Beautification

I have to thank Cedar Creek Gallery's resident gardener, potter, electrician, landscaper, glaze expert, vocalist and chef, John B. Martin for his ongoing beautification of my studio. He dug up the ugly space in front of my fence and turned it into a colorful flower garden that just delights me every day. Thanks, JB.

Fresh From the Kiln

I unloaded a kiln today and found a few treasures in there. It is always a treat when a piece far excedes your expectations. I had one large platter that came out with spectacular colors--muted greens and pale rust with a hint of blue--and I can't for the life of me remember what glazes I put on it. This happens to me a lot. I tend to get carried away exploring new options with the glazes I customarily use and I forget to write down what glazes I used and in what sequence I applied them. I use multiple layers of slips and glazes so reconstructing what I have done can be a slow process. I glazed more pots this afternoon and will load up the kiln again tomorrow. Will there be more of these "mystery pots"? I certainly hope so.

The Magic Returns

Well, sort of. It was not so much magic as a couple of handfuls of grog and some stiff clay. Now, I'm off to soak my wrists in ice water and think about making some more bowls.

Struggle

I made a group of pitchers today and I really struggled with them. I take great pride in my pitchers and I have spent years refining the form and mastering the techniques necessary to get the weight and balance I want. For some reason the clay (I recently switched to a different body) just did not want to co-operate. It was a frustrating experience as I tried in vain to make that sorry clay do what I wanted it to do. I always like to blame the clay first, since I would hate to think that after thirty years my skills are beginning to deteriorate. Needless to say, there was some colorful language and a flying waster or two. I have encountered this problem before and it can persist for quite a while, until suddenly; the magic returns! Actually, I think it must have something to do with the humidity or perhaps a wandering mind.

New Photos

I had some new photos taken today. The photographer is Jason Dowdle of Blue Sky Films.

My Studio

I moved into this studio in 1986. It is a beautiful, tranquil space and I feel very fortunate to have it. I was able to design much of it myself and it has proved to be a wonderful space to work in. I have a nice view of the pond and enjoy watching the ducks, birds, frogs, and other wildlife that frequent there. The kiln was also built in 1986 and it is basically a Minnesota Flat-top car kiln with an arch. It has been fired countless times and is now yielding its very best pots, which means it is sorely in need of repair.

More Pots From Recent Firings

All of my work is wheel-thrown using a stoneware clay body. I use mostly ash glazes which I layer on over various slips. The designs on the plates, platters and bowls are created by carving through an applied base glaze or slip and spraying contrasting glazes on top.