New Mug Printed with Linocut and Kicking Myself Offline
Leaves hand built mug printed with linocut
I whipped this mug out last Thursday for something special that’s on the horizon…. Despite carving the design in the linoleum last summer, I hadn’t actually used the linocut to date. The template wasn’t exactly made for this type of mug, but I sort of like that the vining leaves are on an angle.
Linocut mug templates – I used the bottom left linocut for the mug above.
Here’s a couple of my linocuts – I’ve added at least 2 since then and have ideas for many more. I like carving the designs into linoleum because it’s a rigid material, maintains a uniform slab thickness and leaves an evenly distributed texture. And while I do use some commercial textures, I really prefer using my own imagery.
Meanwhile, I’ve been spending too much time online between blogging, social networking sites, Etsy Mud Team, my website, emailing and my volunteer duties with the PTA (which involves the computer). My husband was just a tad irritated with me last Sunday and I agreed that I need to find a better balance. It’s hard being self employed because as many of you well know, my computer and internet use is my life line to the world. So many opportunities have come my way and new connections forged that I might never have made without my computer.
I did ask my husband how many hours he spends on a computer at work – he hemmed and hawed and admitted that it was 8+ hours a day – but he emphasized that he leaves it at work. I asked him how he thought I could fit it all in? As a small business owner and mom who works at home the boundaries between work and home life blur considerably.
Nonetheless, I conceded to limit my tweeting, blogging, commenting, Facebooking, emailing etc. to 10-15 hours a week. I try to accomplish my computer time in the morning while having my coffee, but it doesn’t always work. If I put in 20 hours min. studio time a week, that’s still part time work hours on my part and allows me to connect better to my family. Regarding commenting on other people’s blogs – I’ve decided that rather than trying to digest my whole bloglines subscriptions in one sitting, I’ll answer those who comment on my blog first, and then attempt to read 5 feeds a day. That’s so much easier than 70!
Question: How much time do you spend online a day whether you’re for pleasure or business? What is acceptable – what is too much?
Meanwhile, I made up for the perceived neglect by making some home made artisan baked bread…keep in mind that I’ve never made home made bread before – but I found the easiest recipe in the world. I have to admit that it’s delicious and now my family doesn’t want me to ever buy store bought bread again!
Must run,
~Cynthia
Art Opening at East End Arts and Pottery Party
Bussing Mary Cay in front of her porcelain wall pieces in her new studio
My good friend and former ceramic’s instructor, Mary Cay, has just moved into a new studio in the East End Arts District in Aurora, CO. This makes me happy on so many fronts because this means she’s going to start making work again after a bit of a hiatus due to change in her life and she’s showing her work again. On Friday, I had the opportunity to visit her studio as part of First Fridays Art Walk and had a blast.
There are several studios in the East End Applied Arts Gallery and Studios where she has her work space now including a jeweler, painters and potters. The owner of the building is a potter, Walt Weinberg, which is pretty cool if you ask me. He happened to be firing the gas kiln while the opening was going on and I took a peek at the kiln yard and the back end of the studios. While the gallery is open Thursday – Saturday, it sounds like the artist’s studios will be open to the public on First Fridays.
Look closely…
I laughed so hard when I saw one of Mary Cay’s bowls on display! It’s so subtle, yet disarming. I told her I coveted this, and before I knew it, Mary Cay and I struck up a trade and I walked out the door with this gem. No, I’m not feeling the urge to have a baby or anything – I just think it’s funny.
Jules and Janet
While Mary Cay hasn’t been making any new work in awhile, she has been teaching some clay classes part time. Jules and Janet are former classmates of mine at the Art Student’s League of Denver – we took classes together a few years back. Janet recently built a studio at her home where she and Jules work and have continued taking classes privately with Mary Cay. They’ve been playing around with crystalline glazes and their new work is rockin’!
Pottery Party Posse
Meanwhile, the secretary at my daughter’s school begged me to teach a “pottery party” at her home after I allowed her to participate in one of my after school clay classes a month ago. She had so much fun making a mug and thought she could round up a few of her friends for a party. I’ve never done anything like this before nor have I ever considered it and wasn’t sure how to price an event like this. I cut her a deal since she does so much for the school and helps make sure my after school class runs smoothly – not to mention being one of my biggest cheerleaders. Many of the participants were interested in doing something like this again – I suppose I should decide if I want to pursue this and post something about pricing, min. & max participants etc. on my website.
There’s a fascination with wet clay that you just can’t get from a paint your own pottery shop – and many don’t have the time to sign up for a class. They made a variety of different kinds of cups, mugs and tumblers – along with some clay jewelry. The ladies had fun and also have a much better appreciation for handmade pottery after last night.
Meanwhile, I’m substitute teaching the next 2 days and won’t get back in my studio till Wed. I am going to work a couple of hours this afternoon – more of a getting ready for the next extended studio session.
Have a great week,
~Cynthia
Hybrid vases, cone 6 white glaze and glaze calc program
Hybrid Leaf Vases
I liked making these 2 vases – the bases were made from slabs of clay and the wheel thrown neck was added after the hand built portion of the vase had set up (not quite leather hard) enough to withstand having the neck addition. I also made a bisque texture plate using ginkgo leaves from the little tree I planted in my yard – though I haven’t used it yet. The white glaze is new for me – it’s from Mastering Cone 6 Glazes by Hesselberth and Roy, pg. 108 “Faux Majolica”. There’s a great interaction between the white and the aqua color glaze where they overlap that I really like.
In an effort to use and store a limited number of glazes and all the associated raw materials in my small garagio, I thought this white would be good as both a liner and I might like to try painting some stains on top in the future maiolica style. I decided to be conservative and only made a 5,000 gram batch just in case I didn’t like it, but I have to say, it fires terrifically!
In regards to glazes, I decided to bite the bullet today and purchased the Digital Fire Insight Glaze Calculator after testing several different programs, even a free glaze calc program. I’m all about free, unless it isn’t working for me and this one isn’t a terribly intuitive program – but that really applies to me only. Maybe now that I have the glaze calculation program, I can add my glaze recipe page to my website. I’ve been too lazy to format tables in word for my recipes and it would be really cool for others to see the analysis that accompanies each.
Square Bottom Mug – hand built from slabs of clay
I really like the way this mug turned out – round top, square bottom and the faux majolica MC6 glaze interacts nicely with this green one too! In an effort to move away from the templates that ceramicist, teacher and writer Annie Chrietzberg gave to everyone this past summer during a workshop I took here in Denver, I tweaked her template just a tad giving the mug a square base instead of a round one. The tweak was minimal, but effective.
Speaking of Annie – I wonder if her ears are ringing right now…I enjoyed spending a couple of hours with her yesterday in my studio. She’s warm, funny and very generous with her knowledge. Oh Earth to Annie…thanks for stopping by!
Meanwhile, yesterday was hectic and I didn’t get a chance to do all my daily Internet activities such as responding to blog comments, answering emails etc. In the am, I took my daughter to visit the Denver Center for International Studies, which is a 6th grade -12th grade public magnet school in Denver. Denver residents are lucky to have school choice – but we are also cursed because choosing a school is like applying to college. She will be starting middle school next year and we’ve narrowed our choices down to 4 including the one above, Denver School of the Arts, Morey Middle School which has a gifted magnet program, and one other neighborhood school.
My first choice for her is the international studies school – it’s so cool, they start studying a foreign language in 6th grade (French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese or Japanese) and they visit countries where their language is spoken starting in 9th grade. Her first choice is Denver School of the Arts – but they only accept 20% of applicants. Besides, does our family need more than one artist? DCIS accepts about 50%, Morey is an automatic in – and the other school is just an extra for decision making purposes. All 3 of these schools are urban & very diverse – and bonus upon bonus – they provide busing!
The downside to all of school choice is that applications are due by Dec. 12 for following year and include essays, interviews, teach recommendations, test scores – all for 6th grade! It’s a little overwhelming for both of us. I promised her that if she decides to go to DCIS, I’ll take classes in whatever foreign language she picks. Wouldn’t Japanese be cool? Of course I’d sign up to chaperon field trips whenever possible!
TGIF,
~Cynthia
Earth Shelters, the Environment and Green Pottery Practices?
- Earth Shelter, builder unknown taken from http://conted.colorado.edu/programs/independent-learning/sustainable-practices/
Get ready for a woowoo post!
With each passing year, I’m becoming crunchier. It’s sort of a weird awakening, but that’s exactly what I feel is happening to me. I’m waking up to the world around me and realizing that each individual is responsible for the earth’s safekeeping so that future generations of people will thrive. I had an epiphany this morning – talking about the environment is for some people like talking about religion or politics. It can get heated or ignored all together. My apologies in advance if you are tired of hearing about the environment – fair warning to read no further.
I have some really big ideas right now – I would love to build an earth shelter somewhere in Colorado in about 3 – 4 years time frame. After talking with an architect friend of mine, the trick would be to find a county with an open minded building zoning commission. Here in Colorado, I would think that would include many mountain communities or Boulder. Some parts of Colorado do embrace alternative building techniques including geo-domes, straw bale homes, cob structures, earth shelters and more. I’ve been doing a lot of research lately and have a stack of books piled high on my coffee table, including several written by Dan Chiras who happens to have built his own earth shelter nestled in the hills of Evergreen, CO just 40 minutes from downtown Denver. He has a gray water reclamation system, native plant landscaping, uses passive and active solar energy, grows some of his food, installed a composting toilet, geothermal energy, and used recycled tires and straw bales to construct part of the home. His annual energy bill? Practically $0.00. Can you imagine? I think the only thing I would need to pay for that I consider a utility would be for my internet connection! Is there satellite internet technology that’s widely available yet?
Why build an earth shelter? These homes are incredibly sustainable (save for the fact that virgin land might be built upon), and can be owner built off the grid. I have visions of a passive & active solar earth sheltered home with adjoining pottery studio, kiln shed, a posse of small farm animals and veggie garden all fueled by solar panels, wind, geothermal energy and homemade biodiesel. I know – sounds Utopian.
I can just hear the laughter bubbling up now from your side of the computer monitor! But, that’s okay…roll your eyes all you want to. 
The upside is that earth sheltered homes are incredibly weather safe & naturally climate controlled since a portion of the home is sheltered by the earth. Even in the winter, many homes only use supplemental heat such as a pellet or wood stove, and since the earth’s temperature below ground is a relatively stable 50°F or so, summer remains cool with no need for AC and the passive solar design heats in winter. There are natural precautions when building this type of home such as consideration for water drainage & water proofing, air flow ventilation and radon for obvious reasons.
I’ve been so excited about the possibilities that I almost pushed my husband (former real estate appraiser) over the edge a few weeks ago. Suffice it to say, he’s not on board yet – not even luke warm, but I keep trying… I think so many people consider this type of building a foreign concept, despite the fact that people have lived like this since ancient times. I suppose aesthetics and some conflated notion of resale values has something to do with it, but I kind of like the idea of having a sod roof over my head and no utility bill.
I’m not sure if my husband and I will ever get to the point where we move to a more rural area, and when I think about it, this might not be the most environmentally wise choice for us either, especially if he has to commute by car to an urban area to work. Although, if we had our own biodiesel refueling station at home…. I asked my architect friend if there are brownfields in the Denver metro area that would be possibilities for building an alternative structure. His response, “Brownfields? Definitely! Being able to build on one? Maybe, but it will be difficult getting plans approved, let alone getting past the NIMBYs.” Building on a brownfield also depends on the level of pollution, though there are plenty of remediation techniques available including plant life that remove certain chemicals through their root systems.
There are a ton of links out in cyberspace to learn more about alternative home building methods, but one place to get started is architect Malcolm Well’s website – he has links to books, discussions, other websites and more. He even designed and built an earth sheltered art gallery for his artist wife on Cape Cod.
In the meantime, I’ve been wondering if there is such as thing as a green pottery. I don’t think there truly can be one, even if you’re using solar panels or biodiesel or methane gas or farmed wood to fuel your kilns, you’re still mining the earth for the raw materials. With that said, I do think making a ceramic cup is a better choice environmentally than producing disposable cups, even if they are made from recycled materials. Additionally, buying a handmade cup from a potter is much better than buying cheap mass produced work from off shore with questionable environmental production practices.
I was also thinking about carbon offsets this morning too. Can buying carbon offsets assuage a potter’s practices of using fuel and raw materials to produce work? I sort of think buying carbon offsets is like buying indulgences during the 1400-1500′s. I think a better solution is to try to green your life in other ways which goes back to thinking about the home I live in. I may be off the mark here though.
I’ve decided to start small and have been making conscious changes at home – buying organic food, local when possible, switching my cleaning products to environmentally friendly ones, looking at solar panels, selling one car, biking or taking light rail when possible, growing a small vegetable garden. I can do these things easily, though the change over hasn’t come naturally because it takes awhile for old habits to die, and new ones to form. A funny thing happened the other day – I was out an about and ran into a conventional grocery store and after I made dinner, I didn’t think the food tasted as good as the food that I purchase at my local natural grocers where I’ve been shopping since July this year. At first it was the other way around.
In other news, I haven’t tried constructing my test diy solar heaters yet, but have all the materials (all recycled courtesy of the dumpsters in the alley behind my home) ready to go now. Now that the Potters Guild sale is over, I have a lot more time to play. Recently, I have also enjoyed listening to Green Talk Radio podcasts while I work in my studio. The host, Sean Daily, has had some terrific guests on his show and his mantra is start slow – every little change makes a difference.
What do you think in regards to sustainability and the environment – are you doing anything differently? Are you even concerned about it? If you’re a potter, do you think there can be a green pottery? I’m not one of the sky is falling type of people, but by being proactive, I feel a whole lot better.
Just curious,
~Cynthia
