Marian Williams, Author at Marian Williams Pottery

On My Way To San Miguel de Allende

Another workshop?, you say.

Well, yes, and it’s in Mexico. San Miguel de Allende – a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting. Ronnie said he’d go with me! So here we are in a plane for a 30 hour trip from Australia!! I can’t wait!

I recently read THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK by Timothy Ferriss – sexy title- but that’s really not all it’s about. One of his tenets is that we shouldn’t wait for retirement for retirement- that those “breaks” should happen all along the way- not just at the end of our careers. But one of the questions that arises if you do this, is “Why am I here?” “What’s my purpose in life?”

Shouldn’t I be doing something ‘important’ with my life?

Ferriss says, that he believes that we are here to be loved, to love others and to never stop learning – that’s why we are here! And when you think of it like that it takes all the pressure off and life can be so much more enjoyable.

So, yes, I’m taking another workshop! Learning heaps! And loving others – so I’m good!

Just think of the possibilities!

Marian

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Gumnuts & Australian Pottery

Creation

As a Texan/Australian (yes, I have dual citizenship!), I decided to incorporate some Australiana into my pottery.

I decided to make a bowl with gumnuts on the edge as a textural element. Gumnuts are “The hard woody fruit of trees of the genus Eucalyptus.” Source

When I googled gumnuts to find out about them, I discovered that there was a book, entitled Gumnuts & Glazes: The Story of Premier Pottery Preston, 1929-1956.

The book synopsis reads thus:

“Gumnuts, eucalyptus leaves and koala motifs combined with dazzling glazes have made Remued pottery, created at Premier Pottery Preston, a collector’s delight. This publication is the first to comprehensively catalogue the contribution of Premier Pottery to Australian ceramics.

“Premier Pottery Preston was set up by two potters, David Dee and Reg Hawkins, in 1929 during the Great Depression. It began production in 1930, located in the northern Melbourne suburb of Preston at 52 Oakover Road. Most Australian art pottery at the time was produced as a sideline by firms whose main business was making tiles, pipes, insulators and the like – albeit an important sideline in terms of surviving the hard times of the Depression. Premier Pottery Preston was a small undertaking, unusual in that it produced only art pottery, all of it hand-thrown. David Dee threw the pots, Reg Hawkins painted them, and David’s son Walter Dee did the glazing and firing.” Source

Ceramics expert, Greg Hill, discusses the design, manufacturing and marking system of the pottery and, for the first time, the sequence and meaning of the markings on the base of the pots is explained. In addition, cultural historian, Noris Ioannou, in his essay, Depression to Celebration, places the achievements of the individuals and the pottery in a social and cultural context.”

So, there you have it! My little project led me to a wonderful look into a bit of Australian Ceramic history!

And here’s my bowl!

My stab at Australiana pottery!

Peace out, my pottery buddies!

Marian

Copper Reds – Woodfired – Seungae Ahn

Amazing Potters Copper Reds Glazes Inspiration

I’ve done Copper Reds. I’ve done Woodfiring. I have NEVER seen this!!! Woodfired Copper Reds! Just incredible!

Lana Wilson: Make My Heart Sing!

Amazing Potters Creation Inspiration Musings

I just reread my post, MirrorTime and Advice to Myself, which deal with deciding on my direction.

Noodle Bowls with Applique — Noodles Bowls with Applique.

Lana Wilson

The link to her article doesn’t seem to be working- click the above link to watch a video by Lana Wilson.
So here I am at the same crux in the road. What do I want to do with my pottery? I’ve got the glazing down pretty well, but a bowl is a bowl is a bowl! I need it to make a statement – ’cause I’m for sure not going to be a production potter!

I think that as we progress, grow, learn, create and then evaluate, our goals and expectations for ourselves change. When our expectations change, then the resultant product changes. But I NEED that change to be something that will be positive and emphatic, not just a small decision.

Therefore, I’m reading Lana Wilson’s article AGAIN! AND I’m going to put my head to thinking on what I want next. I need to get back to doing something that makes my heart sing!

aussie flies, kate middleton, pottery, musing

There’s A FLY In My Car-Driving Me Crazy

Musings Top Slid

Even Kate Middleton Has Trouble With Aussie Flies!

Flies here in Australia are the most annoying insect on the planet! They literally try to get into your nose or your mouth! The Aussie Salute refers to the action of “waving one’s hand in front of the face at regular intervals in order to prevent bush flies from landing on it, or entering one’s nose or mouth.”

As I drove down the road recently, a fly – one fly – kept incessantly bugging me! Trying to get into my nose (which I absolutely hate! Ask anyone in my family- I’ll kill you if you touch my nose!), my mouth and just buzzing me!

It reminded me of the story they told (truth or fiction) about Lindberg’s crossing of the Atlantic – that a fly was in the airplane cabin with him and flew around buzzing him and keeping him from falling asleep on his historic flight.

lindbergh, spirit of saint louis, pottery — Lindbergh and The Spirit of Saint Louis

Without this little annoying fly, Lindbergh could have fallen into the ocean and never made it across the Atlantic.

Which brings me to my point. Sometimes, those really annoying, frustrating things in your life are the very things that keep you from falling asleep – from going brain dead – from not noticing.

So I say, be thankful for all those little annoying things in life. Yes, they can be extremely frustrating! but they can also keep you from falling asleep and missing the party!

I think I’m speaking directly about all the frustrations surrounding my work as a potter – and there are plenty! I need to be thankful for them, for without them, I might be lulled into complacency – not noticing – what’s going on around me.

For instance, glazing! I can make a great form and then f*** it up with a bad glaze job!

Or I’m careless trimming a pot and punch right through the bottom!

But each issue, creates an awareness in me that wouldn’t have been there had it not been for that problem.

Be thankful for it all- the good and the bad!

Marian

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Creation Pottery Stamps

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Subtleties In Glazing

Copper Reds Glazes Glazes and Glazing Top Slid

I’m just not that subtle. I’m a Texan. An opinionated woman -known to some as a bitch! I’m not even subtle in my glazing!

I go for the bold and colourful! As with my personality – I’m bold, outgoing, and my language is definitely colourful (thank you Australia!).

However, I recently saw a piece of work that made me “rethink” subtlety and it’s power. It might not be such a bad thing!

This is the bowl that I saw on Instagram! http://instagram.com/p/yOUDiQLCIx/

Yukari Obuchi's beautiful subtlely glazed bowl. — Yukari Obuchi’s beautiful subtlely glazed bowl.

It’s by a potter, Yukari Obuchi – Japan.
Such subtle use of colour. The copper red is there, but just not so “in your face “.

What do you reckon? Gorgeous?

Another potter using the subtle copper red approach is Tineke van Gils -Netherlands.

Click here for her website. Her facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/tineke.vangils.9

Her work is just exquisite!

copper red, glazes, tineke van gils, — Beautiful subtle glaze work by Tineke van Gils.

So I’ve decided in my next glaze firing to try for a little subtlety – tame that copper red/blue thing down a bit. Could be good! I’ll keep you posted.

As for subtlety in my personal life, I’ve decided to work on that too. I’ve decided (after seeing it in action!) that there is NO REASON to be a bitch! It’s not pretty, necessary, or ok – EVER! So I may not be subtle, but I won’t be a bitch! Pray for me, I may need help on this one!

Over and out, Tonto!

Marian

Clay stamps, Wooden cabinet, repurposed, stamp storage, stamps

Pottery Stamps!! Adding Texture

Creation Pottery Stamps Studio and Equipment Top Slid

I love stamps! I have the homemade clay kind. The plastic kind. The wooden kind. The rubber kind. They add such great texture and interest to a piece.

But you know what! I can never seem to find the one I want when working. So I’ve organized them! Holy moly- what a concept!

Ronnie, my husband, cleaned up this old cabinet, added wheels and greased the drawers. Wahoo! A new storage chest for all my stamps!

Wooden cabinet, repurposed, stamp storage, stamps — My newly commissioned stamp cabinet.

We also found this cool little colourful storage box keeper for smaller stamps.

Stamps, pottery stamping, pottery studio organization — Cool New Storage Case – Rubber Stamps and Plastic Stamps

I’m pretty excited to think I’ll be able to find what I need!!

Here’s a few pics of some stamped work.

Stamp on side of bowl with wooden stamp.

Stamped rim of blow with handmade clay stamp.

Stamped edge of bowl with wooden stamp.

Stamped side of bowl with wooden stamp and clay handmade stamp.

Handmade roller stamps – ready for the bisque!

Stamped cups.

Metal stamps – cutout flowers – appliqued.

Stamped heart- rubber.

Stamped applique – handmade clay stamp.

Stamped handles- wooden stamps.

Stamped mug – handmade clay stamp.

Textured floor of casserole – rubber mat stamps.

Zsolnay

Amazing Potters Glazes Inspiration Luster/Lustres

Zsolnay!!! Have you ever heard of him? Neither had I?

But I found this image on Pinterest and was blown away! I thought it was a current day artist…but no!

So here’s the skinny on Zsolnay.

I did a little research and found that Vilmos Zsolnay, from Budapest, Hungary, was born in 1828. Vilmos took his father’s ceramic factory to worldwide recognition by creating one of a kind porcelain pieces made with the eosin glazing process.

During the war, the factory did the wartime production of insulators and has only recently made a comeback. Actually, it is quite a comeback! They have a contract with IKEA that should make them rich! IKEA!!

For more on Zsolnay, check out Jason Jacques website at – Click here!

There is also a huge website in Colorado Springs, Co – www.zsolnay.com Where you can shop for Zsolnay!!

Another interesting website is from the Zsolnay Cultural Center – Check it out here.

The work has such vibrancy, colour and imagery!

I’m absolute blown away by this art!

Marian

What Keanu Reeves And I Have In Common

Creation Musings Top Slid

Keanu Reeves - What We Have In Common — Keanu Reeves – What We Have In Common: Source

Maybe I don’t have ANYTHING in common with Keanu Reeves, but I do think his character in the Matrix movie, Neo, and I have a lot in common.

You know that scene in the Matrix where Keanu Reeves “gets it”? He’s learned how to fight – and it comes to him automatically…almost in slow motion. Or was it the kissing scene that got me going? But I digress….

keanu reeves, pottery, he gets it, motivation — Keanu Reeves: He gets it too!

That’s what it’s felt like this week! I’m focusing, being deliberate, being careful, thoughtful and it is so weird that it almost seems like I’m working in slow motion. So that’s where I figure that Keanu Reeve and I have something in common – we are finally “getting it”!

I’ve struggled with my work – tried to work feverishly to make enough stuff to make me a good potter. But I’ve slowed it all down. I’m focusing. I’m trying to work more deliberately, more planned, more careful!

Very exciting! Here’s a sample of this week’s work!