Howard Pottery

new beginnings - 2010

2010-01-24T15:20:00.003-05:00

It is well past time to post a new blog. Over the past several months I have had a couple of problems with my PC and my digital camera which have contributed to my absence from blogging.

First my digital camera began to give me an error message – err 009 – which indicated that the camera body could not read the signals from the lens. After various attempts to determine cause and having no success I finally had to bite the bullet and send the camera back to Cannon and have them fix it. It was time consuming process and expensive, however I now have it back and it has a new circuit board so hopefully will give me years of use.

Second my home PC became infected with a virus which I could not get rid of even with the antivirus software. I called in the experts and the PC was taken away and had to be completely cleaned – everything removed – and then all software, drivers, etc reloaded. It is now back up and working. Also installed a new antivirus software package – hopefully better luck. Another time consuming and expensive process – probably would have been about the same cost of buying a new system. Live and learn.

Anyway, those are my excuses. It does remind me how tied we become of technology. The good news is my pottery wheels (2) did not quit working and I have been able to continue to make pots. Since it is my slow season, I tend to throw, bisque and store pots for a couple of months. My first show isn’t until late March.

Busy Summer Season

2009-08-22T20:37:00.005-04:00

I just finished two shows/art-craft events that were back to back. That is one was Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (The Society of Cape Cod Craftsmen) and the next was Friday, Saturday & Sunday. This required a take down on Thursday in Brewster MA, and a set up on Thursday in Chatham, MA. Thank goodness the events were relatively postive with many fine pots now residing in new homes. Left is a picture, taken by Hollis Engley, of me and my booth at the Chatham Festival.

I have more images of pots to upload, however first, I need to do some resizing. I hope to get this accomplished this week, so check back.

I have one more event, before I have some time to get some serious work done in the studio - throw some pots! This event is in Hyannis, MA - next Saturday and Sunday, August 29th & 30th. If you get a chance stop by.

A successful firing

2009-06-28T12:45:00.004-04:00

Before and after pictures of my most recent firing. The elusive carbon trap shino came out very striking, with a fairly wide range of results. I will add individual pots at a later time. For the carbon trapping, I am becoming convinced that the timing of the early reduction is very critical as well as the prefiring drying process, as well as a multitude of other factors. I am hoping that the more firings I do and the more knowledge I develop the rate of successful pieces will increase.

More Shino's & Paradise City - Northampton

2009-05-31T11:41:00.007-04:00

I promised I would load images of last firing, results were good, not great. See two lidded jars and large vase - all in one of my carbon trap shino glazes.

Also I am back from the Paradise City show in Northampton, and am getting back to work. Images above of my booth at Paradise City. It seems the economy took a hit on the Paradise City show - I made some good sales, just not enough. Hopefully the Gilford Ct. show in early July will be better.

Early May glazed ware and fired ware

2009-05-14T14:45:00.005-04:00

I have been busy, glazing and firing getting ready for the Paradise City Show in Northampton MA - Memorial Day weekend. I have not been very good at keeping my Blog updated. I am firing the kiln today and will post more pictures of the results of that firing soon. The pictures are of the firing I did last week.

a few pots from recent firings

2009-03-29T09:05:00.005-04:00

These pots came out of recent firing. They are glazed with three different shino glazes. The tea pot was one of the new form tea pots I showed in a recent post.

Time to glaze pots

2009-02-28T08:50:00.003-05:00

Attached are a few pictures of pots that need to be glazed or pots which are in process. I should be doing at least three high fires in the next couple of weeks. Hope to have some finished images of new pots soon.

Tea Pots - working on new forms

2009-02-15T08:36:00.000-05:00

Tea Pots - are always challenging and this winter I decided to work on a new form. Since I struggle seeing the finished tea pot I am only making four and all are a variation of the same form. One with a pulled handle, the others to have bambo handles. To the left they are dry and waiting for next bisque fire.

2009-01-25T16:34:00.000-05:00

It has been awhile since my last post. Some of the things I have been doing include; X-mas trip to Utah (where my mother lives), studio cleaning, glaze testing, and finally some throwing. I will include a few pictures to prove what I say.

Sam and Joe going skiing at Park City - Barb & I did go skiing one day, and my body is still in process of recovery.

I've put Joe, being home from U-Mass, to work preparing some glaze tests. I usually try and test at least one new glaze or new variation of an old glaze in every firing. With Joe's help I should have several in the next firing.

I start the glaze test process by applying the glaze test on sections cut from thrown cylinders - here I am cutting one of the cylinders into sections.

and, last but not least - proof that I am back throwing some pots. I threw several cylinders that I finish on the wheel as I throw them (no trimming required - which I like). This type of pot will be glazed with an ash glaze which will collect on the groves and in some cases run between groves.

Note - this is 1/20/09 - Obama being sworn in (on the TV)

Christmas open studio sale

2008-12-06T12:56:00.000-05:00

December 12th, 13th & 14th I will be having a Christmas open studio sale. This works for me in two ways, first it is a great way to move some pottery and, second it forces me to do a thorough cleaning of the studio.

Should you be in the area please stop by.

My first attempt at blogging

2008-12-05T08:33:00.000-05:00

I am attempting to learn what this blogging is all about, so bear with me. As part of my learning process I have attached an image of a porcelain piece fired this past summer.

Hopefully my next blog will have some meat to it, so that's it for now.