yunomi

Making Some Progress

Okay, don't pass out.  Two blog posts in one week!  
Yesterday I had a reporter come out from The Thompson Report to do an interview with me and shoot some video.  The Thompson Report is a local news website that covers people, events, etc in Cleveland and Rutherford counties.  It was really great to sit down and talk about how I got started making pots and tell why it's so important to me.  Honestly, it was sort of emotional because haven't talked about that too much of late and it just felt good to say it all and share my love of making pots.  I'm not sure when the story will air on their website but I'll let ya know.  We did an impromptu Facebook Live video that you can watch on their FB page.  The quality isn't great due to a weak connection in my studio. 

Today I finished off the pots I made earlier in the week.

I had a little turtle factory going on as well.

I threw a few faceted yunomi and some pitchers to finish off the day.  The yunomi will get footed tomorrow and the pitchers will get their handles.  Then I have to pack up pots because I'll be heading up to Blowing Rock, NC bright and early on Saturday morning to do the Art in the Park show.  

Monday. And a Video

Hey.  Sorry for the break.  I don't know what happened last week but I finally got all my stuff sorted and I'm feeling better now.  I've been getting some pots made and I think this kiln load is going to come together pretty quickly.

I've been invited to send 5 pots to AKAR for their annual yunomi show.  That will be in March.  This will be my third year in the show and I am so honored to be asked.  I shot a short video showing the making of a yunomi so here it is:

I love making pots on my treadle wheel.  The combination of using that wheel and soft clay helps give the pots the energy that I look for in my work.  Also, not over-working each pot is important.  I try to make the pot in as few movements as possible.  It's hard to do on some pots but it's what I strive for.  I really want the look of the throwing to show through in the finished pot.  I want the clay wall to have some motion and the pot look like it's rising up or moving out or breathing.  I feel the pots are at their best when they come off the wheel.  For them to have some energy and life after the firing is one of the crucial things I want to achieve.  

Here they are after being footed and decorated:

I made 11 more today.  I don't know how I ended up with 9 to begin with.  I wanted 20 for the firing so hopefully out of those I'll get 5 good ones.

So that's all I have for now.  Tomorrow I've got another video to post and I'll try to get some content up as the week goes on.  Thanks for checking me out.  

Second Kiln Load and Quiet Inspiration

in

It was a very good day in the workshop.  I had a morning of hauling and stacking wood, going to the grocery, working out, and coaching a class at CrossFit Shelby.  But after lunch, by 2pm, I was in the studio with clay pugged and ready to make pots for the second firing of 2015.

I started off making yunomi, which in Japan are everyday cups for hot tea.  I love making this pot.  I have been faceting these lately, cutting the sides to give nice edges for the soda glaze to enhance in the firing.
 

After the first few I was really getting into the feel for them and then on number seven I hit upon with this:

A totally new facet method for me.  I came to this by playing with a tool I made and using it in a way I had not before.  Observation, play, and taking a chance let to this new discovery which is very, very cool and exciting.  Yay!!  When these things happen it just makes me smile from ear to ear and feel really grateful for the process of creativity and discovery.  Needless to say I made a few more, with a couple failures, before moving on to some other pots.

After a couple hours I had the start of my next kiln load.  I'm hoping to fire at the end of this month.
 

About 65 more pots to make but that's a good start for sure.

This past Saturday, Sarah and I drove to the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC for the opening reception of Quiet Inspiration: Japanese Influence on North Carolina Potters.  The show looked fantastic.  I have three pots in the show.  

The turnout was great but I didn't get any photos.  I did shoot a bit of video.  I wish I would have gotten all the pots shot and some of the crowd as well.  But here's a little film showing what I took:

I have a full day tomorrow to work in the studio.  I'm planning on making the most of it.  Stay tuned for some pots.  Who knows what the day may hold?