Back in the Studio

I love, love, love having my family home for the holidays. But now that they have returned to their busy lives in distant states, I'm back at work in my studio. I'm still experimenting with lidded vessels - and the more non-round the better.

Here are some quick snapshots of pieces that are drying and should be ready to bisque fire in a week or so.

A Set of Six

I'm not good at making a series of matching pieces mostly because I don't do it often enough to develop that skill. So when I wanted a set of six bowls I figured I had better make some extras "just in case" and I'm glad I did. I threw nine bowls and printed the design on each while they were still moist. But I lost one bowl while trimming the extra clay from the bottom. (You can see it at the bottom of the photo.)

They were all bisque fired without incident but while spraying the glaze I knocked a bowl on its side which cracked the side. So there were seven bowls left to fire in the gas kiln. But upon unloading another bowl had a mysterious crack - perhaps from mishandling on my part?- and had to be thrown in the trash.

So nine minus three is six. The second picture shows the survivors.

December 3rd Firing

With pottery, all pieces must go through the "final trial by fire". Weeks, sometimes months, of work on the wheel - throwing, trimming and altering - can be undone in the course of a few hours if the firing goes wrong.

This firing started out poorly because after keeping the gas on low over night, I discovered the next morning that one of the cone packs had popped some shards down into the pots below where they would have melted into the glaze. I stopped the firing, waited a day to open and clean out the shards and gave it another try two days later.

Here are some of the pots from that firing. I went heavy on the Antique Green glaze, a favorite of mine, because it breaks so nicely over texture. I also mixed up two new green glazes which turned out hideously. I'm going to try applying them differently during the next firing but if they are still yucky, they are going to get pitched.

I uploaded more photos from this firing to my Flickr account; a link is above.

Tacoma's Open Studio Tour

Tacoma does a wonderful job supporting artists and the Open Studio Tour during Art at Work Month is a good example. I had a nice time visiting with folks who dropped by in groups of twos and threes and the tour forced me to clean up the studio - a long overdue task. I hope to participate in this event next year.

Here are some before and after photos.

The First Holiday Bazaar of the Season

For years a group of diverse crafters have have been holding a bazaar in the old Grange outside Gig Harbor, WA. This year will have some of the items shoppers have grown to expect as well as some exciting merchandise from new vendors.

The Grange is located on Wollochet and Artondale Drives (use caution because of road construction) and will be open November 4th through 6th from 9am to 5pm. On Sunday, November 7th the hours are 11am to 4pm.

Here are some photos taken during setup earlier today.

My Time is Almost Over

My time at the Pottery Annex (913 Pacific Avenue here in Tacoma) is almost over because the three month lease I was given ends Friday, October 15th. It is one of those situations when you look around and ask, "Where did the time go?"

It has been a positive experience with a few minor exceptions. I enjoyed the bustle of street life, the pedestrians who randomly dropped by and the routine of keeping regular hours. Gracie loved being a shop dog and would supervise the sidewalk activity while graciously accepting attention from passersby.

The down side, aside from transporting of clay, tools and pots between my home studio and the shop, was parking. Every day it was an issue that had to be considered.

Spaceworks is a wonderful program and I'm lucky to have had this opportunity to "play store". The next group to use the space will be Shakespeare in the Parking Lot.

Here are some photos from the store before I start packing up on October 15th.

September 28th Firing

Here are a few pots from last Tuesday's firing. As I look over the photos, I see that my favorite glaze this time around was Antique Green. I'm quite fond of the oval box and large square casserole. The mugs with feet are cute but may be a bit small for big coffee drinkers.

I decided to glaze the urn with the problem lid (see August 26th post) with Antique Green because it breaks nicely over texture however, I'm not sure the black glaze on the feet was a good choice. I'm still thinking about that.

Use the Flickr link on the right to see more pieces from Tuesday's firing

Rain, Rain

Tacoma had train loads of rain over the weekend and some of it found its way into the shop. When I arrived Monday I discovered a puddle that covered a third of the floor area and a soaked ceiling tile that had fallen on some pots. The most surprising thing was the amount of water that was inside two of my casseroles. They must have sat for an extended time under a steady drizzle because when I lifted the lids I discovered both were filled to the brim with water, about four quarts each. Obviously, this old building was built only for gentle sprinkles and not gully washers.

Everything is back in order today except the soggy rug is home being dried out.

September Schedule for the Pottery Annex

The shop will close early at 3:30 on Thursday, September 23rd. On Monday, September 27th I will be firing the gas kiln so the shop will be closed on that day as well.

During the rest of the month it will be open as usual: Monday - Friday, 1:00 to 5:00. (On Mondays and Fridays I often linger until 6pm so if you are downtown you can still stop by then.)

The Problem Lid

On occasion I have a problem getting a lid to match a pot but this urn was particularly difficult and I'm not sure why. It might be because the shoulders of the urn are high on the body and curve without any neck into the opening . But whatever the reason I made three lids before being (only partly) satisfied. The first lid had no lift and made the urn look like it had been chopped at the forehead. The second lid had too much lift and not enough of a rim, like a bowler hat. And it didn't follow the lines of the urn. Lid number three, though the best of the lot, still is just so-so though I do like the added texture. Lugs on the side and feet cut into the foot ring add more interest. With a good glazing job, it just might turn out to be a "keeper" after all.

Discombobulation at Home

The house is in total disarray in preparation for tomorrow and Saturday's pottery sale. The dining room is filled with shelving and extra shelves are squeezed into any available space. The backyard has more shelves and tables for overflow, old stock and seconds. And this is just my work. Later today the other potters arrive with their work. It will be a full house and I predict our best sale yet.

The hours are 10-6 Friday and 10-4 Saturday.

Pottery Sale

This will be our fourth year for the Pottery Sale and we look forward to an even bigger and better sale than ever. Two new potters will be joining us with work that will add to and compliment the selection of pottery offered by returning members.

I'm busy glazing casseroles, two dozen mugs and miscellaneous other pieces for a firing this Saturday. And in my head I'm moving furniture to make way for shelving that will accommodate the pottery. And our ever popular of older stock and not-quite-perfect pieces will be on tables set up in the back.

Friday, August 20th - 10am - 6pm

Saturday, August 21 - 10am - 4pm

The Pottery Annex - Hours for August

Because I'm participating in two August shows, I will be packing up my pottery and shelves ahead of time in preparation for those weekend events. There are two days this month when the shop will not be open and one day when it will close early.

The Pottery Annex

913 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

Normal hours are Monday-Friday, 1-5PM

But the shop will be closed:

Thursday & Friday, August 19th and 20th

and

The shop closes at 3PM, Monday, August 30th

Here is some cleaning that took place today under the watchful eyes of Gracie.

The Beloved (Rattletrap) Camper Van

Love is when you can look past the faults of the beloved to see the good qualities. And that is why I'm still driving our 1984 VW camper. It has a cracked windshield, was attacked by someone with a BB gun, knobs have fallen off long ago and the heater never turns off to name a few flaws. But it runs well despite its advanced age and it can carry lots and lots of pottery and pottery related paraphernalia - more than a pickup truck I think.

Here are some things our workhorse has transported this week.

Trying Something New

I am participating in the Spaceworks program in Tacoma which pairs artists with vacant downtown spaces. The idea is to use empty storefronts to create activity in town during this economic downturn.

www.tacomaculture.org/arts/resource/Spaceworks%20Tacoma/Default.htm

For about three months I will be located at 913 Pacific Ave in a former salon/spa. It is a good location and even though I will be using only a small part of the space, there is a lot of work to do inside. I will have pots for sale and can work on my wheel though I will need to haul dried pieces back home for glazing and firing.

Here are some photos of the future Pottery Annex.