New Book and the end of a Slack Week

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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!!

Ratatouille

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This beauty just went into the oven.  I hope it tastes as good as it looks.  We didn't have any eggplant in the garden so I left it out and only used squash, zucc. and red pepper.


Nice dish, eh? I need to make more of these to sell.

More from Tuesday

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I feel like I labored over a handful of pots all day.  Sort of unsure about them, thinking, drawing in the sketch book, drawing on pots, then etching them in.  The day went by slowly.  I've got a bisque going now.  That goat bowl is a special order and the yunomi is just a test. I liked taking that clay away from the background but then I was left with a lot of white space between the circles.    Robert Crumb once said that drawing was just an excuse to crosshatch.  My motto is, "When in doubt, crosshatch. "  So that's what I did to fill in the space.

Click on the images for larger more complete image.

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Thanks for all the nice comments on the Crocs.  I can't wait to see them fired.

Weekend Photos

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Sarah and I had a productive weekend working on the house.  We finished painting the stairwell and got the handrail up.  That scaffolding is approved by Worker Safety Organizations in India and Jamaica. Photos below from around here this weekend. Click for larger more complete image.

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I feel like I'm almost out of my 'slump'.  I get into this funky place and start questioning what I am doing fairly often.  I go over and over what I could be doing differently, how the work could change, comparing to others (not productive at all),and getting frozen in doubt and fear.  I had a little break though last night just by looking at some photos of my recent work and realizing that I am where I am at the moment.  The only way to move forward is to work, pay attention, and enjoy what I'm doing.

So today I have lots of drawing to do and a few pots to throw.  Best get to it.  Have a good Monday everyone and thanks for visiting the blog.

End of Week

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It's been a pretty slack week of blogging for me.  I'm struggling some in the studio with getting work decorated for an upcoming exhibition.  I have to nose down and get it done over the weekend.  Of course pushing myself doesn't seem to have a positive effect.  Maybe it will just happen.


I am having some time with my pottery friends Jen, Amy and Julie later this morning.  That will be great and I'm looking forward to it.  We all have a lot going on.  Maybe they can give me some feedback and reassurance about what I'm doing.

I"ve been listing new pots in the Online shop over the past couple days and have had a couple sales.  I'll be putting more up over the weekend.

That's it for now.  I'll post some images later of some stills from the last firing.  The yunomi above was one of my favorites.

Have a great Friday!!

Fuller Style

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I had a chance last night to catch up with Doug Fitch.  We had a good chat.  He's been super busy getting ready for a show and exhibition.

Doug and Geoff Fuller have an exhibition together at Earth Marque next month.  I knew about Fuller but hadn't seen but a few of his pots.  I was happy to find he now has a website.

Inspired, I made a few pots today similar to Fullers.  Below are images of some tankards and funny little pouring pots. (Hand built spouts)



That little hood is necessary so that the liquid doesn't flow over the top when pouring.


I'll get a thin layer of white slip on these tomorrow and then who knows what.

Presentation and Larkspur Report

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My talk to the NC Pottery Collectors Guild went well Friday night.  They were a really welcoming group and I think they enjoyed my presentation.  It was neat to see the NC State Craft Center.  Wow, they have an amazing facility.

Being back at NCSU was nice.  It was cool to see my old stomping grounds.  Sarah and I met up with Kevin, a college friend of mine after the presentation and had a visit.  Of course I picked one of the loudest sports bars around.  Still the company was great as well as the beer.

Afterwards, Sarah and I went over to Hillsborough St. and had a beer in Mitch's Tavern which has been there for quite a long time.  I had my first legal beer in Mitch's.  The place hasn't changed much at all.

(Sorry no pics of any of this, bad blogger!)

On Saturday we headed up to visit Jen Mecca at the Larkspur Party.  Below is an image of Jen's booth.  She was having a great sale.

Jen had made a lot of these little houses.  This was the only one left when we  arrived after lunch.

There was lots of great art, clay, paintings, jewelry, sculpture, wood and even plants for sale.



It was good to catchup with our friends Blaine Avery, Ronan Peterson, Laura Weant Avery, and Brad Tucker just to name a few.

I had planned on going down to Seagrove for the Cousins in Clay event but we got on the road too late Saturday and just couldn't make another stop.  It's nice to be home today.   I have pots to glaze and should have them fired by the end of the week.

Thanks for checking in!

Who's That?

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Oh just me.  Right. Okay, so I have been going over the presentation I am giving tomorrow evening for the NC Pottery Collectors Guild.  I think it's fine.  It's all about the Internet and how that technology as well as some other tech stuff is used in my pottery business.  Like this Blog for instance! Right. I should be able to talk about that shouldn't I? Fingers crossed.

The meeting is on the campus of NCSU in Raleigh, NC.  That's where I went to college from 1988-1992.  I studied mathematics there.  And horticulture (for one of the 4 years).  I didn't graduate which is a drag,(I had great grades, but just got fed up) I had a pretty hard time during those years.  Worrying about pleasing other people and having no clue what I was going to do with my Life.  I had some good times there too of course but it's going to be weird being back there.  I haven't been on campus since I left.  I'm sure a lot has changed.

Anyhow, probably no posts until Saturday.  I'm going to go to the Larkspur Party while in Raleigh.  Jenn Mecca will be there showing her pots as well as several other friends.  I've heard the lady who has the show has these amazing gardens.  That should be neat to see.

New pots on the Etsy site if you'd like to CLICK over and check them out.  I've got a bisque going tonight with some new mugs, bowls and plates.  I'll definitely be listing some of these pots when they come out of the glaze kiln.

All for now. Thanks for checking in!!

Tiny Bowls in Action

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I made Thai Stir-Fried Ginger Beef for dinner last night. I took a moment to snap a pic of these Tiny Bowls holding some ingredients for my dish.


I've listed some of these Tiny Bowls in my Online Shop.  They are handy for other things too like nuts, candy, pills, salt and pepper.  Check out the Shop HERE.

Pots in Use

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I received this image of my pots in use from Noriko along with this note,
I put some Japanese noodle called "hiyamugi" in the cereal bowl with pink flowers, put "dashi" (dipping sauce) in the creamer; and use the small flat bowl as a dish to dip "hiyamugi" to eat.




Thanks Noriko!  Looks wonderful.


Send your images of my pots in use to ronpots2 (at) yahoo (dot) com



Piling Up Greenware and A Couple of Announcements

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I know things have been sitting too long when the mud dabbers start building nests in my teapot handles!!


I've got loads of blank pots on the shelves.  Today I start decorating.  I'll do Clothesline drawings first as they are burnt in my memory.  Then move on to Animals and Plants etc.


Plus there are another 30 plates and bowls in the studio that I didn't photograph.  Whew.


It was around this time last year that I was getting very excited about heading up to Penland for a two week class with Ayumi Horie.

Here are a couple images from that time.



Those were good times for sure.

Ayumi is having an online sale tomorrow. Click here to see the preview and get there tomorrow because pots go fast!

Maria Dondero in Athens, Ga. is having an Open House and Summer Sale this weekend.  Maria was in class with me at Penland and I really love her work.  Check her website out HERE for more info.

Okay back to it! Have a great day everyone.

New Post

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Sarah informed me last night that I needed to post. So here you are.

I've been working today photographing pots for my Etsy site.  Check in all week for new listings.

We had a great weekend.  Our friends Christy and Moises came over Saturday with their kids.  We all had fun playing out in the yard.


I'm giving a talk to the NC Pottery Collectors Guild this Friday in Raleigh.  The talk is on how technology has impacted me and my work as a potter.  I hope it's received well.  I have to get the presentation all put together this week.  I also have boards and boards of pots to decorate.  So I'll be doing that, no making this week.


Check back soon.

Yum

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Nothing like finding a rat when you get to the bottom of your pasta!


Thanks to Liz for sending these to me.


Send your pics of my pottery in use to ronpots2 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Have a good weekend all.  I'm going to try and get some pots decorated.  Lots of greenware in the studio, I'm ready to have a firing or two and see some new pots!