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New Journal

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Happy February Everyone!   Yesterday I unwrapped a new journal.  I looked back in the green one to see the starting date and it was Dec. 22, 2009.  Seems I used it up pretty quickly.  Lots of ideas over the past 5 weeks or so.

I really like the Hand+Book Journals.  I was a Moleskine user for a while and I still really love them for writing in, but I prefer the H+B for pen and ink, drawing, watercolor and ink wash. Basically, they do it all for me.  The paper has a nice tooth which I like for sketching and writing.  They too have a pocket in the back, and the elastic band.  I have used all sizes put prefer the square ones and the large portrait formats.  I also like these books because they are hand  bound and I can draw across the valley (as opposed to spiral bound).  I do think I could use a bigger book sometimes, maybe an A4 size.  I also like that these books have 128 pages which seems like a good number to me.  If I get a journal with too many pages I get to feeling like I'll never get through it. I do like the satisfaction of having lots of past journals on the shelf.

If you have a favorite journal let me know in the comments what it is and why you like it.

Michael Kline and Brad Lail stop by

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCH2-vSnguw

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybGRebTTZ9U

I had a visit from Michael Kline yesterday.  We had a good chat and were later joined by our friend Brad Lail.  It was nice to hang out with these guys for the afternoon, we drank oolong, talked pots, and enjoyed some ginger cookies that Michael had brought from the Penland coffee house.  Of course we all had our cameras on hand as you can see from the pics below.



I hope you enjoyed the videos.  I don't have any production skills so you pretty much get whatever I shoot.  Maybe later I can learn to edit them a bit.  Thanks for stopping by.

(For a fun drinking game watch that second video again and take a shot every time I say the word 'combing ' .  Ha. I'm such a dork sometimes)

Making Stuff

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This is the first really productive day I've had in the studio this year.  Up until now I've been doing bits and pieces.  That has all added up, but it sure was nice to get in here today and make multiples of some pots.

These last two are experiments that I whipped out at the end of my throwing session.  I am making some soup bowls to donate to the Arts Council and wanted to do something a bit more fancy than my standard soup bowl.  I like them both but that taller oval one with the nubby handle is just too darn cute. .. so I'll probably make a few more of those.  :-)



I have had 4 pots under plastic for almost a week waiting to be drawn on.  I have had 'blank canvas' fear.  Now I must go for it.  Hopefully it won't end in disaster.

It's a Beauty!!

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I had just made a cup of tea in the studio when I heard the mail carrier barreling down the drive.  I went out to receive the package and was thrilled to see it was from Hollis Engley.

What a beauty!  I held it and looked it over for a few minutes admiring the subtle details and nuances of the glaze.  Then in went my tea!


Perfect. Wow. I have seen Hollis' pots online and let me tell you, pictures do not do them justice.  I am enjoying my oolong in my new bowl  as I write this.

Thanks Hollis!!

Finger Wipes. Combing

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I decided to do more wipes on the plates I had to slip today.  This first one got decorated with finger wipes.





I then got to thinking about seeing Matt Grimmitt's pots on his latest post.  I spied the comb he made from a flexible rib there at the bottom of the picture.


So I made one of my own and did a bit of practicing on a bat before carrying on to


this board of plates.

These will probably all get amber glaze.  I'm excited about seeing them fired.

Sacred Space

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I went in one day last week ready to make pots and found my wheel in this messy state.  Yuck. Not a inspiring sight.  I have been reading Free Play:Improvisation in Life and Art again and there is a part where the author mentions the workplace as sacred space.




I remembered this and decided to clean up a bit before I started making the plates I had planned for the morning.

I hate having a water bowl half full of slip. Plus it was cold.  I emptied it out and replaced it with nice warm water.  A much more pleasant experience for throwing on a cold morning.

I am going to try and take this information with me each time I enter the studio.  That is, that this is my creative place, where I come to work and play and think and solve problems.  I could go so far as to say it's my temple, but I won't.  It is my pottery shop, and well, for me that's a special place and I want to be in a special mindset when I am there.  I can certainly try to create a more conductive atmosphere for my 'Muse' as the author of Free Play would say.

There's no reason this idea can't expand into other parts of life also.  For instance in the kitchen, or at my sketch book, or here at the computer.  Taking time to be centered, to be present, to be alive, so that I can fully create, relax, or enjoy each moment will certainly be a good thing to strive for.

So, I hope everyone has a good Monday.

Guest Blogger Tom Gray on Trunk Shows

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A couple of weeks ago I asked my friend and fellow potter, Tom Gray, if he would write about his experience doing trunk shows.  I have never done a show like this, which is essentially a show in someone's home.  I think it's a great idea.  Here are Tom's thoughts on doing a trunk show:

Trunk shows are very much like a mini-art show, with a couple of exceptions -- it's far more intimate, and you don't need to drag your display into the gallery or home for the show. As the attendees are invited, they come to the show specifically to meet you, look at your wares, and they will more than likely go home with a few of your pots. I've found that my return on investment exceeds most one day craft shows that I've participated in, and a higher percentage of people buy my work in this type of environment.

Over the last 30 years I've done quite a few trunk shows in art galleries, and more recently, in people's homes. No matter where you show, the basic ideas are pretty much the same.

Set a date.

Decide on a payment agreement with your host...a percentage of sales, pots, etc., something you both can agree upon.

Invite people from a client list if a gallery, or friends, co-workers and family if the show is in a home.

Use existing tables, displays, etc. to exhibit your pots.

Put on a smile, talk to the folks that show up, and sell your pots.

One more thing – people come for the party atmosphere too. At the trunk shows I've done so far, the hostesses and/or gallery owners provided plenty of food and beverages. Allow them to pour their own mimosas, red wine, cider, etc. in one of your handmade cups, and more than likely they will rinse it out when done, buy it and take it home.

Using your network of friends, family members and gallery owners, tap into their networks of friends, family members and clients, and sell more pots. Good luck!



(Tom throwing bowls)


Thanks Tom!  I feel like this is a very good way to show and sell handmade work.  After all we all hope that our pots will find their way to good homes.  What better place to showcase them than in someone's home.  If you've done a trunk show please tell us about your experience in the comments.  And next time your in Seagrove, NC be sure to go by and see Tom Gray at his shop.

MS Cups

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I wanted to post this  picture of two Michael Simon cups from the early 80's.  This image was taken from Ceramics Monthly Summer 1983.  I am putting them up in response to the discussion on Sawdust and Dirt in regard to the mystery cup.  If the cup there was made by MS then I think it was a little bit later than these two.  The body of the cup on S&D is similar to these but the foot treatment has changed.  I don't think that cup on S&D was decorated by MS.  See comments there for thoughts on that.


Okay just wanted to pitch in.

Slack Blogger

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I've been in a bit of a blogging funk of late.  Which is fine I guess.  I am finally getting into the groove in the studio so that will give me material to post.  Today was productive in that I finished up most of the pots from earlier in the week and got some big bowls and plates made.

My next event is Treasures of the Earth, which opens at the Cleveland County Arts Council on Feb. 4th.  I've gotten most of the pots made for that now, just have to get them fired.

I have a bisque cooling as I write this.  I have some new amber tests in there.  The amber glaze has taken a backseat for about 8 months now.  I am trying some variations with gradual increases in the iron oxide percentage to find a light amber and a dark amber.  (Hum that makes me think of beer, too bad there are none in the house).

I had fun doing these finger wipes today.  They were inspired by a pitcher that Doug showed from the Bideford firing.

My pal Tom Gray did a write up on doing trunk shows for me.  I'm going to get it posted soon and that will wrap up the posts I've been doing on selling.

Okay well that's it for now. I'm off to dinner soon with my beautiful wife.

First Deco of 2010

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So here are a few pots that got finished today.  New approach to drawing. Mainly using the sketch book as a reference. No layout on the pot and using the bamboo quill instead of the needle tool.  There are still lots of burrs on these that will get brushed off when they dry.  I have another board of mugs to finish.  I guess I'll do that now.  Click for larger images.  Cup shots show front side and backside.

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="2" orderby="title"]

I white washed some of the space and lines on the big jar in between the main characters. Not really convinced it's any good, but it was fun to play around on a bigger canvas.

Jar

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This is the current state of the jar I made the other day. Subject to change.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnE6DW1Xmfg

And some stills. Click to enlarge.

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="2" orderby="ID"]

Two Part Jar. Plus a Coil

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I'm not a big pot maker.  But every now and then I like to try to make a big jar.  Usually I am successful in getting the big part.  Often they are ugly too.  Big and ugly = not good. So I don't keep them.  This one seems okay I guess.

I couldn't get these pics to load in the correct order but you'll figure it out right? (click for larger images)

I make the two main parts by throwing them upside down on a 14" bat.  That way I know they will match up and the middle part where they are to join doesn't dry before the top and bottom does.  I usually let these dry over night before going on to join them.

Once joined I do a lot of scraping to get the wall thickness the same at the joint. Otherwise it will be very obvious after the firing.

A coil is added and the top is thrown.  I like to roughen up to surface too.

I learned the technique of making these upside down and using the same size bat by watching Janet Mansfield, also Don Reitz uses this and my pal up in Alaska, Jim Brashear.

On Hold

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I got some pots made yesterday. Finally!  I was on call too as pugmill repairman. Jen Mecca broke the coupling on her pugmill and needed help replacing it.  So when the part arrived I drove down to York to lend her a hand.


So it was good to feel like I actually got back to work yesterday, but as fate would have it I feel like crap today.  I have some sort of sinus issue going on and I don't really feel like doing anything.  So the pots went back under plastic this morning and I'm looking forward to having some homemade chicken soup for lunch. Maybe by Monday I'll be ready to get back in the studio.

My 2 Cents

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I'm not breaking any records this week.  I did the the handles on the 5 pots I made on Monday.


So I thought I'd give you what info I have about selling pots online.  I certainly am no expert here, but it's something I am very interested in and I do want to put more time, energy and money into my online presence/shop this year.

I have an Etsy shop to sell pots online. Most everyone has heard of Etsy by now, but if you haven't, head on over to the site and check it out.

In my opinion Etsy is a good way to get into online sales.  It's easy to set up and use and the cost is low.  It costs 20 cents to list each item and they take a 3% commission of the sale.   You can accept credit cards by using PayPal or take checks.  PayPal has fees too, but I have found it easy to use and it has some nice features (like sending folks invoices).

I've heard artists complain that Etsy is very large and that there is a wide range of quality in the work.  This is true.  I also find Etsy to be very hard to search.  I can't even find myself on there using their search feature. (I'm probably not tagging things correctly).  So the way I use Etsy is to point people directly to my shop via my website/blog, email campaigns, postcards etc.  I give them my Etsy address or a hyper link and that gets them right to it.  I certainly doubt anyone will ever just stumble upon me there and buy my work.

I know very little about how to utilize Etsy to its full potential ie, getting your listings seen more or whatever.  I do know you can pay to be featured.  There's lots of info out on this stuff on the Etsy site and other blogs. (If you have links or info please leave them in the comments for us)

I have found that I like to do a scheduled listing of work on Esty that I promote to people.  In December I did this and had pots up for a few weeks before Christmas.  I sold enough pots to make me quite happy.  Of course I had to then ship them but I was prepared with bubble wrap, peanuts and boxes which made it painless.  I have also started using the Click and Ship feature that the USPS offers so I don't even go to the post office, my mail carrier just picks up the packages.

My goal is to have some sort of integrated online shopping cart here on the website by the end of this year.  (hopefully!).  I will probably hire someone to do that work for me and to tell me what 'company' or whatever to use.  I want to overhaul the whole site before long and this is part of that plan.

I'm sure there are other options out there other than Etsy. The only one I really about is Other Peoples Pixels.  I think Amazon has some sort of thing but I haven't seen it  in action. Of course there are lots of e commerce sites that are used in website development and I guess some that are stand alone.  I'm just trying to stick to what I know here.