100 mugs

When I was in college getting my degree in ceramics I had this idea for my thesis (or final) project. I wanted to make 100 ornate unique bowls, each hand carved, hand painted, and one-of-a-kind. It was inspired by the idea that potters sometimes become mass producers and crank out form after identical form. I wanted to master creating one specific form, but it gave me the chills to think about making the same thing over and over. So I found a happy compromise. In the three months I had to prepare my thesis (along with my full load of classes) I made 70 bowls. Of those about 50 made it into the show. I was very proud of what I did, and I knew that I worked so hard and had truly done my best, but it has always nagged at me that I didn't create the 100.

I graduated in 2004 and didn't make ceramics for awhile.  I worked various jobs, started a craft business called ReLove Projects, and eventually found my way back to clay. I took an evening adult class through The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation, and loved working with clay again. But I was juggling too much with a full time job and raising my young daughter. I was frustrated by how little time I could spend on clay and ended up only making a few things. My time was unfocused, undisciplined, and very scattered.  I think I made a few mugs, perhaps a bowl or two. I definitely wasn't able to put the time into it that I wanted to- or needed to for it to be worthwhile. So I took another break. A few years later I found myself in a totally different place of my life. I was an art teacher and had many pockets of time, my daughter was older and more independent, I had a successful partner who was willing to support my passion and pay for classes. So I took another class and this one was a much better experience. I decided that I would focus on making mugs. Mugs are something that everybody uses, there are so many variations in form, size, handles, and they were small enough that I could make LOTS! And I did! I brought clay home and worked on my kitchen table. I went to as many open studio sessions as I could. Then I took another class and made more mugs. Mugs, mugs, mugs (and a few side projects like an octopus bowl and an owl bank). I would go to work, come home, set up my clay stuff and work into the night. It was rare that my kitchen table didn't have clay on it. I turned my dining room shelf into a dry space. Clay was taking over!

I am lucky to have a very supportive father who loves building things. He noticed the clay taking over the house and built me a studio in the back yard.

And now here I am- I have my studio space where I can get messy and create, I have my love of clay and desire to make things, I have my kiln, but I need some focus, a project to work towards. My idea is to make 100 unique mugs. All 100 will be carved and stamped and hand painted...  I'm still developing it- I need to figure out exactly what supplies I need, how much that will cost, and about how long it will take. Then I will need to figure out how to fund the project. Right now I'm selling the mugs I created in class, and slooooowly paying for necessities for my studio, but I have a long way to go. My ultimate dream is to be able to support myself with pottery, and I think it'll be achievable... Someday. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to move forward?

New photos!

Today Brad helped me take new photos of my ceramic work. My pictures were ok, but his are professional. I think it looks pretty schnazzy! 

If you'd like any photography help, Brad's website is at www.torchlightphotography.com. 

The past few weeks have been busy busy... I have:

1) made 2 Halloween costumes...

 A Day of the Dead peacock (mine), and Catwoman (my daughter's). My boyfriend was zombie Steve Jobs, which didn't require much as far as making. 

2) Had a birthday...  

I wanted to spend some time in my studio but that didn't happen. I went to yoga, out for lunch with my dad and stepmom, out for coffee with my mom and boyfriend, then to Anthropologie (I got a gift card).  It was a lovely day!

My tripod (an update)

In my last post I wrote about trying a tripod tutorial to overcome my lack of motivation... And I did! In the video  "How to Make a Textured Tripod Pot With Soft Slabs" at Ceramic Arts Daily, Sandi Pierantozzi made it look easy... And it was! I used gutter guard for texture as suggested and I REALLY like it. I forgot about all of the everyday things that can be used. 

I know this picture is a tease. Sorry about that. I've lost my camera cable and can't find it anywhere! Argh. In a few days all of my low-fire pieces will be dried and ready to bisque, so more updates will be coming soon (as long as I can find my dang cable!). 

If anybody has a tutorial that they'd recommend I'd love to hear about it.  

Tripod Tutorial

This week I've been feeling really blah and unmotivated. I haven't exercised. I haven't made anything. The most creative thing I've done is choose some new favorites on Etsy! Ugh.

It's time to get myself out of this rut... So I looked up some tutorials and found one that I really want to try:

In the video  "How to Make a Textured Tripod Pot With Soft Slabs" at Ceramic Arts Daily, Sandi Pierantozzi explains how to texture the slab (she used gutter guard), create an even tripod, bulge the sides out, and then add some finishing touches. It is inspiring and simple! Well, she makes it look easy. I'm going to spend some clay time in the studio on Sunday and will give you an update on how it actually goes! Find the video HERE.

PS- I thought some of the comments were really helpful too!

Glaze Test Dishes

I always prefer my handmade dishes over anything mass produced or store bought, but these dinner plates at Anthropologie are making me consider an exception...

DETAILS

An ode to happenstance, this collection of striped and splotched dinnerware was culled from a bin of discarded dishes that had been used to test glazes, which our buyer found in a factory in Portugal. We love the sea-hued marks and general irregularities as much as we appreciate their backstory.

Inspiration: Catherine Cleary

The first and second weekends in October Open Studios are happening in Boulder. It is a FABULOUS event that's been going on for 17 years. 135 artists open up their homes/studios to the general public and are there to answer questions and show people around. Every time I go I leave feeling so inspired!


Yesterday my boyfriend and I visited Catherine Cleary. I met her at the library's opening reception and just knew that I had to see more of her work! She had a clay sculpture of an iguana perched on a log holding an umbrella. It was amazing.  I was wearing a vintage polyester dress and she told me about her mother's bright pink polyester outfit. She promised that she'd show it to me if I visited her studio. Sure enough, as I walked in, she said, "Pink polyester!" (It was fabulous. I really wanted her to wear it!). 

Swine lake by Catherine Cleary

Catherine gets most of her inspiration from animals. Her pieces have an illustration quality ( Catherine's other love is drawing), are humorous, amazingly realistic and whimsical. Catherine creates her sculptures with low fire clay. Much of the form is made from slab construction. She adds all the details my hand with her "many many tools". After she bisque fires she achieves much of the color with underglazes. First she paints it with a black underglaze, then washes it off. Then she hand paints the colored underglazes, and puts a clear matte glaze over all of it. Catherine's studio was filled with pictures, toys, tools, creepy dolls with bad haircuts that she picked up at flea markets. I could feel the creative energy! I really just loved Catherine- her gregarious personality, her openness, and of course her art. 
Visit Catherine Cleary's website HERE to see all of her work.

Do these stripes make me look fat? by Catherine Cleary

This is my favorite:

Octopuppet by Catherine Cleary