Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Enrolled in a ceramics e-course!

For the past year I have been following the work of a California artist, Diana Fayt. A potter friend, Ginny, got me started when she gave me an old Ceramics Monthly (June/July/August 2009) which featured Diana's work on the cover and an inside feature. She thought that I'd relate to her work and she was so right and I have often wondered about some of Diana's ceramic surface techniques.

Then potter Kristen Kieffer posted a link on Facebook to Diana's e-course offering on ceramic surfaces. It was just the professional development I was looking for—hands-on projects, work from home (no traveling), on my own schedule, instruction and feedback from someone whose work I admire. The course lasts 6 weeks and starts at the end of February. I'm not sure exactly how it all will work but it appears Diana has it pretty well organized. I'm already enrolled, have seen the suggested supply list (which I already have most items), joined the private Facebook group to interact with the class, joined the private Flickr group to share images of group's work. I'm psyched!

If others reading this are interested, please check out Diana Fayt's site: http://theclayer.typepad.com/

Friday, January 13, 2012

A good start in the new year

New pieces featuring my latest faux bois pattern.









It's mid-January and I am still making a lot of pots! The museum store requested 10 or more new pots so that was good news since the holiday buying season is now behind us. Several decent checks have come in from November and December sales and I am pleased. It is certainly an incentive to keep at it.

Membership in the Toledo Potters Guild is juried in January and this year I finally decided to apply since they had had a hold on new members for the past year or so. Fortunately I was one of the three that were chosen this week. I was juried in as an active member which means I can participate in all guild activities and sales. The Toledo Potters Guild offers workshops and studio facilities including gas, electric and
raku kilns, wheels, extruders, slab roller and glaze chemicals to membersThis should come in handy for the occasional project. That and the camaraderie with other potters was the impetus for joining now.

This weekend I drop off my three cups that were juried into the Cups of Fire: National Cup Competition at the Clay Gallery in Ann Arbor. I look forward to see the other submissions however the show does not open until next month.

I just emptied my first high-fire kiln of 2012. I just love having a home pottery studio!