Life wth Kharma

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It's been a week since I found Kharma on the side of the road. And it's been a trying week. At a point when I am trying to make my life more simple and rid myself of unnecessary things, people, and work, I find I am constantly worrying about making this canine happy and tend to her. No, that's not her fault I know. I need some limits. Yet after yesterday I am not sure that this will be a long term thing or not. I'll have to keep you posted. In the meantime, I have said that in a week we will re-evaluate the situation and decide what to do. She's a sweet pup and is doing okay with her house training and learning to sit, come, and learn her name.
At a time when Sarah and I have been trying to figure out whether or not we want to have a child this is all good information. I know a baby would be a huge change for me, but at least it would be of the same species as me (I hope), poop and pee in a diaper, and be able to stay in a hotel with us if we decide to go somewhere. And eventually a child would speak my language, give and receive love without licking my face or biting my pants cuff, and learn things more fun than fetching a ball. (Like mixing clay, or setting the table. Just kidding) So this is all food for thought, and I am sure those of you with kids think I am silly for even comparing this, but really I have no frame of reference with kids of my own so I have to do the best I can with my past experiences (which honestly at times have not been great). So feel free to chime in Jen or Adrienne or Tom or whoever may have a thought out there. I am open to the core right now.
I guess I better so see if Kharma is ready to go out for potty, then I can get to work in the studio.
Enjoy the sun if it is shining on you today.

Pots After Use

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I like this image a lot. It was sent to me by Dale in York, SC. It shows some of my cups and mugs before he unloaded them from the dishwasher. It's really cool looking at the pots in this context, upside down and sort of askew. I like the way those squared bottoms are pressed in a bit and that you can see the wire cut on the one on the far right. Dale says he and Kate use these pots almost everyday. I am glad. This makes me want to go make some faceted teacups and square mugs.

Daylight Savings

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I love daylight savings time. It is beautiful outside today and my buddy David just called to see if I wanted to go to the river and wet a line. Unfortunately I have to go to a clay guild board meeting today in Charlotte. What a bummer. I missed the last one so I can't really blow this one off I don't guess. (stupid meetings) Ha. Okay so this week I'm gonna try and move completely into my new workspace, I've sort of got my feet in two places now and I need to get all transitioned over. Also, I'll mix clay.
I want to really enjoy this summer. Do some fishing, canoeing, grilling, have time with friends, work in my garden and yard. Who wants to work all the time? Not me. I want to get on a good work schedule so I can get what I need to done and have time to play and relax. Life is too short.
Well that's it for now, I hope you all have a wonderful day. Hopefully this meeting won't last forever and hopefully we'll at least be outside.
Sunshine, blue skies, green grass, warm air, I love spring.

Pots in Use

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Here's my buddy Slate having his morning juice out of a cup I made. Slate is Tom Gray's son and they live in Seagrove. I guess I've known Slate since he was around 2 years old. It's hard to believe he's grown up so fast. We always have a good time when I visit, playing on the computer or just hanging out talking about what we have been doing.

New Additon to Family

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For the record this is totally unlike me. Yes, I'm a good guy but I don't make it a habit to stop and pick up animals that are on the side of the road. Tuesday night was an exception. I had a great day Tuesday. Early that day I had been up to Ben Ousleys' farm to see a Border Collie demo. Herding up some sheep. Very cool. Later that day I made some cool connections regarding my work, my good emotional state of recent, and my future hopes and plans. So I was in a great mood and very open when at 9 pm while driving home from Charlotte I see a small dark image in the parking lot of the livestock barn up the road from my house. I pull in and see a little dog cowering at the edge of the lot. No one is there. No trucks,no people. I pursuade the pup to come to me. She is sweet and loving, alittle aprehensive, scared and hungry. I put her in the truck and drive home. Sarah couldn't belive it when I took her out to the studio and said "Look what I brought home." We named her Kharma and tonight we joined up and had our first obedience class. So it looks like we are keeping her. I did go up to the livestock barn to day and told the man there about the dog and where to send anyone who may have lost her. I also checked with the neighbors. Someone said tonight she looked like she had some Blue healer in her and I think maybe some German shepard, although I don't know for sure.
I'll try and get a better pic of her tomorrow. Here's one for now.

Pots in Use

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Here is the first picture in the Pots in Use series I am working on. My friend Mark Brackett from Shelby sent this in the day I posted the email. He was the first entry and won the free pot. Mark and I have been friends since high school and he and his wife Julie use lots of pots in their home, mine and others. The cup with the stars is mine and was made 3 or 4 years ago. I am not sure if I made that sugar jar or not. Thanks for the entry Mark. I'll post more pictures in the coming days. If you'd like to send a picture of one of my pots in use you can send it to me at ronpots2@yahoo.com Try and keep the file size small.

Great Weekend

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I had a really good turnout for the Spring Pottery Sale. Thanks to you all who came. Lots of pots went out the door so I am getting geared up to make more. Many of the new pots were a hit including the bowls with tall feet, my new slab trays, and the little jugs. I sold one of the bigger pots too.
The new showroom space is really nice. I have pots all the time so if you are in the area or need a gift for someone, or yourself, please feel free to stop in.
I will be mixing clay in the next week or so. I had some clay tests in this last kiln load but they didn't deliver the results I was looking for. Actually I think this clay I am using is quite good, I am going to tweak it a bit this next go around.
I am ready for some warmer weather. The poplar trees are budding out and my grass is greening up. I will be happy when we start daylight savings time next weekend.

Kiln and The Artist's Way

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I peeped in the kiln with a flashlight tonight and things look pretty good. I'll unload tomorrow and get some pictures up here. I used more soda in this firing it will interesting to see what the total result looks like, I can tell by looking in tonight that I have more buildup on the pots in the front of the kiln.

I have been revisiting the book, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I did this 12 week workbook years ago and it really boosted my creativity at the time. I am thinking about doing it again. I certainly have more infomation now than I did 10 years ago. Today I was looking at the chapter on Recovering a Sense of Power. There are lots of good points in this part. The one that spoke the most to me was on Synchronicity. Yeah, I know it's a really awesome album by The Police, but more than that its about how life can unfold and possibilties can arise just by being open to the notion that I am not in control of anything at all. Cameron writes how "the hand of God, or good, [is] activated by our own hand when we act in behalf of our truest dreams, when we commit to our own soul." She says when we answer the call to our deepest selves and commit to it we set in motion what Jung called synchronicity. I totally believe this is true. Starting is always the hard part, the commitment. But when I have done it I have seen doors open, ideas blossom, and opportunities arise. I believe that when I am living my passion it infuses all around me and really sets things in motion that would otherwise not happen, or maybe I would not notice.

"Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish" -Ovid

Just writing this blog from time to time is a beginning that could lead to any number of things. Someone may write and say I'm full of crap, or someone may pick up The Artist's Way and start a lifelong path of creativity. I could get even get a call from Sting... doubtful. Either way it feels good to be sitting here thinking about life, the universe, and everything instead of being stuck on the couch in front of the idiot box. I think I'll go make myself a cup of tea.

Kiln loaded

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My Spring Pottery Sale is this Sat. and Sun.

I loaded the kiln today. I'll light the burners tonight and fire off tomorrow. I am excited about many of the pots in this load, including the bigger jars. I also have some new clay tests and a few pots made by a group of kids who visited last week. I plan on using more soda in this firing than I have been, trying for a more glassy, wet look on the pots. I'll be putting up the pics of the finished firing on Thursday so check back then.

On a totally unrelated note, I went to the dentist this morning for my checkup and cleaning. I have great teeth! That's what the dentist said. I always liked going to my dentist as a kid, Dr. Burris, he was really nice and always got me to add numbers in my head while he checked my teeth. I had thoughts of becoming a dentist but, well, I am a potter. Good choice probably. Anyhow remember, you don't have to floss all your teeth...only the ones you want to keep. :-)

Happy First Day of Spring! It sure didn't feel like it today, cold and rainy

St. Patrick's Day

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Guess what I did today? That's right...more painting!! Ahhh, exterior doors on the studio. I think I am finished for awhile. I don't want to see a paintbrush for a year.

Today is the day that I asked Sarah to marry me back in 1999. I am so glad she said "Yes". I have an awesome wife.

I am off tonight to Charlotte to Clayworks Studios and RedSky Gallery to see some friends who are having shows there. I'll be hooking up with my pal Lester who for an evening of fun and maybe a Guiness or two. Sarah is off to Durham for a workshop for the weekend. We'll miss having her along.

That's it for now. Gotta go put on something green.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for my upcoming Spring Sale. March 25 & 26.

Home Sale and Upcoming Firing

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My Spring Pottery Sale is Sat. March 25th 10 until 5 and Sun. March 26th Noon until 4. The new showroom will be finished by then and I'll have lots of good pots. I plan to fire a last minute load the week of the sale. This firing will include 6 large jars as well as some smaller vases and bottles along with my regular fare. I hope the big pots make it through the firing okay, they are made in two sections so I hope they don't come apart. (knock on wood). I'll be posting some pics over the next week as I finish things up, load the kiln, and fire. So check back often.
I hope many of you will make it to the Sale. I am excited about my new space, it really looks great. I feel like I'm 'uptown'.

Today, I'll be mixing up some clay body tests. I have in my mind what I want, it's just a matter of finding the right balance of materials to get the results I want. I am really drawn to pots with a slightly heavy coating of salt/soda glaze, a wet looking surface, some areas that are 'blasted', and nice flashing. This all comes from several factors, clay body, how the kiln is stacked, the amount of salt/soda that is introduced into the kiln, and kiln atmosphere,just to name a few.

Pots and Potter's Conference

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This past weekend I attended the NC Potter's Conference in Asheboro, NC. I had a great time. The three presenters were all from Australia, Janet Mansfield, Owen Rye, and Chester Nealie. They made some great pots, showed slides, and had lively talks and interaction with the audience and one another. Owen gave a talk and showed slides on Australian woodfired ceramics and Janet gave a presentation entitled "State of Ceramics, A World Overview".

I learned a good way to make bigger jars by watching Janet. I made two on Monday they are pictured here. The tallest is 19". I hope to have some of these fired before my sale on March 25 & 26.

I'll write more about the conference later, for now I need to get to work.

Poem

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Here is a poem a friend passed on to me:

There is a vitality, a life force,a quickening that is translated through you into action,and because there is only one of you in all time,this expression is unique.

And if you block it,it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is;nor how valuable it is; Nor how it compares with other expressions.

It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly,to keep the channel open.

You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you.

Keep the channel open…No artist is pleased…

There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction,a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.

Martha Graham to Agnes DeMille

Friday update

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I am falling down on the job here aren't I?
Okay so this week has been both productive and fun. I loaded the kiln today, fire tomorrow. I spent a good amount of time this week volunteering at the Arts Council getting ready for the Bowling For Dollars Soup Luncheon. This happened yesterday and was a huge success as it has been in the past. We served up about 200 bowls of soup to folks who had bought a ticket to come in a pick out a handmade bowl. All the bowls were donated by the potters who are participating in the Treasures of the Earth Pottery Show and Sale going on now at the Arts Council. Yesterday my job was carrying big pots of soup from the upstairs kitchen down to the serving line, as well as keeping up with other things like "we're out of bread go up and get some more" etc. All the ladies in the kitchen work really hard and are super great to work with. I made them all cranberry scones for breakfast.
Sarah has been in Durham at a Conference with her school mates for a few days. I had a couple guys over for pizza last night. Looks like tonight I'm headed for Chen's for some Chinese takeout... best in town.
This old machine is acting up, it some kind of weird reboot, that's never happened before. I hope it doesn't sieze up and die on me.
I'll try and do better this coming week getting some posts up.
Have a great weekend! Get out and play!

Mark Bittman

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How to Cook Everything is a 30 min show that comes on PBS here on Saturdays at 2:30. I am usually out doing something during the day on Saturday so I don't get to see it often. Today I made it in and caught it. In the show Mark Bittman visits a chef and sort of takes him/her on in their resturant or kitchen. It's very laid back and fun. Bittman is my kind of cook. He uses simple ingredients and cooking methods. The chef he is paired up with is usually way more complicated. So the premise of the show is that the chef will cook a dish and then Bittman will do his version, which is always quicker and easier, most of the time using very similar ingredients. Each does two dishes per episode. Anyhow I finally visited the website today www.howtocookeverything.com and can't wait to try out some of the dishes.

Not much

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I don't have a lot of new stuff to report but I thought I'd at least put something out here. I have been making pots for the next firing which is in a couple weeks. More new pitchers and I hope to fire all the special order dinner ware that I have made and get it to the folks who have been waiting.
I am reading Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth. I learned about Campbell after reading a post on Joe Bennion's Journal page. This is very interesting to me, maybe I'll post more on it, but it's probably better just to go to the library and get a copy. I have just finished Chapter 1 and I am totally blown away by the relevance of it to this day and time.
I can't leave without saying that Dick Cheney must be a total idiot, what did he do mistake his friend for a terrorist? I guess he follows the shoot first, ask later policy. I have heard reports that put it off on the man shot, saying he should have announced himself. That's true but I learned when I was 10 years old not to shoot without identifying what I was shooting. The bright orange hat is usually a good give away that it's not a quail, deer, etc.
I have probably just red flagged myself. Oh well. See ya.

Recent Pots

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I fired the salt/soda kiln on Friday. I unloaded yesterday and got all the pots in today. It usually takes me a day to warm up to everything and be objective about the firing. This firing was reduced a bit more than usual. Here are some of the pots. I also had some really nice bowls and dishes. Teapots. The one on the right has avery slip and trapped some carbon on the spout.
 Pitchers. Left has heavy gray soda deposit.
 New animal pot design.