Bowls part 3

I have known Shawn Ireland for a long time and I love his concentration on Italian folk forms.  I had initially been drawn to him by his paintings, his skills are disciplined and it reflects in several media, but I want to share his love of clay.

These bowls are what I call kinfolk, they exhibit the qualities that I find rich in design, character and function.  The forms are balanced in weight and size, with the foot giving just the right amount of lift.  The walls taper outwardly, with just slight definition to the trim cut above the foot.  The lip is defined by the wall shape (the body) and is given a gentile presence by a triangular alteration.  The foot looks to have been cut using a rounded cutting tool, which indicates a thoughtfulness to every area of this bowl.

I got two of the bowls from Shawn, and we use them for my salsa and chips, perfect for olives, and oatmeal.  These bowls are not just bowls....they are part of my relation with the potter.

MARIA.......where's my socks?

Bowls part Two

This is a Will Ruggles and Douglass Rankin bowl that I fell in love with the moment I came across it.  The areas of the bowl are well defined, the foot is cut with a slight bevel, giving the bowl lift with the trimmed area above the foot gently defined.  The wall tapers outwardly, but you can notice in the top photo there is a slight taper inward with the lip, giving a certain feel to its placement.  The inside exhibits a thoughtfully large finger marking that spirals upward towards the lip.  The weight to size ratio is balanced and gives it the warmth of something genuine and unique.

Will told me that he felt the feel of the bowl was due more to the equipment he used, a Japanese kick wheel and a fairly soft clay,  it made you throw a certain way, it slows the process down.  The rib he used is a very fat kidney shaped rib, so the shapes are consistently produced, so I started using the rib and I slowed down my throwing and I enjoy making a form that is satisfactory for me.

Maria.....where is my oatmeal?

Bowls

A few years into making pots I had been talking trash one day to a friend, I was concerned about the cost of something I wanted and how I could possibly afford it.  My friend stated that he looked at my problem in terms of bowls I could make to be able to have it (30 bowls @ $5.00 each equals the price of the object I desired).  The object I wanted became history, but my fascination with the bowl has consumed my pottery life.
 
Big, little, square, round, tall, flat, altered and just plan strange have all been drawn through my fingers.  I stay preoccupied with bowls, good ones (you might be thinking that "Here we go again with the judgemental crap"or "what the hell does he know" frame of mind ).  I am looking at the form follows function ideal, focusing on a shape that feels very comfortable in my hand, the curve of the wall, the weight in relation to the size, the lip, the foot and inside of the bowl.
 
Bowls were the first shapes that I worked on as a beginning potter, and many influences have directed the avenues I went down over the years and it occupies a place in my work day.  The bowl is my warm up piece I throw to get me into "a throwing frame of mind."  By lunch I have warmed a bowl of ramen noodles or heated up a  bowl of hot tea to get the chill out of my hands and a warmth in my belly and by supper or late night I will have had something in a comfortable bowl I enjoy.  A friends bowls, my own, or some one I knew back when.  A functioning creation made with love, skill, patience and thoughtfulness.

Like a Navajo rug, I have never reached for the "perfect" bowl.  There is always a small area that I never tidy up, maybe some of those bad spirits need to have a way out.  I have never collected bowls,  so my collection is small, but they are used daily and satisfy my soul.

This bowl is one that I had done a very early reduction on and I kept the piece more so for the glaze than any other reason.  These shapes I have made for years, the shape allow the soup to stay warmer a little longer and comfort my cold hands.  The bowl is as it came out of the kiln, the glaze was not inked, nor is this raku.  It is cone 12 reduction on a white shino glaze.

The rim is straight up with a slight bulge to the outside at the lip.  I feel the foot is a bit out of proportion but gives a nice lift to the form.  The weight is balanced and the insides are smooth with just a hint of finger marks

Now, where is that pack of Ramen noodles?  Maria........

Glaze testing

The availability of hundreds of glaze recipes and information is readily at your fingertips with computers and the many publications available today.  Over the years my file folders have grown to several full folders of recipes and with the onset of glaze programs, that folder has burst into a well organized unit that helps eliminate duplicates and understand glazes.  But with this great technology, all this does not tell you which glazes will work best in your kiln and its atmosphere, and with your firing methods.
Many of the books available have examples of line blending and triaxial blending which work well when you have found that one glaze that has possibilities.  I wanted to size down the vast amount of formulas and yet cover several varieties of glazes.
I started my search for glazes in the periodical section of the school library and found most of the glazes I have used over the years.   To help find those glazes that would work for me I just took a piece of paper and drew rows and columns of lines, using the rows across the top of the sheet for the code of a particular glaze (ie: Temple white becomes TW01, TW02, etc., or if you have Tashiko White, it becomes TaW01/TaW02).   The columns along the left side becomes the ingredients used by each glaze in the row at the top.  The problem is that I kept lossing the booklets or having to look through ten or twenty different books to find my test.
Note:  I now label each glaze in my data base (I use Hyperglaze) with its code directly after the name of the glaze.  Keeping all this in one place is very important and saves repeating steps.
I like to work with about 10 glazes on each testing.  I set a template up in a database and save it for use later to use on a new set of test.
Each series of test lets me take certain types of glazes, feldsparic, barium, or other base types and keep the amount of ingredients to ten or less.  I set up 10 cups marked with the code of the glazes and enter the formula in the column under each glaze.  (I like to use a 300 gram sample for all the test). 
I find it much easier to take down the feldspar jar one time, which usually would be the first ingredient in that column and measure out each amount of feldspar for each glaze and place it in the cup.  I then can go on to the next row in the ingredient column.

                            TW01     TW02   TaW01  MR01    RY01

Feldspar,Pot
Whiting
Flint
EPKaolin
Dolomite

I hope this simple arrangement will work for you and if you got a good ideal pass it on, I'm always open to making this easier.
Merry Christmas to all and a happy New Year

Some notes and photos

I love the qualities that I'm discovering with soda firings.   My initial response is that this looks so much like a wood firing, the colors of the raw clay flash with the patterns of the flame and the way it flows through the kiln.  I just started using a helmar slip on the work and it receives the vapor with a flashing of the surface that is colorful and interesting.  I have included a few shots of this weekends firing.  I had a couple of losses and a few refires, but overall I am delighted with the work. 

The top photo is a six inch bowl with a helmar slip.  The image is made using Hill's fake ash directly on top of the slip and outlined with a black slip and the amber color at the center of the flower is amber celadon.  The liner glaze is temple white.  The middle photo is a four inch bowl with an Oribe green glaze petals and amber celadon used once again for the center of the petals.  The last "tonome" cup has #6 tile slip with a simple iron dot and black slip I've used for years. 

Note:   I have mentioned a slip I have started using,  Linda McFarland introduced me to this slip (actually, it is Amaco's Velvet (V) Underglazes -- LEAD FREE, Jet black  ) in the top two photos.  A problem I have always had is that with delicate haired brushes the solution I dipped into would start to "drag"causing the brush to jump or skip along.  The velvet solution ball milling must allow the solution to flow smoother and develop a better line.  If you've had this same problem check out a small jar of this "ink".  Many thanks to Linda.

So far I have not had much time to do any sculpture, but I do have some work on the bench that is needing attention with a spray bottle of water.  I've gone back to looking at my older drawings of pieces that I want to construct and finding some interesting imagery that I can bring forward in the coming months. 

This coming weekend in Spruce Pine, NC:  http://www.sprucepinepottersmarket.com/   
Would love to see you there.  Please stop by the booth and say Hi.

First Soda Firing

 

 

 

These threee plates are from my first Soda firing.  What ease and fun,   I got a few thing to work on , but I'm pretty satisfied with the results.  We are going to fire again within the next 2 weeks and most of this work will be my sculpture work.  Thanks to Linda McFarland for all the information and support that she has given me , so that I can do this firing.

 

 

 

New work

These little (10-12inches) bust studies are perfect for playing with facial expressions and character development.  They are a delight and fun to put together.  I finish with a black wash and fire to the cone 10-12 Temperature.  The gentle gestures and soft textures are my visits with the pass.  My foundation in work that is low tech, but yet has a contemporary qualities and strengths.

I like to look back and gather the feel, something religious, made of superstitions or from the primitive hand that can reflect the makers thinking and way of life.  My question now becomes, "will someone look at the work I have done and ask about the primitive hand that made a certain piece?"  Only time will have to get back with me on that. 
The fertility images, based on Peruvian art, has given me a great deal of pleasure to develop and play. 

On a personal note; I have had a long absence from these pages and I have missed them and hope I will be able to add some pictures and hopefully gather impressions from others.  I mostly wish to have fun.  Thank you for stopping by and I hope I have left you with a smile.

A good start.

I've got my Shane Mickey mug and I'm enjoying an early morning java with summer rapidly leaving the mountains, replaced by the crisp air of fall. I look out my windows and the early morning fog is laying up the valley yielding a peacefulness to the farm that is so enjoyable early in the day. So Shane, here's to ya, its a mighty fine cup for having my coffee.

I'm going to Erwin this morning to mow grass and help with the work that is going on with my parents house. I'm getting it ready to sell. It has taken me almost ten years to make this decision, because it is where I grew up and letting go has been very difficult.

I believe that the house is about half way finished. It is a very nicely situated ranch house that looks out over north Erwin and also has an unimpeded view of the Beauty Spot that is straddled by the North Carolina and Tennessee State line. My father, in reference to our close proximity to the state line, always said that "our house is in the city, the garden is in the country and our jon is in North Carolina."

Growing up in Erwin, life was slow and paced, my parents would send me out of the house in the morning and say "if you want supper be back before dust". Such freedoms do not exist today and that is a tragedy. Joe Comeau, a potter friend would say "your as old as dirt and there was only three other people living in Erwin." Thanks, Joe.

Day of the deal.

My day has not worked out as I had planned. A road trip to Erwin and then on to Johnson City, TN to finalize the paperwork on a new car for Maria. I love car dealers, they promise you the moon, if you'll take the car today and then like a stoodup bride, you come back three days later to barter, the chasity belt is on and you ain't going to get what is promised. But, what is funny is the fact that cars are not moving and they need the sales. We got to a price and I filled out an application for a loan and then headed for the house. Maria has to bring the BMW over tomorrow and we can finalize the deal.
I can tell you that if they could take that wonderful engine and drive train out of the BMW chassis and put it in a Ford or Chevy chassis, you would have one hell of a vehicle. The BMW chassis will fall apart by a hundred thousand miles, Every sensor (@ $250 each) will go out, the catalytic converters (2 @ about $1000 each plus labor) will go out. They are the most expensive car to maintain, that is on the road. Enough of this.
I get home, after going to Erwin to set off some insect bombs in the basement of my house, but I forgot the keys, opps. I get home and several messages are on the phone, and before I could punch in a number, the company I'm setting up a loan through wants to confirm whether I'm deceased or not, then by the time I hang up and start to dail another number, another bank from another location calls and wants to know if I am deceased. Well, like Alices Restaurant, I begin to sing my song about the day I was declared deceased.
I had to call Maria at this time and tell her all about this ordeal with Best BUY, where I purchased a camera, on a 6 months same as cash deal, and they wanted to change the terms. When I paid it off in five months and made them live up to their "same as cash" deal, well they didn't like that, so they tell the three credit companies that I am deceased.
Maria asks me what I am going to do? I'm going to the dollar store and get one of those baby nipples, I said, "and stick it on a bottle of Ouzo and drink it till I'm just about blind." She hasn't had her 6 o'clock toddy and without breaking stride, says "I was wondering why your marital obligations were lacking"!

Springtime with Maria

I am sorry for the long absence. This winter has passed on by, and the richness of spring is here. I am doubly thankful, spring is my favorite season and Maria is on the mend, she has only a couple of chemos left and she has fared very well against this cancer. She was diagnosed with a tumor against her chest wall and Maria fought it like someone fighting fire, seemingly without fear. She said, when asked, that there was nothing else to do, but deal with it. I am very proud of her, to say the least. I wanted to thank everyone, friends and family, especially Tammy, Maria's sister, whose dedication to Maria's health is incredible. Thank you.
The Hope Center in Asheville has been very supportive and professional with the care that they have shown to Maria and I. They have gone out of their way to make sure that Maria was informed and every explanation was clear.
Dr. Williams, founder of The Hope Center, talked with us, until every question was answered and decisions made. My experience, as an ex paramedic, exposed me to the corrupt side of Medicine. I believe Williams is one of the good guys, those that practice medicine for the love of the art form and for the purpose of giving everyone good health care.
On a personal note, It was very hard to see so many young women in his office. I'm sure this is a fact that truly does upset staff, as it does myself. Young women having to face sometimes disfigurement, just starting their life as young adults. I saw a lot of very young ladies waiting for chemo or radiation and I believe it is very important that we support the fight against cancer, so that Dr. Williams will get less business, I'm sure he would agree.

Demons and Angels

I have gone and done something that I have only done one other time in my life, Joe Namath was quarterbacking that game. Normally, I could care less for who is playing or even if someone was playing, but I had to rut for the Saints. I was happy and enjoyed seeing them win. I must be totally bored out of my mind, it must be desperation or cabin fever. I always prided myself on never have been to or seen a UT game (of which I am an alumni) of any kind. Anyway: Good job , Saints.
My blogging about clay has decreased of late, I decided to not work in the studio this winter, and it has been wonderful pursuing another love of mine, cooking. I have been writing and sharing recipes with other folks across the country. My blog is on the side bar called "Food Cabinet", check it out, my blog list has a number of professional sites and just plain folks sharing ideals and recipes and I have found some very inventive and intuitive cooks with some great ideals.
Now I know what you are thinking, doesn't like football, likes to cook-he's gay (as if this is the criteria for any title). Well, no I'm not, but........my wife says "You need to rethink this, Slagle. Lately, you have had some very girlly moments." "Well", in my rebuttal, Nathan Lane in "The Bird Gage" showed us that even John Wayne had his girlly moments." Enough said about this. Get back to making those cold clay pots with sexual overtones and symbolism.

The family is Home !

Is this not a face that only a mother would love?

Finally, I shared a wonderful Christmas with both sons, Laura (Chases's wife), and my granddaughter,Shelby, whom I have not seen in three years. Their visit was way too short, but they had to spend time with Laura's folks and Paul had to go back to work at the Cherokee casino, no he is not a card shark, he works as a cook and goes to school to become an artist in the commercial arts.

After Raliegh, Chase, Laura, and Shelby will head to Kansas to see his grandparents and family. Then they will be off to San Diego for a two year tour. I hope the rain settles down by the time they get to southern California.

Coming Home

My son and wife Laura, and the granddaughter, Shelby are going to be home on the fifth or sixth of January and I will be very happy to see them, it has been three years since I have seen them. The baby was just a few weeks old, then and now she is a wonderful little three year old. I understand from Chase that she has a large vocabulary of dribbles, oozs and auhs (is there such words?). So, I have delayed Christmas till they get here. It is said that Christmas is for children, it will be for me too.
Chase has been to China, Australia, Guam, Midway, Manila,cursed up the China Sea and the Philippines. For a boy from Mitchell County, this is not a bad deal. His grandfather was in China when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He had served with the Asiatic Fleet on the USS Parrot and was one of the few ships that made it to Perth, Australia. Most of the Fleet was of WW1 vintage.
Anyway, I wish you a very good new year and I hope this year will bring you wonderful things.

Christmas and the New Year

To everyone I wish that you will have a very Marry Christmas and the best for the New Year.

Spruce Pine Potters Market

The Market has just finished with some very good traffic and quite a few folks carrying bags of pots. As a general statement, no surveys or market analysis taken, I think most of the sells were in the moderate to mid level price range, but the best is that people were buying. Saturday was a strong selling day for everyone that I had spoken.
The show keeps growing and the quality of the work is high. A note for show organizers, when you bring in junk to a show, your educated buyers will not show up, they don't want to go to a flea market. I've seen lots of shows bite the dirt because organizers were just making extra spaces to jam in as many booths as possible. I feel that these shows will usually self destruct, but with most of the expense, usually thrown on the backs of artist doing the show.
I had gone to south Florida to do a show, several years back. The promotions had declared the shows virtues and its visitors/ sell numbers were very high. Well, there was no mention that a lot of the booth were low and in a flood plane. If it had rained, I would have been fishing from my pedestals. An "artist", used very loosely, sat in his booth and cried most of the show, this raised the water level up an inch or two. Then, there was the young couple who bought a double booth on another side of me and they brought most of their living room suit, to make the customers comfortable, while they, the customers, looked on to black velvet paintings, that kept me nauseated most of the show. Actually, I was waiting for the belly dancing to start. So, to make my point, If I had not won best of show in clay, I would have had to max out my credit cards to get home.
I have a point to this story. I believe that craftsmen are going to have to ban together and create their own specialized shows, potters markets, glass shows, and/ or sculpture shows, etc.. Inflation, gas prices have made a demand for centralized markets. We are fortunate here, in that there are enough studios to make a fairly large show, with an above average quality of work.
In this economy, artisan works are usually the first thing that will slow in sells, and it is usually the last thing that buyers will start buying after money has loosened up. So, creative thinking will be the way we can survive in a tight economy. Let me know your ideals, I'd love to pass them along and give me a better insight to selling in better ways.

Mint Museum Potters Invitational

It occurred this weekend, and I was able to go around a little bit and say hi. Folks were buying and a lot of the potters were busy up till closing. That was very refreshing to see, most shows have been very slow with a lot of potters going home not even paying for their booth. Charlotte was very comfortable for me this year, we got lost going in to Charlotte the first year and then Maria and I got a bit sick from the stress I had self imposed. But, this time we had a couple of decent meals and just rested. Maria had a sinus and ear infection and was not up to par, but she hung in there for the show and enjoyed herself.
Can anyone guess the mystery potter in the first photo? My flash did not go off. It looked like a good contest.



This is Shawn Irland talking with a buyer.

This is a shot of Ken Sedberry and his guardian series.

Jane Pieser is with some buyers and Terry Gess is in the back ground.

Terry Gess was the mystery photo.

A return to functional work

Just unloaded the kiln on sunday, to a very nice firing with temperatures no more than 10-15 degrees top to bottom, with consistant moderate reduction all the way through. Some of my bad clay (too much silica on board) snuck through, so a couple of pieces bit the pit. Maria and I clean up the rest of them and packed them up for the show this coming weekend in Charlotte at the Mint Museum. If your in the area stop by, there will be some very good work to select.

Potoviewr Photo Gallery

I found this today and thought I would pass it along. It adds alot to the blog, excuse the repeat of photos, but they were the only ones I had on Flicker. I had to do this in two post, sorry. I haven't tried it yet, but you might be able to click on the upper left corner ID and it should take you to the site.

FotoViewr - Create your 3D photo gallery

Paul's Photos

Wanted to pass along some shots my son Paul took the other day on top of the "Roan".