Clay Blog Review: April 2016

Welcome to the Clay Blog Review! Find some of the highlights from pottery blogs around the world. Another great month with some great blogging!

If you haven’t checked out the Pottery Making Newsletter, it might be something you enjoy. I skipped last month due to personal commitments but you should receive a new message soon. There may even be some exclusive content!

The Can’t Miss

What were the “must read” pottery blog posts during the past month?

• NCECA Blog: Saggar Firing in Metal Containers
• The Cloud Pottery: Make a thing a day
• April Noble Studio – Notes from the Journey: Triaxial Blend
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: BCS Video: How To Throw Advanced Shapes – Bottles
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Stamped & Squished
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: Waxing Your Pots For Glazing
• Matt’s Ceramic Action: Thesis Exhibition: Pyrosynthesis Writing

Check it out: I got to talk to Paul Blais on the Potters Cast! We talked about a number of subjects including this very blog and website! Thanks Paul! Find the episode here:  Art by Fuzzy | Brandon Schwartz | Episode 208

Process and Technique

What do pots look like during the process and how are they made?

• Blue Starr Gallery: Working
• Barnbarroch Pottery: Wolf in Sheep’s clothing
• meesh’s pottery: Load ‘er Up!
• Ellison Bay Pottery Studios – Pottery and Other Related Thoughts: Pottery Studio Lessons: “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” Scott Adams
• Little Brick House Clayworks: Little fluffy clouds making
• Scott K Roberts Pottery: Trimming, Chattering and Hakame
• Scott K Roberts Pottery: Decorating
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Wall Pocket Vases : Put Some Flowers On Your Wall
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: The “Magic” of My Giffin Grip
• Andrew Ludick Ceramics: Making Fern Vases
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Capped : One Step Closer
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Thanks. Back to Work. Upcoming Shows.
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Colored Slip Accents
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Bisque Kiln : Layer-By-Layer
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: in·ci·den·tal
• Blue Starr Gallery: Ferns in my Fridge
• pots and pieces: Springtime Kiln Loading
• meesh’s pottery: Throwing Bowls
• Clay Club: Recap: April Clay Club at Odyssey ClayWorks
• Pots and Paint: Modern Stoneware Beakers: Monty’s Vintage Shop Blog Feature
• Rachel Dorn Ceramic Sculpture: First Firing of 2016
• ang design blog: #100mugs + studio seppeltsfield
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: in·ci·den·tal
• Scott K Roberts Pottery: Working Towards Firing The Wood Burner.
• Barnbarroch Pottery: Island of the Long Beards
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Video. Wax Resist

• Tony Clennell: Mountain Money
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: NSC Art Fest Workshop at Vernon Hills High School
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Bowls On Purpose : Not So Basic
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Class Bowl Demo : Part Two
• PATRICIA GRIFFIN CERAMICS – BLOG: April’s workshop whirlwind
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Another Mugshot Monday
• pots and pieces: Firing Kay, Mark Hewitt Pottery, Spring 2016
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: Going BIG – How To Combine Thrown And Slab Pieces
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Berry Bowls & Plates

Tips and Technical

How can I become a more efficient or knowledgeable potter?

• Bloomer Pottery Blog: Cone 1-3 Terracotta Soda Fire Tests
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: Using High Temp Wire To Fix Broken Bisque
• Fine Mess Pottery: The Tidbits
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: A Fun Pattern Technique : Meredith Host
• Bloomer Pottery Blog: Kaolin Tests
• Courtney Martin Pottery: One of the many things on my list to do- finish making
• Alchemy of Clay: the black bowl glaze tests
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: Loading Your Kiln For a Bisque Fire
• April Noble Studio – Notes from the Journey: On Kilns
• Carol Clarkson Pottery Blog: Making Mugs, trimming and attaching handles
• John Britt Pottery: Campana Clear /Grey tests with variations in kaolin
• Carol Clarkson Pottery Blog: Ceramic Decals
• DirtKicker PoTTerY: Firing an Empty Kiln vs. Firing a Full Kiln / Kiln Tune-UP

Recent Work

Where can I see inspiring pottery?

• lisa w.b. walker, ceramic artist: First Sale of the Season
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: BCS Customers Show Us Their Work – Group 1
• Rough Ideas: marching forward
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: The Monthly Holiday Ornament Challenge : March
• Gary’s third pottery blog: where this all might be going….
• Alchemy of Clay: Catawba Pottery Show (Chapter 3)
• Alchemy of Clay: Catawba Pottery Show (Chapter 4)
• musing about mud: emerging artist: Sarah Magar
• Joel Cherrico Pottery: New Pottery Available April 11th at Noon
• Contemporary Ceramics: Spring Rotation 2016
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Say It With Flowers
• musing about mud: monday morning eye candy: Kari Radasch ~ Guest Post by Ceramic Artists Now
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: BCS Customers Show Us Their Work – Group 2
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | Antonio Aricò: Australian Shells were Inspired by Swimming at the Beach
• Alchemy of Clay: Dan Finnegan Pottery and ancestors
• Clay and Ginger: Phew! First ever cat tray/ platter and it didn’t break!…
• Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis: My latest work
• Pinchpots: Leaving Star
• Ceramic Artists Now: Bringing the House and Home into Your Pots with Naomi Cleary
• Shaun Hall’s Raku Ceramics Blogspot: Work going to private collections
• Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis: Mina, Philippe & Jan
• Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis: Jan’s plates
• Gary’s third pottery blog: like a sous chef…
• HaldeBlog: Big shop update this week!
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Art | Works of Contemporary Ceramic Art by Rafa Pérez at Oxford Ceramics

• Alchemy of Clay: More pottery
• Gary’s third pottery blog: many mugs….
• Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis: Reunited with an old friend!
• John Bauman: The North Side of a Rolling Stone
• musing about mud: emerging artist: Lindsey Wherrett
• Whynot Pottery Blog: Ms. B is back in action
• Gary’s third pottery blog: more more more ROSES….
• musing about mud: monday morning eye candy: Joyce St. Clair ~ Guest Post by Ceramic Artists Now
• meesh’s pottery: The Results Are In!
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: BCS Customers Show Us Their Work – Group 3
• Alchemy of Clay: Cheese trays glazed
• Gary’s third pottery blog: a boatload of bowls….
• Shaun Hall’s Raku Ceramics Blogspot: New work off to Old Chapel Gallery…
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: Just unloaded the kiln live on Facebook. Great firing! #saltkiln #saltfired #teapot #828isgreat #ncpottery #ncclay #winecup #stcroixpotterytour #studiopotter #studiopottery #pottery #ceramics #daisy
• Earth Work: There are no short cuts in ceramics
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibition | Upcoming Andile Dyalvane Exhibition, “Camagu” at Friedman Benda, New York
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: Yunomi headed to AKAR Design Gallery for the Yunomi Invitational. #akaryunomiinvitational #yunomi #saltfired
• Ceramic Artists Now: Secret Subtleties in Precise Pots by Melissa Mencini
• The Rabbit Muse: Shop update TOMORROW, Friday April 15th!
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | Czech Cubism and an AI’s Dream of a Flower Rendered in Porcelain
• Kim Murton: more cups before and after glaze fire
• musing about mud: emerging artist: Kelly Justice
• Whynot Pottery Blog: It is not always about what you can see
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Top 10 Reasons To Plant ClayByLaura In Your Yard!
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: BCS Customers Show Us Their Work – Group 4
• Lucia Pottery: 12th Annual Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail
• meesh’s pottery: SOLD!
• Alchemy of Clay: Other shapes for cheese plates
• Alchemy of Clay: More cherry tree mugs
• Gary’s third pottery blog: things I like
• At the water’s edge! Beachfront Pottery blog: Ceramic art pieces in the “Michi” traveling exhibit, Part 2
• musing about mud: emerging artist: JoAnne Searle
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Pots from the April Soda Kiln Firing

• Gaea Ceramic Bead and Art Studio Blog: New Designs…
• Tony Clennell: Shit Happens!
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Life and Passion
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: BCS Customers Show Us Their Work – Group 5
• Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis: Latest plates
• riverwife: new work
• Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis: New Jugbirds.
• Alchemy of Clay: Geranium cups
• Rae Dunn … clay » clay.: b l o o m .
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibition | The Aesthetics of Mended Ceramics, ” RE-Reanimate…” at Ferrin Contemporary
• Gary’s third pottery blog: roses everywhere….
• lisa w.b. walker, ceramic artist: Spring Open Studios
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibition | Peter Pincus in “CeramATTACK” at Duane Reed, St. Louis
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Decalled Pots for Thrown Together Pottery Sale
• Tony Clennell: You’re Damn Right I Got the Blues
• Gary’s third pottery blog: making and selling pots 24/7….
• At the water’s edge! Beachfront Pottery blog: Ceramic art pieces in the “Michi” traveling exhibit, Part 3
• musing about mud: emerging artist: Chris Casey

Thoughts

What can I ponder while making pottery and ceramic art?

• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: A Short And Fanciful History Of Value
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Is the difference between beginners and experts simply a difference in quality?
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Simon Levin to critique Andrew Linderman’s mug on Monday
• John Bauman: Words
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Score one for the teacher
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Don’t hate me because I’m pretty
• Blog – objective clay: Punk and Pots
• Blog – objective clay: A Question of Diversity

Interviews and Podcasts

What do potters have to say?

• Blog – objective clay: Side by Side with Tony Clennell and Ben Carter
• The Potters Cast: The Social Media Boost | Brooke Millicchia | Episode 202
• The Potters Cast: A Student’s Search for Direction | Hedy Yang | Episode 203
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 138: Kari Radasch on the color of emotion
• Blog – Clay By Laura: 5 Questions For The Artist
• The Potters Cast: “It was an Accident” | William Baker | Episode 204
• The Potters Cast: The Hashtag Filing System | Didem Mert | Episode 205
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 139: In Tribute: Joel Magen on California Studio Pottery
• The Potters Cast: Doing Sales a Little Different | Marianne Tolosa | Episode 206
• Bella Joy Pottery by Heidi Fahrenbacher: Interview on Create and Thrive
• The Potters Cast: Business Philosophy for Potters | Will McCanless | Episode 207
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 140: Allen, Schwarzkopf, and Godfrey talk about the emergence of the “online pot”
• The Potters Cast: Art by Fuzzy | Brandon Schwartz | Episode 208
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 141: Holly Hanessian talks with Michael Eden about ceramics in the age of digital manufacturing
• The Potters Cast: “There’s Always a Market” | Sikiu Perez | Episode 209

Opportunities

What’s out there for potters?

• musing about mud: book your spot now ~ CLAYSISTAS X4 Workshop
• Clay Club: Summer Workshops At Odyssey ClayWorks
• Clay Club: Don’t Miss it! Craft Summit at Haywood!
• musing about mud: Online Courses with Matt Katz (a better way to spend your summer!)
• musing about mud: call for artists: DO GOOD-MJ WOOD MEMORIAL SHORT-TERM RESIDENCY
• musing about mud: Throwing, Spraying and ^6 Electric Firing Workshop with Steven Hill
• musing about mud: AGB Artist Residency in Ceramics Call for Applications
• NCECA Blog: FUTURE FLUX PROGRAM PROPOSALS DUE MAY 4TH

The Rest

What else do potters blog about?

• Tony Clennell: I’m getting married!
• Fine Mess Pottery: EZ Livin’
• musing about mud: Robin Hopper’s Swan Song
• John Bauman: A Just Cause
• Blog – Art by Fuzzy: I am a Potter of Periscope
• Dawn Whitehand: Visual Artist: Sunday Studio Visit – Lorne Sculpture Biennale
• Alchemy of Clay: Marshall NC Pottery Show
• HaldeBlog: March Meet the Maker (days 21-31)
• Carol Clarkson Pottery Blog: Pottery Poem
• Clay Club: Artists and arts organizations respond to House Bill 2
• Alchemy of Clay: Spring brings inspiration
• Alchemy of Clay: My work plus other interesting info
• making | jackie sedlock pottery: April progress report on mason hill clay studio
• HAND EYE FOOT BRAIN: THE BUSINESS OF ART
• Ceramic Artists Now: A Quote From Artist Shawn Spangler
• John Bauman: Waiting For Superpotter
• Tony Clennell: Heartache,mistakes and near disaster!
• Frogpondsrock…: Allowing the Sadness to Surface
• NCECA Blog: Fab Friday – Andy Brayman from the 2016 NCECA Fab Lab
• Fine Mess Pottery: 2016 Maine Pottery Tour
• Joel Cherrico Pottery: Gorgeous, Functional, Affordable Pottery: Coupon Package for The New Online Store
• NCECA Blog: Hold it Right There!

• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | Betty Woodman Reviews an Ancient Clay Sarcophagus
• musing about mud: movie day: The Cup with Sophie Moran
• Big Ceramic Store | Blog: Pottery Mug Project For Kids Of All Ages
• Butterfly Farm Pottery: I’m Back!
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: Simple photo set up in the shop. White background is “Polyboard,” bought at…
• NCECA Blog: Fab Friday – Brian Czibesz, Richard Burkett & Andy Brayman from the 2016 NCECA Fab Lab
• Tony Clennell: Monkey see, monkey do!
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: History File | How to Unpack a 1,000 year old Viking Pot Unearthed in Scotland
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | 1920s Potters Build Insulators for General Electric in Old Silent Film
• musing about mud: movie day: Jugtown & Mark Hewitt Pottery

• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Oddity | Edmund de Waal on Himmler’s Strange Porcelain Obsession
• meesh’s pottery: New Technology
• Dirty Girl Clayworks: photos: trying to be techno
• Claying Thoughts: Pottery Student Work: Claying Through Heart
• HAND EYE FOOT BRAIN: NOTHING IS GOING PEAR-SHAPED
• Marian Williams Pottery: How To Make Brushes From Roadkill Fur
• Tony Clennell: Kiss me baby
• Fine Mess Pottery: Tight Schedule, Loose Firing
• musing about mud: technical tuesday: Ceramic Guitar Demo – 2 String Pod Chugger CBG
• Clay Art Center Clay DISH: Around the World in Clay – and Back to the Americas!
• NCECA Blog: Fab Friday – Tethon 3D and Jill Wiggins of Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild from the 2016 NCECA Fab Lab
• Rough Ideas: slow accumulation

Thanks for reading! Be sure to visit some of these blogs and leave some comments.