Marian Williams, Author at Marian Williams Pottery

Pottery ROCK STARS at NCECA! PotterLoves

I suppose that every career/interest group has its “ROCK STARS” -those of that profession that shine above all the others and create a following that is evidence of the reverence, admiration, adoration and sheer LOVE of that person and their work by those of us striving to achieve some level of expertise.

Pottery or Ceramics, as a profession, is no different. In fact, we definitely have our Pottery Rock Stars! It may vary amongst potters, but there are a few potters that are at the top of the heap and I got to see some of them at NCECA 2013!

I’ll go into more depth about each of them in a later post, but in this post, I just wanted to share with you my excitement at seeing these amazing potters!!!

First person I saw that I recognised was the famous and oh-so-talented, Cynthia Bringle!

Then I saw Tom Coleman, King of the Copper Red Glaze and spokesman for Geil Kilns, speaking to a group!

Next, I bumped into Steven Hill, potter extraordinaire!, and he was lovely to chat with!

And for me and all Aussies, the Rock Star of Glazes, Greg Daly was there!

How cool was that! I have more to tell you about each one, but that is for another post.

Sleep well, my little ones. Sweet dreams of pots!

Inspiration: Spirituality, Religion, & Pottery

Inspiration

I love this!!! It speaks volumes doesn’t it!? Haven’t we all been in a place where we were supposed to be contemplative – a class, a meeting, church, yoga or meditation – and all we could think about was potting! And I have been potting when I think of the most incredible ideas, solutions to problems, or at least have thoughts that sooth my soul. Yes, pottery is spiritual – it is a passion, a joy, a way to live one’s life.

This was written on the chalkboard at Murwillumbah Potters Group in Fernvale, NSW.

Texturing Clay Slabs-I Got My New Shoes On!

Here is a couple of pics of my new runners! Solomons! I love them-so comfy-but I bought these pretty much on cute value.

For some reason, I seem to attach songs to my work. Do any of you know and like the song:New Shoes by Paolo Nutini? Well, It just makes me happy! and it really fits my mood when I wear my new shoes!

And then…..da da da da…I looked at the soles of these beautiful new shoes!

These are the greatest clay stamps I have seen for quite some time!

At NCECA there were many booths selling all sorts of texturing devices!

DSCF3141 — Rubber rollers and individual rubber stamps

So when I saw the rubber soles on these shoes, my heart leapt! I had a billion new stamps for texturing slabs AND a new pair of shoes!

I really NEEDED to put this new “tool” to use, so I decided to make a big platter for the upcoming wood fire at Murwillumbah Potters’ Group in May.

Step 1. Roll out a big slab on my slab roller. Place the rolled slab onto the floor on the canvas mat.

First step was to roll out a slab of clay.

Step 2. Spray the bottom of the shoe with WD40 so the clay won’t stick to the shoe sole.

Step 3. Lightly step on the slab, using the toe, heal and edges to fully texturize the slab of clay.

Step 4. Spray the intended slump/hump hold with WD40.

Step 5. Carefully place the slab of clay into the mold. Use a tennis ball to push the clay into the edges and bottom, being careful not to distort or erase the texturing.

Step 6. You can support the overhanging edges of clay with door stoppers or draft stoppers (got mine at Bunnings-they work great for all sorts of clay supporting issues!).

TA DA!

Oh, and don’t forget to check out your old runners! They probably have cool stamps on their soles too!

Be sure to check out Mud Colony posts this week! Heard some good stuff is coming up!

And…tadadada!!!! Here is the final result of that platter from the woodfiring at Murwillumbah Potters’ Group in Fernvale!

Avital Sheffer

Amazing Potters

Just came across the work of Avital Sheffer!!

So great! and she’s a neighbor! Only about 30 miles or a few kilometers from me!

So happy to meet her on the WWW! Now I need to meet her in person!

To see more of her fabulous work, check out her website at Click Here!

Why?

Musings

We are burying the ashes of my father-in-law today.

I think anytime we lose some we love we have to ask ourselves some heart searching questions.

Questions like:

Why am i putting things off?

Why am i procrastinating?

Why am i wasting my time?

Life is too precious and too short not to do the things we love, create the art that is within us, and create our dreams.

So I’m putting it in writing.

I WILL teach again- hopefully pottery.

I WILL master copper red glazes.

I WILL become an excellent potter.

And I will write my book.

nuff said!

It Was A Love-Annoyed Relationship! My Giffin Grip!

Tools and Equipment

I LOVE my Giffin Grip! I know there are those who feel that trimming pots using this kind is aid is sort of “cheating”, but for me, it is a lifesaver! I think that this quote in a Giffin advertisement states why I enjoy using the Giffin Grip so much:

Recently, howere, I’ve had to go back to trimming pots the old-fashioned way – centering and attaching with clay – because my Giffin Grip was just off-center a bit- but enough to really make the pots impossible to trim neatly! I NEED my Giffin Grip! Soooo annoyed!

While at NCECA 2013, I stopped by the Giffin Grip booth and inquired as to how to solve my problem. Low and behold, there was Brian Giffin who is the originator of the Giffin Grip!

I was so excited to meet him and he was wonderful! He handed me a new set of bottom brackets, which is the three brackets on the bottom of the Grip which hold it onto the wheel head.

I asked “how much” they were and Brian Giffin said, “Nothing, just take them.” Wow!!! How nice is that!

I have had my Griffin Grip for about 10 years and I assume that this is a fairly common problem with this fantastic tool!

I have already re-attached them and am excited to see if the trimming is more precise! I know it will be!

In addition to the old tried and true Giffin Grip, they have a couple of new products as well! One assists in trimming altered (not round) pots and the other is for really large pieces-Perfect!

DSCF3147 — The New Giffin Grip for trimming large pieces

DSCF3151 — The new Giffin Grip for throwing altered or “not round” pieces.

And thank you very much, Mr. Giffin Grip, Brian Giffin!

Here is there website if you need more info. Click Here!

Do You Feel Walked Over? Potters’ Shoes

Setting Up A Studio

At the recent NCECA 2013 convention, my daughter, Liz, and I noticed the amazing variety of COMFORTABLE potters’s shoes! They even had a booth for potters’ shoes!

Here are some examples of what we saw!

So it got me thinking….

What do your pottery shoes look like? Why did you choose them? Any comments or suggestions?

Send me your pics and comments and I’ll do another post regarding YOUR pottery shoes!

Rock on, potters!

Gotta Love The Cone 6 Glazes From Coyote Clay!

Coyote Clay Glazes Glazes

When I worked at my studio in Texas, I was limited in space, expertise in mixing glazes, and only firing in an electric kiln. After attending Steven Hill’s Workshop on spraying glazes, I set about finding a source for ready-mixed Cone 6 glazes.

Coyote Glaze Ad in Current Ceramics Monthly

I found Coyote Clay online and ordered several glazes -WOW! They worked great! They were easy to use, mix and had consistent results. Even better, they looked great sprayed and when layered.

I was getting close to achieving the gas kiln “look” that I was craving!

Here is an example of what can be achieved:

Coyote Clay Glazed Bowl-Black poured in the center, then the whole bowl dipped in Ice Blue, with slip trailing on the rim.

Since moving to Australia, I now have a gas kiln and working with the Cone 6 glazes has not been on my “list of things to do”. However, after seeing their booth at NCECA 2013, I was no less impressed.

Martin Butt and his wife, Willie, were there and their booth was awesome! Made me remember why I loved their glazes!

DSCF3165 — Martin and Willie Butt, owners of Coyote Clay

Martin Butt, Coyote Clay Exhibit at NCECA 2013

So if you are in the need for Cone 6 glazes – look no further!

Give them a call – (Toll Free-866-344-2250) or check out their website at Coyote Clay.

Sorta makes me long for the simplicity of the electric kiln and Cone 6 glazes! Nahh……

Copper Reds Are Easy! Secrets Revealed! Susan Filley, my current PotterLove!

Amazing Potters Copper Reds Glazes

If you have read my blog, you know that I’m sort of obsessed with achieving copper red glazes on stoneware in my fibre-lined gas kiln (see other blog posts on copper reds HERE).

So when I met Susan Filley at NCECA and saw her gorgeous copper red glazed pots, I was gobsmacked!!

Her pots were so gorgeous and the copper reds were outstanding!

I had to know how she did it! And she told me that achieving copper reds was EASY!!!! Good to know! But I have had trouble with consistency, reduction, spotty coppers-half and half. So I needed her secrets to make it EASY!!

Susan Filley's Copper Red Glazed Porcelain Pottery — Susan Filley’s Copper Red Glazed Porcelain Pottery

Well, potters are amazing people! Susan gave up her secrets quite readily and seemed so “OK” with giving up what I figured was a guarded secret!

Here are her tips:

1. You must have a very tight box (kiln).

2. Bisque fire your pots that are going to be glazed for copper red to Cone 010. This will allow the clay to be more porous and the pot will therefore soak up more glaze.

3. Start reduction at Cone 010.

Easy. I’ve bought Cone 010 and will try this!

Susan Filley's Copper Red Porcelain Pottery — Susan Filley’s Copper Red Porcelain Pottery

Her work is gorgeous! The glazes are luminous. And Susan Filley is a gracious and lovely woman!

For more information, check out her website: Susan Filley

Gotta PotterLove Susan Filley!!!

Lots of PotterLove! Santa Fe Clay’s La Mesa Exhibit At NCECA 2013

Amazing Potters

There is absolutely nothing better than touching, holding, fondling a wonderful cup or mug of a famous potter that you’ve admired from afar- either in print or online.

The Santa Fe La Mesa Exhibit in Houston at NCECA 2013 gave many of us that exact opportunity!

Santa Fe Clay-La Mesa Exhibit-NCECA 2013-pottery-jim connell — Santa Fe Clay-La Mesa Exhibit-NCECA 2013-Jim Connell

The exhibit was set up in table settings and was strung along two huge tables. All pottery was for sale and pieces were going quickly in this first day. The close proximity to the pottery and the access to the pottery was so exciting!

I’ve taken photos of many of the place settings and I will share them here! Hope you enjoy them and are as inspired as I was!!!