New Work: Capitol Clay Art Wear

Just completed a few new pieces and thought I'd share

Blue Moods





Top row, left to right:

Textured Denim Blues Pendant- Soft hues of blue breaking over texture. Accented with Argentiurm Silver wire, corrugated sterling silver beads and a single Swarovski Crystal.

Intergalactic Blues Pendant - Deepest shades of blue break to soft blue at adges with a starry band breaing in the center. Arentium Silver wire and a frosty sterling bead complete the looik.

Blackened Blues pendant - High gloss black and richest blue color combine for depth. Accented with Argentium Silver wire, plus sterling and Hematite beads.

Row two:

• Breaking Blues Pin - Rich Cobalt blue over fine texture is accented with golden color breaking at left.

Neutral Gear

Above:

• Box of Embers Pendant - Flowing shape with rich tones of yellow orange and brown. Accented with 14K nickel-free gold filled wire and a single agate bead.




• Tiny Embers Earrings - Simple and sweet, yellow, orange and brown tones are accented with a pair of rich, orange carnelian beads. Ear wires are handmade from high quality 14K nickel-free gold filled wire.

GreenWear






Top row:

• Green to Go Pendant - Turquoise Green over texture creates a mottled effect. Accented with Argentium Silver wire, sterling beads and a Hematite chip.




• Gun Metal Green - Rich tones of aqua and pewter break to softest celedon at the edges. Accented with Argentium Silver wire and a trio of sterling beads.

Second row:

1. Green to Go Pin - Turquoise Green layered with golden tones at left create glow and movement.

Midnight Sky


Above:

• Sun & Moon Pin - Rich black breaks starry white over texture and pools in tones of blacish-green. Accented with a hand made golden bead (Karen's personal favorite today!).
  
  
  

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Workshop: Bowls - Exploring Form & Function

Noted potter Keith Lahti returns to Capitol Clay Arts Company for an exciting new workshop, Exploring Bowls--Forms & Function, Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15, 2011. The workshop runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

Known for his exquisite bowls, Keith will bring his considerable knowledge to the workshop which wil focus on hand built and wheel thrown bowls; from throwing and trimming basic shapes to altered, fluted and (time permitting) footed forms. You will leave the workshop having created a wide range of bowls from tiny ingredient bowls, to indivdual serving bowls to large "centerpiece" serving bowls.

Workshop fee is $200 and includes instruction, firings, glazes, 25# clay and a tasty lunch. Fee must be paid in full at the time of registration; class size is limited and registration is on a first-come basis. (Tax is applied to all workshop fees). Workshop requires a minimum of six participants.


Please note: A full refund, less a $20 processing fee will be given to anyone withdrawing one week prior to the workshop. No refunds will be available for withdrawals after May 7.


For more information or to register, call Mike or Karen at 304-720-9851 or email Karen@capitolclayarts.com.

The First Wheel Classes of 2011 Start January 10

Don't miss a chance to start your year off creatively! Gain a new hobby--or recapture an old one--take a pottery class. The next 6-week long session is filling fast but a few evening slots remain and our day classes offer a great opportunity to fill a day with fun. Check out the schedule below.

DAY Classes - 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. begin Monday, January 10; Tuesday, January 11; Wednesday, January 12; and Thursday, January 13.

EVENING Classes - 6-8:30 p.m. begin Monday, January 10; Tuesday, January 11; and Thursday, January 13.

For more information, call Karen at 304-720-9851 or email Karen@capitolclayarts.com.

This Is A Test, This Is Only A Test!

I've been working on enhancing my jewelry photography and have been doing extensive research on aperature settings and f-stops to ensure my shots represent my work as closely as possible. Here is the most recent "crop":

By publishing these on my blog, I can get a sense of what they look like in a web environment--and decide how to proceed. Thanks for your indulgence.

Do As I Say. Not What I Did.

Anyone who has visited the studio more than once knows how much I nag about being constantly aware of the clay that you are using. There's a reason I'm so unrelenting on this point--which I reminded myself earlier today.

Yesterday, Mike and I spent several hours in the studio doing catch up work and I found myself with a couple hours on my hands and two slabs of white clay we had rolled out a few weeks ago. Although I couldn't remember which of the myriad of recent projects we'd rolled the clay out for, I must have been certain it was Standard 240 White clay because I got right to work and, within just a few hours, I had made 59 pendants and absolutely loved 58 of them!

Here's the problem: I got into Capitol Clay this morning and uncovered the pieces, I was surprised to see that, as they dried, they were looking less like the Standard 240 and more like Standard 910. Which is a self-hardening clay. No, go with me here: Self-hardening clay can't go in the kiln. Can't be glazed. Will likely end up a puddle on the kiln floor.

So, we tucked one piece into the current bisque load and here I sit waiting until we can open it on Wednesday and reveal whether I have 59 new pieces to glaze and wire, or one melted mess and 58 pieces of trash. Note to self: "Document your clay!"

UPDATE: Pulled the test piece out of the kiln this a.m. and, hooray, it's real. Dodged that bullet and won't make that mistake again. Although I am confident I'll make others. Many.

Just in Time for Mother's Day!

Give Mom a flower and a hug! That's our recommendation this Mother's Day. Our whimsical handbuilt flower pencil cup features long leaves that appear to hug the cup and is perfect for Mom's desk at home or at the office. We made this using Standard 910 White Self-Hardening clay. It dries completely within 48 hours and takes craft store acrylic paints beautifully.

We tried the project in a few different sizes and with different sizes of flowers. We deeply indented the center hole on the flower (using a soda bottle cap) which would be perfect with a photo of your child's picture--or tuck a "Happy Mother's Day" message in the center for a gift and card all in one.

Above: I finished my flower with White and Yellow and painted the leaves Spring Green, tipped with Yellow. I used used Soft Lavender as the base color on the pot, accent with White and Yellow dots and lines.

At right: Mike used a soft Pool Blue and White on his flower, accenting the center with Yellow layered over White. He boldly striped his leaves in Spring Green and Yellow and finished his pot with Brown and Pool Blue.

Below: I used Pink as the base color for my flower petals, using Lavender as a shading color and White to highlight. I basecoated the flower center White and added lots and lots of Yellow dots (using the end of a paintbrush) for texture. Finally White, Lavender and Pink dots and lines complete the look. Enjoy!

30th Annual Potter's Gathering - Day 2

With so many pieces thrown on Saturday, Day 1 of the 2010 Potter's Gathering, guest presenter Robin Hopper spent Sunday, Day 2 finishing and applying surface decorations.

First up: Handles. Lots and lots and lots of handles. Robin shared his preference for handles that are accented to disguise their point of attachment and, once attached, showed his technique for just ever so slightly flattening his handles at the point where fingers grasp them for a more comfortable fit.

With just his trimming tool (okay, his $75 Bison trimming tool), he quickly created a pineapple design and was on to the next piece!

With all pieces assembled, Robin then turned his attention to surface decoration. He mixed three different colorants (Copper Carbonate, Red Iron Oxide and Manganese Dioxide) with porcelain slip and a bit of CMC (liquid) to create the ideal consistency for painting on his pieces.

At right: Robin steps back to contemplate his design. The vase was formed from a simple cylinder at the bottom and a larger oval-shaped bottle on top. The oval shape provided an ideal surface for this painted design.

Below, at left: Robin applies his signature floral design to a very large lidded jar; the lid is accented with one of Robin's Phoenix birds.

Finally, all pieces were auctioned off with proceeds to go to the Tamarack Foundation to help fund scholarships for the 2011 Potter's Gathering and to the Canadian Red Cross for Haiti.

If you haven't attended a Potter's Gathering, please consider coming to the 2011 event. Guest presenter is Tom Turner so this one should also be fantastic. You'll find the gathering equal parts inspiration and fellowship!