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!

30th Annual Potter's Gathering - Day 1

While it was the 30th annual Gathering, it was my first trip to West Virginia's largest annual gathering of potters and this year was extra special (nothing to do with me, of course!) due to the prominence of the presenter: Robim Hopper. Internationally known teacher, artist and author, his works, books and DVDs are collected around the world.

He's a funny guy: equal parts charm and grit with a twisted British sense of humor. Via his demos, DVDs and PowerPoint presentations, he shared his history, and sources of inspiration, along with potters whose work he admires.

With over 40 years of production pottery experience, watching Robin throw was like watching something on fast forward. One second you see the ball of clay and the next, something beautiful--and in porcelain, no less.

The first day was devoted to throwing the shapes he would decorate on Day 2. Here are just of few of the pieces he created:















Above left: Robin threw a tall cylinder, then choked it in to form a graceful bird's head.
Above center: With a few cuts and bends, he angled the head into position. Later, the head and a wheel-thrown tail were affixed to an elegant shallow bowl with sloped shoulders. It was beautiful!
Above right: Just a small portion of Day 1 work.

The final "event" of Day 1 involved creation of some beautiful agate work, layering regular porcelain with clays pre-tinted (by Mike) with oxides. He took sections of regular porcelain and layered it with section of porcelain tinted with red iron oxide and layers of clay tinted with manganese dioxide, carefully connecting them without wedging or muddying the colors. Then, he threw his forms as usual.

The magic happened when he fluted the pieces (see bowl) or faceted them (see bottle below) to reveal and give organic shape to the colored layers of clay.

I'm delighted to report that the faceted bottle will be residing at Capitol Clay Arts Company, a gift to Mike for our donation of his Tom Turner Porcelain (Standard Ceramic Company) and Mike's work wedging the colorants into the clay. We're honored to have it!

And to all you pottery students at Capitol Clay Arts Company: Get your wedging muscles ready! We're going to be working with colored clays during our next class session beginning March 1.

Special Thanks: To Dale Porter of Pots by Porter for sharing some of his wonderful photos since my batteries died. Thanks much, Dale.

Empty Bowls Help Fill Stomachs

Each year, the Marshall University Keramos Student Potter's Guild supports the Empty Bowls event, to raise money to feed individuals and families in financial distress. With this year's tough economy, the need is great. Let's help!

Call for Pottery
If you are attending this year's Potter's Gathering (February 12-14 at Cedar Lakes) please bring a bowl (or several bowls) or another ceramic piece to donate to the annual, upcoming Empty Bowls silent auction. Earline will collect your works at the Gathering and transport them back to Marshall.

Can't make it to the Gathering but still want to help? Drop your pieces by Capitol Clay Arts Company at 721 Crescent Road in Charleston; Mike and I will make certain they get safely to Earline. Your pottery can help families in need. Please donate to this worthy cause.

About Robin Hopper

Internationally-known potter, teacher, author, garden designer and arts activist, Robin Hopper's ceramics works are held in private collections around the world and has taught in Canada, the UK, the US, China, Israel and more.

Born in England in 1939, he studied at Croydon College of Art (1956-61) and set up studio. He immigrated to Canada in 1968 and began teaching at Central Technical School where he set up and headed the Ceramics and Glass Department at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario.

In 1972, he resigned from teaching to devote himself to his ceramic exploration full time. In 1977, his work was honored with the Bronfman Award, Canada's most prestigious annual award in crafts.

Hopper has authored numerous indespensible books on pottery, including The Ceramic Spectrum, Functional Pottery and Making Marks. He has also produced a series of six DVDs on ceramic decoration processes.

With over 50 years work in ceramics, Robin Hopper's exploration have included both historical and technical research and on-going studio involvement with both functional, production pottery and one-of-a-kind works of art. Porcelain is his preferred clay body.