Clay Blog Review – April 2012

A recap of the best in pottery blogging… in case you missed something.

Process and Techniques

• Carter Gillies is studiously interluding.
• Carole Epp shares a video of Jaime Hayon tablewares.
• Michael Mahan takes a “break” and throws a large platter:

• Michael Kline adds braided rope texture to plates.
• Yolande Clark and family fire the kiln.
• Doug Fitch shares more videos: Th to M, Tues, Thurs, Firing and workshopping, T and W, and Friday.
• Scott Cooper reaches the end of the making cycle.
• Woodfirer makes a lot of pinched bowls and some with insects.
• Ariel Bowman shows of the new studio and some impressive animal sculptures in progress.
• Ron Philbeck (video master) catches us up on what he’s working on, makes fun pots, gets ready to bisque, mixes amber glaze, talks about glaze and gets ready for a sale.

•  Lori Watts tells of how her teapots are made, how to make dishes without centering and glazes teapots while avoiding errant drips.
• Elena shares how porcelain inlay plates are made.
• Steve and Cherie work on some landscape pots.
• Tracey Broome gets inspired.
• Gary Jackson shows mugs: before and after stamping, makes bowls, stamps bowlsand shows off more texture.
• Liberty Stoneware likes to experiment and loads the kiln.
• Lisa pulls handles off a pot.
• The Clennells explain wall bowls and make teapots in between their 10 other jobs.
• Hobby Potter attempts to throw a vinegar crock.
• Linda Starr builds ice cream dishes and shares a secret texture tip.
• Keith is still working on the Clay 360 project: day 11, day 12.
• Marian Williams shares a teapot video tutorial by Judy Pierce:

• Jemerick Art works in the studio.
• Patricia Bridges just unloaded a bisque load.
• Ang Walford is mid cycle and spends time in the studio.
• Wild Iris works on replacing a handle.
• Luke Langholz works on bowls and vases.
• Christine is glazing.
• John Brittglazes a plate in front of the camera and “pops” a glaze:

Tips and Technical

• Lori Watts tries to tell what the whiting does.
• Linda Starr compares glazes on two different clay bodies and has a tip for using biscuit cutters.
• Meagan Chaney shares a ^04 Bleeding Cake recipe.
• Tony Clennell uses crazy glue to seal cuts.
• Terry Robinson shares a whole pile of links to ^6 ox. glaze tests/pics/recipes.
• Carole Epp shares a link to the science page at Matt and Dave’s clays.
• Michael Mahan explains directional pots from fuming in an electric kiln and describes a mysterious blue clay that he uses as a glaze.
• Mea Rhee shares tool tips to relieve hand pain.
• Yolande Clark shares kiln plans.
• Heidi shares two tips for trimming plates:

Finished Work

• Gary Jackson tries new glaze colors.
• Lori Watts shares notes on firing with her new work.
• Amy Woo has mostly animal-themed work.
• Round Rabbit shows off her porcelain jewelry and some more and more!
• Linda Starr has lots of new work and prayer bowls and beautiful black pieces and colors.
• Paul Jessop has work in progress and finished work and some large cooking dishes.
• Art by Fuzzy has finished some stamped logo mugs and other items.
• Ang Walford is inspired by small lines and gestures and shows her pop series.
• Sue Pariseau shows work from the March firing.
• Lisa does custom work for a church.
• Kim Murton is stocking up.
• Terry Parker has a new favorite glaze.
• Ellison Bay Pottery has some impressive glaze fire results.
• DirtKicker Potttery shows some nesting bowls.
• Scott Cooper is happy-sad about his results. I’m mostly happy about looking at them. Also, pots for sale.
• Rob at Simple Circle has a lot of freakin’ stuff.
• Tracey Broome shows some recent work.
• Wallyware has four new mugs.
• Pigeon Road Pottery is headed for facebook.
• Kyle Houser salutes wood.
• Aaron Sober has finely decorated pots.
• Blaine M. Avery shows a variety of work.
• Molly Hatch displays plate paintings.
• Liberty Stoneware offers just a peek.
• Barbara Rogers has some pit fired pots.
• Ron Philbeck has some animal jars and a video of work for the spring sale:

• Yolande Clark shows some images from unpacking the kiln.

Thoughts

• Carter Gillies
• The Art Message
• For all the introverts: part 1, part 2
• Selling yourself as an artist
• Jargon, expression and communication
• Graciela Testa Lynt recalls a lecture on creativity by John Cleese.
• Yolande Clark shares some thoughts on the digital age.
• Dirty Girl Pottery shares some thoughts after watching a video of Andy Goldsworthy.

The Rest

• Lori Watts shares a talk by Jonah Lehrer on how creativity works:

• Brandon Phillips is building a studio.
• Woodfirer has images from day one of the Archie Bray residency.
• FetishGhost finds something worthwhile on Facebook – building an anagama.
• Emily Dyer describes some non-clay directions that she is going.
• Hodaka has a few images of the studio.
• Heather Knight shares images of the studio and rants about dealing with people.
• Whitney Smith has a related post about ship dates and retail.
• Mug Revolution gets to meet Kathleen Edwards.
• Jen Mecca shares a timeline of the dialogue in her head before a show.
• Diving into the Clay shares some links to clay-related pinterest boards.
• John Britt shares an American potters history project.
• Mea Rhee finds a Facebook page for “local” potters and has some great ideas for the booth.
• Marian Williams shows some lettering tools and says wow and shares a supreme wheel table design.
• Clementina finds a ceramic dish sold for $26.7 MILLION?!
• Michael Kline promotes a writer for hire.
• Glynnis Lessing shares pottery adventures in Nepal.
• Lori Buff: fan of John Denver. John Denver: fan of potter’s wheels? Lori is also saddened by potential customers not becoming buyers of local handmade goods.
• Neil Estrick engineers a new kiln lid.
• The Pottery Making Blog has a list of NCECA links.
• The Potter’s Archive shares Ron Meyer’s film project.
• Lori Watts tells how “useless” artists really are.
• Ivan Wozniak talks about the elusive red pottery glaze.
• Gary Jackson wishes you a happy earth day:

So there you have it. The best blog entries/posts/updates by potters in the past month. Sorry to keep you waiting a few extra days but Spring is a busy time. Here’s to another month of making pots and blogging about them!