Art A'Faire This Saturday

This Saturday I'll be showing my ceramics at Art A'Faire from 10:30 am to 6 p.m. Art A'Faire is sponsored by Visalia United Methodist Church. Co-sponsors for the event this year include the First Presbyterian and the Savior's Community churches.

This is the third year for the event which will be held at the courtyard and on the grounds of the Visalia United Methodist Church at 5200 W. Caldwell Avenue in Visalia. Not only will art be displayed, but artist's will also be providing demonstrations of their medium. There will be a covered interactive art center for all ages where demonstrations and hands-on teaching will occur. Live performances on stage will be given with audience participation and there will also be an indoor invitational gallery exhibit. Rain or shine, this should be fun filled day for the whole family. Hope to see you there.

Textured Vases & Fuji Apples

All of these apples came from one Fuji apple tree I planted almost four years ago. The tree was really loaded down. I was remiss in thinning them so they are a bit small but are really tasty. I don't use any herbicides or pesticides on any of my fruits or vegetables. I only had three or four apples with worm holes, the rest are fine.

The deer have stripped every leaf off all the lower limbs of the other fruit trees, but didn't discover this tree. I tasted one of the apples and it seemed ripe, but the deer are probably smarter than I am. The apples probably could go a bit longer. Last year I let them go longer and the deer ate every apple but one. Not this year; I left the wormy ones out there for them, but deer don't seem to eat anything from the ground only from about two feet off the ground up to five feet.


Here are four hand built textured vases I made yesterday. The largest is 15 inches tall and the smallest is 11.5 inches tall. All are 5 inches in diameter. I used a section of PVC pipe to shape the clay around. Before I form the clay around the PVC pipe, I spray it with WD-40 which allows the form to slip nicely off the pipe after it hardens up a bit. Then I attach the bottom and do some clean up. My texture tools are a plastic bath mat, a plastic place mat, and a fondant roller.

All I have...

My horseshoe handle oblong bowl came out OK, so I brought it home. The glaze should be more of a light beige with carbon trapping instead of yellow brown, but I really like the form and the handles. This is a carbon trap shino glaze.

The rest of the pieces in the kiln were a big disappointment and not just my pieces either. Many pieces with matt white over black gloss looked like bubbly cottage cheese. Purple surprise was a surprise all right, orange shino was blond, even my rutile blue was just a blah tan. I didn't bring them home; I'll be re glazing. In our studio we don't have control over the the kiln firing. Cone 9 didn't even bend down, so the glazes weren't mature at all. Most re glazes I've done are only 30 percent successful, so we shall see.

On a more positive note, I completed four hand built textured vases and I'll take some photos tomorrow. I helped finish loading the rest of the bisque load and it will be fired this week.

Common Buckeye Butterfly

Here's the Common Buckeye butterfly, Junonia coenia, on lantana in my garden. He doesn't look too common to me, but that's his common name. Anyway, I am off to the college studio for my independent study class to finish loading a bisque. I am also anxiously to unload a glaze load today. The pieces I have in the kiln were made before summer and left at the college. The classroom was painted and all the green ware was put outside and sat in the weather all summer long. I dusted a ton of dirt off of them and put them in the bisque load. They made it through but had some iron stains on them. Could the iron have come from all the dirt in the air? Now I'll see how they do through the glaze load. I tried out several new glazes on some trays and bread basket bowls - hopefully they all turned out and I'll have some photos to post later this week.

Sandra Black Workshop

Porcelain Vessel by Sandra Black

Light as a feather, delicate yet strong, translucent, and fine as lace describes the vessels Sandra Black has become well known for in Australia and many other countries. Sandra has spent a lifetime working in clay and has developed a unique style with her beautifully formed and carved vessels.

Porcelain Vessel by Sandra Black

Ventura County Potter's Guild hosted a two day Sandra Black workshop this past weekend, which I had the pleasure of attending. Sandra Black, from Fremantle, Australia, is known for her intricately pierced and carved porcelain vessels. Sandra said she enjoys working with porcelain clay, a fickle but seductive mistress. In recent years Sandra has begun using Southern Ice porcelain developed by Les Blakebrough in Australia.

Sandra Black Pouring Plaster Mold

The first day of the workshop Sandra demonstrated how she makes plaster molds to slip cast one piece drop out vessels for carving. Sandra uses a combination of plaster and paper plaster to form the molds. Sandra learned paper plaster mold making from Grace Nickel, a ceramic artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Sandra attributes the invention of the paper plaster mold making to Trudy Ellen Golley, Head of Ceramics at Red Deer College in Alberta, Canada. Paper plaster strengthens and reduces the weight of the mold allowing larger slip cast forms to be built and emptied with ease.

Porcelain Vessel by Sandra Black

Sandra showed us her techniques of slip casting, carving, and piercing porcelain vessels the second day of the workshop. Sandra uses several different tools to carve her highly decorative vessels such as a surgical knife, dremel tool, dental drills and many more.

Sandra Black Throwing Vase Form

Although I can't see myself spending hours piercing and carving vessels as Sandra does, I already have several ideas to utilize and adapt many of the techniques I learned at Sandra's informative workshop.

Porcelain Vessels by Sandra Black
(bracelet to show perspective)

Ojai Studio Artists Tour

The Ojai Studio Artists Tour 2008 is October 11 and 12. I am hoping to get away to attend. Ceramic artists include Richard Flores, Richard Franklin, Otto Heino, Edward Morgan, Leslie Thomspon, and Bruce Tomkinson as well as many other artists working in various media including glass, jewelry, oil, pastel, printmaking, sculpture, and wood.

Yarn Bowls

Some time ago I was contacted by someone who asked me if I could make a ceramic yarn bowl. My interest was definitely peaked. I wondered just what a yarn bowl could be and how it would be used. I love a good ceramic challenge.


I knew knitters pull yarn from a skein while they are knitting. I did crochet years ago and skeins of yarn for crochet are used in the same manner. I also knew firsthand about the frustration of the skein rolling away and having to retrieve it from the floor as it drops, or from across the room as it rolls away. A yarn bowl is a small bowl used to contain the skein of yarn to keep it from rolling around and getting tangled. The bowl is constructed with a hole or slit to allow the yarn to be pulled easily from the skein while the knitting or crocheting progresses.

Since there are many different sizes of skeins, I reasoned there should be many different sizes of yarn bowls. I also figured a delicate yarn bowl wouldn't do the trick, the bowl would have to have some weight to it. Otherwise the bowl would tip over while the yarn was being pulled from the bowl. Here are a couple of yarn bowls, one with a slit for the yarn to be pulled from, and the other with a hole the yarn would be threaded through. In the next week or so, I will have these and other yarn bowls tested to see how they work and will perfect my designs if necessary.

Experimenting with Underglazes

I live in a fairly remote and rural area and the closest community college I attend has few resources or encouragement for other than basic ceramics exploration. Since I am curious about all the possibilities of ceramics, I have set upon a self-directed course delving full speed ahead into ceramic tangents as I discover them. Reading about various clays, slips, glazes, and under glazes has been peaking my interest into more and more discovery.


Recently I made some bowls, plates and casseroles with a dark bodied clay. I wanted to glaze this dark clay without covering it completely. I wondered if there was a way to put a small contrasting decoration on the ware but still be able to see the quality of the dark clay body beneath. I decided to experiment with some under glazes.


I had read about under glazes and have seen work I thought was decorated with under glazes and wondered how that type of technique might enhance my ceramic pieces. I purchased a couple of bottles of ceramic under glaze and painted the under glaze on my green ware. Now that I have used some under glaze I see I can use a finer paint brush and perhaps enhance and improve some of the decorations, like the fish, with some alternating colors. I will see how this first experiment turns out and then I will refine my under glaze work in the next experiment.


The green ware will be bisque fired this week. If the under glaze color doesn't burn out I will glaze the dark clay with a clear glaze and the white porcelain with a light blue celadon glaze in hopes the darker under glaze will show through. I am hopeful this first experiment shows some promising results. If my experiments turn out as I expect them, I can see under glazes will bring a whole new dimension to the many glazing ideas I have for my ceramic pieces.

Lucky Library Additions

This weekend we were browsing Main Street in Ventura and came across a used book store. Of course I asked about ceramics books. As luck would have it, someone had come by the day before with four ceramics books which I have now added to my ceramic library. As many of you know, several of these books are classics in the ceramic world. I can't wait to begin reading.

Why ?

As I was driving to Ventura on my way to a ceramic workshop this past Friday, I found myself doing a lot of thinking and asking why to a lot of questions. Why am I drawn to clay. Why am I making ceramics? Why does it seem as though (to some) I am not interested in anything else besides clay? Why do I write this blog and read other clay blogs?

Why am I drawn to clay? There is something so soothing to the soul in working with clay. I see the economy in turmoil and I feel a tension around me. When everything doesn't feel quite right, clay seems right. Working in clay, talking about clay and sharing it with others feels right. Not just the physical part of working with clay, but the mental part too. Solving the problems of making various ceramic pieces, researching clay, slips, and glazes, and sharing with others feels right.

Why am I making ceramics? Many of the products in our society are disposable and machine or mass produced. I see functional ceramics as a more permanent form of a thoughtful and artistic, hand made utensil. I worry about the plastics much of our food comes in, is cooked in, is eaten from. Ceramics seems to be an answer to some of those worries. A safer mode to store, eat, and cook our food in. I also see ceramics as an affordable form of art. A way art and a handmade utensil can be brought into our everyday lives.

Why does it seem as though I am not interested in anything else besides clay right now? When I ask this question, I find I am thinking of and have an interest in many other things, but those thoughts and interests are reflected in my ceramics. I see beauty in the world around me. I want to see more beauty in the form of improvements to, and respect for, nature and the earth we live in. I want to see more beauty in the form of appreciation of and improvements to the human struggles of today. I have a desire to make beautiful and functional ceramics and strive to reflect the beauty I see around me in my ceramics. I hope my ceramics will perhaps touch the lives of others, which will in turn make others see beauty and want to create and support beauty in their lives.

Why do I write this blog and read other blogs, especially ceramics blogs? My ceramics blog helps me organize my thoughts about life, art, and working with clay, and documents my ceramics progression. My blog helps me connect with other artists and in particular to share and learn from other ceramic artists. Writing and reading blogs helps me connect with many people around the world I might never have had the opportunity to share and talk with. Ceramics and blogs are a wonderful way to share a sense of community about art, but also a way to share with the whole world as a community. I find ceramics and blogs exhilarating and beneficial in so many ways.

So I say, why not.

Stay Tuned

Future posts include:

Yarn Bowls
Underglazes
Free Form Bowls
Sandra Black Workshop

Meanwhile the dahlias are putting on another burst of color. Have a good weekend.

Throwing Pots in a Zen Garden

I threw pots in a private Zen Garden today and what a great time I had. I went over to Tom's, my "ceramic coach's" house. Tom offered to help me improve my throwing techniques. Little did I know I would be transformed into another world of clay. Sometimes just the right atmosphere brings out the best the world of clay has to offer. After my hour's drive, the almond flavored water Tom served was very refreshing indeed.

We immediately went out back to wedge a few balls of Coleman porcelain. What a tranquil location in the middle of suburbia to throw pots. Tom's back yard isn't large, but what a peaceful place to be. I was greeted by Koi fish swimming in a half wine barrel with lily pads floating on tranquil water. I took a moment to observe the fish in their enclosure, darting over and under the water plants. I found myself reflecting on days when I was younger and lived in the city and had so much more free time. Now I live on a relatively large piece of land, but I have so much to maintain and much less time to enjoy some of the things I like most. Less is definitely more.


Tom demonstrated how he throws a pot, centering, opening and bringing it up. Then widening the pot and smoothing the sides. To most this may seem simple, but being mostly a hand builder, I found it fascinating to see another throwing pots so effortlessly.


I threw a few pots, but was learning a new method, so most of my pots got away from me. Normally I would have been totally frustrated, but I decided to let the clay be my teacher and take me where it would. Later Tom's wife, Delia, came home and she threw a few pots too. Another effortless potter. I took advantage of the minted lemonade Delia had prepared, what a treat.


Here's a few pots drying in the Zen Garden.

Hi Spike, I'm Binky

Check out Gary Rith's, Potter's Blog to see his cat Spike, I think my cat, Binky, is Spike's cousin !

Good Morning

Someone left some fresh eggs at my door step - they're beautiful.

I'm headed to the college studio early to do some glazing. I love working in the studio when I have it all to myself. Just need to print out my glaze log sheet to take with me. Here are my column headings: Date, Piece Description, Clay Body, Glaze, Number of Coats/Application Method, Firing Method & Temp. What do you keep track of on your glaze logs?

Lounging After Dinner

Everyone took to lounging about after dinner, Delia, Tom and Gary (left to right). Betty's under the coffee table.

Tom just got back from Botswana and was showing us some photos he took of beautifully woven handmade baskets. These types of baskets are so tightly woven they can hold water. Here's a description of the process Thitanya Kushonya uses to make her Botswana baskets.

Binky and Butter retired to the bedroom for some grooming.

What's For Dinner ?

Some new friends, Tom and Delia, are coming over dinner this evening. They both make pottery too. I met them at Art in the Park in Visalia. I'm getting everything ready in advance so we'll have plenty of time to visit.



Stuffed Mushrooms & Cheese Torta



asparagus and wild & white rice



salmon
a little white
a little red


fresh raspberries over ice cream

No Problem

Today my friend, Connie, and I went to the Otto Heino solo exhibit at College of the Sequoias and also to the That Extra Dimension 2008, an Invitational Sculptural Art exhibit at the Arts Visalia Gallery. On the way to Visalia, we just narrowly missed hitting a large box in the middle of the highway. No problem.

Originally we were to go on Wednesday, but Connie wanted to change to Friday. Well, guess what? The Heino exhibit is only open Monday through Thursday. No problem. I got a few photos through the window display and will go back next week to see the rest. The first is a Lemon Yellow Belly Button Vase. Otto Heino is 94 years old and is still working in clay, which gives me a bit of encouragement since I have come to clay later in life.


The plate by Otto Heino is Lemon Yellow Glaze with Three Copper Red Dots (Fire, Water, Earth). I love the contrast between the red and the yellow glazes. Several articles about Heino say he gets up at 4 am in the morning and throws 12 pieces and then has breakfast. I'm a morning person but 4 am is too early for me.


On the way to the Arts Visalia Gallery we came around a corner and just missed hitting an orange and white kitten by inches and a car coming the other way just missed hitting the kitten too. No problem. Next we went to Arts Visalia Gallery and guess what, my camera batteries went dead and all my spare batteries were also dead, so I only got a few photos, back again next week. No problem.

As a teaser, here are a few photos I took till my camera quit working. The first is a sculpture by Carol Clum, Woman at Ease, high fired clay. Next is a piece by Mark Ahlstrand, Untitled, ceramic, leather wood. On the way to lunch, while waiting for a light to change, a bicycle rider squeezed between my car and a parked car and his handle bars hit my car. No problem.


Otto likes to give advice about life, "Never hurry, never worry, and leave something for the country you were born in. Live, laugh, learn, and be positive. Then, you'll make it" No problem.

Here's My New...

Now that I have your attention, had you going didn't I?




I've been working with Black Mountain clay and here is a sushi plate I made. Photo isn't that great, (guess I'll have to get that book Deborah Woods, of, themudpot, recommended). Also a shot of several pieces drying in the other room on the floor. Once again I made stuff on a Thursday and had to bring them home to trim them and will have to lug them back again on Monday. I guess I just can't help myself. I left a sculpture and a teapot lightly covered and drying on the shelves. I hope they'll be ok over the weekend.

That's all for now, got to run and pick up my friend, Connie, she and I are going... Come back tomorrow to see where; everybody loves a good mystery.

Dink Day

OK, I don't know if a dink day for you is the same as it is for me, but a dink day is a day I just do what I want, wandering hither, thither and yon. So that's what I did today. The weather was cool enough so I could leave my gardening chores and head out.


I decided to drive to Fresno and check out a new clay place, Clay Mix. Clay Mix, which opened in May this year, is a "mix" of a gallery, supply, store, and studio in Fresno with the most friendly and wonderful clay people. I met Ritsuko, the owner, and Jerry, an employee and they were so great to talk with. Reading this, they're probably laughing like crazy, because I did most of the talking. For me that's a good thing as they both made me feel comfortable to ask questions about glazes, clays, and equipment and to share my experiences in clay.


I just missed a Raku Workshop about new glazing and firing procedures given by Jim Romberg this past Saturday at Clay Mix. Another reason I decided to drive up to Fresno to see some of Jim Romberg's work. The first three photos you see are some his works I photographed on display at Clay Mix. His works will be on display until November 1st. Romberg's work speaks for itself. Jim Romberg has been working with Raku ceramics for over 40 years. Jim experimented with many ceramic processes in the beginning of his career, but settled with Raku because of its significant history, begun in the 15th century Japan. Romberg's Raku pieces are unlike any I have seen. There is great depth to Romberg's Raku surfaces which seem to echo the history of eons.


Another reason for driving to Clay Mix, (photo of their studio above), is my college was out of clay (not sure how they could be out of clay at the beginning of the semester, but they are). I already used up what I purchased this summer in preparation for class, and no telling when they might get more in, so it was a necessary trip. I got several different types of Cone 10 clay to try, some for throwing, some for hand building and some just to see how I like it. I got Coleman Porcelain, Bee Mix, and Black Mountain. I used Black Mountain last semester and really liked how the glazes performed with this clay. I also got some 8-11 Buff 35 prepared by IMCO and am anxious to try this, new to me, clay.

I also purchased some under glazes and some glaze chalks. I have never heard of glaze chalks before. Perhaps I have seen ceramic work with glaze chalk, but didn't realize it, so this will be one of my research projects for the week - to learn about glaze chalk. Here is some information about glaze chalks from AMACO.

If you are in the neighborhood check out Clay Mix you will be glad you did. Thanks Ritsuko and Jerry for an enjoyable and informative visit.