Drawing on pots

Today, while my son was napping, I started decorating a large pot. I completed the drawing in pencil on this bone dry pot, then moved on to underglaze washes. These are Wrens perched on some kind of made up grasses. I'm loading the kiln this weekend and probably firing on Monday. This is one of the largest pots I've ever made and when it's all said and done, it'll have a lot of time and effort invested in it. Hopefully I can sell it one day.

Woodfired pottery...before & after

So, we fired the Community Temple last week and unloaded Wednesday afternoon. It's been a couple years since I've woodfired any pots. I think the last time was at Shane Mickey's anagama. Anyway, it was good to see my work with a different surface decoration on it. I side-fired everything on seashells. I'm drawn to the flashing that results from that. I'm working on building up a small body of woodfired work for the Clayspace Co-op show at the Asheville Arts Council, in August. I got more pots out than just this one, but you'll have to come to Asheville August 1st to see those! By the way...August 1st will be a good night for pottery lovers. In addition to the Clayspace show, I'll be showing pots down the street at American Folk Art & Framing with potters Michael Kline and Daniel Johnston. Mark your calendar and join us!

About the image... This is a 14lb stoneware jar with a flashing slip covering it entirely. The slip is 50% helmar kaolin and 50% xx sagger ball clay. It was side-fired on three scallop seashells and once-fired to cone 9 in a woodburning kiln. If you look below at the image of the kiln, you'll see this pot in the upper right hand corner.

Community Temple

Yesterday we started loading Josh Copus' "Community Temple". The front chamber will get a mix of pots and sculptures. The 2nd and 3rd chambers are going to be bisque-fire chambers for this firing. Eric Knoche is preparing for an outdoor sculture exhibit and has made some ginormous sculptures and vessels. They're about 6 feet tall. Two fit in each chamber. I think they will light the kiln tonight and fire off on saturday. I've got some pots in here that are being side-fired on shells and ash sifted on top. My pots are the ones in the top right corner and the stacked serving platters. Cheers.

Turnin' & Burnin'

I made a few boards of pots on saturday. I'm getting ready for the Studio Stroll in June and also trying to get work to my galleries. These pots have been slipped and lined with glaze and are now in the drying stage. I'll transport them to my home studio to decorate and fire within the next week. I may be moving away from the "once-fire" method in the near future. The Clayspace Co-op has aquired a small electric kiln that's being hooked up later today. I may start bisque firing my work so that my salt firings can go a little quicker. The firing now last about 24 hours including an overnight candle. Propane gas is soooo incredibly expensive here in Asheville. I have to adjust somehow.

Hannah Seng's "Ipods and Sneakers"

Here's a nice poem from Hannah Seng:

"Ipods and Sneakers."

Eric Knoche Exhibit

My studiomate at the Clayspace Co-op is currently showing some new work at the Asheville Arts Council's boardroom gallery. Eric Knoche, pronounced ka-nock-a, has been working like a mad man to meet all of his deadlines. This exhibit showcases some new and different work. It includes more sculptural work. He's made a series of "arch puzzles" that come across as beautiful and fun. I think Eric wants/allows the viewer to touch these pieces and make their own unique arch with the materials provided. See more of the show here.

Melissa Weiss trimming pottery

Here's Melissa trimming a foot on this small bowl. I can look at a million photos like this and be entertained. Melissa continues to impress with her decisions regarding clay. Cheers.

Cost of gas

homesweethome

here's a cool landscape snapped at the clayspace.

new techniques in the studio

so, man...there's so much that can be done to pottery. here's my first attempt at inlaying slip on to a pot. this "sketch" will be filled with white slip. the excess will be scraped away later. more pics to come. this picture also shows the wax on the rim, which will ultimately resist the celadon glaze that will cover it.

big ole pot

Today, after a round of frisbee golf, I got on the wheel and made some pots. I've got some commisions that I need to make for some galleries/customers so I've been procrastinating that of course. Instead, why not try to make a 31 inch tall big ole pot. I'm preparing for several upcoming events and making work accordingly. I need to get my galleries some wholesale work.... I've got a show in August at American Folk Art and Framing with a couple of great potters..... I'm doing the Mint Museum Pottery Show in September....my studio, clayspace co-op, has got a show at the Asheville Arts Council in August...and we've got a studio stroll in 6 weeks. I need to make pots!!!

For the arts council show, I've decided to show woodfired pots. Huh? Really? Yeah, it's gonna be fun and "new again" for me. I'm excited to have a new body of work that is different. More to come......