New Pots

I had a great firing. I was really surprised not to have more orange peel texture since I added 4 more pounds of salt than I did last time. Still, I had some very nicely flashed pots with lots of atmospheric variation. Here are some pics and I'll add more later.

I really liked this faceted teapot, it was my favorite out of the six or so that were in this kiln.

Three small ovals. These were all in the front of the kiln and got some nice salt action.

I have about 8 of these mugs. My friend Greg Scott mentioned to me a while back about trying some dots on top of my slip pours. So here they are and I think it works great, it gives the pours a new dimension. I'll be doing more of that on other forms in the future.
Those two bottles in the middle were on the bagwall and I expected them to get blasted with salt. These are all nice, I have plans to make more of these faceted bottles in different sizes and shapes for the next load. I want to make some that are more flared out.
Two more teapots. I like that dry slip on the left one.
Like I said, I was really happy with these pots. My kiln is firing so much better than it was back in the winter. I am reducing longer and soaking at the end. I think these two things have helped remedy the problems I was having. I sure don't any complaints about this firing. More to come.

Getting Ready. Doing Nothing.

I spent this morning cleaning up the showroom and dusting the pots in there. I was expecting my Rotary summer campers at 8 am and they never showed up, turns out I got my days mixed up and they are coming tomorrow. Oh well, I'll be ready then.

Things are sort of on hold until I unload the kiln tomorrow around lunchtime. Then I'll have to sand, dust, price and bring all of that work in and set up a couple of displays in the workshop. So for now I'm doing nothing and feeling just a bit guilty since it's 3:30 in the afternoon. I pretty much have supper worked out. There is a basket of clothes here that need folding so I'll probably do that next. Then maybe I'll just read awhile or do some drawing, or maybe I'll just draw the laundry. I guess I can allow myself a few hours to just veg out.

Onda Pottery

The Pucker Gallery in Boston has an exhibition of Onda pottery on view. I got the catalogue in the mail the other day but you can view it online here. The intro to the catologue by Andrew L. Maske is very informative. Onda ware production was begun in Oita prefecture in 1705. Methods of production and decoration were limited to certain techinques that continue until this day. Unlike other pottery villages in Japan the region has been able to retain most of the aspects of it's ceramic heritage. Only one son per potting household is allowed to carry on the tradition and no potters are allowed to move in from anywhere else.

I really love the shapes and decorative techiniques of Onda ware. The somewhat haphazard splashing of glaze is very nice. At first it seems a little off and sloppy, but after seeing it over and over on the pots I can see it must take skill and technique to apply in that manner. The application of white slip that is often finger wiped, combed or chattered is also wonderful. This, combined with the splashed glaze is a great contrast. I can see influence of this work in some contempory potters work, many of them coming from the Michael Cardew lineage. Bernard Leach had an impression on Onda ware, when he visited in 1954 he showed his method of pullling handles on pitchers. This is evident in the images of pitchers in the catalogue.

At Last

The kiln is going. I just put it into body reduction a few minutes ago. I expect I'll finish up around 4 today.

The weekend was nice. On Saturday I had a meeting with the Circle of Eight. We are planning our next show and ironing out details on an exhibit in Greenwood SC we have in a month. I'll put up details on the opening soon. We had a big discussion over our name, 'Circle of Eight'. There is sort of a glitch since we had one member leave in Feb. So now we are really Seven, but we like our name and everyone has started using it and we have gotten press with it so we have all decided to just keep it. I am the one who raised a fuss over it. I'm sort of geeky and possibly OCD over things like this, numbers, inconsistencies, things not as they should be. Ha. It's ridiculous, anyhow, if anyone asks I'll just say the 'eight' is a metaphor. Whatever that means.

Sarah and I had a good night out on Saturday, we went out and bought me a much needed new pair of glasses and then to dinner at our favorite Italian resturant in Gastonia. I am sick of having glasses and am considering having laser surgery. Anyone have any experience with this? I need to check it out. Sunday we had breakfast with Sarah's folks and later that evening a cookout with my family. So we ate well all weekend.

I have a group of teens coming tomorrow from a Rotory Club summer camp. This will be the third year of their visit. I look forward to talking and demoing for them. I need to go start cleaning up the studio for that and for my upcoming sale.

Pictures of new pots will be posted here on Wednesday. Have a great Monday!

Firing

The propane truck came on Friday. So I will be lighting the kiln tonight and firing on Monday. Pots should come out on Wednesday. The kiln has been loaded for a couple of days which is weird, every time I look down there I think I need to go unload, but it's not even been fired yet. I'm really ready to fire and have some new pots. Stay tuned.

Loaded...waiting

I have the kiln all loaded. It went well and I got in all the pots I had wanted for my sale weekend. Of course I have plenty already in the showroom, so this will add to that. I am not stacking so close to the arch nowdays. I seem to get better results with that space above the pots. My next kiln may be a little shorter, more of a cube.

I am now waiting on the propane truck. I hope he comes today so I can fire tonight and tomorrow. If not I'll have to wait until Monday as I have things do on Saturday and Sunday. Either way I'll be fine.

Here are my two onlookers. Perry the lab, and Kharma the studio dog. Sweet, old Perry looks like Eeyore, forlorn and tired. Kharma has kept him busy today. I'll get a shot of him smiling later, when Kharm is worn out.

Slow

I am having a slow time getting back in the groove after being away. I have actually been slightly under the weather with some sort of head cold. I slept well last night due to the medicine I took just before bed.

Today I am going to start loading the kiln. I am hoping the propane truck will come fill my tank today so I can fire over the weekend. I hadn't realized how little gas I had until I finished my bisque the other day. It should be no problem to get finished up before my sale next weekend.

I am excited about this firing with the new teapots and some small bowls and lots of animal jars. It should be a good one. Pictures of the loading to follow later.

Back Home

We arrived home yesterday from the NC coast. On Thursday last week, we drove the 7 hours out to visit our friends Steven and Amber in Mill Creek NC, near Beaufort. We had a great few days there. Steven and Amber moved from Shelby almost 2 years ago so we had lots of catching up to do. They love their new home and were excited to show us around and take us out on the boat. We ate lots of good food, explored the shores and waterways, picked up shells, fished a little and just had a great time. It was a nice visit and I am sure we'll make it out again soon.

On Sunday we drove south to Wilmington to see Sarah's niece Sophie who had just graduated high school. Sarah's parents were there too. Sophie is going off to Appalachian State U. this fall. That's the same school where Sarah just finished her masters program. It's only an hour and a half from here so we will probably get to see Sophie often.

Today I have to get back to work. I have a bisque going right now. I plan to scrape all my kiln shelves today and get set to load. I have to teach my last class in Charlotte tonight and I will spend the night there so I can fill in teach for a friend in the morning. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon to glaze and start loading the kiln.

Now that I am back I'll get to post more often. Keep checking in over the next few days as I'll have pics of the loading and firing.

Make Plans Now

My Summer Pottery Sale is coming up soon

Saturday June 23rd, 10 am until 5 pm

Sunday June 24th, Noon until 4 pm

I'll be firing the kiln the week before the sale so all the pots you've been seeing get made will be on the shelves.

Disconnected

I am leaving for a few days, no pots, no computer. I'll post when I get back.

Six Teapots

I finished up these pots on Monday and got them slipped yesterday. Six teapots are a lot for me to work one at one time. Next time I'll probably only make 3 or 4 at once.

I am trying to get ready to go out of town for a few days so I will spend today getting laundry washed and all those little things that need to be taken care of. There may be a quick post later today or in the morning, so check back.

Week's End

I ended up with a whole flock of birds on pots this week. Tall jars, deep footed bowls, and new, deeper, tripod bird dishes. These two teapots inspired 6 more that I made today. I think this is a good sized pot. We have a Svend Bayer teapot that I love to use that is about this size.
I had made some bottles similar to these back in the winter when I was experiencing some trouble with my kiln. None of those came out very good so I thought I should try some more. I really like the one's with the double facet. I would like the make these a little more shapely next time, not so straight up.
I also threw some sake sets, mugs, and plates. Today was my last wet day, I'll finish up the six teapots over the weekend and get things bisqued next week. My Home Sale is June 23 and 24. It's been a good week, I'm really happy with all I got made.

Something Different

I got to Clayworks early yesterday for class so I decided to play around a bit. I made these small plates from our recycled clay and poured white slip on them. This morning I incised them with some images from my journal. I would like to cover these with clear glaze and do some pours of a transparent green to one side or in an abstract manner. We'll see.



I worked hard today trying to catch up from Monday. No images yet but stay tuned. It was a bit frantic trying to keep up with things. It seemed like things were wet one minute and then when I checked them again they were on the verge of drying out. So I had to keep up with getting handles on, bowls trimmed, and things slipped. I had made four teapots but only kept two.

A Few Pots

I got lots made today but only shot these two boards. The jars in the back will get birds, and those ovals up front will get turned into faceted bottles tomorrow. I made some teapots and plates too. Maybe I'll get those up tomorrow. There are still lots of pots under plastic from yesterday. Tomorrow will be a day of finishing. I did get some handles on these lobed bakers below.
I am off to Charlotte to get some help designing my postcard for my Spring Sale and then later I'll be going to teach my class.

Holiday Weekend Update

My three day weekend was very productive. We worked on the renovation both Saturday and Sunday, hanging drywall and doing some last minute electrical work. It went smoothly but there's still more to do. I am at a halt until we do some work on the windows on the west wall. Then we can hang the drywall there and move on.
We had a cook out Sunday evening with my family, it was nice to get together and the food was great. Nothing like hamburgers and hotdogs off the grill.
I made pots on Memorial Day. Sarah was off work and it was wonderful to have her here all day. It was like when we both worked at home full time. We had lunch and then a nap and then back to work. I miss having her here, but I am happy that she is doing what she loves, and of course the security of a regular paycheck is very nice.
I am off to the studio now and then I'll go teach tonight. I'll try and get a photo or two up before I leave later in the day.

Listen Up

May 24th was a day for potter's on the airwaves. Warren Mackenzie was featured on Minnesota Public Radio and was interviewed at the Rochester Art Center. Follow this link to hear the interview with Warren (scroll down to 'Midmorning with Kerri Miller' , the 10 am slot). Most of you know he is my pottery hero. I loved hearing Warren's voice tell the stories of his past. At 83 he's still in the pottery everyday at 9am to make pots. Click here to read about Sarah and me visiting Warren's studio a several years ago.

Also on the radio yesterday was a favorite potter of mine, Joe Bennion. I was hooked early on by Joe's salt glazed work. He and his wife, Lee Udall Bennion live in Spring City, Utah. WUER spent the week in Spring City and interviewed Joe and Lee yesterday. Here's the link to listen. Sarah and I visited with Joe a few years ago in his studio on Main St. We came away with some great pots that we use all the time. Joe was very inspirational in my approach to marketing my work, he encouraged me to start my Newsletter, and I mirrored this blog after his online potter's journal. Thanks Joe for all the help and inspiration.

If you'd like to read more about Warren visit the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Here is a link to a transcript of an interview with Warren from 2002.

Okay this should be enough to keep you busy over the Holiday weekend.
Peace. Ron

Friday

Today I'll be mixing clay and finishing up some pots in the workshop. I have a Home Sale coming up at the end of June so I am working towards that. I had planned on firing twice before then but I am thinking I may only have one firing. We are leaving for a week in June to go to the coast so that is going to cut into production and firing time. Also with gas prices on the rise I am feeling the pressure to be very selective about what I fire and how often. Hopefully my propane costs won't hit the roof this summer. One way I have been thinking about offsetting this is to fire to a lower temperature. I used to fire to cone 10, which is around 2300 degrees Fahrenheit. More recently I have been going to cone 8 or 9 which I am happy with as the pots seem to have more of the color I am after. I am seriously considering dropping on down to cone 6. This would decrease my firing time and the amt. of propane used. Of course if it changes the pots in an unwanted way then I'd stay with the higher temp. and longer firing. I've always preached that longer firings are better, and I think this is true. So we'll see what happens, for now I'll be forking out the dough to buy more propane.

Scott Cooper

This week I reconnected with potter Scott Cooper from Indiana. I had found Scott's website years ago and really enjoyed the pots he was making. It turned out that he had a treadle wheel made by Mark Polglase. I had been wanting a treadle for sometime so I contacted Scott to see how he liked his. Of course he had good reviews on the wheel. I called Mark up and ordered one. I love it and as Scott said to me I couldn't imagine making pots without it.

If you get a chance visit Scott's website, the pots are really fantastic, strong forms with simple, sometimes playful decoration. The website itself is first class too as Scott was once a full time web designer. There is a ton of information here including photos, sketches, recipes, process photos, and some well written essays under 'Rare Earth'.

Ovals and Squares...Woof

Some images from today. These big ovals aren't quite finished yet but I thought I'd go ahead and put them up. These first three are the bigger ones made from 6 lbs. of clay. This first one has a new handle.
These little guys below are made from 1 1/2 lbs of clay. I also do a medium oval.
Square mugs ready to be slipped.
Here is Karma the studio dog. She's happy as can be after chewing up a stick. Sweeping is an everyday event.

Step by Step

One of my students said to me a while back, "You're very methodical aren't you?" I think I was demonstrating how to cut feet on bowls and I was going through the steps...you do this, then this, then cut in here, then here, and look at that, and that's it. Hum. Maybe I am. I didn't take it as a compliment at first, I don't know that it was meant as one, just his observation. But I have thought about it off and on and yes I am methodical in some aspects of making pots. I do things over and over a certain way because they work and produce the results I am after. I guess I was a little irritated because I feel like I should be 'spontaneous' and that I should respond to what's happening in the moment, at all times. Making pots yesterday I noticed how both of these parts come into play when making work, the responsive/in the moment part and the methodical/step by step part.
When throwing I have steps I follow... center, open, pull up etc. As I do this I have a shape in mind that I am working towards, but I try to pay attention and not force this too much. I like to have more of a sketch than a masterpiece when finished. The gesture of the throwing is important and I try to just let that happen. Not over working the pot is important here. When I do my finial ribbing (two times) is usually when I see the pot come alive. Sometimes a new shape will catch my eye and I'll take it and set it aside for later as I carry on with the rest of the run.
I noticed that I am not so responsive when cutting feet. I tend to do this more like a machine, with a certain outcome in mind. I do have a bit of carefree attitude when I go about it, I like those tool marks and broad strokes of removing clay.
I make handles a certain way. Roll this out, flatten, pat, squeeze, score, slip, stick, push, push, push, pinch, pull, curve, cut, smooch, smear. Done.
So as I think about all this I see that I am both methodical and responsive, I do things over and over in a certain way but with my eyes open and feeling my way along. Technique is nothing in itself, there has to be some feeling and sideways looking along the way. I have areas that lean more toward one side than the other.
So this is good stuff for me to think about. Check in later and I'll have some pics of pots I make today.