Negative Space

Let's get personal, breathe in - breathe out, another day passes. Should I write in my blog, no, not today. Only have an hour, would rather take care of my body - work out, and spend some time with Family. All the while, being the bread winner right now with a nice day job, I'm a hard worker - got to, several mouths to feed, mine being the hungriest - always love a nice, warm dinner in the middle of winter. Several thousand pounds of clay wait in the studio for me to shape. Variations of dinnerware sets race through my mind, colors interacting, it's exciting as it plays out. Then, I fall asleep. I burn the 'midnight oil' several times a week - do my best work then, and good thing because there's no other time. I love to read the news, prefer the paper copy, love the way it feels against my fingertips, especially when it smudges, weird I know but even weirder I love the smell of the aromatic gasoline I fill my Honda up with every 3 weeks. I don't take it in too deeply, it's only 5 degrees out right now, and with the windchill even worse, but I love it here in the heart of the Midwest, the chill of the night over Saint Paul, the black ice I almost slip on, and one step closer perhaps tomorrow to sitting down and throwing some wet clay on my pottery wheel. I'm not actively selling right now, gosh who would buy in this market? Not me, especially for items like pottery or any art. We all take cutbacks, I expect to weather this storm and emerge with a lot of great pottery at good prices. I'm not going to mark down my pottery 50% anymore, not worth it, and in fact I'm ashamed I did it recently, really ate into my bottom line and my perspective, but good for the customer. I fear that other potters right now, perhaps more new to the arena will not survive this economic crisis. Even clay at 29 cents per pound if you buy it in bulk is a strong consideration to postpone for a few months. Onto a different subject, I've been working my way through the 1st season of 6 feet under, love it. Dark, but humorous at times, David and Nate are a real treat for my contemplative soul. Listening to Tegan and Sara right now, and "I don't even know you, and now I'm saying bye, bye . . . "

Take care folks and hope you'll check back again soon for a more coherent posting and maybe a few pictures too.

Emerging Artist, Art of Highland in Saint Paul

Just received the letter yesterday. I'm excited to participate. March 28th, Sat 10am-5pm.

I was selected as their Emerging Artist; more details coming soon, check back later.

Electric Kiln Conversion

For those potters out there considering it after reading the email by Ceramic Arts Daily, converting an electric kiln - I tried it 2 summers ago based on Bowers publication in Ceramics Monthly, and in my experience it was a failure, of course your mileage may vary. I'd try it again perhaps but definitely with lower maturing glazes, perhaps on a low-fire clay body around cone 03-cone 1, might get some good action.

My friend Josh blogged about our experience here: http://joshgrenier.blogspot.com - - Go to 2007 and page down until you find it. If you can't, contact me. That's me to the left after stoking in a bit of soda-drenched wood, nice haircut, heh?

All work in my Etsy store qualifies for 5 buck shipping. New work coming soon. After the fire inspection passed earlier in this week, which was a relief, I've been back at the wheel making mugs and vases. Firing in mid-stoneware range with a red earthenware clay, excellent durability for the clay I'm using. Look out world!

Fire inspection passed - now back to work

Just wanted to quickly post that the studio is still up-and-running, fire marshall thinks everything looks good. For those of you new to my blog, Apartment 51 Pottery is in an apartment building.

Fire Inspection on Monday

Crossing fingers all goes well - I cleaned up - so I should take some pictures of that because that's relatively new. Got a new book at this place called 1/2 price books regarding Safety in the Pottery Studio by Zamek, hope to get a few tips in there regarding safety because I haven't learned too much about that - just the basics using a kiln vent, mop rather than sleep to keep the clay dust down, etc. Happy new year to you all.