One Week to Ceramic Showcase

It's countdown week . . . the firing I did last Friday all needs to be water tested and ground (so I don't scratch anyone's furniture) and then it all has to be sorted, packed and made to fit in the van . . . the fabrics all flame retardant re-treated, toolbox put back together and the lightings tested for burnouts.

I'm in love with the new pieces I have. They could always be better; I've made them only a short amount of time. I've got a good selection of work. I just hope we have some loyal buyers and new members of the public to come oogle and buy. We'll be wearing our hearts on our sleeves.

Two Weeks until Showcase

Took part in Jay Widmer's Anagama Firing at Digger Mtn a couple weekends ago. After purposely stoking wet fir, maple, alder and oak--including a lot of limb wood--for 48 hours, we were anxious to see how things turned out. A week later we found many pots with iridescent patterns in the ash/silica build-up, as well as super warm glows of orange, red and burnt umbers underneath or away from the flame. It was cooler in the back, but some lovely colors nonetheless.
We'll be sure to try for those sparkles again next firing.

This pot is one I showed many moons ago just after making it... It turned out to be my favorite of the firing. A little on the cool side but could never get these marks again if I tried.

Non Pottery Post

Ok, I'm giving in to a "cute dog" movie short--cheating I know. Spent the day glazing pots on a sunny, warm afternoon and loading up the kiln. More pot posts soon. In the meantime Danny has a tug-of-war with the couch and his squeaky monkey.

New or Retro?

These shapes have been showing up and are slowly being refined. More wild/more functional? Stacking!!! Useable, decorative or just something that is drawing me back from our youth?!?

These would look great full of salad or vats of compote.

Transformations

This humble pot, made back in June 08 and posted here in its greenware form, is finally "finished." First it got cooked in Anthony Gordon's fast fire wood kiln and then in our salt kiln at the Benton Center. It picked up some nice color and ash from the Anthony's but was on the dry side. A splash of salt from our residual salt firing help bring it to life. It has a wonderful leathery surface with a little orange peel salt texture where the slip was wiped away.

What inspires us?

Oh to be able to get this kind of surface on a pottery piece. The richness of what we can see in nature--if we take the time to look--is just mind boggling. This marker was at the gate of a moist arboretum on Maui.

What gets us into the studio?

During a snowy December week I woke with this image in my brain after seeing myself make it in a dream, and so laid out some very thick slabs for it, figured out a way to put it together and support the weight of the walls with gravity wanting to flatten them. Over a couple of days let it dry and then carved and sponged this piece into shape. The term "compelling" actually was my mantra while I was making it. It felt like this piece needed to be made -- wanted me to caress it into shape.

I cannot deny its cradle-like shape and all the of the symbolic stuff that its creation implies. Art is the child I've chosen and this beautiful piece says it all. Whether it makes it through the finishing and firing, and whether or not I still love it as much in the end, it's too soon to say.