Back in the Studio (finally)
Covered ^6 stoneware box
Pausing on vacation photos…. On Thursday, it was easy to pry myself away from my computer and head out to the studio for the first time in a long time. Some how, I didn’t melt or implode when I didn’t have access to a computer while on vacation and decided it’s just better for my sanity to sign off for the day after finishing my coffee and to leave it off till the next day. I don’t know about you all, but my lap top sucks a lot of time away from my day. Anyway, I warmed up by making a covered box that I textured with embossed paper. I did something a little different this time around, I added the knob and feet while the box was still fairly wet. I had issues the last time around of adding feet after the body was considerably dry and having them fall off and “glaze glueing” them on post bisque fire.
Coiled ^6 stoneware bowl
Then I went into regression mode. I shouldn’t say that. I didn’t have an agenda, and didn’t feel like throwing – so I decided to start coiling a bowl. I tried coiling the bowl using a large plastic bowl coated with WD40 (in background), but that didn’t work so well. It stuck to the bowl and then I remembered some large hump plaster molds I made last year and pulled one out.
Interior of coiled bowl is smooth, outside rough
Much better. Coiling is meditative, but hardly a time saver. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the process so much that I made another one yesterday.
It's a generous 12" across in diameter
I like that there is no clay waste using the coiling method – no trimming etc. etc. All the futzing is up front. I even made a coiled mug and decided to try my hand at pinching a bowl. Also not as easy as it looks to get the walls an even thickness. I’m not sure either coiling or pinching are techniques to continue using in my future clay career, but it was a good way to ease back into the studio.
Now, I need to lace up my sneakers – off for a 7 mile run with my training group (I’ve been dreading it since last night, but I know I’ll feel good once I get out there!)
Cynthia
I feel like doing some printing…and sewing…and potting
Linoleum block I carved last year to use on clay
I haven’t spent much time in the studio lately…but I have been thinking about new projects related to clay and print making. I feel like branching out partly inspired by the following two books:
Printing by Hand – Lena Corwin
I had picked up Lena Corwin’s book, Printing by Hand, from the library last year but felt it didn’t apply to my projects at the time. Most of the examples and projects involve printing on paper, fabric, furniture and walls. But, I have a hankering for printing some note cards and stationery and remembered her book. I did some internet sleuthing (read googled the title of the book) and landed on Lena’s blog. I don’t know how much time I spent perusing her blog, when eventually I saw mention of Lotta Jansdotter.
Lotta Prints by Lotta Jansdotter
I managed to find two of her books at the Denver Public Library – Lotta Prints & Lotta Jandsdotter’s Simple Sewing. I’m inspired by both Lotta’s and Lena’s use of printmaking to make beautiful and decorative items. I can’t wait to explore some of the resources they list in their books on the web this afternoon.
PhotoEZ Screen Print Starter Kit
I am particularly interested in screen printing which both Lotta and Lena describe in their books and am reminded that I still have the PhotoEZ Screen Print Kit that I haven’t used yet. I should mess around with it before I leave on vacation next week. One method of screen printing that I also want to try is using drawing fluid and screen filler to create easy original screen prints.
If you visit regularly, you might be asking yourself – “What about clay???” Wait for it…………wait for it…………okay….. I mentioned above that I want to branch out a bit. I’m going to try my hand at making some paper products for sale along with some fabric/sewing projects for the new/old home we’re moving into in late August. It will give me a chance to do some drawing and think that the projects will translate really nicely as color ceramic decals if I can get my act together. The screens would also work nicely directly on raw clay using underglaze.
The paper & fabric projects will give me some instant gratification unlike making pottery (okay there is gratification in making and designing, but less so when the firings don’t always turn out as expected). These projects will also be more portable when I consider that my studio is also going to be moving cross town – a task I am looking forward to. Why? Because my studio needs some serious reorganizing! What better way to accomplish the task than a move to light the fire under my behind.
Signing off,
Cynthia
New Digital Camera Has Arrived
Pentax Optio P70
Thanks so much for all the camera recommendations last week! We finally decided on the Pentax Optio P70 in red based on ultra compact size, reviews, and features. Weirdly, after visiting a ton of stores, we didn’t find it in Denver and ended up purchasing it online through Amazon. It arrived Monday and everyone has been playing around with it – especially my daughter who aspires to make the next popular viral video on You Tube. I sat through 6 minutes of “Stuffed Animal American Idol” just this morning. 
The Pentax is not the top rated digital camera out there, but already, I can tell it’s a step up from my old and much pricier Olympus. It’s basically the size of a flip top cell phone and fits into a pocket easily.
Not much happening on the pottery front this week. I did meet with Colorado Potters Guild Fall Show committee last night – I’ll be taking the reigns as marketing chair which makes me slightly nauseous even though I’m pretty good at the task.
Till later,
Cynthia
PS – In preparation for the move and remodel, I have been doing some intenet sleuthing and am finding tons of really great products and DIY projects that I’m loving.
Handmade Modern by Todd Oldham has a project idea or 2 I'd like to try making.
Teacher Appreciation Mug Gifts
Mugs thrown last Thursday
Where did the time go? Last week, I realized with a start that 5th grade graduation was a week away and I hadn’t even started making teacher appreciation gifts yet. Sure, I could have purchased something, but I wanted to give some of the teachers a more personalized gift. Plus, they all know me as a clay person and might have been a little disappointed to receive something store bought. Though, I don’t think that they expect gifts either….
So, with a week to go, I set out at warp speed to make some mugs.
Handles attached on Sunday – Bisque fired on Tuesday
With a little babying and some begging & cajoling, I added handles and bisque fired fasssssssssst – 4 days after making the mug bodies.
Whew – glazed and decal fired on Wednesday and Thursday respectively
I managed to squeeze all 5 mugs into my test kiln and got to glazing and adding decals.
My favorite mug – "math = language of the universe"
This one is my fave and is a present for Jasmine’s math teacher. I am super proud of my daughter – she skipped 5th grade math this year and she, along with a handful of other kids at her school did the 6th grade math curriculum with “Mr. Reeves”. One of his favorite sayings is “math is the language of the universe”.
Pretty cool…if I do say so myself
If you think about the statement, it’s true. 1 + 1 = 2 regardless if you’re in Denver or Shanghai or the planet Saturn.
For the art teacher who let me use her room every Tuesday after school for the past 2 years to teach my clay class
I can’t leave out the art teacher who I personally think has the hardest job in the school. She only gets 45 minutes a week with each class and is constantly cleaning up and preparing for a new class. There is no down time at all.
Look at the shrinkage between bisque and glaze fire!
I didn’t glaze all the mugs – only the ones that I absolutely needed today – last day of school. I was pretty surprised at how much the mugs shrunk after the glaze fire. The mugs were roughly the same size after throwing – used 1 lb of cone 6 porcelain clay. This is another example of seeing is believing…in the Mile Hi Ceramics Catalog it does say that shrinkage is about 18%.
I used to be sad that my daughter didn't look much like me, but clearly I'm relieved she takes after her dad
But I digress. I mentioned earlier that I am super proud of my daughter – she is a good kid and a great student. I told her the other day that I hope she’ll stay geeky through high school – to which she responded, “I’m not a geek!” So I rephrased, “It’s okay to be a little nerdy….” Her response, “I’m not a nerd!” I tried again, “It’s okay – I’m a big dork myself.” Big smile from her, “Mom I’m a dork too.” I remembered that she and her posse of friends were called dorks in the beginning of the year by some of the “cool kids” and in their defense, they devised an ancronym in response to those who called them dorks.
D.O.R.K. = Defense Over Rude Kids. They weren’t called dorks for long.
Must leave to get ready for 5th grade Continuation,
Cynthia
