Beachy Favs..

Gotta love the colors!

My Tent and Display

I've had artists/potters asking to see how I set-up my wares, so here are a few pictures.  I must add that I'm probably a minimalist when it comes to displaying the pottery.  I don't have fancy colors or bright signs that say "Hey.. I have pottery here!!"  I opt for having a clean cut display that allows each piece of pottery to stand on its own and say "Here I am!  Look at me!"  Why?  Because the pottery should call to the customer, first visually and then give the customer an urge to reach out and touch.  All the signage and fancy displays tend to get in the way of the pottery on the shelve.  Don't get me wrong though, I have visited a few artists that have done a great job of display.. It's just not for me.

New Glaze- Its Beachy!

This is a combination of three different glazes.  Took another chemistry  course and have found a sweet spot with these glazes

Bisqueware Everywhere!

Getting ready for season!   Love to throw the pots.. Not a fan of glazing, but love the colors when the pots come out!
 

First Little Show - Preseason!

  Finally, getting ready for a little show in Punta Gorda Fl.  Its probably going to be a sit and talk to your artist neighbor though.  But it helped me get all the totes and shelves out and cleaned up and ready for this season.  Everything was a bit of a mess since I just tossed them in a corner after last year's end of season. 
  My coaster display!  I really enjoy making the coasters.  Each one is painted individually and reminds me a bit of painting on canvas.  I really do miss the oil painting.  ::sigh::

Torolaide Bottles

  Well today I finally had some glaze work.  Have been testing clay because of how a porcelain has been behaving and behaving badly at that.  Seems that the producer has changed the product and now I'm having a back lash over it.  But that said changed clay suppliers and now the tests are coming out just fine!  Such a relief because season is almost here.

Remember those cute round bottles I made?  Finally able to get them in a glaze load and the picture doesn't do them justice.  The bottles are very pretty, they also look great on a shelve!


   

The New Toy

I tried the Griffin Grip out at the Visual Arts Center of Punta Gorda and found that I did like it.  At least it worked well for a large form that was harder to tap center.  I ordered one and received it today.  Of course I had 40 medium size bowls ready to be trimmed.  After the 40 bowls I'm not sure its any faster or easier than my tap centering and trimming without it.  Though the pots were easier to pick up to evaluated if needed.  One thing for sure, it was very messy!  I built a shroud for it to help contain all the flying trim.

Olive Oil/Soy Sauce Doughnut Pitcher

I had a lump of clay left over from doing the dip platters and decided to do something a bit off the wall and a challenge.
Throwing the doughnut was surprisingly easy.   The hard part was throwing the bits and pieces for construction.  Also construction was not all that fun either.  I don't think I will be doing any more of these unless I do them a lot bigger!

Dipping Bowl Plates

Sooo...  Its been an experimentation day!

Finally decided to make a few.. Ok.. 20 of these little dipping plates.  The plates are going to end up being 7 1/2" wide.  So these will be more like personal plates and/or for small appetizers.
Definitely saving a couple back for my kitchen!

A day.. or so, in the Life of a Production Potter!

Getting ready for season... a day in the life of a production potter.  Well a day and a short morning of throwing them.  I was a bit tired and didn't finish up all the bowls yesterday afternoon so spent an hour this morning and threw the last 7 balls of clay.  Still need to have them dry a bit before trimming. 

40 bowls..   (20 of which are destined to be berry bowls.)  Figure I need about 40 more to start with.
175 coasters..  Ugh.. One of the most boring of pots to throw! I'll need about 300 more so its going to be split up in two or three sessions.

Now it did take an afternoon to measure out and weigh the clay.. So I guess it is almost a two day effort.
Next on the list is fish and trays.  Have to dig out the slab roller...  Figure about 40 fish and 300 trays to do.  Like the bowls and coasters I'll be splitting up the routine.

Bird Feeder in the Works

Finally getting into making some of the bigger projects.   Doing mugs and cups can get pretty boring so its nice to be able to change things up a bit,
      The bird feeders I make are all different in style, glaze, and size.  This one is a bit large but the customer wanted it like this.  Works for me!

Sea Moon Glaze

  Finally getting a better result with this glaze on bigger pieces.   Hope to have it fit better on mugs as well.  Just so hard to get a nice flow over the handles with this one.

End Of Season!

   Finally, end of season!  Want to thank all those who have supported my potter.  I'm humbled and honored that you have chosen to have my pottery in your homes or give as gifts.  Thank you.

Some of what is in the works for next season...
Photo is of my new glaze and pattern glaze.  I've fallen in love with the glaze pictured on the vase and plan to make a series. 

Painting again!

Six months after carpel tunnel surgery I have now been able to hold onto a paint brush!  Here is a start to a painting I have been working on.  Had to quit on it for a few months as the painting was causing my hands to swell a bit. 

Captiva Farmers Market

    Its getting close to the end of season!  Two more shows and I can start playing in the clay.  There are soooo many ideas that have been running around in my head lately that I have been putting them to paper so I don't forget.  So look for some really different pottery and sculpture.
 
This photo is from Captiva Island Fl.  I've been doing the artisan market for a few months and have really enjoyed being there.  Here are a few photos of some of the pottery I have been offering.


 

Beachy Glazes

  It has been awhile since I have posted, though in my defense it has been a strange year.   The carpal tunnel issues have been resolved and I finally have some relief from symptoms.  Painting and pottery creation have been pretty much at a standstill.  Thank goodness I had enough bisque to start and finish season!   I've begun throwing pots again and playing with glaze combos.
  Pictured below is an example of some of the new "Beachy" glazes I'm developing.  Picture doesn't really do them justice.  I think I'll have to get out the camera for pictures.  Cell phones.. No matter how good the cameras have gotten just don't capture the colors.