Slow

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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

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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

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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.

Six Teapots

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Repetition

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I love to see pots lining up on boards in the studio. I like to see the repetition and pattern of the pots all together. It would be cool to do some sort of image or photograph by lining the pots up to really emphasize the pattern and positive and negative spaces that are created from the pots. I shot these bowls that I threw today some have 3 lobes, some 4. They will get footed tomorrow. Here are the luncheon plates all footed.
And some mugs from yesterday.
 I like these black and white images. Maybe I'll play around with this some more later in the week.

Getting Some Pots Made

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I am hoping this week will be more productive than the last. It seems all I did last week was run around. So today I made a good start and got some pots made. First off I threw 15 luncheon plates to go with the dinner plates I made last week. Below are the first 12 of these. I'll get the feet cut tomorrow. These animal jars got finished up today too. Lots of critters. I even made a pig this time, after all this is North Carolina and barbecue pork is king. I'll probably make another board of these this week as they are good sellers and I have none in stock. Here is a shot of the tray I mentioned last week. This is a special order for a customer of mine. Her husband wants it for bringing meat in off the grill. It's really big, I've never made a tray like this so I hope it makes it through the firing. I have a back up just in case. I like these lugs.
 I also made some cups today and worked in the house. This Saturday is 'drywall day'. We are planning on getting as much hung as possible. I'd like the have the finishers in here in the next week or two.

Clayworks Sale

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Later today I'll be in Charlotte for the Clayworks Spring Pottery Sale. The sale is tonight from 6 pm until 9 pm and Saturday from 10 am until 3 pm. I went and set up my pots yesterday afternoon. It all looks great. All the instructors as well as studio and resident artists will be selling. There will be a display of student work also.
The address is 301 E. 9th Street, Charlotte. Tonight there will be lots of food and drink and merriment, and pots, so I hope you'll come out if you are in the area. I am happy to be part of the Clayworks community. It's been really great for me to get out of my studio and have some interaction with others. I am looking forward to seeing everyone tonight.

Off the Hook

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I was glad not to be selected to serve on a jury yesterday. I have to admit that once we all got moved from the waiting area into the court room things were much more interesting. The lawyers for both parties and the judge asked questions of the potential jurors. This was all very new to me and as I sat there I became aware of some of my bias and prejudices. I think I am open minded and can be objective but as I sat there I wondered if I would have been able to let go of these things and give each party a clean slate. I felt triggered by some of the questions and if I would have been in the jury box I think I'd have spoken up and admitted it. Once both sides were satisfied with the jury all the rest of us were free to go. Much relief among the 25 or so of us not chosen. Now that I have been to the process once I don't think I'll be so annoyed if I am called again, sure it's an inconvenience, and the first part of waiting around in a room full of people with the stupid TV on is torture, but I do see the value in this system and I have more respect for it now. Of course the pay sucks, $12 a day!

Back to the courthouse

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Not too much to report on potterywise this morning. I have to go back to the courthouse this morning for jury service. I hope I don't get selected to serve. I know I'm gripeing about this a lot. Okay enough.

Here's a pic of me talking to Janet Mansfield at NCECA back in March. Janet is awesome. I'd love to visit her pottery someday. She was a presenter at the NC Potter's Conference a year ago. I must really be giving her hand a good shake, look at that blur. Ha!

Okay, have a good day. Hopefully I'll be dismissed and back home before lunch.