Lidded Pitcher, pots in use...

Check out this awesome picture from a friend putting one of my lidded pitcher/Melita sets to good use!

Happy Friday!

Parkersburg Art Center Pottery Class

I know it's been a lonnnnnnnng time since I've posted to my Blog. 

Things have really changed in the last couple of years.

Anyway, I'll save you the details for another day, and skip to the business at hand!

I'm gearing up to teach a pottery class at the Parkersburg Art Center, in Parkersburg, WV.

I was hoiping to offer the class as sort of an alternative "advanced" class
but we will certainly accept beginners and advanced students alike!

Let me know if you'd be interested in the class, and I'll get you the details!
Or you can just click on the link to the Parkersburg Art Center!

New Pots on ETSY!!!

I've listed a few new mugs in my ETSY Shop! Take a look!

Brush Valley Artists Open House

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

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

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

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

 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.

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...



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

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!

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

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!

Red Lodge Part 16: Wood Klin (I know)

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

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

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!

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 bollywood and eva!)

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

Red Lodge Part12

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

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!