Josh Floyd's Potters World

Brush Valley Artists Open House

2011-05-16T21:16:00.006-04:00

View Larger Map
This is the map I promised. Ned Wert is located in Brush Valley, just near the post office. My place is off of Luciusboro Road between Old Mission Road and Fire Academy Road, which is closed. From the south on 119 from Blairsville, you can find Luciusboro Road right off of 119. Just follow Lucisusboro all 5-6 miles to my place. From Johnstown on 56, stop at Neds first and he can help you find me! From Indiana, South Sixth St(Route954)ends at Rt.56, where you can turn left. Just at the base of the next hill, less than a mile will be signs for to turn right onto Old Mission Rd. Follow until you come to a stop, turn right and then keep your eyes peeled for the pottery in less than 1.5 miles.

Brush Valley Artists Open House

2011-05-16T21:13:00.000-04:00

Come on out from 10-5 both Saturday and Sunday.

I'm working hard around the studio and the property to get things ready for your visit.

10lb planters, about 12" tall with the tray on top.

In the center of the above photo is an unfinished 20lb planter.

Just above are the 5lb planters.

This is the back stack of the kiln loaded up with 10lb planters.

Looking forward to the event.

Long time gone

2011-04-19T22:49:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted, but I have been making and firing work. I have a permanent home for the light box setup now and a new sheet of background paper, as well as a replacement for the retired cybershot.

The above mugs will hold about 8-10oz, standing 4" tall and 4" at the lip.

These vases are certainly inspired by historic shapes.

Check out this post of mine from earlier in the year. Sure took a long time to get those pots fired. wow.

The gold one stands about 8.5" tall

I'm gearing up for another wood fired load of earthenware planters and other gardenware.

Pictures will be forthcoming

Thanks for looking.

Cub Creek

2011-01-22T15:28:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share the link to the Cub Creek Foundation where I spent a couple years making pots and firing wood kilns with John Jessiman and met some great folks along the way, including friends such as Kala Stein, Kat Antis, Josh Manning, Ed Feldman and Michelle and John Williams.

We had the chance to work with Jack Troy, Donna Polseno, Sylvie Granatelli and others while I was a resident there. John has a great place in central VA for the ceramics community and I just wanted to give you all a chance to check it out!

Pots and process

2011-01-18T17:30:00.002-05:00

Somethings up with the ol' cybershot. It looks like I took this pic from a galloping horse.Ugh.

On a lighter note, I have been thinking about my next firing, and I was trying to get it going by early Feb. But alas, I'm not gonna worry about it. When I'm ready, I'm ready.

Process. I like it. Every part of my life is some sort of process, from heating the house and studio with wood (and carting it out of the tundra on an old sled), to making coffee: grinding the beans, boiling the water, plunging the french press...I love the steps.

It took me a while to get started back making work after the Indiana County Potters Tour. It was a process. ha. I spent time in the woods cutting trees and making clay, etc. But I wasn't in the studio. Working none the less, but not making work. Then the holidays came and went, and I could avoid it no longer. With no excuses left, and no weather for trudging around in the woods, it was time to crank up the wood stove, grease the wheel and kick away.

After a week or so of throwing, the pots get better which is something I often forget. By the end of a cycle of pots, when I'm loading the kiln, I'll load in a pot that I've already moved beyond, an idea that came and went, an idea that I worked through or a form that could/should/would be made again, and more successfully. This firing, I'm going to give myself the time to return to those forms.

Keep in touch and I'll do the same.

2011-01-13T15:26:00.000-05:00

Enjoying the snow and making work. Strap handles or ear handles, what do you think?

A batch of 9" plates to be stack fired.

Back to the frozen tundra!

Seeing the Forest for the Trees...

2011-01-06T16:10:00.000-05:00

We had a couple of days of sunshine earlier in the week, which allowed me to gather up some windfall limbs around the property here in Brush Valley. It’s been a cold and snowy winter so far and I’ve been burning through the wood. So when we get a little break in the weather and some of that snow melts off, I like to get out in the woods. It gives me a chance to see the forest for the trees.

I realize how blessed I am to be here in the country(thank you Betty), living such a simple life. But it is very isolated and I really didn’t think I’d be here by myself. Occasionally I have to remind myself of why I’m here. Getting out in the woods helps.

Another post soon, and I’ll tell the story of how I ended up here in Brush Valley, but for now it’s back to the studio.

New Year

2011-01-02T13:31:00.001-05:00

Wanted to share this link from some wonderful folks out in Australia who've been great customers. They have a really nice collection of wood fired pots, in which I'm included.

http://theridoureport.blogspot.com/2010/12/here-are-some-of-wood-fired-pots-that.html

New Pots from the October firing listed on ETSY!

2010-11-04T19:04:00.000-04:00

The above spoon jar is one of 5 that I have available.

And this Holly Hock tumbler is one of 5. Email me to find out how many are left!

Finished work from Montana

2010-08-12T13:24:00.003-04:00

Just a few images of the work I made in Montana, at the Red Lodge Clay Center.

Hope you all are enjoying the summer!

New Pots on Etsy!

2010-05-18T12:49:00.000-04:00

Red Lodge Part 16: Wood Klin (I know)

2010-04-13T10:42:00.006-04:00

Images from the loading of the kiln at top and petrogliph images from a gorgeous hike on Sunday, in the Pryor Mountains.

Red Lodge Part 15

2010-04-10T11:26:00.004-04:00

The last of the pots are drying and waiting for the bisque!

I like these jug and crock forms, they were really so fun to make.

Made with a clay body that has 25%grog and sand in it.

Had to work pretty quick with it, no time to fuss.

We're having a bit of fun tonight at the studio, with a pot luck for everyone!

Last night's opening was well attended, and dinner at Foster and Logans was great too!
A big thank you to David and the Residents for a nice night!

Cheers!

Red Lodge Part 14: Broad Range

2010-04-09T09:58:00.006-04:00

Have I mentioned this?

We have a show opening up tonight!

But, if you can't make it to Montana, the pieces from the show will be

available for purchase online starting Monday!

We'll have a short day in the studio! The opening is from 5-7!

Hope to see you if you are in the area!
Drop me a line if you'd like a post card!

Cheers!

Red Lodge 13 : PUSH!

2010-04-08T02:29:00.005-04:00

BUY ME!

I haven't really advertised my work much here on the blog so I thought I would just,

well, you know...tell you to,

BUY THIS PITCHER!

The above pitcher is about 12" tall and is ready for shipping...$90 includes shipping and handling. It was wood and salt fired at Brush Valley this past fall.

Just a little Mountain blue laundry...

Carbonis trapitis...

Thought I would just drop a quick note to say we are happy and healthy and moving things along for the wood firing. We finish with wet clay tomorrow(no more throwing), and begin drying, bisquing and glazing over the weekend. It was a productive day! (thank you baliwood and eva!)

We didn't miss $6 growler night tonight. Pace!

Red Lodge Part12

2010-04-05T23:47:00.005-04:00

I took a break from the wheel to return to these hand built bottle forms. The last time I made these bottles was as a resident at the Cub Creek Foundation. I think they'll look great in the crustier parts of the train kiln here at Red Lodge. Above are finished versions from Cub Creek in 2006.

When it comes to hand building, I love that as I finish them, they're done. No flipping, trimming, handles, etc. It take at least an hour for each bottle, but they're pretty much done after I add the neck and top. I'm sure I'll find a way to keep fussing with them tomorrow.

A few 10lb lidded jars that will get poked and prodded tomorrow. They stand about 14" tall. I think I like the one on the right with the higher shoulder and flatter lid...any thoughts? This type of lid, with the overhanging lip, is a little foreign to me. I usually drop a galley in the rim and the lid sits down in. (Like these or these). This overhanging lid will work a little better in zones of the kiln that may get quite a lot of ash buildup.

Above is another image from our trip to Cody.

And then there was a peacock. Chillin on top of a Circus-looking trailer. Just down from the studio on East Bench Road.

See you tomorrow...Cheers!

Red Lodge Part11: Cody images

2010-04-04T19:55:00.004-04:00

Back on March 16th we made the last leg of our 3 day journey from PA to Red Lodge, late at night, drifting into town from Cody, Wyoming at around 1:30am. I was driving that night, and had no idea of the beauty that lay behind the dark as we sped through Wyoming and into Montana. Until yesterday! We made a day trip south on US Highway 120, retracing the route from that last night, down into the land of Buffalo Bill. I was just awestruck by the beauty! These photos, of course, do no justice to the majesty of what we saw. Though I was apprehensive to take a break from the studio, we all needed it, and I'm glad we went!

above, looking northwest from US 120 in Wyoming.

above, looking southeast coming home from Cody. I was struck by the similarity that the southern side held with The Badlands.

above, image taken near Belfry, Montana.

We stopped near the crest of the hill just south of Redlodge. This is looking back down toward Bearcreek, Montana, on US 38.

We got back to it today, and we'll be making our last push towards firing the train kiln.

Best to you all!
Cheers!

Red Lodge Part 10: Cody

2010-04-03T11:21:00.004-04:00

We are taking the day off from the studio and heading south to Cody, Wyoming for a day trip. The rest of the Red Lodge folks are heading back from Philly tonight after a long week at the NCECA conference. We wish them all safe travels and godspeed. I'll have pictures to share when I get home and hopefully we'll find a brewery down that way. I've also added a link and photo of the Red Lodge Clay Center Gallery, way down at the bottom of the page. If you have a chance, peruse their sight! They've got some great work for sale!

Cheers!

Red Lodge Part 9

2010-04-01T22:34:00.002-04:00

Just can't say enough about this. That snowmobile jumped right in the back of that truck.

Ole' Downtown is hoppin tonight with skiers and snowmobilers alike.

It is a ski resort kind of town.

We unloaded the soda kiln to mixed results. Love some of the surfaces, hate the loss percentage which is pretty high. Some really nice pots will end up in the shard pile.

A little cabin on the mug...

I lost one of my pitcher and melitta sets, and this one barely made it through. With some grinding it might make it into the show or onto the etsy site. Theres a big ole' soda drip near the stripes and on the handle. It looks good, though, and the melitta fits a #4 cone filter just right!

Well that's all for now! Cheers!

Red Lodge Part 8: Snow Falling on Soda

2010-04-01T00:28:00.009-04:00

We got a bit of snow last night. The roads were slick this morning on the way to the studio.

12 inches are expected in the next couple of days!

A view from the apartment last night around 10:30.

View of the inside of the soda kiln.

Donn putting our first charge in the firebox. Using the Gail Nichols mix:
50 whiting
20 Soda Ash
30 Baking soda
I had trouble getting the mix to set.

A view of the burners blowing back. Too much gas? Not enough air? Seems like the flame was just bouncing off the bagwall?

We had a nice even firing, and naturally, we can't wait to see the results! You'll get to see them too, if you check back later this weekend!
We missed growler night tonight at Sams! Cheers!

Red Lodge Part 7

2010-03-30T23:44:00.006-04:00

We loaded the Soda kiln around 5:30!

Hope to fire off by 4 or 5 tomorrow!

This kiln was built by none other than Matt Long. We'll let you know of the results!

Another gorgeous view from the studio!

We've all heard that Montana could use some more snow, and that the precipitation is down by 50%!

We hope that today helps!

Yes! Glaze those sugar and creamer sets! Everyone is chomping at the bit to

have one! I couldn't fire this Cone 10 Soda without a few glaze tests in the kiln load! The cabin mugs have versions of Weiser White in them. I've noticed that this Weiser White glaze looks like ALOT like Yellow Salt, but it's not so finicky, bubbling up around handles and in the bottoms of pots. So, I mixed tests with RIO, YIO, green nickle carbonate and copper carbonate as colorants.

Aside from glazing for the Soda Kiln, we've all got new pots in the works. These are trays I've been working on... Hope you like them!
CHEERS!!!
Don't worry! We miss you, too!

Red Lodge Part 6: Beaver Dam

2010-03-28T10:25:00.005-04:00

It was a beautiful day out here in Red Lodge, Montana, so I stepped out for an hour or so to go check out the beaver dam just down the road from the studio. Along the way I snapped a few pictures. I love old sheds, falling down or not. The passage of time, some mysteries and weathered material.

At the Beaver Lodge Fishing Access,

I didn't spot any beavers, but snapped a shot of their handiwork.

After my walk I trimmed the lids on some of the jars and made a few more with a 50/50 mix of the B-mix and Death Valley. Today I'll trim the bottoms and start spraying slips, and carving a few images into them. I'll try not to play too much, I do like the clean surface. But I usually can't resist that canvas!

Betty finished up some really great flower bricks.

I can't wait to see some of these in the soda and the wood fire!

Red Lodge Part 5

2010-03-27T00:03:00.008-04:00

What a great picture of Donn and Betty on day 3 of our drive!

That was...let's see...holy wow! We've been here for 2 Fridays, now!

We left PA on Saturday, March 13th, drove all the way to Rockford, Illinois, then the next day made it to Sturgis, SD, and arrived early Tuesday morning around 1:30 a.m. the 16th.

I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks!

These are the new baskets for the cream and sugars!
Refine, Refine, Refine! Do you do that? Do you discover that one thing works better than another and go back and REMAKE the piece right away? It's a first for me. I usually say, "oh that works better than the other...huh... I'll remember it for the NEXT time." Of course, I forget!!! So, while I'm here at RedLodge, surrounded by such great work in the gallery and in the studio, I want to REMEMBER that it worked BEFORE I make 10 of the ones that didn't work.

Must be the elevation.

These 10" jars are made from 5 lbs B-mix and 1lb Death Valley, both Laguna products.

I've been adding the handles to the body as the forms are wet, right on the wheel. It seems to add to the shape of these jars. I sprinkle corn starch on the rim of the lid and I can fit the lid right away! The corn starch burns out in the bisque, but keeps the wet clay lid/pot from sticking to each other. This allows for the lid to conform to the slightly out of round shape of the pot.

It's a great technique for fitting odd or irregular shaped pieces!

I learned this from Betty, and she attributes it to Jim Brashear.

Until tomorrow!

Cheers!

Red Lodge Part 4

2010-03-26T00:44:00.006-04:00

A view of Rock Creek behind the studio from a walk I took on Monday.

Some green peaking through the water.

A few pictures from the days events!

The 5 to 6" creamer and sugar sets aren't quite done, but here is a picture of them with colored and flashing slips. I made 3 more baskets today and will get handles on the new ones tomorrow.

I settled on a thinner rim for the baskets that seems to echo the rims of the pitchers and jars.

I like the set in the bottom right hand corner of the photo above,

though I'm still tweaking the handle!

These are the discoveries we get to make when we slow down a bit. It must be the elevation.

The 4 inch bottles will get trays too, made from the Death Valley dark stoneware.

See you tomorrow!

Red Lodge Part 3

2010-03-24T20:23:00.007-04:00

We are really getting into the swing of things. The last couple of days we've taken a slower start, getting out to the studio in the late morning, then taking a break from 5-7 (7-9 est),

then back at it for a couple more hours!

The residents are working diligently at photographing and cataloging our work for the show! They work hard to make this place run smooth! I will be featuring the resident artists

and their work later, here on the blog!

Above are 6 creamers I made to match the lidded coffee pitcher/Melitta sets that I showed yesterday.

Each creamer/sugar has a little basket. I'll put handles on the last 3 when we go back tonight!

A picture of Betty Hedman working on a Dresser/creamer. I hope to have pictures of the canister set shes working on! Very cool!

Here's Donn Hedman working on some of his basket vessel forms. Babu Porcelain handled vases with Laguna's Death Valley stoneware bases.

We took a drive up onto the plain above Red Lodge, called a "bench," and our gracious driver (Donn) allowed me to get out and snap this photo!

Until tomorrow!

Cheers!

Red Lodge Part 2

2010-03-24T00:39:00.005-04:00

A view of the studio looking North East

We went up to the ski area and snow was on its way.

See you tomorrow!

From PA to MT!

2010-03-22T23:04:00.008-04:00

Here we are! In Beautiful Montana! This is as far west as I've been and I can't explain how incredible these Mountains are! For those of you who don't know, I was invited to come to

Red Lodge Clay Center by Donn and Betty Hedman. We will be here until April 15th making work, and will have an exhibit of our work opening April 9th.

Don't worry, you won't have to come to Montana! The show will be available online!

We left PA loaded down with pots, pottery making tools, and all kind of other things on Saturday March 13th and arrived unscathed 3 days later.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, day 3 of the drive.

We saw three National Parks/Monuments that day, and arrived in Red Lodge around

1:30 am Tuesday March 16th .

Devils Tower!

South West view of the Beartooth National Forest from the Red Lodge Clay Center studio,

6 miles out of town.

Lidded Coffee Pitcher with matching Melita!

I have always wanted to make these, and now I have 6 of them in the works. We'll load our first bisque this week and fire the soda kiln early next week!
Until next post, cheers!

Ewers and Lidded Jars

2010-02-18T17:13:00.002-05:00

these lidded jars are a little further along with some white slip on the bodies and small handles

these little ewers sure did take a long time to finish! Body, top piece, handle, spout and lid!
they'll have slab trays...

Martin Brothers pot from Philly

2010-01-28T15:22:00.008-05:00

A little friendly advice for these cold winter nights from the Martin Brothers:

I came accross this jug at the Phily Museum last spring, and since there's not much going on in the studio today, I thought I'd share it. Thanks to my friend Jim Harris for providing a placeto crash and touring us about showing us the ropes. Ah, Philly!

Vases and mugs

2010-01-22T12:33:00.010-05:00

Stoneware vases with poured flashing slip.

This is the flashing slip recipe:

40 t-6

40 om4

10 neph sye

10 whiting

A nice batch of these medium sized mugs. Carving, flashing and titanium slip, with wax resist and Suzies black. Mark Shapiro showed this technique a couple of years ago during a Penland summer workshop.

Moving right along...

2010-01-18T21:27:00.007-05:00

This bottle was fired with my friend Scott Cornish, in his 2 chambered train/bourry box/cantenary arch wood/soda kiln west of Slippery Rock near New Galilea, PA.

These bottles were gas/salt fired back in 2008. They are the reason I keep returning to the
flask form.

fresh thrown bowls, drying on the ware cart.

Bisqued bottles await firing. Wood, Gas Salt or Reduction. So many choices.

I have been returning to a couple of successful forms. This time last year I was in the same space and things feel familiar. This time of year I end up making pots that relate to what's happening, like beer tankards, whiskey bottles, jugs, big soup bowls and bread plates. Aint much to do round here when the weather turns sour, except eat, drink and make pots...I think I'll stay.

The white slip on the bowl forms are a version of

Val Cushings S O T:

30 Grolleg

20 XX Sagger (the original called for EPK)

20 T-6

30 Custer

I wanted to see what ball clay would do to this slip. I've used it in/on all kinds of pots and firings. Though it tends to peal away from pots when you brush it on a leather hard pot, I have had success with dipping and pouring it on leather hard or brushing/wiping it on wet pots on the wheel. It has worked quite well on plates with shell flashing. The substitution of ball clay in the recipe may affect the flashing affects. The flashing comes from the high alumina content of the 70 percent kaolin slip(and the atmosphere of the kiln), but I'm thinking the changes will be minimal. I'm hoping the ball clay will aid in leather hard application. Time will tell, as we'll be firing soon. I've been using SOT on half of the work, including some pots I'll fire with a celadon or tenomoku glaze in reduction. The slip will fire white under a clear or glossy glaze.

The flasks(5 of the 12 I made) have been bisqued and are ready for a fire. They were made with a light firing stoneware and then dipped in a slip made from Laguna's B-mix for cone 10. My friend Donn uses B-mix, and orders it dry in 50 lb bags, so I'm trying it as a slip. All in due time.

I will most likely gas/salt fire this work here in Smicksburg. I hope to keep a few for other firings, as I've posted before.

Well, that's enough for now, I hope. Stay warm!

Jugs

2009-12-17T11:26:00.006-05:00

Here are a few new pots in process. I've been working in the downstairs studio of Donn Hedmans pottery near Smicksburg. Donn has graciously offered me space in his super nice studio with a beautiful view. I'm making plenty and bisquing work for future firings. Out at Brush Valley, I don't bisque, so I thought I would store away a few dozen pieces that I can take to other folks firings in the coming months.

As for this recent work, I've been trying to hold back on my urges to use the colored slips and linear decoration that I usually include in my work. I struggle to not over decorate forms such as these jugs. The shapes, hopefully, will stand alone.

I have return to this form over and over through the years. I have always been intereste in historic jugs and the change in their shapes that trace the development of the industrialization of clay manufacturing. The closer you get to the 1900's, the flatter and straighter the jug shapes become. The more graceful forms of previous centuries leave wasted space in a kiln where the bellies meet and can be difficult forms to make. The early American jug shapes reference their German and English counterparts, with full bellies, long graceful necks and and a narrow foot.

I am also searching for relevance in these forms in today's day and age. How do these jugs fit in to contemporary life? Well, maybe they don't and maybe that's EXACTLY why we need them. These simple containers echo a time of simplicity. Not necessarily an easier life, just different and simpler. I hope I'm not stuck in the past but I think those folks made some nice jugs.
Wishing everyone Happy Holidays over the coming months...

New Pots on ETSY!!!

2009-11-12T12:08:00.005-05:00

It's been said that I can't just make the stuff...

I've gotta do something with it, right?

So check out my ETSY site , and let me mail you a wonderful handmade wood fired and salt glazed pot! I'll be adding more work over the weekend, so check back often!

After the tour...

2009-10-19T21:00:00.005-04:00

Just a few images from the potters tour...

My friend Shana, trying her hand at turning on the

wheel, gets a lesson from me...

I had a great turnout, thanks to everyone

who stopped out at Brush Valley Pottery!

Post-firing Firing post...

2009-10-13T14:23:00.001-04:00

It has been a few days since my last post so this one is going to be a long one...all about the salt firing I just finished monday morning at 3 a.m.! This was the 6th time I've fired the kiln here in Brush Valley and the 3rd time for mostly rawglazed pots. For some of you who aren't potters, this means that I glaze the work when it is leather hard, using slip glazes that have a large amount of clay in the batch recipes. The clay in the glaze allows the glaze to shrink with the pot as water evaporates during the drying process. It can be tricky and most people choose to bisque fire their work and then glaze, but out of necessity, with no electric/bisque kiln here in Brush Valley, and the fact that most of my work only needs a liner glaze, I use this process of once firing. Once the pots are dry, it's time to load and fire.

Mugs tumblers, soup bowls and plates, lidded jars

and pitchers.

The firebox extension worked out great

for preheating the greenware/rawglazed pots.

I loaded it up with large cherry and oak chunks,

clammed it up and went to bed around

4am. At 8 am I returned to find

coals still in the box and started the firing...

Without a Pyrometer to gauge the early

part of the drying process

I used this chimney

thermometer for a wood stove.

I need it for the beginning of the firing

to make sure nothng blows up at the point

where the water left in the pots

starts to "boil" or evaporate...

Toward the end of the firing we used the flame

to stoke off of and had a nice,

even firing of cone ten down.

Heres a picture of the kiln shed and flame coming

from the chimney. As soon as the flame went in, I

stoked again, and the flame lasted abut 1 1/2 minutes per

stoke. This temperature(nearly 2400 degrees) really ate up the wood!

I hope to post pics of the finished results soon! Dont forget about the potters tour! Can't wait to see you all here!

47 not 50

2009-10-08T11:59:00.000-04:00

Well the Earthenware firing wasn't a complete disaster, but I've had better...The liner glaze acted up quite a bit, bubbling and looking either over fired or under fired in places...It may have been a thickness thing or the fact that I used it on greenware...Ron usually bisques everything. The planters and silverware strainers turned out great! Not enough salt in the kiln, either. So, next time I might just leave out the glaze ware and just do all planters...

For now, I'm speeding along to the next cone 1o firing, hopefully loading on Saturday and firing Sat night and Sunday. Sorry again, no pictures, but stay tuned as I'm taking plenty of pictures, I just can't upload them...I'm working on it!

Well, back to the 47 mugs I have to put handles on...yeah, I know, 47? Why not 50?

2009-09-22T14:19:00.000-04:00

I've got the recipes for Ron's liner glaze and clay body, so now I can run some color tests and get on with the firing!

Here's some more info for everyone-

Ron's Clay: Cone 04-5 (we tested this in a very fast gas kiln firing and it went to cone 10)

Newman Red: 80 lbs

Red Art: 25 lbs

Fire Clay: 10 lbs

Medium size Grog: 15 lbs

Neph Sy: 2 lbs

Transparent Glaze: cone 04-5

Frit 3124: 80Kaolin: 10

Flint: 10

Bentonite: 2

For Liner add to base 10% Zircopax

Last nite I got the Kiln all cleaned out and started to figure out where everything is going...I'm going to have plenty of room, but it will take some time to fit everything in...Sorry, no pictures this time!

Slipped and drying...

2009-09-16T19:12:00.000-04:00

I finished decorating these planters this evening with white slip, a little colored slip, and then carving through to show the dark clay beneath.

I started the last 2 planters that I'll need

for the firing this morning. It was so nice

outside today, they were ready for the rims

this evening and I should have them finished tomorrow!

I even squeezed in a little triming on the

lane coming in from Luciusboro Road.

Seems like time is just flying by and

the Potters Tour is only a month away...

Woodfired Earthenware?

2009-09-14T12:15:00.001-04:00

I've finally been in the studio after catching up on the outdoor chores...they say to make hay while the sun shines...so I've been making pots while the moon shines.

I'm almost ready to fire up the wood kiln with an earthenware salt glaze firing! I'll fire somwhere between 1800 to 2000 degrees...I was inspired to try this technique over the summer while helping Ron Meyers with his workshop at Penland. Ron fires a wood kiln down in Georgia to earthenware temps. I think there are some subtle colors that will show up nicely in this temperature range.
During second session at Penland, I worked with Ayumie Horie who also uses earthenware. I loved her clay body and brought some home with me. I've taken to combining Ayumie and Ron Meyers clay together, about half and half, both of which were mixed by Highwater Clays in Asheville, NC, and using this mix to make the large planters shown above. The planters shown above were made using Daniel Johnstons Thai style construction technique. They'll be stacked rim to rim in the kiln. The sizes range from 12 inches in height to 18 inches across the top rims. These are some of the largest pots I've made...

I'm making a few cups and some other functional pieces and hope to test some glazes and slips in this firing. I ought to be ready to fire sometime soon! I am really excited to try something new! It keeps things fresh!

If you're interested in helping or just seeing the wood fire process, just let me know!

Here are a few recipes I'll be using for this firing...Thank you Ayumi
Modified Clay c/02 ---3 o’clock
OM 4 Ball Clay 10
Redart               70
Goldart              20
Frit 3124             3
Barium                0.25
Bent                    2
Kyanite (fine)      5

White Slip c/02
OM4 Ball Clay   36.1
EPK                   18.1
Neph Sy              3.8
Frit 3124          25.8
Zircopax             13.8
Buttercup #6406 1.4
Gray #6572          0.24
I'll post Ron's clay body and liner glaze as soon as I find it...

Stacked...

2009-08-06T19:42:00.000-04:00

I've been starin down this pile of wood ever since I returned from Penland. After a little help with the wood splitter and some weed eating, I was ready to get this stuff up out the mud.

Glad to be done with just shy of 2 chords of firewood to keep me warm this winter in the studio...It's time to sharpen the chain saw and start all over...I've noticed the days are getting shorter and I want 5 chords by October.

I'm heading to Fairmont this weekend...

...Ya'll enjoy this weather!

Flickr

2009-08-05T12:08:00.001-04:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Back Home

2009-08-03T10:59:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! I'm back home and gearing up for an earthenware wood and salt firing! Can't wait!

I've got a bunch of pitures from Penland and you can see them through this link. This batch is from Session 1 with Ron Meyers and Chuck Hindes. I will be posting pictures from session 2 with Ayumi Horie, and session 3 with Daniel Johnston. Check back soon!

Half way through...

2009-05-30T19:47:00.000-04:00

Man, did it rain last week! We had to take to drying work out in the electric kilns...put a layer in, dry it at 200...put another layer in, dry it...and on and on and on...we've fired at least 20 bisques...we will begin loading the wood kiln tomorrow...I'll do my best to keep posting, but we are hoppin' now...

Let the Pastoral begin...

2009-05-24T10:17:00.000-04:00

How do, everybody? I'm sitting on the porch at the clay studio here in lovely Penland, having my first cup of coffee and enjoying a little rain. Things will be cranking tomorrow, so we takes it easy today!
Tonight I get to meet Chuck Hindes and Ron Meyers, instructors for the class I'm assisting with my friend Peter Olsen. What a great 2 weeks this will be! Peter is executive director of Seward Park Clay Studio, in Seattle,WA. He knows how to put on a workshop and I'm grateful to be able to work with him!

Let the pastoral begin! High on the mountain, with time to think a little harder about what and why I do this...no doubts, just discoveries...I will be here for 6 amazing weeks. Keep in touch!

PS- Happy Birthday, Bob!:

This is from the writers almanac today:

It's the birthday of the man who just released his 33rd studio album, Together Through Life: Bob Dylan, born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota (1941). He grew up in the declining mining town of Hibbing, Minnesota. He was a quiet kid, raised by Jewish parents, who loved listening to the Grand Ole Opry. But after he heard Little Richard on the radio, he wanted to play rock and roll, so his dad bought him an electric guitar and he formed a rock band at his high school, The Golden Chords. Then he went to the University of Minnesota, and as soon as he got to Minneapolis and heard a record by the folk singer Odetta, he went and traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic one. He said, "A person is a success if they get up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do."