New work

Finally, some new pieces!

We're remodeling our home in Cambria and spent much of the week deciding on all the finishes -- selecting carpet, cabinet pulls, lighting, paint -- really a dazzling array of choices. We're having a blast and working through our likes/dislikes to arrive at things we both love. 

These will be bisque-fired and then clear-glazed for a final firing. This design is popular and I enjoy doing it when I can just get "zen" with the process, listen to some NPR and relax. I was totally DONE at the end of this session!

Friendly visitors!

My friend Joan visited this weekend. We had a blast. She checked out the studio, including the most recent addition in the gallery.

Here is Joanie with Bad Cat. And, of course, the most important part of the visit -- a great meal at (coincidentally) The Black Cat in Cambria.

Boxes with topses

Threw these boxes with lids on Saturday. They're very soft here. When they're stiff leather-hard will cut off the lids and trim both top and bottom for a perfect fit. That's the theory, anyway! 

Sisterly love

How 'bout this new apron my sis made for me? Thankfully, she made a couple so I can alternate when one is in the wash... I'm glad she wasn't around to see how clay-muddy this puppy was at the end of the workday! (The Good Kitty piece with me is one of several variations on the cat theme... Will send photos of another in progress soon!)

Around the studio

Here is a view of my throwing space as seen through the gallery in Cambria. You'll see that the wheel is positioned high with a sit/stand stool. After reading potter John Glick's article and seeing even young artists like Christa Assad make the switch, I decided I'd better give it a try. When I moved here, I made the change.  I'm still adjusting, but my back is happier!

The studio is set up so that people entering the gallery space can view the activity in the studio and I can visit with them. So far, it's been really fun and provided a bit of entertainment during the day. I've not gone through the busier tourist season of July and August yet, so we'll see.

Meet my muse, Mae, taking a break in the studio. When we moved in, my neighbor Mark gave us this chair. She quickly made it HERS!

Back to work

New bowls and platters underway. Here are some shots of work in progress. After last week's firing of newly mixed glazes and lessons learned, I WILL BE MAKING TEST TILES soon!

Ooops!

This is why we're supposed to test glazes before using it on our work. Damn! As you can see, I ruined a bunch of mugs. The glaze colors came out great... but I didn't really want it all over the shelves! I got kinda grumpy about it for awhile (naw!) and now am resigned to making test tiles this weekend. I'll put on some saved podcasts of This American Life and just relax into it. That's the plan anyway...

New work on the shelves!

The pieces above are now part of the inventory on the shelves at the Cambria gallery. I'm feeling more confident as I see the pottery on the shelves. Having my first gallery space is exciting!

Beastie Boys are back!

They followed me over from the old studio in Bakersfield. Just can't shake 'em! 

It's interesting to see how people respond to the Beastie Boys. They either really like them or just don't get it. These critters are really fun to make and, in fact, kind of create themselves.

All of them start on the wheel and, shortly after, I start altering — cutting, darting, poking... Soon one of these guys emerges! I've done a few with underglazes and a covering glossy clear, but don't like them as much as the matte surface that you see on most of these. All of them have glazed interiors.

New work in the studio

Finally!

Some new work completed in the Cambria studio.

I've been playing with the graphic shapes on bowls and platters...

and some "mouse" designs on small dipping bowls...