2018-01-28 - Sunday - My Other Self and the Empty Bowls

I noticed that the other me that Ju-Ian made was contemplating the Empty Bowls I had on my shelf. He's really interested in them. What can I say? He's obviously got good taste.

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2018-01-27 - Saturday - More Muddy Fun

Saturday we continued on with the ASC sponsored Muddy Fun classes. It was great fun and I the honor to teach a group of Americorps volunteers who were working on Habitat for Humanity houses in Charlotte after repairing hurricane damage in Houston. Good kids.

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2018-01-26 - Friday - Muddy Fun with the ASC

Every year the Arts and Science Council holds a Connect With Culture event on Saturday. This year we had the first ever Muddy Fun with the ASC on the Friday night before the main events. Adrienne asked if I would teach it and I didn't have to think twice about it. I love helping out with Muddy Fun and teaching it if nobody else is available.

This was a first; participants were given a coupon for a beer at Common Market and many used them. Robert Bush, the president of the ASC said a few words to start off the session by welcoming everyone to the first-ever Friday night culture event. Several people took selfies with Mr. Bush before we started getting muddy.

We had a good group of students who picked it right up. It's always so much fun to see people learn something new. Vince and Dorothy were great helpers. I couldn't have done it without them.

We have four more sessions tomorrow. Angela is teaching the first one, Greg is teaching the second two, and I'm teaching the last one. It's going to be a good day.

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2018-01-24 - Wednesday - Fortune

Fortune time at Taipei South. I know I easily talk with people, but I'm not sure we always communicate. It is fun trying, though.

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2018-01-23 - Tuesday - Eeeww

Tuesday evening I was in Lumberton, heading back to my hotel room after supper when I noticed this T-Mobile store. I couldn't help but notice it when I drove through the shopping center. The photo doesn't do it justice, as the pink glow actually spread out for a ways into the parking lot.

This lighting design definitely makes a statement, and to me it's, "Run away!". What demographic are they shooting for with this? I would never willingly walk into that store; the color just pushes me away like same-pole magnets.

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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.


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2018-01-20 - Saturday - Empty bowls gather no moss

I was out in the yard on Saturday and was struck once again by the beauty of the moss on our driveway. You can still see a little bit of snow on the part of the driveway that stays in the shade.

Later, I went to Clayworks and threw some more Empty Bowls.

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2018-01-19 - Friday - Not much snow

There wasn't much snow left on Friday. It goes away pretty quickly here.

I am always struck by the amount of lichen we have around the house and it really popped against the snow. Beautiful stuff, that nature.

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2018-01-18 - Thursday - Trimming

Thursday I trimmed some of the Empty Bowls. After a conversation with Kira a while back, I am putting a more substantial, architectural foot on my bowls. I think they look much better.

Thanks Kira.

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