A day later than I hoped due to the festivities of late October. As always if you know of a great blog, blogger, blog post or you just want to leave some feedback, don’t be shy.
Technical, Techniques, Tips
- Linda Starr uses porcelain sand on kiln shelves to prevent warping and cracking.
- Lori Watts is going to try some of Vince Pitelka’s glaze recipes, shows how to make a slab built jar with lid and makes her own G-200 Feldspar.
- Gary Jackson makes stamps, explains how he keeps handles “happy” and shares his secrets to making stamped ovals.
- Dan Finnegan shows how to make a teapot spout that pours well and how he makes fat tiles.
- Kelly Kessler shares a video and discusses proper throwing technique and digs up some videos about Yixing teapots.
- John Britt shows off a fancy graph about mesh size, finds some ^6 glaze tests by Terry Rorison and shares a ^10 glaze: Rutile 11.
- Karatsu Pots shows clay with different amounts of sand added and shows the slab and paddle technique.
- Togeii posts three videos of trimming bowls.
Regarding Recent Work
- Gary Jackson makes bowls that aren’t plain, stamped cylinders,
- K. Houser shares results from the train kiln
- Deb Thuman isn’t sure if she likes low firing in reduction but does like a mica teapot
- Tracey Broome continues to make interesting barns
- Paine Falls creates lunch boxes for potters as well as nonfunctional work.
- Linda Starr is still making wall sculptures and tiles.
- Doug Fitch has finished some jugs.
- Luke Langholz previews a glaze firing and has more finished pots.
- Phil Rogers shares some finished work (check the other posts too).
- Clementina Ceramics has some brightly colored tiles.
- Judi Tavill shows wood fired pots.
- Karatsu Pots has work in progress and decorates with a brush and applies slip to 40 cups.
- Lucy Fagella has biodegradable urns.
- Paul Jessop works on a large platter.
- Rob of Simple Circle Studios has some interesting vessels.
- Glynnis Lessing talks tumblers.
- Ron Philbeck is back in the pottery making groove.
- Patricia Griffin has more from the woodcut series.
- Hannah McAndrew is working on jugs and dishes.
- Tom Edwards has new red pots.
- FetishGhost finds only one success in a whole firing. Better than none I guess…
- Bfree Pottery has finished new work.
- P. Bridges explains a new platter.
- Michael Mahan shows some work from firing 20.
- Keith of MudStuffing Sketchbook is stoked about some recent results.
Thought Provoking
- Clementina Ceramics shares an article by Kevin Murray about outsourcing work to survive as a ceramicist:
The local “Western” craftsperson needs to open dialogue with traditional “Eastern” craftspeople, to offer market opportunity and keep skills alive. We need tradition and humanity in our daily life.
- A few blogs shared a quote by Ira Glass:
Ira Glass Quote
- But something didn’t seem right to Carter Gillies:
The way I see it almost no one gets into pottery because they have good taste. The truth actually seems to be that most people can’t appreciate subtlety in visual things in general, but in terms of understanding pottery there is a huge gap in appreciating what counts as quality. The gap isn’t between our taste and what we can do about it, but in actually having the taste to see quality.
- John Britt shares a quote by Chuck Close and encourages us to Get to Work!
- Togeii of Nanban Ceramics shares his point of view about Japanese culture and ceramics:
It has long been my belief that one of the main clash points of trying to understand Japan has been the Japanese propensity to reject certain strains of rationality. It could be stated that Japan can be more easily understood through lenses of emotion, of tribal hues.
- Lori Buff shares some tips to be less stressed:
The thing is, sometimes being very busy, and stressed because of it cuts down on creativity. We may not be as busy next year if we aren’t creative enough this season so now is a good time to think about some things we can do to prevent or get over the creativity suck of being very busy.
- Whitney Smith’s philosophy is “just do“:
Anyway, “just do” is a way of reminding myself to stop thinking, and just go do what I’m meant to do. Which is making things. And answering the emails of people who want me to make more things for them specially. “Just do” means getting out of bed when I wake up, so I can go to the studio to make the stuff I need to make and want to make. And not thinking about whether it will sell or if it’s a stupid idea.
- Michael Kline shares some thoughts from Don Pilcher as he compares “apples to oranges“
The Rest
- Ben Carter shares an evolving teapot tradition and some big pots.
- FetishGhost shares the incomplete manifesto for growth by Bruce Mau.
- Karen Mahoney shares some tips for travel friendly pots.
- Not just sports and movie stars get to promote products!
- The thought process behind the tagline for Bella Joy Pottery.
- (Mud)Bucket finds out that not everyone likes free publicity.
- Mug Revolution defines microwave safe.
- Carole Epp shares some sad news about Craft Australia and a call to action.
- A couple blogs hope to save NSCAD.
- Rae Dunn shares the experience of the 2.5 year custom order.
- Judi Tavill shares a new artist statement.
- A nomination for clay item with the longest title of the year.
- Kristen Kieffer lets us take a peek inside the studio.
Making Money and Related Endeavors
- Lori Watts shares her philosophy of business:
So, if the goal isn’t money, what is it? I submit that the purpose of your business – the true purpose of any business – is a dual: to provide the best product or service that it can in the process of realizing of human potential.
- She also finds things aren’t as she expected after making the leap.
Thoughts on Steve Jobs
Laugh Out Loud Nominations
- Paine Falls describes what happens during show season:
This morning I found myself eating a piece of toast I found on the counter ……..the dog probably licked the butter and jelly off.
Get Your Popcorn Ready
- Many blogs shared Ceramics: A Fragile History by the BBC.
- Margaret Brampton shares a video of a visit to Grayson Perry’s studio.
- Ang Wolford works (quickly!) in the studio and has video to prove it.
- FetishGhost shares an interview with Agnes Martin.
Agnes Martin Interview (20:00 version, 1997) from Chuck Smith on Vimeo.
Great ceramic links. Enough to read for a week! So many ceramic techniques, so little time! 🙂
Nice work of the artists!
Thanks for the great info!
I’m glad you like it. Thanks for reading. And for leaving some feedback!