Clay Blog Review: December 2015

Here we are, the end of 2015, the last Clay Blog Review of the year. If this is your first CBR, make yourself a drink, get comfortable and enjoy some of the best pottery blogging of the past month. Then check back next month for more great stuff. Or you can sign up for the Pottery Making Newsletter to get updates once or twice per month. Or even take a look at previous reviews.

Also, if you are a potter or ceramic artist and you would like to try out this “blogging” thing, check out the first post in a series about starting your own pottery blog!

The Can’t Miss

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

• Kristen Kieffer: Shop Ornately Elegant for Everyday
• groszceramika: Kiermasz Bo?e 2015.
• good elephant pottery – blog: The Art Festival Plan, Part 3
• Blog – objective clay: In the Hands of the Beholder
• News – Pottery Making Info: The Pottery Blog Series – An Introduction to Blogs
• John Britt Pottery: Converting a glaze recipe from PARTS to WEIGHT
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Marketplace | Garth Clark: Alleghany Meadows’ Roundels Rebuke Tepid Design Aesthetics
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: Playing With My Rooster and the FireFlies
• this artist’s life: the way of the half-ass

I think a lot of people out there who are running art-based businesses flounder with things like marketing and creative development because they think they can’t do it unless they do it 100% “right”, locked in with a beginning-to-end plan, executed with perfection. I say f*(% that.

• Kristen Kieffer: Studio Cycles Pictorial 2015

Process and Technique

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

• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Playing With Porcelain
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | Ashraf Hanna discusses “Form and Material” with R&A Collaborations
• Gary’s third pottery blog: doodling them…..
• meesh’s pottery: Making a list, checking it twice…
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Glazing The Night Away
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Cone Six : Layer By Layer
• HaldeBlog: Works-in-Progress Wednesday (12/09/15)
• musing about mud: technical tuesday: soil baker

• Dawn Whitehand: Visual Artist: Saturday Shelfie – grotesque mug
• Tony Clennell: Mixed Marriage
• Nell Hazinski | Pottery, Phoenixville, PA, Chester County: Making pots
• Kim Murton: More Cups!
• Rachel Dorn Ceramic Sculpture: December Firing
• Jenny Mendes: Old and New
• meesh’s pottery: Sheep Building
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Just a Few Plates. And 2 Cups. And Videos.

• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: Compass Rose
• weddwould: We could be heroes
• Fine Mess Pottery: Make Anything
• Whynot Pottery Blog: The last plan I am
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Just Like Old Times

Tips and Technical

How can I become a more efficient or knowledgeable potter?

• meesh’s pottery: Resourcefulness
• BPracticalPottery’s Blog: Techno-ology: Reduction Firing
• Tony Clennell: Tip toeing to the cliff
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: PB (Plastic Bitrox) Liner for Cone 5 Cassius Clay
• Gary’s third pottery blog: none of mine….
• Carol Clarkson Pottery Blog: Time for a Christmas Eve Toast

Recent Work

Where can I see inspiring pottery?

• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Jolly Old St. Nick Loves Pottery Too
• PATRICIA GRIFFIN CERAMICS – BLOG: It’s Mug-Mania Time!
• pottery blog: emily murphy: 2015 Holiday Gift Guide
• Kim Murton: Peppermint Cat for BAC “Red” Show
• weddwould: Hankerin’
• Acorn Pottery: Barn Owl
• inspirations — ?kv?pimai: Les choses dont personne ne veut pas * Daiktai, kuri? niekas nenori
• Dirty Girl Clayworks: wintery wares
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: St. Nick Sneak Peek : Online Sale This Sunday
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Collect | Benjamin Cirgin Holiday Pop-up Shop. Get Your Cup Today!
• The Rabbit Muse: New Jewelry in the Shop!
• John Britt Pottery: Kurinuki
• Joel Cherrico Pottery: Cosmic Dinnerware Sets
• Gary’s third pottery blog: oooooooooooh purple and green, oooooooh!
• Tony Clennell: I like me!
• Rae Dunn … clay » clay.: winter whites . . .
• Blue Starr Gallery: Seeing Red
• Bridges Pottery Blog: DECEMBER IN THE STUDIO
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: St. Nick’s Day Online Sale : Starts Tomorrow at 8:00am
• weddwould: Sea of Heartbreak
• New Day Pottery: Christmas gifts and back in the studio
• Claying Thoughts: Terracotta Incense Holder
• Blue Starr Gallery: Nerikomi Test Tile
• Love Sown: Handmade Ornaments and Magnets
• Rough Ideas: #6 winter solstice 2015
• Lucia Pottery: Covered Cheese Dish, and Other Holiday Gifts
• Blue Starr Gallery: Woven Works
• weddwould: Chinaclay Bound
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Why Angels?
• Jenni Ward: Art Hearts!
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibition | Kathy Butterly, Santa Monica: Explore the Artist’s Best Show To Date
• pots and pieces: Mark Hewitt Pottery Christmas 2015 Kiln Opening, 94th Firing
• Rough Ideas: #7 winter solstice 2015
• ang design blog: how is it december already…
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | Hozan Zangana’s Ceramic Set for a New Year
• good elephant pottery – blog: New Pots for the Open Studio 2015
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: A Post. Don’t Have a Heart Attack.
• lisa w.b. walker: shop local
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: Unloading @karennewgardpottery kiln today. #kilnshare #saltkiln
• meesh’s pottery: Jeff saves the day!
• Clay and Ginger: Just out of the kiln…a new Buffalo tray, or hanging art….
• Fine Mess Pottery: Thursday Inspiration: Daniel Oliver
• Avery Pottery and Tileworks: Holiday Kiln Opening Preview
• Rough Ideas: #10 winter solstice 2015
• Bridges Pottery Blog: Square Plates

• andrewwiddis: Itiko cups on mass.
• Gary’s third pottery blog: oh man, getting to the busiest of the busiest, sort of….
• Alchemy of Clay: Just paint a cat face on it…
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: #potteryforsale
• Around and About with Bulldog Pottery: A Few Select Pieces from the Pottery Kiln
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: A Splash of Cone 6 Color
• New Day Pottery: Everything old is new again
• Rough Ideas: #11 winter solstice 2015
• CleanMud: My Munch is finally finished.
• CleanMud: Femlin Beer Mug
• musing about mud: emerging artist: Brent Pafford
• Pinchpots: Christmas Sale – Julestue
•  Bits of clay: Happy holidays
• The Cloud Pottery: Good return #2
• Rough Ideas: #13 winter solstice 2015
• Blue Starr Gallery: Lots of Pots
• DirtKicker PoTTerY: Hand-Held Citrus Juicers – Wheel Thrown Citrus Reamer
• Blue Starr Gallery: New Driftwood Handled Baskets
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | Antonio Aricó: Ceramic Swans, Good Morning Lamps and Lantern Candle Holders
• inspirations — ?kv?pimai: Chevaux Bleus * Mélynieji Žirgai
• inspirations — ?kv?pimai: J’insiste: les petites têtes * Nepasiduodu: galvutés
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibition | Lia Bagrationi Reveals “Emptiness” as a Palpable Spiritual Symbol
• Zygote Blum: In the Shadow of Star Fall
• The Rabbit Muse: Shop Update TOMORROW, Friday December 18th
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | Michael Eden Explains the Ideas Behind his 3D Printed Pottery

• Rough Ideas: #18 winter solstice 2015
• Zygote Blum: Potency
• Zygote Blum: In the Middle

What’s everywhere are products, not expressions. Results of style… Not soul. Boutique products rather than gallery Art.

• Zygote Blum: Waiting for Future Daydreams
• Zygote Blum: Pick it up and Slow Down
• Gaea Ceramic Bead and Art Studio Blog: December Is…
• Zygote Blum: Look Closely 
• Blue Starr Gallery: Skyscraper Vase
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Mantra
• musing about mud: monday morning eye candy: Trent Burkett
• Rachel Dorn Ceramic Sculpture: Cone 6 Celadon Mugs & Teabag Holders
• Tony Clennell: A Person of Colour
• Rough Ideas: #21 winter solstice 2015
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | Nendo’s “Totte Plates” Add a Handle
• Tony Clennell: I want burning!
• andrewwiddis: experimenting with a foot.
• Gary’s third pottery blog: opening the kiln on Christmas day…: Gary’s third pottery blog: opening the kiln on Christmas day…
• Gary’s third pottery blog: opening the kiln on Christmas day…
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: Shadows in the Sky
• Rachel Dorn Ceramic Sculpture: Kid Decorations on Small Bowls
• andrewwiddis: Itiko cups.
• musing about mud: emerging artist: Jason A Piccoli
• Zygote Blum: Unsung Fortune 
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Reflection
• HaldeBlog: 2015 Kiln Firing Review
• Zygote Blum: Refuge
• Gary’s third pottery blog: the end of 2015 means only about ten months until…..
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Best of CFile.Daily | Our Favorite Pot-Themed Exhibitions Since 2013

Thoughts

What can I ponder while making pottery and ceramic art?

• Future Relics Pottery Blog: Mindful Holiday Shopping
• April Noble Studio – Notes from the Journey: Comfort Zones
• Liz Crain Ceramics: Nakie Time!…Or Being Vulnerable Enough to Learn
• Tony Clennell: Be of courage!
• April Noble Studio – Notes from the Journey: Paul McCartney and Kanye West
• Frogpondsrock…: Enter Title Here…
• Love Sown: Meltdown
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Marketplace | The New York Times on the “White Hot” Ceramics Trend
• Tracey Broome: Choose to stand in the wet moss and breathe
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: A backlash against handcrafting?

Interviews and Podcasts

What do potters have to say?

• The Potters Cast: How Clay Found Me | Ronan Peterson | Episode 166
• Blog – objective clay: Re/Collecting : A Reflection upon Graduate School
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 125: Bandana Pottery- Michael Hunt and Naomi Dalglish on influence and innovation
• The Potters Cast: Turning Challenges into Opportunities | Sandra Torres | Episode 167
• NCECA Blog: Board Bio – Spotlight: Chris Staley
• Jenni Ward: Repost: Interview with Ruth Copland
• The Potters Cast: Struggles Expressed In Art | Gunyoung Kim | Episode 168
• The Potters Cast: A Professor on Art | Martina Lantin | Episode 169
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 126: Andrew Stephenson on determining the value of labor in handmade pottery
• NCECA Blog: “subsTancE: ThrEE arTisT’s passions” on the NCECA 360 podcast
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 127: Shannon Garson on the influence of drawing on her porcelain vessels
• The Potters Cast: An Artful Expression of Emotions | Thomas Quayle | Episode 170
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 128: Kate Dunn and Fiona Fell on the changing landscape of art education in Australa
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 129: Pepai and Milyika Carroll on Ernabella history and the role Tjukurpa plays in Anangu art
• The Potters Cast: Starting Fresh | Allison Smiles | Episode 171
• NCECA Blog: Board Bio – Spotlight: Jill Oberman
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 130: Jane Sawyer on developing an individual sense of touch after apprenticeship training
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 131: Nell on rock n’ roll aesthetics and making boundryless art
• The Potters Cast: Loving Work | Jeremy Randall | Episode 172
• The Potters Cast: Production Work that Produces Pottery and People | Di Marshall | Episode 173
• The Potters Cast: Doing the Right Things at the Right Place | Paul Jessop | Episode 174
• The Potters Cast: Put Yourself Out There | Lisa Neimeth | Episode 175

The Rest

What else do potters blog about?

• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Own this
• Gary’s third pottery blog: the artist with glaucoma
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | “Terracotta Daughters,” a Trailer for Prune Nourry’s 2016 Film

• Tony Clennell: Owning your narrative
• Teaching/Craft: With eyes shut
• Gary’s third pottery blog: purple and green and glaucoma again…
• meesh’s pottery: The End of an Era
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibition | A More Subtle Touch for Ai Weiwei?
• The Cloud Pottery: Good return
• NCECA Blog: Is there income yet?
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Technology | Flexible Ceramics, “Flexiramics” are Thin as Paper
• Gary’s third pottery blog: the studio potter VS ANYTHING that is not handmade…
• Clay Club: Recap: December Clay Club at The Village Potters in Asheville
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Studio Pottery | Inside the Workshop of Clive Bowen

• Jenni Ward: Hello Houzz
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: 70 deg in December
• Tony Clennell: Laughing at yourself!
• Paine Falls……….: Heading into Home…….
• Blog – Clay By Laura: The Price Is Right
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Wake Up Smiling
• Fine Mess Pottery: So Hot Right Now
• Tony Clennell: Butt Out!!!
• musing about mud: call for artists: Long Term Residency – Red Lodge Clay Center
• Diving into the clay: PBS video on NC clay
• Clay Club: New York Times: handmade ceramics are white hot
• Cathie’s Potters Life: Homeport Pottery & Artisans Gallery
• Leslie Farin: What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test
• Tony Clennell: Too Stupid to Quit!
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | Adam Buick Gives Clay Back to the Earth
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Energy
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: It’s Just Clay
• Tony Clennell: New Year’s Eve at the Casino

Today, I’ve been thinking that living your life as an artist is a bit like going to the casino. On any given day you could loose it all.

• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Not Clay But… | 3D Printing Allows the Blind to “See” Famous Paintings
• musing about mud: residency opportunity: The Byrdcliffe Artist in Residence Program
• Tony Clennell: What I did right!
• Tony Clennell: Picking the fly shit outta the pepper.
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: CFile Year in Review | Our Favorite Videos of 2015
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: CFile Year in Review | Our Favorite Tech Posts of 2015
• Blog – Art by Fuzzy: Michiana Pottery Tour of 2015
• Fine Mess Pottery: Minor Reflections
• Blog – Art by Fuzzy: Middlebury Fall Festival 2015
• meesh’s pottery: Kiln Moving Day
• musing about mud: movie day: Marking the Line : Ceramics and Architecture
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Best of CFile.Daily | A Stack of Our Favorite Books since 2013
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Time-Lapse : Big Pot. Small Time.
• Hannah McAndrew: 2015 to 2016 A Whole New World
• Blog – Art by Fuzzy: 2015 Notre Dame Wood Fire

We did it! Another year of clay blogs reviewed! Thanks for participating, following along, reading, sharing, sending encouragement and generally being awesome. Thanks to all the bloggers for sharing so much great stuff. I wish you the best in 2016!