Colorado Art Studio

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

Relief printed hand built stoneware mugs

I meant to write a blog post yesterday or this morning, but my flash image uploader in my wordpress dashboard wasn’t working and I was forced to upload one photo at a time.  Quelle horreur!  Stomping my feet impatiently and yelling at my laptop didn’t seem to solve anything.  So, today, I did a little computer clean up and also investigated the image problem.  After perusing the WP support forum, I discovered that the new version of Adobe Flash 10 is not compatible (apparently this will be fixed with the next release of WP) - so I had to roll Adobe Flash back to version 9.  What a pain - but, I’m happy to say that my uploader is now working fast and properly so here I am writing this post at 8:40pm on a Monday night.

Relief printed frog stoneware covered box

Sales were good at last weekend’s Colorado Potters Guild Sale.  I really wasn’t sure if they would be given the economy right now.  Maybe folks are feeling a little more hopeful with the election results?  I sold quite a bit of my new work and even some older work that doesn’t quite match what I making now.  Out of 35 mugs, I took home 5 (deservedly so - I will be reglazing them this week).   I love getting this kind of feedback!

Lots of folks remembered my covered boxes from the spring sale and were asking where I hid them.  I only had about 5 and came home with 0.  I meant to make a bunch of boxes for the sale and just plain ran out of time.  I accepted a couple of special orders for boxes at the CPG sale that I’m going to start working on this week at a leisurely pace.  These aren’t something that I can rush - they take time and careful consideration depending on the theme.

Hybrid mugs - hand built and wheel thrown

People really liked my new mugs - good thing since I like making them!  The relief printed ones in the top image of this post were the first to go, I guess that means that I should really make more of these in the future and also expand my lino-cuts.  I haven’t committed to any more sales events before the holidays - something about which I’m happy.  I plan to continue exploring shapes and different ideas and will also stock up my Etsy shop, which is currently empty.

Hybrid vases

I like the vases - but need to refine them just a bit more.  They would also make a good sized pitcher if I added a spout and handle.

Meanwhile, I spent yesterday reading and commenting on my favorite blogs since I hadn’t had the time to do so the week leading up to my sale.  It feels good to get back to a normal routine.  I know my family has enjoyed having me back. 

The good news is that I have a full kiln load of glazed work that I didn’t get fired in time for the sale which will help fill my Etsy shop.  As soon as I reglaze the mugs, I’ll push the start button.  This week I’m also going to start adding images to my gallery page - I’d say it’s about time, wouldn’t you?

Have a great week,

~Cynthia

I use a banding wheel to construct my slab built pottery

Today’s post is down and dirty - lots of pictures, little text.  Why?  I’m working away in the studio and my in-laws are visiting which makes finding time for online activity a difficult.  I’m still hand building work and thought I’d show you  my set up.  I tend to work on 4-6 mugs at a time now because it’s more efficient and it allows the clay to rest a bit while I go through the assembly line.

My tools are pretty basic.  I use a drywall board, banding wheel, X-acto knife, sponge, water, paper clay slip, scoring tool, wooden kitchen spoons (both ends), mini Kemper extruder for coils that I force into the joints, along with beverage at the ready and music or favorite podcasts.  What you don’t see is my wheel that is acting as the base of my work table.  That’s going to change today though since I feel like throwing a bit.

Fat bottomed mug

A prerequisite for any mug that I buy nowadays is that it has to have at least a 10 oz.+ capacity and a very stable wide bottom, capable of sitting on the arm rest of my sofa without spilling because this is my favorite place to drink the first cup of coffee of the morning while I wake up.  Most likely, you’ll find me answering emails, blogging and otherwise engaging in online activities in this very same spot.  Sometimes I even read the newspaper, but I’m currently taking a news sabbatical for a bit for my mental sanity.

Bottom

I’ve also been playing around with making the bottom of my work as interesting as the visible portion of a piece.

Same linocut - different shape

Bottom

Linocut used to print my mugs

Kid's Mugs 2nd - 5th grade

I really love teaching kids - they’re a lot of fun and very high energy.  We recently made “soup can” mugs for a project.  They’re a way for the kids to make something functional just for themselves, though, some of the kids were also making presents for their parents.

Pinch pot covered jars

Here’s a recent project - everyone went with a Halloween theme.  They will be glaze fired tomorrow or Sunday and I can’t wait to see how they turn out.

Gotta run, have a great weekend!

~Cynthia

This post is overdue by a couple of days, but don’t worry - I am not feeling guilty about it.  On the contrary, I feel pretty proud of myself that I abstained for as long as I did since I’m trying to wean myself off my addiction to the computer.

I’ve traced the paper template for a large mug onto linoleum

I decided to take my paper cup template that Annie shared with us during a workshop I took with her 2 weeks ago and make a custom lino-cut in the shape of the template with very specific imagery.  Before making this, I decided if it works out I’d make some more linoleum blocks to add to my repertoire.  One of the hazards of taking workshops is that my work could end up looking like the presenter’s work and that’s the last thing I want to do.

Freshly cut linoleum

Since the template is basically a cone shape, I have found that the flat rectangular linoleum blocks don’t print the way I want them to since there’s a curvature once the mug is assembled.  I used my poppy linoleum cut as reference for this one.

Freehand drawing in pencil

Traced the drawing in sharpie marker

Many of you thought that the black sharpie drawing was actually underglaze or some other material to transfer the image block to clay, much like a paper print.  At this point, I’m simply using the lino-cuts as texture tools to transfer the imagery to clay.  It sure as heck beats hand-carving each and every piece.  Essentially, the carving is done only 1 time when I make the lino-cut and I’ll be able to use this for years.  The sharpie marker basically firms up and simplifies where I need to cut since many of the pencil marks overlap.

Freshly carved lino-cut

Finished stoneware relief printed poppy mug

Well, it’s almost finished - this one is still green and must survive the bisque and glaze firings.  I’m not in love with the handle template and am trying to figure out how to alter it to suit my tastes.  I’m starting some glaze testing too using mason stains as colorants.  I want a bright sherbet Technicolor palette.  Some where in my blog travels one of you mentioned Colour Lovers - which is this wicked cool web based color and pattern maker.  You can browse the libraries or make your own palettes and patterns.  My daughter and I played around with this site the other day for hours.

I’m not sure whether or not I’ll be able to truly achieve this bright of a glaze palette since glaze chemistry is tricky.  I’m going to start with the use of mason stains and need a couple of good base glaze recipes.  I already have the celadon color so I really only need to work on the other 4.  Yesterday, I spent the day reading up on the use of Mason Stains as colorants in glazes vs. oxides.  From what I’ve read, the reds, pinks and oranges sometimes need a higher calcium based glaze to achieve the color shown and the presence of zinc can change the color.  So, some testing is in order in the next week.  I think I’m going to head over to the Colorado Potter’s Guild studio on Tuesday evening to mix up a few 100 gram batches of 2 different base glazes to start with.  The glazes also need to be transparent to highlight the texture on my new work.

Frog Stoneware Box

On Saturday, afternoon, I finished up the second of 2 boxes I assembled last week.  My relief printing efforts are the result of all the hand painted porcelain boxes I’ve made in the past couple of months.  The boxes are incredibly time intensive and I need to be able to work more efficiently.

Duds

This became apparent when these boxes came out of the kiln either glazed shut or some otherwise damaged.  I was heart broken, but if ceramics teaches anything it’s humility and working out the technical aspects of working with clay.  So, after briefly flirting with getting a 9 to 5 job, wiping away my tears and frustration, I became determined to figure out how I can make better work with minimal losses.  Somehow, the prospect of becoming a claims adjuster trainee for an insurance company just doesn’t sound too fun or glamorous.

Meanwhile, I have been losing tools left and right in the studio.  I know that they can’t just get up and walk out the door and that they’re in there somewhere!  The problem is that my studio hasn’t been properly cleaned in months.  1/4 bags full of different kinds of clay littered the floor, dust was everywhere, clay bits and scraps everywhere, trash, bits of paper, notes etc. were strewn about.  So, I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning my studio top to bottom.  It’s sparkling clean (well as sparkling as a ceramic work area can be) and ready for a new productive making cycle.

Have a great week,

~Cynthia