May/100
my favorite tool
I don’t know why I love this tool so much but I guess every potter has some tool that just can’t be away from the toolbox and this one is mine. Actually it’s an etchers’ tool and was meant for a bright shining life of scratching into copper surfaces. It’s become a bit weathered and worn in my line of work but I find that it’s wonderful for detailed trimming and smoothing leather hard clay.
Apr/100
mugs to NCECA
Ah well NCECA is over and I had such a blast that it is almost like having a hangover. Luckily, a lot of the exhibitions will run until the end of the month so I can wean myself from the overabundance of ceramics and pottery slowly.
Here are my two lidded mugs that went to the cup sale.
Mar/100
one teapot out of the fire (part 2)
Here’s the second teapot to come out of the studio firings. I think I like it even more than the first one.
Mar/100
art exhibit
My new studio is putting together an exhibition in conjunction with NCECA being in Philadelphia. How cool is that?
Check us out at www.thirdfloorartshow.com or on facebook
Mar/100
one teapot out of the fire
This is the first teapot to get fired (it’s the one on the left in the post below, with the sponges holding up the handle, which got a little mishandled) but I love the way it turned out.
Feb/100
new work — teapots in progress
I’ve been so excited about finally getting back into the studio that I haven’t even thought about documenting any of the new work. I just glazed and put a bunch of work into the communal kiln (my first pieces from the new studio) and I realized I didn’t have images of any of them (and of course with the raw glazes already on they don’t exactly look photogenic.)
So these are some of my newest teapots at my most favorite point of the process, when they are still green.
Feb/100
novel glaze stirring idea
Maybe this is old news to others but my new studio uses toilet bowl scrubbers to stir the glaze. I love this idea; one scrubber per glaze and the scrubber “lives” in the glaze bucket when not in use.
My old studio used whisks but whisks are expensive so there were only a few and they were “shared” among the various glazes buckets. No problem if you are conscientious about your glaze cleanliness but obviously introduces a lot of problems if you can’t control your glazing area (i.e. a lot of students or people who are not clear on glaze etiquette.) My old studio had major issues with glaze contamination and clean up for the more diligent potters was a lot more work so this seemingly simple idea has me stoked.
Jan/100
nceca is coming to Philly
NCECA is coming to Philly. What a wonderful way to learn about my new city. I’m going to have a lot more to say about this soon.
Jan/100
the clay studio
Between packing, moving, driving across country, unpacking and getting settled in it has been an unimaginably long time I have not had any chance to work with clay. But I’ve now found a wonderful new studio the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. Although it’s obvious I can’t believe how happy I am to be back working again and I have to say the Clay Studio is a pretty impressive place to be working at – 4 stories (one each for a gallery, classes, affiliates and private spaces.) And Philadelphia is such a wonderful city so even though the Clay Studio is basically on the other side of the city from where we are living I can still walk there in about 20 minutes (weather permitting.)
