Spring and Chalices

It's spring outside, so I took some more pics of my pots outside at a nearby park. Here's one. The next glazing that I do on a big group of yunomis will have these same glazes: spotted shino and alfred's blue, with some wax resist.
Also worked on the chalice stems (or whatever they're called) today. Adrienne (executive director of Clayworks) was really helpful in giving me some tips. Ron did too a few days ago. It seems that it just takes awhile to 'get' it and for my hands to show what others teach me. Tomorrow I'll attach the two parts of the chalices together. these are the top parts. Some still need to be trimmed as they were a bit wet. Am really excited about the barrel and raku firing on Saturday. Also, I think Saturday will be a glaze-a-thon for me as I have over 20 pieces to glaze. That's ALOT for me as I'm learning much and still pretty new at this wonderful art.

What Do I Make Next?

Yesterday, instead of making the chalice stems (it just didn't feel like the day to do it/maybe procrastination?), I decided to make a couple of yunomis and trim some bowls. Later in the day, Becky and Elaine came into the studio and so after trimming the bowls, I chatted with them. We're all getting ready for an upcoming barrel firing and raku firing on Saturday too. Here are some candid shots.Elaine burnishing bottles... (one is there in the pic on her table).
Becky doing design work on cave art bottles.

The question I sometimes ask myself is 'what do I make next?' Pottery is a creative outlet for me, so I don't try to plan much.

These pendants made out of porcelain are for the upcoming barrel firing. Burnished three of them with olive oil and a spoon. I ended up etching a design onto the rim of the bowls and forgot to take a pic.
So, what do I make next? When I'm wondering what to make, I make yunomi cups. I'm learning which forms of cups I like best. Still am trying new ones, like the one on the front left in the first pic. Good times in the studio.

Today, I've got to make those chalice stems.

Tuesday is Class Day

Tonight during class, the focus was on bowls... and Ron did a demo on this big one and how to make it pour.

So I made a couple of bowls. In addition, during class, I worked on making chalice stems (is that what they're called?) and Ron was really helpful in giving great tips. Jen Mecca surprised us with a guest instructor appearance and demo'ed a chalice-- all in one. She made the entire chalice with one piece of clay and showed us how to make it with a 'cookie' at the bottom of the top part of the chalice. The cookie is a small piece of clay, about the size of a quarter or a bit bigger put in the bottom of the finished chalice so the liquid doesn't fall to the bottom. Maybe I'll try that sometime. I like this instructor swap thing that happened tonight at Clayworks. Best of both instructors!
Always something going on at Clayworks.

Come Monday I'll....

Come Monday.

Great song by Jimmy Buffett. I've been singing Buffett songs much recently as I missed the Buffett concert in Charlotte last week. Today and yesterday I've thrown a bunch of pieces. Today, I made the top part of chalices... five for starters. I also trimmed a few bottles in the background of this pic and also trimmed some pieces from yesterday. These are all made with phoenix clay.So now my shelf is getting full. Many yunomis to glaze. Tomorrow I'll make the stems for the chalices. Then plates... Communion sets are in the making.

Yesterday I made these forms. The one on the left will be a utensil holder-- the right a decorative vase. Both will be raku glazed on Saturday!

Yesterday I also made these slabs using zella stone, phoenix, and porcelain clay. Made two trays (in background of pic) to hold some pendant pieces for the bisque firing. I'm on the lookout these days for bottle tops and anything round of different sizes for pendant pieces.

Made this bowl yesterday too. Trimmed it today. It's encouraging that forms are coming so easily at the wheel these days.

All Clay Saturday- All Fired Up and More

All Fired Up was last night. All in all, it was a long, wonderful day. Before the fundraiser for Clayworks called 'All Fired Up', there was 'Art on the Green' a juried event in Davidson.
There were a bunch of booths in Davidson with all kinds of art. It was hot, so I didn't stay as long as I had originally thought. Check out these mini birdhouse clay ornaments.

Robin Briggs is one of the resident artists at Clayworks. She sold her art there. Great, varied colors.

Roger Strom's pottery was there too. With some of his pieces, he threw the form using two types of clay. Shoppers seemed intrigued.

Courtney Fall Tomchik makes raku sculptures. Check out her work here. These pieces in this pic above are hollow. Her booth was popular.

Check out these plates. Gorgeous!

I forget the artist who made these birdhouses. How unique! There were a bunch more artists there. Lots of beautiful jewelry in particular.

On Saturday evening, 'All Fired Up'' took place. There was plenty of great silent auction items such as Ben Owen III's vase (in red) and Gary Rith's pig teapot. Both were popular items.... more on the teapot later.

Each that attended received a roly poly or whatever it's called. These turned out beautifully!

This was a popular item too. Thanks, Michael Kline! Lots of artists were so generous in donating their art.

The food was incredible. It was a catered event with desserts brought in by many. I like it that the whole event was in the studio and that the glazes were close-by!

A new part of the event was the Clay Olympics, where five potters competed against each other in certain categories. Each was asked to make something in an amount of time. For instance, the most recognizable animal was a task to make in a minute. Here, Greg, one of the contestants is wedging some clay to get it ready. Check out the categories on the dry erase board.

All the while, my yunomis (on the right) waited to be glazed.

Another shot of the dessert table.

Minke getting some wine at the bar.

Clay Olympics was fun and full of laughter!

Hard to see, but here the contestants (Amy Sanders, Greg Scott, Cary Pickard, and Tomoo Kitamura and one other) are making their tallest pot in a short amount of time.

Outside a few pieces were put into the raku kiln. Blurry pic, but they turned out well!

At the end of the night, Brenda was thrilled that she won Gary Rith's teapot. It's a gift for someone in her family who has a pig farm. She said this was the best part of her night.

Right before Brenda won, it was funny to watch folks watching closely their favorite pieces in the silent auction. Brenda is right in front of the teapot, intent on getting what they want. All in all, it was a great evening. I was told that less folks participated, but it was well worth everything. I think next time, I'll get more people pics though.

I Was There Today!

Yeah! After a good but tiring conference in D.C., I figured out I had a little time to go to the 27th Annual Smithsonian Craft Show. I found out about it from reading one of the potter's blogs... I forget which one. Whoever you are, thanks!
Time there was a highlight of my trip. Incredible, for starters! Here are a few of the pics I took. I saw most of the pottery work there and didn't get pics of each of the booths.
Above is the guide to the Show I received.
It was fun to meet Emily Reason and talk with her briefly. I really like her work. Of course, this pic doesn't do it justice. Soft, gentle lines- these pieces are elegant.

Met Naomi Dalgish too with Bandana Pottery. She and Michael Hunt in Bakersville, NC make these. I liked these teacups.
And these and more! Check out their website in the link above. I like their use of slip and the deep texture and lines it creates.

These belong to Jerilyn Virden. She lives in Penland and works on Lyman red earthenware clay which she says is real forgiving. Loved these vases. Said she'll be teaching at Penland in 2010.

And these. Wow...

Akira Satake's woodfired pieces caught my eye. My camera was doing weird things; these did have some color, but are mostly in earthen tones. He is from Swannanoa, NC.

Gosh, that yunomi! The soap dishes too and the taller pieces. Wow...

Also talked a bit with Stephen Merritt, from Irondequiot, NY. His bottles were thrown incredibly thin and he managed to get glaze on the inside too! His teabowls are called chawan and made with a porcelain clay. Stunning work.

Also talked briefly with Ron Geering. Such detailed sgrafitto.

Didn't meet any of my pottery blogging buddies.... oh well. I think that will happen someday!

All in all, my short time there was rich and beautiful. This post is only a glimpse of all that I saw, as there were so many more artists. Check out this link to the show itself , running from April 23-26 and these artists' links for more!

Refreshing and Exhausting

This week I'm in D.C. at a conference that is good but exhausting.

It reminds me of the gift of pottery and amidst the conference one of the best things has been to read pottery blogs as I am way too many miles away from the studio and wheel.

So, thanks to all my pottery blogging friends. What a refreshing, amazing world of pottery this is.

Thankfully, I'll be back on Friday night.

I did find this in a Starbucks here. It says, "One journey ends with a sip and another begins." Yes, how true.

Brushes, Pots, and More Pots

Took a bunch of pics today, getting ready to sell these pots and some others on etsy.

It was a gorgeous day though, so I went to the Circle of Eight sale here in Charlotte. Bought these brushes there from Kent McLaughlin, one of the guest potters there. He makes them. These are made from deer and bamboo.

At the sale, there were all kinds of pots from 8 different artists. These bowls are Greg's. I have yet to find someone who puts the amount of intentionality, color, and beauty to surface work as Greg does. Greg can tell you why he puts everything on the surface of his pots. Plus, he has great stories!

I really like the blue in Jen Mecca's forms.

These are Kent's. Notice the handmade brushes in the background. He even grows his own bamboo!

I especially liked these cups of his.

It was a day full of much sun. Spring is here!
Even the inchworms came to see the pots. (look closely at center of pic). I don't think they took any pieces home though. They picked great pots to hang out next to. (Julie Wiggins)
Back at the studio, this plate of mine came out of the electric kiln. I like making plates with the earthen red, but sometimes they warp a bit. This one is a gift just for me; so that's fine.

Can hardly wait to use the brushes. I spent the rest of the time in the studio trimming these yunomi. Listened to lots of music as I did all this, which was peaceful.

I love peaceful music and time at the wheel.