Busy Summer Season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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)