Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Blue Plate Special

Here's a platter from the last firing, it's about 7 x 12 inches. This glaze is over dark brown clay which makes it turn a deeper blue color. I've textured the platter with a bisque texture tool stamped across the surface to emphasize the variations in color this rutile based glaze gets.

Here's the back side; there's a little sand on the bottom from the firing which I still have to brush off.

Here's the same rutile glaze on a smaller plate on white stoneware, about 7 x 9 inches. I made a set of four of these; they stack nicely in a cabinet. When packed for a show they stack upright in a box with cardboard between them for quick and easy packing.

Here's a pale aqua blue plate with a celadon glaze, about 7 x 9 inches. I also made a set of four of these. There's a subtle leaf pattern on one side of the plate. I've been duplicating plate and bowls so I can sell sets to increase income, my idea of a 'Blue Plate Special' if you will.

I worked at the gallery yesterday and saw noticed I sold three items this month and the month before. For October I've upped my inventory for my artist of the month display so I hope to have more sales. One drawback to gallery sales is their commission of 30 percent. I also work in the gallery two days a month. Two days may not seem like a lot of time but it does cut into my studio time. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
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14 comments:

  1. Barbara Rogers9/30/15, 8:44 AM

    Good for you, a gallery which only takes 30 percent! I love blues with rutile variations.

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  2. Linda Starr9/30/15, 10:48 AM

    Hi Barb, thanks, I think 30 percent is a lot, well I work there two days a month so that's 16 hours of time, plus travel to and from. I also love the variations that rutile provides in glazes.

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  3. turquoisemoon9/30/15, 12:28 PM

    I am in a gallery also. They get 30percent But, I only have to work one day. Even one day plus travel cuts into productivity...oh well...

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    1. Linda Starr9/30/15, 1:41 PM

      Hi Turqoisemoon, thanks, I don't mind the 30 percent so much but the travel (20 miles one way) and working as most days there are very few folks in the gallery and it's nearly impossible to work on clay there. If I didn't have to work it would be ok.

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    2. Linda Starr9/30/15, 1:48 PM

      Hi Turqoisemoon, thanks, I don't mind the 30 percent so much but the travel (20 miles one way) and working as most days there are very few folks in the gallery and it's nearly impossible to work on clay there. If I didn't have to work it would be ok.

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  4. Joanne Noragon9/30/15, 1:34 PM

    The plus side to a gallery is another avenue to sell work. The negatives to a gallery are the commission and something I found to be the golden rule over my many years: the artist must be present. Unless you have an internatinally known name, you must be present to be part of the work you are selling. That said, if you cannot be present, then hope the gallery owner puts some effort into selling your work.

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    1. Linda Starr9/30/15, 1:43 PM

      Hi Joanne, thanks, yes if I was present then I could talk about my work, we shall see what happens with artist of the month because my photo and bio will be posted and my worked grouped as a whole rather than spread among all the other work, difficult to see pottery interspersed with wood, fabric, etc. The gallery is a guild store and we all work in the store so we all in a sense own it and do our best to promote each other's work.

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    2. Linda Starr9/30/15, 1:48 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Elephant's Child9/30/15, 3:37 PM

    Good luck with being artist of the month.
    Sadly I think a thirty per cent commission is much less than many outlets charge here.

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  6. Linda Starr9/30/15, 4:25 PM

    Hi Sue, thanks, yes I know many other places take an even greater commission, sadly though folks buying at a gallery may not know how much commission is being paid and the gallery ends up making more money than the artist.

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  7. Lee9/30/15, 5:54 PM

    Two days are a big slice out of your busy schedule!

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  8. Linda Starr9/30/15, 7:28 PM

    Hi Lee, thanks, it wouldn't mind it but the gallery isn't that busy; I need to arrange for something to do there other than read but I am a solitary maker so hesitant to make pottery or paint there either.

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  9. Anna10/1/15, 5:06 AM

    Hi Linda I hope the gallery sells more for you. That commission could be worse. Our craft is not as portable as some so I hope you can arrange something to keep yourself occupied while waiting for customers.

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  10. Linda Starr10/2/15, 7:23 PM

    Hi Anna, thanks, we shall see what happens this month for the artist of the month display.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment

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