Another great month for pottery blogs! Clay bloggers have shared a lot of good information in May. See some of it below.
Process and Techniques
- Tracey Broome works on bowls and cups, furniture and talks work flow.
- Angela Walford shares a short video of her Saturday in the studio and goes marbley.
- Catherine White shows how Michael Hunt makes onggi style jars.
- Dan Finnegan shares some more photos of Michael Hunt at work.
- Hobby Potter shares a video of making small earthenware bowls.
- The MudStuffing Sketchbook continues the Clay 360 project: day 14-15, 16-17, 18, 19, 20.
- Lorri Watts explains how to use sculpey to make molds for sprigs.
- Cinderellish shows a step by step look at sgraffito in progress.
- Luke Langholz has an update on his studio work and a little more.
- Carole Epp shares a video about Dahlhaus Art and a video of Marge Margulies throwing the wave.
- Gary Jackson stamps plates.
- Hannah McAndrew works on some new things and oooh men.
- Karatsu Pots makes bowls with extremely short clay and shares images of a workshop demo by Tsuruta Sensei.
- John Britt shares a video demo of a no trim goblet and making a side handled teapot:
- Linda Starr shares a picture by picture demo of making a simple pinch pot and how she made her Turbulent Sunset.
- The Ceramic Shop Blog has instructions for making a leaf platter.
- Charles Hughes shares recent work and decides to get more rest.
Tips and Technical
- Patricia Bridges shares tips to prevent warping.
- Marian Williams refires a pot with glaze problems.
- Lori Watts discovers that some Amaco underglazes can go to cone 10.
- JoAnn Axford shows her tools and describes how they are used.
- Good Elephant Pottery fixes a lurching Bailey wheel.
- John Britt offers a warning that Frit P-25 is going out of production.
- The Glaze Recipe Sharing Blog is in full effect. Some of the shared recipes include: ^10 Cerulean Heaven, Phat Satin Mulberry, Waxy White, Bailey’s Red, Luke’s Blue andSatin Matte Bamboo.
- Pottery By Lisa has a list of 5 things to be picky about while making pots.
- Ivan Wozniak describes how to make a pottery glaze.
- John Britt shows how to make reusable, non-exploding cone packs:
Recent Work
- Heather Knight has new work for your walls.
- Dan Finnegan has pots right out of the kiln and birds and books.
- DirtyGirlPottery has a colorful Nebula raku vase and charm necklaces.
- Lori Buff describes her French Butter Keepers.
- Woodfirer has the kiln opened.
- Clay and Ginger has video of the kiln opening.
- Liberty Stoneware shows lots of work from the Spring kiln opening.
- Deb Thuman has some bedside boxes.
- Kristen Kieffer adds another color (green) to her arsenal.
- Gary Jackson: master of texture.
- Neil Estrick has some shiny new pots.
- Clementina Ceramics finds some direction for new work.
- RoundRabbit has colorful jewelry pieces.
- Pottery by Lisa changes the to-do list to something more fun and finishes a set of dishes.
- Patricia Griffin shares images of teabowls in the woodcut series.
- Kyle Houser has some woodfired pots with decals.
- Hollis Engley fired mostly Nuka-glazed pots.
- Tracey Broome shares a few images of new work and some functional pieces.
- Potter Jo describes how a clay lantern was created.
- Marian Williams shares a few pieces from the gas kiln and uploads a video of the results.
- John Bauman has recent work and work in progress.
- Ron Philbeck has a video of some finished pots.
- Ann shows off a variety of work.
- Dick Lehman has some great images of his “fast fossils” and other new work.
- Hannah McAndrew fires 80-90 pots and puts a few quick photos on the blog.
Thoughts
- Carter Gillies: at it again: Life on planet Jargon part 2.
What we really need is to approach other people’s creative expression as though we were xenoarcheologists of the planet Jargon rather than narcisscientists of the planet Solipsis. We need to approach it with the open minded curiosity of explorers, not the confession seeking ministrations of inquisitors. And as artists putting things out in the public sphere we need to consider what things are simply our personal expression and what things are purposely designed to communicate. The two may not always be the same thing…
- Carter also discusses how art should relate to people (while listening to Pink Floyd?), instructions for fighting pirates and describes the four seasons of pottery education.
- Michael Kline talks about spending time in the studio.
Not only does pottery take time, but time is the essence of anything that is good. Especially something handmade. Think about touching clay, even in the most minor and inconsequential way. Touching the object over and over again to smooth an edge, to attach a handle, feeling its weight, these actions represent caring. Caring takes time. Caring makes stuff good.
- John Bauman discusses pirated work with his friends (prompting a response by Carter Gillies above).
The Rest
- Ben Carter starts a podcast series with interviews of Matt Long and Chandra Debuse.
- Carole Epp shares a great monograph of Mike Dodd and a series of videos: Potters of San Marcos, Peter Shire Cups and an interview with Garth Clark and Mark DelVecchio.
- Bfree Clay answers the question: Where did your decorating style come from? And talks kilns and Dave Peters.
- Robin Hopper answers: Why clay, pots, and gardens?
- Scott Cooper shares results from his sale and questions the value of marketing.
- Graciela Testa Lynt considers copycats.
- Ron Philbeck tries to make a video with a new perspective
- Lee Love finds an interesting stop motion video.
- Hobby Potter starts a chop mark collection.
- Gary Jackson writes of the Minnesota Pottery Tour and has a game of name that potter. He also reclaims clay.
- Patricia Bridges is not into the craft shows.
- Lori Watts knows her nut.
- Judi Tavill wonders about rejection (and receives some insightful comments).
- Woodfirer shares a video of a kiln in Montana.
- Karen Mahoney shares a video of sand artist Kseniya Simonova.
- Lori Buff recommends The Cave, a book about an elderly potter.
- Lucy Fagella talks about re-listing items on Etsy.
- Connie Norman shares an interview of Sandi Pierantozzi and Neil Patterson.
- Blaine Avery shares a video of the story behind his pottery.
Some new blogs were added to the list this month. And the qualifying criteria have also become a little more strict. But if you know of a great pottery blog post in the past month let me know!
Thanks for reading!
My free time in the studio didn’t ovrelap often enough with Tom’s, my loss, but every once in a while I had the treat of watching and listening to Tom as he would plan an elaborate underglazing design on one of his carved pots. He would have all his underglazes in those beautiful colors spread out and he’d work it out like a puzzle. Tom’s enthusiasm and creativity was so much fun and his passion was inspiring. Such a lovely gentleman!