bottom and the slight change in the body create a natural balance. It feels quiet and simple. Easy to hold without thinking about it.

The stamp is a very personal detail in this work. I made it with my own hands. It is not a ready logo. I tested and reshaped it many times. It does not stand out loudly. On the black surface it appears only with light. Sometimes it is noticed later.

When the cups stand together they look similar but they are not the same. They feel like they come from the same walk. From the same place but from different moments. I did not plan a series or a story at first. I made the pieces and the meaning appeared slowly after.

Some works happen like this. First they are made. Then they remind you where they came from.

Quiet Pottery Studio Day (with my cat)

I just uploaded my first YouTube video.

It’s a calm day in my pottery studio where I make a wheel-thrown mug from start to finish — throwing, trimming, glazing and firing.

My cat joined me a few times while I was working.
If you enjoy quiet studio moments and handmade ceramics, you might like it.

Watch the full video on YouTube