New Book and the end of a Slack Week

It's been a  pretty slack week of blogging here.  Hopefully things will pick up a bit next week.  Above are some serving bowls I slipped this afternoon after getting a load of pots all glazed and packed into the kiln.  I should have some new work out on Sunday.

I got a great book in the mail yesterday.  It's The New Maiolica by Matthias Ostermann.  It is very well written, as a matter of fact there are a few passages I've come across that I want to post here at a later time.  This book is like a workshop in print.  It's got a great chapter on color and another on brushes and brushwork.  He shows specific techniques and even shows which brushes he used.

I don't think I'm going to switch to maiolica but I do think this book will help my with my deco.

Sadly, Matthias Ostermann  passed away in 2009.  His website is still online and can be viewed by clicking HERE.

In other news, I have been asked by a group of potters to give a workshop in Allentown, PA in August.  I am looking forward to that.

I'm also doing another talk about the Internet in July for a local art co-op.

Off now to get a couple pizzas made.  Have a good weekend everyone!!

Maiolica in the Fitzwilliam Collection

You may remember me mentioning this book before.  I love, love, love it and got it out last night for some inspiration.

Today I found that the collection is online on the Fitzwilliam's website.

Amazing!! All in color too.  Here is the Link to the maiolica collection.

They also have a nice stoneware collection. Click here.  I haven't made it all the way through yet, but there are some fine celadons.

Anyhow it's so cool to have all this information online.  Still nothing beats seeing pots in person and I'd love to visit the Fitzwilliam sometime.

When looking at images in books or online I try to pay attention to the dimensions.  It's so funny how I can look at a bowl and think it's much larger than it really is.  Most of the pots I like on the site are 16-24 cm.  Weird b/c  just from looking at the pics they seem larger.

Shapes can be deceiving too.  Esp. with bowls that are photographed from the top.  One cool feature of the book is that there is a dictionary of shapes at the end, technical line drawings and cross sections.  Each entry in the book has a number and you can go to the back and see the drawing of the cross section.  (very handy if you want to shoot out to the studio and try to make one).