These carved spheres are hand made by connecting two pinch pots together.   The resulting clay ball is hollow and needs to be smoothed several times before it becomes very smooth and round.  In this leather hard, partially dried, state the ball can be marked without distorting the shape.  The marking done by eye, using my favorite butter knife.  The design is then carved into the clay using an Exacto knife.  After drying completely, the carved ball is bisque fired in the kiln.  Glazing is done with a brush usually in two colors, three coats each.  I do not repeat exact designs, however, there are variations on a theme.  Design, size, color and texture differences are explored, resulting that no two are the same.  Many of these spheres are signed and dated. This series ran from 2002-present.  I formed and carved 365 of these spheres in 2007, each numbered, signed and dated.   I have made around a thousand of these lovely, sometimes challenging objects.