Clay Blog Review: February 2016

Happy Leap Year! An extra day in February and more great pottery blogging. Hopefully both brought you something good!

The big news in February seems to be the #pottersofperiscope. Read more about the Potters of Periscope here. There is a great community of potters already going strong but there is always room for more clay friends!

Also, if you’re into email newsletters, sign up for the Pottery Making Newsletter! It is full of good stuff. I’m also looking for more people to share their clay space. If you are interested, read this. Let’s get to the clay bloggin’.

The Can’t Miss

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

• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Bowls On Purpose. Bowls With A Purpose.
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Bowl Demo : Part Two
• Blog – objective clay: Latex Resist: A Surface Tool
• Marian Williams Pottery: Bill Powell: Pottery Rock Star Strikes Again!
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Pottery Making Illustrated : March /April
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Making our pots understood
• News – Pottery Making Info: Potters of Periscope
• Hints and Tips for the Potter: 49. WAX RESIST
• musing about mud: technical tuesday: how to add gold leaf to pottery with Steve Irvine
• NCECA Blog: Marvelous Marge – Closing Lecture
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | White Origami Porcelain Forms Comprise “Enchanting Geometry” by Ann Van Hoey

Process and Technique

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

• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: New Shapes. New Mugs.
• BPracticalPottery: Studio: False Negative
• Arryn Vogan Pottery: 21 Days
• musing about mud: technical tuesday: Keramik Gartenlicht
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Playing With Slip : Up Close & Personal
• Jenni Ward: Work in Progress: Bone Series
• DirtKicker PoTTerY: watercolor doodles and pottery design
• Arryn Vogan Pottery: Wine & Dine
• A Devonshire Pottery: A caravan and a kitchen
• Learning to be Fearless: Last Firing Before Going on Vacation
• Lucia Pottery: Spoons in the Making
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Stamped Cylinders
• Marian Williams Pottery: Wine Decanters-Handpicked Handmade
• Tony Clennell: Squandering your reputation
• Courtney Martin Pottery: Dipping yunomis in glaze. I do love glazing. #courtneym
• Dawn Whitehand: Visual Artist: Working in the Studio – custom orders
• Anna’s Ceramics by Anna Ryland: Back online and the project continues
• Blog – Kara Leigh Ford Ceramics: Throwing a Spoon Rest on the Wheel
• The Smart Cat: Valentine’s Day
• Courtney Martin Pottery: Valentine’s Day and a snow day here- it’s bitter cold o
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Precisely Incised Porcelain
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Glamour Shots
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Monday. And a Video

• Blue Starr Gallery: If it Works for You, Weaving Clay
• The Smart Cat: I’m a Little Tea Pot!
• Bridges Pottery Blog: Working in the Studio
• Tony Clennell: Sticking your neck out!
• Courtney Martin Pottery: My studio is FULL! I need more ware racks. I made pots
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Stamped Plates & Platters
• Lucia Pottery: Making Salt Boxes
• PATRICIA GRIFFIN CERAMICS – BLOG: Workshop Whirlwind!
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Some Pots from the Week. And Another Video (Cutting Feet on Yunomi)
• Courtney Martin Pottery: Dinner and salad plates- for two sets in progress. #cou
• Anna’s Ceramics by Anna Ryland: Initial stages of project complete, a bead rack and nature’s wall feature
• Tony Clennell: Shhhhhh!
• John Britt Pottery: Shiho Kanzaki : How to make a tea bowl with coil building.
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Smooth… Stamps… Stamped.
• Liberty Stoneware: Dreaming About Dishes
• Courtney Martin Pottery: This #mugshotmonday post is inspired by @potsinaction ‘
• HAND EYE FOOT BRAIN: NEW FLORAL DESIGN
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Finishing Off A Bottle. Video and Thoughts

• Carol Clarkson Pottery Blog: Making Feet on Pottery Pieces ( Suze Lindsay)
• Courtney Martin Pottery: Nine platters with penciled designs and latex resist ov
• musing about mud: technical tuesday: Victoria Ellis Carves Fine Bas Relief Figurative Clay Mural
• Blue Starr Gallery: Thoughts on Tidal Pools
• Courtney Martin Pottery: My sweet kiddo and I collaborated on a plate the other
• Clay Club: Potters of the Blue Ridge take part in teapot challenge for Empty Bowls
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Stamped. Textured. Shadowed.
• Gary’s third pottery blog: “If you’re not failing…”
• Tony Clennell: Articulation
• Jenny Mendes: Rest in Peace Brondi
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: The Monthly Holiday Ornament Challenge : February
• The Smart Cat: Another Monday….Mug
• Claying Thoughts: Handmade Clay Art

Tips and Technical

How can I become a more efficient or knowledgeable potter?

• Blog – objective clay: Product Review: Peter Pugger VPM 7ss Pugmill
• meesh’s pottery: The Lazy Potter
• Tony Clennell: Rabbit Poop
• DirtKicker PoTTerY: Magic Water Rocks My World
• Tony Clennell: He shoots, he scores!
• Tony Clennell: Because me father did!
• John Britt Pottery: Chrome flashing cone 6 electric saggar
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | A Recipe for Making Your Own “Aliz” or Clay Paint
• Peter’s Pottery: February at the Old Post Office, (Part One) … I say “Majolica”, you say “Maiolica”
• Blog – objective clay: Shimpo Slab Roller Review
• Matt’s Ceramic Action: Basalt as Colorant in Celadon Glazes

Recent Work

Where can I see inspiring pottery?

• musing about mud: monday morning eye candy: Chiho Tokita
• Gary’s third pottery blog: 55 and a mosquito…
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: As the Crows Fly
• The Smart Cat: Hey Diddle Diddle!
• meesh’s pottery: Collaborations
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: Le Coq (revisited)
• Ellison Bay Pottery Studios – Pottery and Other Related Thoughts: Funny and Funky February Fiestas
• Gary’s third pottery blog: an utterly ordinary day…
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: New Pots!! Video! Yay!
• Barnbarroch Pottery: First try this Saturday
• Gary’s third pottery blog: hunny
• Gary’s third pottery blog: loving little boxes
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: Unloading this kiln on Monday live on Periscope. Follow at @kylecarpenterpottery. Kiln looks great
• Blog – Ron Philbeck Pottery: Cracked Pots
• HaldeBlog: Five new and restocked items at HaldeCraft this week
• Gary’s third pottery blog: are turtles anything but kindly?
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: She’s got it Covered
• groszceramika: Miseczka 3-2016.
• Tony Clennell: Mr. Prick ly
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Art + Design | “A Ton of Clay” by Ian McIntyre for the Jerwood Makers Open

• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Textures : Just For The Fun Of It
• musing about mud: emerging artist: Kyung Won Baek
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Got Heart?
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Art | Fine White Porcelain by Taizo Kuroda is Arrestingly Asymmetrical
• Gaea Ceramic Bead and Art Studio Blog: Early Spring Indeed!
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: Compass Rose (revisited)
• Jenni Ward: Another Sneak Peek!
• groszceramika: Du?a 1-2016 ?
• lisa w.b. walker, ceramic artist: You’ve got to have heART
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: New cups. #saltfired #ropeimpressed #handpainted #ncclay #etsy #cups #828isgreat #asheville
• The Rabbit Muse: Shop update TOMORROW Friday, February 12th!
• Love Sown: First attempt at pour bowls
• weddwould: Smashing eye cons
• Gary’s third pottery blog: shells
• HaldeBlog: Five ceramics now available in custom colors – right from the item page!
• Tony Clennell: Woke up in the Lost and Found
• Gary’s third pottery blog: OK, so you missed Valentine’s, but Easter is coming 🙂
• Blog – Art by Fuzzy: Atmospheric Firing Results
• Lucia Pottery: Salt Cellars on the Work Table
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Take Note
• Alchemy of Clay: More collaboration in pottery
• Jenny Mendes: Jonmint2
• Gary’s third pottery blog: Beagles and corgis and frogs and dragons, OH MY!
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Spotted | A Survey of Ceramics at ZsONA MACO in Mexico City
• Kim Murton: bunch of new heads
• Alchemy of Clay: A potter (chef) with a dog and cat
• Marian Williams Pottery: Swirl mugs! A Video Tutorial
• FetishGhost’s Secret Studio: Finding a New Way
• Jenny Mendes: It’s the weekend!
• Pinchpots: Bowls for Kansas City
• meesh’s pottery: New Pots from the Temporary Kiln
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: Wine cups. ? #pottery #saltfired #winecup #handmade #ceramic #asheville #828isgreat #ncclay
• HaldeBlog: Five items back in stock at HaldeCraft this week
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | Adrián Villar Rojas Creates Ephemeral Installation in Mexico City

• Kristen Kieffer: #KiefferCeramics
• Gary’s third pottery blog: Even if it is NOT Mugshot Monday…. you can still post mugs can’t you?
• groszceramika: Czarka 2-2016.
• musing about mud: emerging artist: Julia Walther
• Blog – Art by Fuzzy: Top Pots of 2015
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibitions In Brief | Subverting Painting, Sex Dolls, and Recreation
• Gary’s third pottery blog: emerald flowers on Teapot Tuesday…..
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Mugshot Monday
• Kyle Carpenter Studio Pottery: Baby cup.
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Oddity | Zombie Coffee Mugs are Brains, Brains, and Braaainns
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | Minimal Tableware from the Boathouse Atelier of Gidon Bing
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Design | A Collection Based on Home Rituals by Iittala and Issey Miyake
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibition | Edmund de Waal groupings evoke Music, Poetry, Architecture
• Gaea Ceramic Bead and Art Studio Blog: More Spring…
• pots and pieces: Test Firing Results, Feb 2016
• Acorn Pottery: hey there
• Peter’s Pottery: February At The Old Post Office, (Part Two)… A Bowl, getting up close and personal!
• Jose Maria Mariscal – Ceramicas Mariscal: CLOSEUP
• Gary’s third pottery blog: my mugshot Monday..
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Spotted | X-Ray Images, Police Brutality and Stunning Desert Tea Parties
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Exhibition | Svend Bayer’s Contemporary Ceramics at Jane Hartsook Gallery

Thoughts

What can I ponder while making pottery and ceramic art?

• Blog – Clay By Laura: Who Are You?
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: C-File Discussion: The arts dominated by the wealthy
• this artist’s life: be creative despite reality
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Your art is a language
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: The rules of communication
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Questioning quality
• Tony Clennell: The Critic
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: Belonging
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: The mythologies of sense
• April Noble Studio – Notes from the Journey: Rules…
• CARTER GILLIES POTTERY: I dub thee ‘Art’: Backwash from the Grayson Perry Reith lectures
• Love Sown: It is a hobby or a business?

Interviews and Podcasts

What do potters have to say?

• The Potters Cast: “I Love to Make Beautiful Things” | Sarah O’Sullivan | Episode 184
• The Potters Cast: A Sculptors Journey | Gerard Ferrari | Episode 185
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 133: Chris Staley on developing emotional intelligence
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | Victoria & Albert Museum Interviews Six People on Alison Britton’s Big White Jug
• The Potters Cast: Instagram Strategies | Ron Shaw & Jeni LiCata | Episode 186
• The Potters Cast: Designing a Life Like We Design Our Art | Steve Rolf | Episode 187
• The Potters Cast: The Sculptor’s Voice | Eric Knoche | Episode 188
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 134 pt. 2: The Painted Horses Live in studio
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 134 pt.1: Indie-Folk band The Painted Horses on building off the success of their first album
• The Potters Cast: Ask For What You Want | Jeremy Ayers | Episode 189
• The Potters Cast: Jumping Before You Look | Melina LaVecchia Daniels | Episode 190
• The Potters Cast: The Switch Lift | Tim Carlburg | Episode 191
• Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast: 135: In Tribute: Nina Hole on her monolithic wood fired sculptures
• Kristen Kieffer: Mindful Maker

Opportunities

What’s out there for potters?

• NCECA Blog: Grey Area Programming
• musing about mud: apprenticeship opportunity with Marcelina Salazar
• John Britt Pottery: Cone 6 Ceramic Glaze Discussion/ Weekend – March 5-6, 2016- Leland Cultural Arts Center
• NCECA Blog: Inside NCECA: Vol 2, No. 10 – Membership Benefits
• NCECA Blog: Process Friday
• John Britt Pottery: Pottery Workshop: Glazing with John Britt
• Clay Club: Masters Of The Mountains Series At Odyssey
• musing about mud: FELLOWSHIPS FOR VISUAL ARTISTS via the Vermont Studio Center
• NCECA Blog: Inside NCECA: Vol 2, No. 13 – Wednesday Shuttles
• musing about mud: residency opportunity @ the Archie Bray Foundation
• musing about mud: job posting: Limited-Term Appointment Position in Ceramics
• Clay Club: K-12 Educators Workshop
• Clay Club: The Bascom now accepting applications for 2017 Resident Artist Program
• Nan Rothwell Pottery: Pottery studio and house for sale in Nelson County, Virginia
• musing about mud: Help Simon Levin with his book project.
• musing about mud: Craft Culture talk in Calgary
• Clay Club: Amy Sanders and Ron Philbeck Pottery Workshop
• NCECA Blog: Projects Space 2016: Makers, Mentors, and Milestones Find Their Way into Wet Clay

The Rest

What else do potters blog about?

• Marian Williams Pottery: Pricing Your Work…A Follow-Up – Marian Williams Pottery | Marian Williams Pottery
• HaldeBlog: The January #planwithmechallenge (days 6-15)
• Joel Cherrico Pottery: New Pottery: Cosmic Ambitions, Japanese Traditions
• NCECA Blog: The Poetics of Growth: Andy Casto, Emerging Artist
• Brian Harper: First update from sabbatical
• April Noble Studio – Notes from the Journey: Goals, again
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: The Greeks : Agamemnon to Alexander The Great
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Cyrus Tang Hall of China
• Blog – objective clay: It’s Hard to be a Potter with a Hurt Back!
• Liberty Stoneware: Mother Potter
• Whynot Pottery Blog: My life away from home
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: They Said “Bowls”, Right?!
• HaldeBlog: The January #planwithmechallenge (days 16-22)
• Hannah McAndrew: Ceramic Review Masterclass

• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Video | A Porcelain Vessel comes to Life in Strange GE Ad Campaign
• Frogpondsrock…: Potters on Periscope.
• April Noble Studio – Notes from the Journey: Escapism
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Books | Edmund de Waal’s “The White Road” Suffers from Sophomore Slump
• HaldeBlog: Updated polices
• paul the potter: Pottery to die for ? Not just yet sunny Jim!
• April Noble Studio – Notes from the Journey: Cave of Forgotten Dreams
• NCECA Blog: Creativity and Kids, Clay and Community.
• musing about mud: monday morning eye candy: Make and Do Ceramics
• HaldeBlog: The January #planwithmechallenge (days 24-29)
• NCECA Blog: Ceramics leaving the ghetto

• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Technology | Sound Captured on a 3D-Printed Vessel
• Sawdust & Dirt: A Periscope Chat
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Oddity | Did a Clay Pot Save an Ancient Plant from Extinction?
• meesh’s pottery: Kiln Building Begins!
• NCECA Blog: the Art of Learning with Liz Lerman
• Jenni Ward: Why I hire students…
• Sawdust & Dirt: Periscope Class
• Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery: Pottery Making Illustrated : March/April 2016
• making | jackie sedlock pottery: Eat, Share, Sing: a series of evenings connecting Across the Table
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Little Things Make a Big Difference
• HaldeBlog: The February #planwithmechallenge; another look into my planning system
• CFile – Contemporary Ceramic Art + Design: Technology | Can a Rare Clay Kill Drug-Resistant Bacteria?
• Courtney Martin Pottery: Full studio! #courtneymartinpottery #smithsoniancraftsh
• NCECA Blog: Online Resources for Ceramics, Part 2!
• Marian Williams Pottery: Video Oral History of The Work of Jim Hall, Australian Potter
• Tony Clennell: Learning how to fly!

Do you know what potters do when they are not making pots? They think about making pots!

• Sawdust & Dirt: Cup Talk
• Jenni Ward: How to support an artist when you can’t afford to buy art
• The Rabbit Muse: Emergency SALE going on now!
• Fine Mess Pottery: Turns Out It’s Not Just Potters
• meesh’s pottery: Buying Power
• NCECA Blog: 50 Women: A Celebration of Women’s Contribution to Ceramics
• Blog – Clay By Laura: Watch and Learn
• Tony Clennell: My father whispered

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to support your favorite clay bloggers by leaving a comment or buying their pots.