2018-01-21 - Sunday - Slip transfers

Sunday I went in to work on more Empty Bowls and start playing with slip transfers. I've watched Greg Scott work with the process for quite a while and decided to try out what I'd learned from him.

There was a whole lot of glazing going on when I got there.

Students glazing their work.

I settled into the third classroom to try out some slip transfers with underglaze designs I made. I was immediately taken with the process as the designs really popped when I applied them to the bowls.

Let me back up and give you a bit of the process.

First I paint designs on newsprint paper. I start with the black as an outline and apply color afterwards. Since the images will be reversed, the black is on top when applied to the bowl.

Next I cut the designs into strips and apply slip to the bowl and the strip of paper. I then place the paper, slip-side-down on the slip that's on the bowl, and burnish it with a soft rib.

 Finally, I peel the paper off the bowl and the underglaze design is transferred with the slip. As you can see, I played with applying the design to raw clay, to a fully-slipped bowl, and to a half-slipped bowl, using the transferred design to delineate the sections.

I see more experimentation in my future...

Speaking of Empty Bowls, tickets are on sale NOW. If you'd like to attend this wonderful event, please hurry to the website and get your tickets before they are sold out. I'll be there, and you should, too.


.

2017-04-28 - Friday - McDowell Arts Center opening and Meredith with Breeze

Greg Scott and I were invited by Rick Crowley to be in an art exhibit at the McDowell Arts Center in Matthews. The opening was Friday night and it was fairly well attended. There was a lot of variety in the 2D and 3D art displayed.

My pots on the pedestals.

More of the room.

A great Alice in Wonderland set.

Meredith sent us some pre-graduation photos with one of her favorite horses. Breeze has been her pal for several years. He is a big puppy who likes to lick your face given the chance.

That's right, Meredith (our youngest) is graduating from college in May. How the time flies.

She has grown into a smart, beautiful young woman and is itching to start her new job managing a barn in Maryland after graduation. She'll excel at whatever she tries.

.

2017-01-14 - Saturday - Muddy Fun and raku

Saturday was Muddy Fun day! We had another great group of students giving it a try for the first time. Having wonderful volunteers makes it all work. A big thanks to Susan, Susan, and Vince!

If you'd like to try throwing pots, check out our Muddy Fun classes.

Saturday was also the first day of our new Saturday raku class. This will be another fun addition to our schedule and with Greg teaching it'll be full of new experiences.

.

2016-06-18 - Saturday - Elder Gallery & Art & Soul of South End

Saturday I was honored to be asked to show some of my work and demo for Clayworks at Elder Gallery for the Art & Soul of South End Festival. Ann Prock, Ju-Ian Shen, Greg Scott, and I were there demoing and enjoying the beautiful day outside. Some Clayworks folks came and hung out with us and several of Larry Elder's customers stopped by. Traffic wasn't overwhelming, but we were a block from the festival so it was about what I expected.

Whenever you have a chance to hang out with your very talented friends and enjoy a day out on a wonderful spring day, it's a good day.

I also had the chance to go across the street for my first visit to the Common Market with Ann for a sandwich. Interesting place, too bad it's going to have to move. I got the Evil Homer sandwich and the Monster Cookie.

A big thanks to Larry Elder and Clayworks for making it happen.

Herb Cohen watches Greg throw and Ann does some handbuilding.

Our professional banner.

My display.

Ann's display.

Greg's display.

Ju-Ian's display.

Near the end of the demo, our friend Vince came by to help us clean up. He was going to check out the festival so I invited myself along to hang out with him. The festival was only two blocks long: one block of art and one block of food trucks, so it didn't take long to cover it.

We ended up at the Wooden Robot Brewery right across from Elder Gallery and had a nice beer.

Going to breweries in Charlotte is a bit strange since people bring there children and their dogs in with them. A woman at our table was wearing her baby on her chest in one of those carriers and her husband/boyfriend had their large dog on a leash under the table. It's fine, just a bit strange at first.

It was so nice to bum around with Vince. I can't remember the last time I took time to just hang out and have some nice conversations over a beer.

"Not Sure" amber.

2014-11-15 - Saturday - Clayworks fundraiser

Saturday was the annual Clayworks fundraiser.  An Evening of Earth & Fire was hosted for the second year by Elder Gallery thanks to Larry Elder's generosity.

It was a fine night with lots of people in attendance.  There was a lot of beautiful donated artwork in the silent auction and it sold well.  Thanks to all the generous donations and bidding Clayworks will be funded another year.

Afterwards several of us went to Akahana Asian Bistro for a late supper.

A good night.

Gary Knight (our board chair), Larry Elder (gallery owner),
and Adrienne Dellinger (our executive director).

After the bidding.

Me, Ju-Ian Shen, Rob Russell, Susan Hughes,
Kimberly Tyrrell, Adrienne Dellinger, Greg Scott,
and Rich Meredith at Akahana Asian Bistro.

.

2014-07-12 - Saturday - Pots and Chroma

Saturday I spent about four hours at Clayworks where I made a two-piece pot and some crackled pots.  It was a good studio day.

Crackle close-up.

Different pot, different crackle.

I heard about Greg Scott's opening at UNCC Center City at the last minute and decided I needed to go.  Chroma is an exhibit of two 2D artists, Linda Luise Brown and Marge Loudon Moody, Greg Scott as a 3D artist, and Dan Knight played an original piano piece for the opening.

Each artist gave a short talk about their art and their methods which I found very interesting.  Mr. Knight's music was wonderful and he explained afterward that he was planning on going a different way with it, but did something else once he started playing.

Greg had a similar experience with this show as he also had to make some last-minute changes on Saturday afternoon due to a kiln mishap.  His work showed very well even with the changes and he has the coveted real estate in the front window of the building.

I highly recommend seeing this if you are in the area.  All the pieces in this collection have different styles but overlap on their color palette.  It's quite striking and will be on display until September 24, 2014.

Dan Knight plays during the slideshow.

Greg giving his talk about his art.

.

September 7 - Saturday - The Potters Market Invitational at the Mint Museum

Saturday I attended the Ninth Annual Potters Market Invitational show at the Mint Museum.  The show is a treasure consisting of North Carolina potters invited from around the state.  It's always an exciting time for a pottery nut like me to hobnob with the stars.  Everyone is so friendly that it takes me a long time to get around the tent.  It's held in a huge tent on the lawn that's large enough to hold 41 potters displays and still have plenty of walking room.

There was also a demonstration tent out front where several of my friends were doing demos.  It was good to catch up with everyone.

Potters working in the demo tent.

Potters talking in the demo tent.

Donna Craven.

Jim Whalen (right) with friends Diane Davis and Bill Chris.

Akira Satake with our own Jan Anderson.

Jan with Ben Owen.

Michel Bayne.

Alex Matisse.

Smantha Henneke.
Bruce Gholson was unavailable to join us.

Greg Scott watching Adrienne Dellinger's booth.

Julie Wiggins.

.