New Work

Seems like all the work for which I have deadlines all comes due about the same time. Not that this is hundreds of pieces, but work for a couple of shows at which I want my to have my best. Trouble is I've got one little distraction the next 4-6 weeks, (producing Fall Festival) but have managed to keep plugging away, even if it's for just an hour a day. These pieces go up rather slowly anyways--especially with temps in my basement studio being coolish--so it's been easy keeping them covered to come back to.

This piece is the start of my entry for the Arts Center's Reliquary Show, with me posed working on it. Last week's piece is beside me with several layers of glaze on it.

New Twist

Here's what I've been working on the past couple of weeks. I had an idea for the end results, but let the form flow as it went up. Unlike past Twists that kept wanting to get wider as they went up, I kept this one constricted and it got narrower than I'd anticipated. Left the waves of surform marks on the surface, which will be nice for sanding through layers of glaze application. The little "peep hole" at the place the curl comes back on itself is what makes this piece work.

Simple forms are sometimes the most challenging, so think there are a few more iterations of this one to try...

July Already?

This prototype is an experiment for another ceramic/glass collaboration between Jerri Bartholomew and me. I've made this hollow clay module with an inside ledge for the glass and one screw hole attachment point. The slab piece will be what the glass can be hump molded over and hopefully after the clay shrinkage the glass piece will still fit in snugly like this slab does. The glass will be cut in a much more interesting shape -- the slab is just to get the curve right for the glass.

Sunny June

Finally, another finished piece from those first shown green. Anthony and Doug Gordon fired this Twister in her beautiful Chimera wood kiln. In less than 24-hours a nice amount of ash and sheen was put down on our pieces from their steady stoking of pallets and limb wood. The kiln is designed so one person can stoke and make damper adjustments from the same spot. Very nice directional flame marks.

The top and bottom of this piece are slighly different tones due to placement in the kiln: bottom looking a bit more leather-like, and the top a chalkier but warm feel. Thanks Anthony and Doug!

Good Oldie

This piece came out of Jay's woodfire kiln looking so bloated and forlorn that it made me laugh it was so ugly. I missed it when packing up and when it was returned to me after some time, I noticed the bright red coloration, and the way the ash added a soft contrast to the red, AND that the bumps accentuate it's lovely "little bird-like" form. Now it's one of my favorites of all time. Only about 7-8 inches tall and almost that big around. Little Bird Vase - $150.

Art in the Garden Week

Oh Dear. The rain is really setting back gardening plans and the sale that shows my work, and that of Louie Gizyn and Jerri Bartholomew, gets set up out there in just a couple of days. This little creature got a couple of bites at Showcase, but still came home with me. "Garden Friend" is stoneware with colorful additions attached post-firing.

While it was nice bringing work home when there is another sale just around the corner, it's been hard motivating to unpack it all and get the yard and garage all set up... Here's hoping the sun returns tomorrow!

Showcase Re-cap

Last night Ceramics Showcase ended for me with a bang. Sold "Seafoam Twist," the largest sculpture I brought, during the last hour of the show. Very nice customer who has quite a bit of art in her back yard garden. Hope she remembers to send me a photo once its installed.

This cut-out vase went home on Saturday with some nice folks. "Zipper Vase" - $125.

Attendance for the show was up; hope everyone's sales were too! There were so many beautiful pots there it is still amazing that anyone finds mine in the crowd.