Locally Grown, Garden of Mugs

Still working on the photo’s.  I must say it is so nice to photograph my own work whenever I please, and just play with it… delete it…try again. 

These are my latest mugs.  Mugs tend to be everyone’s favorite.  I have really decorated these… I love to draw and many people love to have color and imagery on the pottery they buy.  Some people don’t understand the extra work that goes into it and wonder why the price of these mugs are higher than my plain mugs.  As potters we should always remember the worth of our time.  Today I was saying to my apprentice Pam that my past students make the best customers because they understand how difficult and time consuming pottery is. Pam replied I think we should offer free wheel time every once in awhile to your customers just so they can get a little hint as to what goes into the process of making pots!

New Urn Pics Finally On My Website

One of the reasons I started a blog is to get images of my work out there sooner.  Although I love the work my web designer does, he does have a life, and sometimes it takes awhile to get stuff changed.  This week he put the new photos up and will soon get the info and pricing up.

Here is another peek at the new work.  This one was made with the intention of the light within each one of us.  This is a double walled thrown container with literally hundreds of holes in the outer wall…. time consuming…. yes, but worth it, especially with a votive placed under it.  When a loved one dies we should all be reminded of the light…. their spirit which lives on!

Being my own photographer

… I think I’m finally getting the hang of it.  I have all the proper equipment and have been practicing over the past couple of weeks…. but taking your own pics of your work is quite tricky.  Thanks to Kristen Kieffer for looking over some of my photos and giving me feedback, I think I’m finally getting it.

Here is a shot of my new mugs.  Any feedback is appreciated!

“Ashes to Art” Exhibit

Tonight at the Funeria Gallery in Graton California is the opening of the 4th International Biennial Exhibit, “Ashes to Art.”  This show is an excellent exhibit of cremation urns which include ceramic, metals, fiber, glass, and mixed media.  The last biennial exhibit was written up in the New York Times Magazine and The Boston Globe. I am happy and proud that two of my works were selected to be in this show.

I had given you a view of my new urns back on last months blog, but did not include these because everything was hush, hush until the press releases were out.  So here are pics of the two urns.  They are of course my regular porcelain work fired to cone 7 oxidation.  The smaller apple shaped “Life Vine”urn is a double walled container measuring approx. 7″x7″.  The Tall “Life Vine” urn is 17″H x 5″W.

  

Morning Glories and the Studio Gate

Tonight I covered the flowers in the studio garden. It looks and feels like we are going to have our first frost… I’m hoping not.  I want to hold onto summer for a little longer.  I love the entrance to my studio.  It is so bright and welcoming I can’t bear to see it fade!

New classes which started last week have been keeping me very busy.  I have not had enough time to take another try at photographing my pottery.  I finally took a few shots tonight after class…. so here is another image to share of my new work.  Well… I’ve gotten rid of some of the brightness,  but I think now it is too dark!

Learning to Photograph Pottery

Blogging is so much fun…. the whole pottery community connection thing that happens!  Because of a link on Kristen Kieffers blog  I’ve gotten great info on how to photograph my work.  There is this great site for potters on how to photograph your work - Fresh Plums Pottery by potter/teacher John Glick. 

I love my present photographer John Polak but I just can afford to go to him every time I want a new photo.  I have not been able to properly represent my current work on my website because of this. 

I purchased some good lighting equipment from Linco.  I heard about the amazing sales they have monthly on their website, so I checked the site monthly for about four months and was able to get a great deal on a boom light kit.  So my work lately is learning how to photograph my pots.  It is a challenge, but fun!

Arghh…too bright, tone it down!   I’ll learn!

Fall Classes Filled

Classes at Lucia Pottery begin tomorrow.  The three wheel throwing classes are filled.  I have a waiting list, if there is enough interest I will add one more class for Monday nights. 

Looking forward to new beginings with old and new students!

Decorating the New Urns

Some photo’s of me working on the large “Life Vine” Urn.  I first draw with a glaze pencil then fill in with various stains.  It is then given a clear coat of glaze.

The School Bus

The school bus came, the Happy Dance was done, I worked a full day!

I do LOVE my Children

…. but Tomorrow is Sept. 3rd and as most mother’s do….I’m going to do the HAPPY DANCE when that bus pulls away!  It has been a great summer with the boys.  Plus I have gotten major amounts of pottery made for summertime.  It just gets easier as they get older, they are both now in middle school.  Even though it is a bit easier, and I get almost a full work day in… the work day is with many interuptions.  I’m I’m looking forward to full un-interupted days !!!!

Here is just a taste of some of those half work days and vacation days of summer with my boys.  Beautiful, R.I. beaches, and Chapel Brook Falls, Ma.