Just a bit of a Ramble about being an Artist

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I recently wrote about good I am feeling these days and how happy I am with my work.

I want to comment more now on how much I feel priviledged to be working as an artist and how I'm so thankful for those folks who buy my work and for those who give me moral and emotional support.

As an artist/craftsperson we each put our hearts and souls out there for the world to see.  That's a very brave thing to do.  Many times what we care about gets over looked or mis-understood.  Sometimes people step on it or cut it down or turn their noses up at it.  It's hard as hell when that happens.  I have felt crushed when I have gotten rejections to shows, or to craft schools, or to galleries.  I have cried, and been depressed and looked at myself in very small ways over the years for various reasons.  It's not easy being an artist.  We are often sensitive, unsure, lonely, self abusive, and have the self confidence of a maggot at the bottom of a trash bin.

But we get to do what we love!  We get to draw or paint or make things or write or play music or whatever.  We get to be serious, or playful, or goofy and we get to make up things and to push ideas and boundaries all over the place.  Sometimes we even get paid for doing these things.  We get to teach others too!  That's totally cool.

I had no formal education to go into the arts.  I can't really talk about art history or sound intelligent when I see a painting I like or say what exactly makes a good pot or a beautiful piece of music.  I can however draw on my experiences and what I've learned and try my best to make some sort of difference in my life through that and maybe in some others lives too.  A handmade cup is pretty much my gift to whomever will take it and use it.  I put all I can into it and then go and make another one, maybe better, maybe not.

I feel like I've really been focusing on my marketing over the past few years.  I know many artists hate this part of it and say they don't care if they ever sell anything.  That's fine, and I do feel sort of strange posting all my Etsy listings on Facebook all the time.  Still, I want to make a living from my work.  I don't want to go back to the DOT or the deli or landscaping.  If I have to do those things so I can buy more clay I will though.

No matter what I've been through that's been crappy and rough and depressing, I've continued to make pots over the past 19 years.  It's the one thing I've found that I love to do and I go out there everyday and work on something.  Usually in my free time I'm thinking about pots or drawing pots or looking at pottery on the internet or whatever.   It's my life, I'm surrounded by all the great pots in our house and I can't even go on vacation without seeing pots in windows or going through our hosts cabinets looking for a special bowl or mug.

Anyhow I need to wrap this up, but I wanted to say how grateful I am to be able to do what I want and that I have seen some positive movement out there in the retail world of craft shows lately.  I am so thankful for the people who have bought my pots over the years and those that continue to.  I hope my work is enriching their lives.

I also want to thank those who have commented here on the blog and have sent me messages about my work.  It's so amazing, this online family that I have.  It's great to log on each day and read what folks are doing and see what they are making.  It's cool to be a part of each other's journey.

Okay that's all for now.  Sorry that was a bit of a ramble.

Getting ready for my Holiday Sale

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The bisque is loaded with a week to go before my Holiday Studio Sale.


I worked on some new deco on a few of these pots and I look forward to seeing them fired.  I have about 10 more pots that could potentially get decorated and fired before next weekend too.  These are high end jars and a few plates.  I'd really like to get them through the kiln but I felt like I needed to focus on the bread and butter pots first.

Some of you potters out there may wonder about that photo above.  I don't stack pots in the bisque like most folks do.  This is because my slip fluxes a bit at cone 04 and if the pots are stacked they may stick together and pull the slip off.  So I just stack like a glaze load.  It's no big deal and it actually helps me to see how I'll get the next load set up after glazing.

Here's the info on my upcoming Studio Sale

Saturday Dec. 3rd.  10 am till 4pm
Sunday Dec. 4th  Noon till 4pm

757 Wallace Grove Road Shelby NC 28150

I am going to have some really nice pots so I hope to have a good turnout.  The first weekend in December is when every potter in NC and his brother (also a potter) has their Studio sale.  I'm hoping my locals turn out as well as folks from afar.

The showroom will be open through Christmas by appointment or by chance.  It's a good idea to call ahead as I may be taking a nap or gone to the grocery.  704 480 6046

A Good Place

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I've done several shows this fall and I have to say I've been really pleased with all of them for many reasons:

1.  Customer turnout has been very good.  Even at one show where it rained off and on all day.

2.  People are buying pots. Not just coming to look.

3.  People seem to be genuinely interested in what I am doing and in the pots.

I'm thankful for all these things.  I've been wanting to write about how much I have enjoyed taking my new work (yes, I'm still calling this earthenware my 'new' work) to shows and how folks react to it.

These pots with the images get people in the booth.  First off my pots are not like anything else in any of the shows I do.  Granted, some people just walk right by booth.  My work is not their taste and that's fine.  But many, many people are drawn into the booth to get a closer look at the images on the pots.  This is really exciting for me.  I love when they come in, take a look, and then smile, or laugh or turn to their friend in the asile and say, You have to see this.



These reactions allow me to start talking to folks about the pots.  We usually start off talking about the imagery, but I lead them to looking at the pot, the form, the foot, the handle of a mug or whatever it is.  We talk about what they will use it for, or if they'll hang it on the wall or give it as a gift.  I share my passion for making handmade pots and how Sarah and I use pots in our home.

Usually it comes back around to the Goat or the Rabbit or the Laundry Line that the person was attracted to when they came in to my booth.  They may tell me about when they were children and helped their mother hang out the laundry, or maybe they'll ask what my favorite animal is or why my Dogs have so many teeth.  It's really nice to make this connection with people and the fact that the pottery that I make speaks to them and brings up a reaction for them, or a memory.  Most of the time it's a smile or laughter.  I can't tell you how fun it is for me to stand there and smile at people when they look at my work and have them smile back.  It's really rewarding and satisfying.

Most of you who have read this blog for years have heard me complain about finding my way, worrying about being a certain kind of potter, or just getting depressed in general over the state of my work.  I'm glad to say that right now I truly feel like I'm making the pots I want to make and I find meaning in them and I feel like others do to.  For many years I thought that the meaning of my work should only be found through it's use.  I'm now happy to say that I'm content with being useful and decorative.  Most of all I'm glad that it makes people smile and laugh and that I can share the fact that life doesn't have to be so serious all the time.

Don't Rush

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Black Friday.  Sarah and I are relaxing this morning with tea and enjoying being at home on a Friday together.  No crazy early morning shopping for us.  No shopping at all actually.

Typically I begin my Holiday Sale on the day after Thanksgiving.  We decided to start a week later this year.  It's just so much of a rush to get everything ready and still enjoy the holiday with our families when we are working at setting up for a Sale.

It's a beautiful day out and I am going to spend time out on the porch drawing on pots.  I made just over 50 pots on Monday.


 I made the mistake of trying to rush dry some of them in the kiln and cracked two of the tall footed bowls.


 I know better than to do that, but sometimes lessons have to be relearned.  Anyhow, it's okay, I probably have more pots than I can get fired before next weekend anyway.


I am looking forward to getting tucked into some drawing today.  I'll start with mugs and work up to plates and bowls.


I have been thinking about a couple blog posts that I want to write. I may do a video later today that will talk about my experiences at the last few craft shows I've done.  For now, more tea and out to work.


Have a good day everyone.


 

Yay Monday!

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I sort of mean that.  I'm having a hard time getting going today but maybe after another cup of tea I'll get rolling.

It's good to be home and settled.  I think it took me two good days to recover from NYC.  I do love living out here in the country.


Today will be a big making day.  I have less than 2 weeks until my Holiday Studio sale and I need certain pots to finish filling the shelves.  I've made a list and hopefully I can knock a chuck of it out today.

I've been posting new pots in my Online Shop.  There will be 4-5 more going in today.


I feel really good right now and excited about the last few shows I participated in.  It was great to see folks and to get my newest pots in their hands.  I'm going to do a little post on that later probably.  For now, I'm off to get my hands in the clay.  Have a good week everyone!

 

Home from NYC

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Sarah and I spent the last few days in NYC having fun and pretty much walking our feet off.  It was our first time there and we had a blast.  Sarah did her masters work at Appalachian State University here in NC.  ASU has a loft space in the Flatiron district that is available for alumni, their family and guests.  It's insanely cheap to stay there so we took full advantage of it and certainly plan to go back.

Sarah and I in Central Park


 

We met up with Hannah McAndrew there after she had been in Philly for a week as an exhibitor in the Philadelphia Craft Show. Hannah's partner Paul flew in from Scotland to join us too.

Having lunch at Katz's Delicatessen


I'll do a few posts over the next few days.  For now I'm happy to be back home in the slow lane of country living.  My brain and body put their selves into restore mode today so I spent it on the couch sleeping and reading.

 

Getting Mobbed

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This was the scene outside of the building at the Carolina Pottery Festival yesterday morning as a mob of pottery lovers crowded to get in the door.

They were chanting ORN-A-MENTS, ORN-A-MENTS over and over.  When the doors opened I was rushed, knocked down and trampled as crazed shoppers reached my booth and stripped the shelves of my cookie cutter ornaments.


After getting patched up at the paramedic tent, I went back inside to see the rest of my pots all intack on the shelves.  As the day wore on I sold a few Rabbit dishes and a Laundry Line mugs.  It ended up being a good day, a very memorable one for sure.

Next year I think I'll hold off on the ornaments, I'm just not ready for this sort of fame yet.

Getting Ready for Two Shows this Weekend

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I'm doing two shows this weekend.  Tomorrow will be a busy day as I have to set up for both of them.  Here's a video showing the pots ready to be packed up.  There are still a few pots being fired and will come out late in the day on Friday.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQWu7nk7Y_Y

For more info on the shows click the following links.

Carolina Pottery Festival, Shelby, NC
Sat. Nov. 12th 10 am till 4pm
I'll be at this event selling my work.

Henhouse Sale, York, SC
Sat. Nov 12th and Sun. Nov. 13th
10am till 4pm both days
I may be here part of the day on Sunday.

Both of these are great venues and both are indoors some come on out if you are in the area.

 

Shame, shame

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I made some cookie cutter Christmas tree ornaments this year.  I know to many people this is no big deal and all well and fine.  But to some in the clay community it's a bit of heresy.

Honestly I made these and didn't intend to advertise them much.  But I put them in my Etsy shop and posted on Facebook.  Soon after the FB post I got  messages saying I'd gone over to the dark side and that my Mingei card had been revoked.  Ha! Of course I know the folks writing these comments and I didn't take them personally.


Some of you may be asking,  What's the big deal about a few ornaments?  Well in the art/clay/whatever world there is sort of this hierarchy of what one can make and still be seen as a reputable crafts person.  (Now in truth that is totally, complete bull sh*t,  but the perception is real).

So in the clay world that I've sort of set myself up in it's okay to make mugs, teapots, plates, jars, etc.  But not okay to make soap dispensers, apple bakers, Christmas ornaments, deviled egg plates (oh that one would KILL me!!), (really I can't stop laughing now).

Anyhow, it can get a bit tricky too.  For instance, I said it's okay in my circle (?) to make plates and teapots, but if I raku-ed them then I'd be ran out of town by Brandon and some others.

So I wonder if I made Christmas ornaments and fired them for 3 days in an anagama would that be okay?  Hum....could be.  Of course they would be priced at $100 each and I wouldn't sell any.   On the other hand if I raku-ed them then they would be worthless in the eyes of my peers but the public would eat them up!

As I see it there's room for everyone, and we should all feel comfortable to make whatever we want.  I do admit that I made these ornaments purely for financial gain.  Gasp!  I want an iPad dammit!  and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get one.   The funny thing is is that I took these ornaments to show this past weekend and didn't sell any (I gave my mom a few!)(yes, it was that sort of craft show).  So this whole thing may not work out for me and I should stick to working for hours on end decorating jars and platters with rabbits and flowers and stars and moons.  (At some point in the future we'll discuss why it's some how okay for me to put a rabbit on a pot).


Okay, enough of this.  If I get out to the studio right now I should be able to crank out a couple dozen deviled egg plates by the end of the day.  Look out Apple store, I'm on my way!!

Cup: The Intimate Object VII

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Charlie Cummings has put together an outstanding exhibition of cups in Cup:  The Intimate Object VII.  I am honored to have been asked to this show.  It is live online now.  You can visit by clicking HERE.



Most of you know that I have this thing for cups.  They are my favorite pot to make.  I hope you'll have a look at the show and pass the link on to others who are passionate about this form.

 

 

Catching up

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This week has crept by for me but I'm glad because I have had a lot to do and it looks like I'm going to be ending in a good place.  I've not felt terribly productive but as I look back on each day it seems I've gotten enough done and that things are moving forward.


The bisque kiln is filling up.  I have 10-12 more pots to decorate today and then I think I'll go ahead and fire it up.  I've made a bunch of cookie cutter ornaments for Christmas this year.  I'll give some as gifts and the rest will go to some hometown type shows and gift shops that I'm doing.


Sarah and I have been sleeping in all week. I don't think we've gotten up before 8am on any given day.  I guess it's the oncoming winter and cooler temps.  I do feel like I need to be rising earlier, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it right now.


Loupie is all snuggled into the cat bed this morning.



Karma would rather be playing ball than watching me write this blog post.



Scott Garrett is an illustrator and budding potter in East Sussex, England.  He sent me these two prints a while back and I finally got them matted and framed.  I really dig Scott's style and humor.  You can visit his blog HERE and Online Shop HERE.


Dead Ends by Scott Garrett


Fred by Scott Garrett


I found these two older pots in a box at the Arts Council.  It's neat to look back and see where I have been.




I'll be updating my Events page later and hopefully sending out an email Newsletter on Monday (so sign up to be on the mailing list if you haven't yet.  Over in the right sidebar)


I've been adding pots to the Online shop too.  Click HERE to go over and see what's there.  Thanks!!


Back in the Groove

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I had a very good day in the studio!  I am feeling the push of  shows that are coming up and the need to get work to shops and galleries before the holiday rush begins.

I'd also like to have at least 100 pots in my Etsy shop before Thanksgiving.  That is going to be a challenge but maybe I can do it.

It was good to get into a making mode today and get some bowls and cups thrown.  If I can get ahead on those things then I can move on to more time consuming pots like regular and altered jars and maybe a teapot or two.



I am feeling really motivated right now even with the anxiety of the upcoming months.  I have had income from a couple of good shows as well as checks coming in from shops.  That certainly makes me feel good, esp. when they call and say they'd like more pots.  I want to keep pushing the work, the forms and decoration, as I go into the end of the year.



This hump molded trencher is a new shape that I'm excited about even though it's very simple and quick to make.  I've made four of these over the past few days and I am looking forward to drawing in them.  I want to make a slightly bigger version too.


So all in all things are good here.  I have to admit that I haven't been doing great disconnecting from the web.  It seems like that week at the beach threw me for a loop and when we got home I just fell back into my old habits.  I've been more intentional over the past two days so maybe I can get back into a more healthy routine.


Off now for a walk w. Karma.  Thanks for checking in!!


Opening at Maddi's Gallery

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Last night I had my opening at Maddi's Gallery in Charlotte, N.C.  I had a very nice selection of work and the display looked great. (Thanks Celia for setting it up for me!)


It was great to meet some new folks and also see my friends who stopped by.


Maddi's debuted two pieces that I made especially for the gallery.  These were a bottle/vase and a tile with a crown and the word Charlotte on them.  For those of you who may not know, Charlotte is know as the 'Queen City'.  These two pieces make nice keepsakes for visitors and for residents.


My showroom is looking pretty bare and I have several more shows coming up.  Looks like I'll be busy making pots next week.