Fantastic potter discovery... Y'all probably know him already.

These are some amazing pictures from an artist that I am totally blown away by. His name is Jeff Campana.

Hi, I'm back!! Almost. I am so excited because things are looking up and I will have my hands back in clay within the month. You probably can't imagine how out of sorts I've been since I had to take a break from my beloved pottery.

Now, just because I wasn't able to practice doesn't mean I didn't discover some other great artists out there.

Like I said before his name is Jeff Campana. Check out his Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Jeff-Campana-Ceramics/44497883414

He also does an amazing job of photographing the process of his work. Once you see how he does it, (most especially that gravy boat) it'll make you weep. You'll have to study the finished work all over again. It's absolutely fantastic!

Be back soon, my loverlies!!!!!

xxx

Seafoam and Pecan

Here's a couple of bowls I did in class right before Mardi Gras. It's regular white clay with seafoam glaze on the inside and pecan outside. I mainly wanted to test out this color combination. I love these colors together. The seafoam has a vastly different color and texture than when I used it before in combination with the aubergine.

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This is also an example of what can frequently happen when you don't get to handle every single step of the process yourself. (The students take no part in the firings in my class.) Apparently, sometimes bits of the glaze gets knocked off in the handling and it leaves little bare spots with no glaze at all. (Notice the bare spots on the rims.) Sometimes, your bowls may even get cracked chipped or if you're lucky, just warped a little. When I voice my opinion on this I get told, "It's only clay."

What do you think of that?

You like quickies, right?

Well, I said I'd give the rather unusual batt a try. And here it is. I had to use little balls of clay to keep it on the wheel. Although, as I worked, it started to slide. When I made the mistake of straightening it my bowl got wonky.

It's all about trial and error.

Here is a pic of the motor wheel which turns the wheel. It's made of some kind of stone and in the course of throwing that one bowl, created a burning smell that kinda scared me. I guess as long as I don't see flames I'll be okay.

A different kind of good time rolling...

I decided to challenge myself and figure out how to use this handmade potter wheel that has been in the studio since the dawn of early man. Just kidding. This was made for the infamous Newcomb potter, Ms. Ormond, by her brother, I think. It's very old. I would tag this at at least 40+ years old. It took a little finagling (is that how you spell that word????) but I threw my first little test piece on it.

She's a back breaker, though. I've never thrown standing and I had to brace myself on some bricks and then prop up one foot to give her juice. All in all, she worked out better than I though she would.


Check her out:

I searched high and low for batts and when I couldn't find anything that resembled them I just went for it and plopped down some porcelain straight on the wheel. Afterall, this is an experiment.

Notice the bricks I used to help balance myself.

Guess what these are? They're the batts I searched high and low for. Lisa came in in the midst of my kerfuffle and clued me in. None like I've ever seen before. I thought they were molds. Whouda thunk it...?

Now the search begins for a stool of the right height which will still allow me to be able to reach the "pedal". Or I may have to install some additional rigging which involves a sturdy piece of string cuz my legs aren't that long. I'd attach it to my head and just nod when I want to give her some juice. Hahahaha...

I know, it sounds like something straight outta 'I Love Lucy'. All I can say is there will be pictures.

Peace.

And now for a little debauchery...

So.... I've been on break (along with my instructors, of course) from my pottery classes because Mardi Gras happened. Now, I'm sure you all have notions of what it must be like. And you're probably right. I have to say it's not as exciting as it used to be for me because I've grown up with it. So, I'm used to debauchery on the regular. I'm not phased by it.

But the pics above is a little nibble of it for those who aren't...

What's in a name?

Now my instructor said this is a bowl.

She said this is a plate with tall sides.

She said it's all in the shape of the inside of the vessel. She said the inside of a bowl should have a rounded or curved shape--not flat.

I see what she means I just don't understand why the flat surface inside makes it NOT a bowl. I didn't even know there was a rule about this sort of thing. Humph... What say you folks?

Btw, this is more raku clay with brick glaze. The raku just doesn't like the glaze. Just as well... I was only being thrifty and using the last bits as not to go to waste. From now on its porcelain or white clay.

My instructors are on holiday (Mardi Gras) for a couple of weeks so I won't be back in the studio until March. I'll have some new glazes and a new bowl (made from a mold) I'm testing. Can't wait to post some pics.

Everyone have a great Mardi Gras!! Laissez les bon temps roulez!! (Let the good times roll)

Wrapped in A Thousand Beautiful Things

This quilt is made by a phenominal artist, Tony Fitzpatrick. Please do yourself a favor and check out his work. It's stunning...

http://www.tonyfitzpatrick.com/blackwater/index.html