Marian Williams, Author at Marian Williams Pottery

spoon flower, pottery fabric, pottery apron

How To Make A Great Pottery Apron!

There is nothing better than a great Pottery Apron! It can make your life so much easier…and cleaner!

Here’s another post about pottery aprons. Check out that previous post here: Click Here

My fabric is way too cute. It’s from Spoon Flower – they have tons of cute pottery themed fabrics for any of your sewing needs. See more Here.

I had not sewn in a very long time, so this adventure was super frustrating! My machine needs a tune up (hadn’t been out of the closet for a long time!) and my sewing supplies are super old and out of date.

In addition, my sewing skills basically suck! I’m a home economics major for gosh sakes! Taught sewing! but time has been cruel! I couldn’t thread the needle. The needle broke. The bobbin ran out of thread. I had to rethread the machine countless times due to my lack of skills. The thread broke a million times, probably because the thread was so old – it was on a wooden spool. On and on. However, I finally finished the apron!

Really old.sewing supplies-check out the TG&Y label and the price!

It’s super cute and this design is so user-friendly!

Here’s a video of the process:

The best part of this apron is the straps – there is no tying! It slips over your head and stays in place. You’ll love it!

How I Am Sculpting Fish

Handbuilding How To's Sculpture

I like to work in series and my latest endeavor is FISH!

I start out by making a newspaper form.

I roll a slab – 3/8″ to 1/2″ and smooth it with an old vinyl record – the best tool ever!

I then form the clay around the newspaper form, add eyes, fins and other texture for the features.

These fish are not anatomically correct – they are supposed to be comical and funny.

This will be part of a display for my next Sculpture – Lake Girl.

She is yet to appear!

Summer Time Blues

Creation Creativity

I can’t seem to get my creativity flowing right now! Is it summer? or the fact that I’m still recovering from a HUGE spinal fusion surgery? or the looming knee replacement surgery in August? or the ridiculous 100+ degree heat? Or all of the above? How about you?

Here’s what I am currently doing: feeding hummingbirds, feeding geese and ducks, feeding catfish….listening to Samantha Scout bark, swimming, lazing and enjoying life.. Not a bad deal.

I’ll get back to making soon!

Have fun this summer!

Marian

San Angelo National Ceramic Competition

Events Exhibitions

Summer is flying by and I just realized that I didn’t give you an update on the San Angelo National Ceramic Competition and how my sculpture fared.

San Angelo is about a 3 hour drive from where I live in Texas – pretty much everything in Texas is a drive – 2,3,5, ie 8 hours – anyway, we got there!

It’s a lovely town with lots of murals on the sides of many of the buildings.

The San Angelo Fine Arts Museum is a lovely building in the heart of downtown San Angelo.

My sculpture didn’t win any prizes, but it was placed in the biggest room on the back wall and had great visual impact! I was very pleased. And the best news is that it SOLD!!

Here’s a little video showing the exhibition.

It was a great honor and experience to be included in this competition and exhibition!

Happy potting!

Marian

Refiring Glazes…Third Time’s A Charm!

Application Glazes Results

Sometimes I just want to give up on a piece. It’s well thrown, but it just looks horrible!

That happened recently – I, evidently, didn’t mix my standard white glaze thoroughly (I hadn’t used it in about a year) and when applied and fired it looked so amateurish and U.G.L.Y.

So I applied more glaze by brushing on gobby coats of about 5 different glazes. Second time, still U.G.L.Y.

But I remembered that old saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.

I once again applied more glaze by brushing on thick, gobby coats of glaze.

Third times a charm! These little bowls look great and are perfect for hand-held salad, cereal or dessert!

Never give up if it’s still a good pot….until it isn’t! Then take a hammer to it!

figurative sculpture, Marian Williams Pottery

Sculpture On Main

Events Exhibitions Figurative Sculpture Sculpture

Here are some photos of my work shown and sold at the Sculpture on Main, Marble Falls, Texas.

It’s a great event! Well planned and well attended. My exhibit consisted of raku, barrel-fired, and electric glaze work.

Sculpture on Main, Marian Williams Pottery, figurative sculpture

Sculpture on Main, Marian Williams Pottery

Figurative sculpture, San Angelo national Ceramic Competition , figurative sculpture, Indigenous, American Indian, akacita

San Angelo National Ceramic Competition: I’m Accepted!!

Events Exhibitions Figurative Sculpture Sculpture

figurative sculpture, indigineous American Indian, akicita, raku, San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, wild turkey feathers — Indigenous American Indian Akacita

I am very excited and honored to have my sculpture, Indigenous American Indian Akacita, accepted into the San Angelo National Ceramic Competition!!!

I received this email and couldn’t believe my eyes! What a thrill!

“Congratulations! Your work has been accepted in the 24th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition. We believe this is one of the finest ceramic exhibitions in the nation, and your excellent work will contribute to the continued quality that we wish to present. The juror, James Watkins, selected 116 works by 116 artists from a total of around 950 pieces submitted. The prize winners will be chosen by the Juror on the day of the opening. Winners, if not present that day, will be notified after that date.”

I’ll be headed to San Angelo on Friday as many demonstrations, exhibitions, and events are part of the event.

I’m sure I won’t win, but being accepted is win enough for me!

Love to all!

Marian

Barrel Firing Results

Firing

Each time one does a barrel firing, the variables change enormously. It is really difficult to predict or recreate the same effects time and time again.

This firing definitely left me with lots of questions. However, the colors that I achieved were spectacular!

The one problem with this firing was the amount of “grit” or “rough spots” on each pot. If I had tried to sand them down, I would have caused a lot of scratching and damage to the surface – worse that the gritty, rough spots.

Therefore, I decided to consider those imperfections part of the glorious process of the fire and the clay and all of those variables.

The one thing that did change in this firing which could have caused the problem, was that I added a lot of Himalayan Pink Rock Salt around the edges of the barrel.

I won’t do that in the upcoming firing and I shall see if this is the culprit causing the crusty bits.

Here are some photos of the outcome and the final and finished pieces.

Peace out,

Marian

Isolation Pottery

Creation Creativity

In this time of Covid-19, a whole new set of terms has arisen to describe our situation – Covid Brain, Before Times, etc. And a whole new set of circumstances to navigate. As most of us have always wished for more time to do the things we love, when we have this extra time, we feel aimless…adrift…no beacon waiting out there for us.

Every possible timeline, event, or time-sensitive deadline has been wiped off the calendar.

For me, as a potter/artist, it can be off-setting, demoralizing, and depressing, but I’ve decided that I’m the captain of this weary vessel and must help decide on the navigation to take from here to arrive at ANY destination in the future.

Here’s my plan:

Take online courses.

Cristina Cordova (fabulous teacher and sculptor) is offering online classes! Click here to go to classes- CLICK

The Australian Ceramics Association has several online classes that look great!

2. Work on these new skill sets.

3. Make “fun” stuff – just for me.

4. Make vessels that I can fire when it’s not so hot.

So keep busy my friends and let’s ENJOY this free, unscheduled time if possible!

Stay safe!

Marian

Murwillumbah, Stone & Wood Brewery Open Day, Market stall

Pottery Making Idea For When You Can’t Work At The Studio During Corona Lockdown

Creation Pottery Spoons

In this crazy time, it’s hard to not make pottery, but it’s also hard to do if you can’t get to your working studio. So here is a little project idea that might be fun when you’re stuck at home. Stay safe. Be well.

I really adore little ceramic spoons! When in Japan, I bought several kinds- really simple, yet adorable.

Making spoons can be rather tedious and laborsome, but I found this really great link showing how to make ceramic spoons in a much easier way!!