Category Archives: How-To

Cape Cod Workshop in Late July

Posted on by
Reply

I’m excited to teach at the Castle Hill Center for the Arts in Truro, Mass for the last week in July. It will be a 4 hour hands-on class each day followed by an afternoon on the beach. What could be a better summer getaway?

Juxtapositions: Earthenware Form and Surface
July 25 – 29
9am – 1pm

5 Sessions
$380

Register

This workshop will focus on throwing and altering with excursions into hand building. Using contrast as an overarching design principle, we will aim for making strong utilitarian forms and embellishing their surfaces to woo the user. Techniques involved include making and using bisque molds, and forming lids, handles, spouts, and feet. Specifically, daily demonstrations will cover cups, serving dishes constructed on slump and hump molds, boxes, and pouring vessels. The application of texture, inlay, terra sigillata, slip, resists, and glazes will be used to explore unconventional approaches to the earthenware surface. Topics of discussion will be origination of ideas, supportive critiques, and sustainability in ceramics. Participants will experience numerous techniques to use as points of departure in their own work upon their return home.

Going Back to Ohio

Posted on by
Reply

After moving away from Columbus for nearly 6 years ago, I surprisingly haven’t managed get back to Ohio for a visit. Next month I’ll be making my first trip back. I’ll be one of 3 presenters at the Functional Ceramics Workshop in Wooster. This is a 3-day regional conference complete with an invitational exhibition, demonstrations, slideshows, 200+ pottery enthusiasts, and a chicken roast.

The event has been organized for 35 years by Phyllis Blair Clark. This year, the presenters will be Charity Davis-Woodward, Jan McKeachie Johnston and myself.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I’m excited and honored to be a part of the workshop and thrilled to get back to see some good friends.

Baltimore or Bust

Posted on by
2

So, I’m in the home stretch in preparations for the American Craft Council show in Baltimore. I’ll be hanging out, talking shop, & selling work in the Baltimore Convention Center from 2/22 – 2/26. Tuesday and Wednesday are open to gallery owners/managers/buyers and Thursday – Sunday are open to the public. Whichever your affiliation, stop by and see me in booth #2408.

Here are a few shots of the ware rack last night as glazing is underway. The first of 2 kilns is nearly ready to load and fire and the second will be warming up on Friday.

This is some dinnerware that was painted with a white terra sigillata and panels or circles in black slip. The first step after the bisque firing is applying a black wash over the entire piece and sponging it off. The surface is textured and the stain stays in the low areas. These fine black lines should be clear when you enlarge the image. These will have either red or turquoise accents. The red is applied under the clear glaze and the turquoise works best over the glaze.  When they are fired they should look similar to these cups.

In addition to these plates and bowls, there are pitchers, teapots-round and square, oil bottles, vases, and serving dishes, and lots of cups in the works. If you’re in the B’more vicinity, please stop by and say hello.