Action

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I mentioned I'd like to get a little more action in my drawings. Here's one easy solution.



I also did this preliminary sketch that's kinda fun.
You can only do so much on a cup though right. ? Anyhow, it's fun to be working out some of these ideas on paper.

I'm still struggling with catching the pots in the right state to do the scraffitto in a lively way. It's all timing I guess. And plastic.

Death of a Sponge

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Karma tore this sponge to shreds last night after I put her bed in the studio. I have to make sure I have things up and out of her reach before I leave her out there alone.






She's adorable but can be a sneaky little hound too. Hannah is having sponge issues too.

My Helper

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Sarah was kind enough to come out and help me slip my platters. It was far less messy that way and I didn't end up with slipped feet.

Man, I wish I had her around all day...but I'd never get any work done since she's so pretty and I'd just be staring at her all day long.
I've been adding feet to my vases since making the switch to earthenware. I haven't had any seepage problems, but this way I can glaze the bottom of the pot on the outside too (inside the footrings). Plus, it makes them taller!
Well these little salsa pots got some wacky handle treatment and a nice coat of slip after lunch.
I had a good long chat with my pal Niel yesterday. He's up in Madison, Wisconsin and hopefully will start blogging soon. (no pressure there Niel). He's been encouraging me along with my slipware.

I have to say I'm feeling less self conscious about it and that I feel like it's kind of taking on a life of it's own. I am really wanting to work on my drawings, having some more action, some feeling of a story maybe, or of these characters that are showing up on my pots. I'm not sure about the action part. Sure the birds are flying, but to where? or .... well I don't know. And the fish...what are they doing? hanging out? Maybe they should be doing what fish do...which is what? swim? See I don't know yet. But I'll play around and see. Maybe bigger fish that are swallowing ships, or people, or small fish dancing on the back of an eel. ? Or maybe just something totally silly and unrealistic, like fish in a car being pulling by a flock of birds. Okay I'm just rambling on so I'll go. Bye.

Thrown Feet

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Here's the image I couldn't get to work earlier. A couple of 16 inch dishes with thrown feet. The one on the right has a pretty tall foot, more like a pedestal type bowl. I'll get some pics of these right side up after I get them slipped.I like throwing the footring on these bigger dishes. I am able to use most of the clay I put on the wheel to make the actual pot without worrying about leaving enough for the footring. There is some cutting away of excess clay before I add a thick coil and throw it into shape. With this method I have many options for the finished foot.

Monday's Work

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Sometimes, like right now, Blogger just wants to do crazy things, like underline anything I type above these cups. Or load the pictures sideways, which I finally cut out after trying 6 times.

So I'm gonna start the text down here...

Here. Ah. Breathe.
Today was productive. That, for me, meaning I got some pots made and I don't think they're rubbish, or not yet any how. It could all change as the handles go on, slip, and decoration commences. However, for now, it's all good. Cups were made... see above.

I made this board of 4 bowls and later looking at them I thought the one on the left would make a good body for a jar. So I made the two jars.
I had 'salsa bowls' on my make list, not sure exactly what they'd be. So I made that one on the right first and thought, Well that's pretty boring. The next three got pushed around a bit and are more fun. They'll all get handles tomorrow.
These vases will all get some feet and handles tomorrow too.
I finished off with some decorating and mixed up some white slip to add to what I already had. It had gotten too thin so hopefully it'll be just right for tomorrow.

Tomorrow, in addition to finishing this stuff up, I'll make some plates and maybe a couple teapots. Then it's going to be time to fire.

Monday Morning

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Not much potting over the weekend. Sarah and I relaxed and kept our noses in our books and our heads on the pillow most of Saturday. Sunday wasn't much different, although we did go to the hardware store and buy some rain gutters to put up on the studio (not that it's hardly rained any lately). Anyhow we'll put them up next weekend maybe.

I'll be back to work today so check in later for some potting news.

Have a good Monday!

# Three

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So that's all of them. I am learning some things. Like, I don't have to be in a hurry.
I need to stop before I think I should.
Stop and look before I go on to the next part.

Maybe I'll do more of these. I'm not going to know how I really feel about them until they come out of the kiln.

Blank Slates

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I have to get these pots decorated tomorrow. I don't think I'll have a problem with these casseroles,but these jars are another story. Many choices, some right, some wrong. We'll see.

Mixing It Up Wednesday.

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Looks like today will be a day of slipping and decorating. Plenty of pots under plastic out in the shop needing attention.

I am starting to work on smaller series of pots. Having a smaller kiln is one reason for that, others being that I have to keep up with slipping and decorating things before they get too dry. Maybe this will lead to me paying more attention to the details and producing better pots.

I've had weird dreams every night so far this week. Most have been re occurrences of old dreams but I had a particularly disturbing one Sunday night that had me down on the ground spitting out my teeth. (sorry I know that's gross). My teeth were coming out and I had no control. I was helpless and terrified. Yes, I've already looked up some interpretations of all that. Conclusion...I'm a wreck. Ha.

Is anyone reading anything good? (I know these things have nothing to do with pottery). I went to the library on Monday and came home with Fight Club and once again, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Well I read half of Fight Club and decided I was over it. At one time I was into books about self destruction, serial killers, horrible things...now, well not so much. So I dropped Fight Club off in the return bin yesterday and checked out The Poisonwood Bible which I am enjoying. I've read Bird by Bird twice already, but I love Anne Lamott's wonderful sense of being. Her instructions of how to be a better writer certainly can be applied to being a better artist.

Okay. Well enough of all that. I just thought I'd mix it up a bit today. I'm off to work.

Sweet!

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I woke up from my after lunch nap to find this package outside the door. Inside was this beautiful slipware mug from Hannah. It's amazing. I have used it all afternoon. I love looking at and feeling the trailed slip. Those little dots are great. Even the handle is decorated.
Hannah's amber glaze looks like it has gold dust in it.

The picture of these two hens came along with the mug. Inspiration for future drawings.
Thanks Hannah! I hope you get the package I sent out for you soon.

Monday. Back to Work.

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I had a good productive Monday. I made a few bowls to get warmed up and then 3 covered casseroles, some oval bakers, a couple jars and a few other odds and ends. These ovals will get handled tomorrow.

I am still getting used to having to decorate pots. I had pots on the shelf from last week that I got incised today. I let them dry out thinking I'd be okay with drawing through the dry slip. I don't think I really like that all that much. It's nice to be able to draw out the image in pencil, a bit of a safety net, but the line quality is too rugged and I don't like the physical effort it takes to work through the slip. So I guess I'll be working on leatherhard pots now. I will have to get into a routine of making, slipping, and decorating. At least I'm not glazing leatherhard pots anymore, that would be one more thing to schedule.

I think maybe if my clay body were more smooth I could get a better line with the dry technique. I'd like to know how other folks do this.

Visit to Flat Rock

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Sarah and I drove up to Flat Rock , NC yesterday to visit Hand in Hand Gallery and our friends David Voorhees and Molly Sharp. I have some pots in a show there. The show is all about animals. Here are a few shots from around the exhibition.
While there I think I may have found some information on the Fitch ancestry. I think this couple could be the two that tie Doug and I together. I'll be seeing my mom later today (she was a Fitch) so I am really excited to share this information with her. (and you too D.F.)
Here is Molly Sharp and my sweet wife. They haven't seen one another in several years. Sarah apprenticed under Molly as a jeweler.
And of course no trip to Flat Rock is complete without a trip to the Flat Rock Village Bakery. We had a great pizza for lunch.

Demonstrations

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Robert (whose last name escaped me) was at Hand and Hand demonstrating yesterday. He makes wood fired pots and bonsai dishes. He also grows bonsai.Some of Robert's wares and trees.
Molly Jones was there too. I've know Molly's parents for several years, they too are potters/clay sculptors.

Just Some Plates

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It's muggy out this Saturday morning. We finally had a good rain shower yesterday evening. Much needed. I worked in the shop all day finishing up pots from Thursday.

I think I need to get away from here for awhile. Maybe I can talk Sarah into a little field trip.

The Joe Strummer radio programs were amazing yesterday. I hope you got to listen.