Brushes and Mugs

Yes, I did go a little mad buying mugs and brushes.  But I only bought stuff that really appealed to me.

I have always had a liking for Posey Bacopoulos's work.  This is the second mug of hers that I have bought.  I had never seen Roberta Shapiro's work.  I was so drawn to her sense of design, her use of color and line, that I had to buy this mug.

Both were purchased from the Clay Art Center in Port Chester, New York.  It has always been a special place to me because it's where I did my first long (ish) workshop with Elsbeth Woody.  A group of us went there for a one day workshop.  We then invited her to come to Kingston and jury our Earthworks show.  She was one of the best jurors we have ever had.  I am going to have to go through old photos and see if I have any pictures of the one week workshop I took the next year.  It was all about building big with little wads of clay.  She was one of the inspirations that made me return to college and finish my degree.

I can't exactly remember where I bought my brushes. The top three are from Chinese brush makers.  The two lower sets came from two different companies.  When I have time to become a bit more proficient I will post some photos of the marks I make with them.

I could look up the receipts and figure out what I bought where......maybe tomorrow!

P.S.  For more thoughts about NCECA go over to Lori Watts.  She just did a post today with lots of pictures.

We are finally enjoying many sunny days in a row.  Toes crossed that the snow will all be melted by my birthday on April 12......but I'm not really counting on it!

Enjoy the week ahead and, as always, thanks for stopping by...........*s*

Really? More Snow? Really!

HAPPY MARCH 1. 2015

More snow is coming!  Aren't we supposed to be seeing signs of spring?  The sun is moving, or rather the earth is moving, so that the early sun hits to tree tops outside my southern windows.

Daylight Savings begins next Sunday!  Just when we were getting brighter earlier dawns!   At least it will be staying light late enough for us to start doing dinner outside on the grill.

Things are getting warmer.  It was 68 in my studio yesterday, without the heat going.  We blocked a small area off well enough that I have been able to use it all winter, barring a few extra cold days.  It's much nicer than having to move stuff upstairs!

I've been making shot  glasses or cups  for an exchange we are doing at NCECA.  It's practically in my back yard so I will be there.  Is anyone else going?

Enjoy the week ahead.

As always, thanks for stopping by.........*s*

Busy Days!

This was our Earthworks week end, the clay show for New England potters.  This year's juror was Hayne Bayless.  And what an enjoyable time he gave us.

Our jurying process is unique in that is open to any potter who wish to observe.  The expectation is that there will be a short critique of each work presented and why it's accepted or rejected.  Often there is more articulation about why a piece doesn't work than why it does.

Hayne's comments were thoughtful and helpful, often suggesting ideas for making a piece work better.  At the same time he emphasized that he is one person with his own opinions and others may have different equally valid points.

(No, I did not enter anything this year; time got away from me.)

I did buy this mug which called my name.  The glaze is downright seductive to the touch.

Mug by Hayne Bayless

On Sunday Hayne presented a workshop filled with goodies of information.  He showed us how he uses stencils, extruders, and various tools he has made to make his hand built work.

Hayne Bayless teapot

I found it most interesting that he doesn't use forms to make his work.  Instead he lets his slabs dry to a point where they become self supporting.  He only uses a form for support when he is doing the joining seams.

Hayne Bayless slab bowl

All in all it was a fun and informative time.  Thank you, Hayne!

IT'S OFFICIAL!

NCECA will be in Providence in 2015.  Now I wish I had a great big house so I could invite everyone to come.  Alas, the house just squeezes in Proge and me.  But there are lots of B&Bs around here and it's still pre-season so there should be some less expensive places available.  This is pretty exciting for all the potters in our little state.

AND......I have been asked by my old pottery co-op to do a one day work shop on Majolica Decoration .......exciting and a little scary  as I haven't done any workshops in years.

Now I have to spend a few days getting my studio organized.  I hope it warms up a bit....spring is slow this year.  I think Mr. Groundhog is playing with us.

Enjoy your day.  As always, thanks for stopping by.........*s*