.first week of Jan

I have slacked on going into the studio. Finally started going in last week Thursday. Shaun threatened to kick me out of the group if I didn’t start to show up. Was suppose to go in on Wednesday but decided to go to the driving range instead. Was good to get back into the studio. Trimmed one piece and threw a few pieces for Tamara. I’m her ghost thrower. She gave me some rod’s bod which I haven’t used in a billion years. Stayed away from it because I thought I would tear up my hands. It throws really nicely and I love how the little iron specs show through the glaze.

From the lump of clay she gave me I decided to throw mini boxes. Everyone was starting to leave and I didn’t want to be the last one there like usual so I threw them really really really fast. 7 in total. This is when the light bulb in my head went off for me to throw the weeks worth in one day. Although I should always make a couple of extras just in case I mess up while trimming.

Saturday seemed like the most productive day last week. I trimmed 6 of the 7 mini pots/jars. Trimmed through the bottom of one. I have decided that after this small batch thrown in rods bod, I will not be using it again. It doesn’t trim well for small things. I will stick to the b-mix and other non griddy clay bodies. There is this little voice in my head saying to not count these and make new ones but they are decorated already so probably not. All of the little jars were topped off with 3D decorations except one. The spiral one was inspired by Ellen.

Was able to decorate 2 bowls using mishima technique. Used the square connection design chartreuse green engobe. This time I will not be using apple green celedon and end up losing the design. I’ll just use clear. Can’t wait for the results. I also the layed out design and started carving of one of the bottles. I wanted to finish it that night but decided to go home instead.

Sunday came in only for a few hours. Had some mini boxes that I threw last year so wanted to get them out of the way. Don’t really want to throw anything new until I have finished up some work that needs to get done soon. There is a bunch of stuff at home that I need to either throw into the reuse clay bucket or finish up. All of it is bone dry already, oh and far far away from the little cat so she can’t break them, bite them or pee on them.

I didn’t take pics of the all four of the decorated boxes I did on Sunday. Only of one. A squirrel with a crown. At least that is what it’s suppose to be. Made another mushroom one. I think the mushroom ones will be a popular design so I’ll make a few every month or so. I’m also not limiting myself to little characters. I did a mishima one that turned out really cool. If it’s still on the shelf I’ll try to remember to take a pic.

Tonight I need throw 10 jars. 1 to be made up and 2 extra for the week. I have totally lagged on the teapots. I need to get them done ASAP. Deadline for the jury show is SOON. Should be able to finish up one tonight. I leave for San Francisco on Thursday so I’ll have to get my ass moving these next 3 days.

.new year & creative resolution

Yay, it’s a new year. December seemed like a long month for me. I was over the holidays before they began. Just wanted to get the month over with and start a new year. Also I was kinda out of it for a bit from the new medication I have been taking for my fibromyalgia. Stuff keeps the pain at bay but the constant headache made me want to sleep A LOT and I hate sleep. But now it’s a new year and I can back into the swing of things.

So with the new year I decided instead of making the regular resolution, though I keep making resolutions on a weekly basis, I am making a creative resolution. This year is to make a mini pot a day, 365 err 366. At first I thought i would just throw one in the morning, trim it at night and add the decoration. All this done at home. But I don’t want to have to deal with keeping the wheel out and the clean up every day. So I am opting to make 7 a week. I can throw them super fast. 7 in about 5 minutes. Trim them a day later and have the rest of the week to add decorations, have them bisqued and possibly glazed. Seems like a good creative resolution for me. I plan to document week by week. Will help me keep my blogging up.

So does anyone else out there have a creative resolution for 2012? If yes what is it.

 

 

.awesome 4

Shaun is a member starting next week. The awesome 4 has graduated from Jim’s class. Aww, I’m gonna miss his class but honestly what he said once “I don’t know what to teach you” is kinda true. BUT, I have learned a lot from him.

1) he’s changed my way of throwing and somewhat way of thinking when I am throwing. To me that is huge deal, because I don’ t really like change.

2) I learned some new tips and tricks on throwing

3) um I don’t know what else. I’m fascinated with his glaze choices. Well most of them.

Okay so I’m a bit of a dork and made a logo for  us too. I like orange and never considered what the other 3 liked because I’m a headcase and made us into a little group. Can you say DIZORK???

.juried shows

I’m not a potter, I don’t consider my work to be functional and I don’t really want to be known for making functional work. I know how to make functional ware. I’d rather give those things away as gifts than try to get my name out there by selling functional ware. Sounds kinda, um I don’t know, maybe like an ass or something. But I know what I want, have a idea of the directions my work should go in and I want it now; however, I can’t be impatient. I still need to work on my skills. Throw thinner, larger, perfect shapes, trim better and experiment with glazes. From participating at the fall sale, I know what will sell of my work and what won’t. I was a little disappointed that none of my vases sold, but then again, not many sold last year as well. Harry said to me that I need to know my market. That some settings you bring a majority of one style of work, and the a little of the other style and other shows or sales you do the opposite. I get that, but my head gets in the way, and I don’t want to listen even though I should. I guess that’s the stubborn Capricorn in me.

During the sale, I was speaking to my friend Sharon on how my work if very different from the other artists. I know I say this in other posts but it is.. She agreed and suggested that I look into juried shows. I’ve looked in the past but kinda just skimmed through it. I have no experience, so asking around was my first thought. I asked Jim. Kinda got a eeehhh answer from him. His point was why pay someone to look at your work or something of that sort. In a way, it’s kinda true but some of them are free. I also asked Sharon and her response was hit and miss but still encouraged me to look into it. I don’t know who else to ask or talk to, I am thinking of emailing a few past instructors but for me talking in person is much better. This past Thursday, I asked Harry. I value his opinion very much. His thought is that it’s a really good way to expose your name etc. I am thinking of asking Robert too, I don’t know if he has done juried shows or not, but I would like to know his thoughts as well. By the way, he’s a fucking awesome artist. His throwing skills are superb, it’s a real treat to watch him throw. He makes it look so easy. Harry and Jim do too but man, there is just something kinda mesmerizing watching him throw.

I’ve started to mark my calendar for a few shows. One of them is based on teapots. Small teapots. PERFECT. I already love to throw small teapots. I was going to enter my dinosaur but Mr Al broke it. He’s normally not a bad cat but he was trying to see what was in the box and boom, box falls, pieces tumble out and… broken teapot. BOO Al BOO. I’m still considering sending an image though. I don’t know if they will need the actual piece. If not I think I will submit it for something else where I know they will not need it. Well I think I know.

I’ve already thrown two new teapots. Both are assembled. One of the teapots the direction has changed. I am not quite sure right now where it’s going. The other, I have it pictured in my mind, but I don’t know. I think it will be along the same lines but a bit different than I thought. I do have an idea of what glazes to use though. I’m starting to get a feel for what the overall look for my pieces are going to be once I’ve trimmed them. Sometimes for new ideas, I have the overall look and idea pictured in my head. For painting it’s the same. I already know what I want it to look like, but with painting, I second guess myself and end up not moving forward until I feel I have more technique down. It fucks with me to the point that I just stop painting, which I have. I’m blocked and don’t know what is blocking it. Maybe too scared. Who knows. I’ll be forcing myself to pick up the brush soon.

.membership & the Awesome Four

The Wednesday before the sale at Xiem, my friend and fellow classmate Tamara and I became the newest members at Xiem. She and I have been waiting oh so patiently for this day. I’m glad that I was able to join at the same time as someone I know. Made it a little bit more exciting. iHeart the studio. It’s the biggest, cleanest and most cost effective for me. Plus I feel safer at the location due to the gated parking lot.

Words can not describe the happiness I feel. I thought I was going to be able to utilize Echo’s studio but not able to go as much as I would like.  Xiem feels like home. I love everything about the. There are so many super sweet and SUPER talented people there. Membership status came a a prime time as well. I was able to set up my display for the sale at night when no one around and take my sweet time doing so. Will have to put image of the display in the next post

Another fellow classmate,  Jason, participated in the Xiem sale. He informed me that he would also be a a member soon (signed up the  Tuesday after sale). Jason, Tamara and I all started in the same class with Jim this past August. When our next class came around this “new dude”  joined our class. I jokingly said that he would have to interviewed to join our group or something of that liking. Whatever was said, I really was only joking. I like our small class. We have much fun together, at least Tamara and I do. We kinda harass Jim a lot, but in all defense Jim has a SUPER easy and lax class so we gotta do sumthin.  Anyway, now we are just waiting for Shaun aka “new dude” to have membership.  I’ve named us the Awesome four because we’re not superheros and can’t be the fantastic four. Plus I created a super awesome special group on Facebook called Awesome Ceramic Artists.  I know I’m a bit weird and silly  but it’s a good weird.

.tiny boxes

Now that I am done with the sale stuff, I started making tiny boxes. At the end of the .productivity post, I mentioned lidded jars Jim had shown us how to make. I made 5. Out of the 5, 2 survived. Out of the 2, 1 made it all the way being a final product (now lives in the home of my lovely neighbor Ann). After much bitching, moaning and swearing that I wouldn’t make another one, I end up making a billion little one and a few improved larger versions. All as holiday gifts, although I might make more to sell on etsy. Haven’t decided yet.

I started making these when I saw Marilyn, a new friend I made at Xiem, showed me hers. Wanted to make one for myself so I could put my stud earring in when I take them off to take a shower. Currently, I just put them in a shot glass. It works, just not as cute though. Made a few then made larger ones revised ones. The next week, I made a whole lot of them. Since then I have been trimming and adding little animals and things to the tops. They are super sweet and I hope my friends and family like them .

.time management & sale

Don’t you hate it when you think you have more than enough time to do things, decide to get a later start and then realize that “FUCK, I didn’t plan well”? Well that is exactly how things have been working out for me as of late. I think I have it all planned out in my head only to be rushing and not getting everything I wanted to done. But c’est la vie. It’s not worth stressing over. I must say that the time I chit chatted with people instead of working was well worth it. I learned from my experience and in time I should get better at managing my time.

I was stressing that I didn’t have or make enough stuff for the upcoming sale at Xiem. Sale was cancelled due to weather forecast postponed till next week. Turns out a lot of people said next weekend would work out better. Everything happens for a reason. I was going to try to get a couple of extra pieces done before next weekend. Thought about it for a minute and decided against it. I’m in a good head place right now. I don’t want to feel rushed. Next sale though I will try to plan better.

 

.broken

As of late I’ve been breaking a lot of pieces due to thinness and bone dry state. Over the weekend I finished this bowl and even though it was thin at the bottom it was fine. Silly me decided to stack other bowls on top of it while in transport. Oh and part of a banana too. When I got to the studio, the bottom was broken. Lesson learned though.

I tried to patch it up with magic water but 2 hours later the pieces were falling off. The wet patch is the broken area. I do like this design. I’ve used it on other pieces too. I think it translates really well with the bowl shape. It’s a low shallow bowl.

That same day I threw 7 more bowls of similar style. Had a pretty discouraging day from different frustrations early on, but once I took a break and returned it was easier. The one in the pic is larger than than the ones I threw, but just slightly. I do want to throw larger ones though.  I plan to do variations of this design and use different engobes.

I’m getting faster in my design stages, able to knock off a nice chunk of time in the past few weeks. Also new design concepts coming to me faster. Still all a learning process but I like where things are going.

.slacking on painting

I’ve put off painting for a LONG while now. I have ideas, just lack many areas of energy in doing so. I’m fine with putting my one series I had planned to debut in August on the back burner. I’m fine with not getting a start on some really great gifts for cherished ones. I can deal with that. However, this new painting I want to start I am starting to beat myself up because the deadline is coming close. Actually I have two painting in mind. One in watercolor or a smaller oil and one really large one. The large canvas I got a crazy deal at Swaines. Buy one canvas get 3 free any size. I left the store with over $200 worth of canvas for a mere $60. The other three canvases will be for the other paintings for people.

My prime hold back is I lack confident in my painting skills. This is a portrait. Am I good enough. What if I fuck up so bad that 1) I won’t even attempt to give it to the person and 2) the person hates it. I can envision it already done, I really just have to start. I’ve had the canvas for about 3 weeks. I still haven’t prepped it. I in hopes that maybe if I get this out of my mind for a bit, out into open, I’ll be able to get out of this little mind set and actually start.

Another reason I find no time for painting is that I’m too invested with my ceramic work. I’m trying to get work for the sale done or enough done now to feel satisfied. I’m over stressing a bit.  I do need to start painting, maybe it will be a good distraction for a couple of days. I do know I want to start the painting in a relaxed mind set just so any struggling thoughts  don’t  translate into the painting.  I have a few weeks to get it done. It’s a larger painting for me but I think I should be fine once I start. I’ve done sketches and I feel good about them, I don’t want to  rush it this either. I’ll get there, just need to get a few things cleared out of my head first. Hopefully if it’s done on time, if not, I don’t think it would be too big of a deal it’s a bit late.

.down to one

Yesterday I started to go into panic mode about the upcoming sales. I was at echo trimming bowls and working on the jars and it hit me ” I don’t have enough shit for 2 sales” I started to do an inventory in my head of old stuff in storage, new finished pieces and pieces to be finished by sales. I counted 17 pieces waiting to be bisque fired at echo. Amongst them “geo orbs” series, large bowl, more bowls, one of the jars (turning our really nice, write up on another post when other is done)  and I have quite a few new pieces at home. I took home the trimmed bowls (8) so I can work on those and I have 2 lidded pieces I will have done by end of week. I do have a pieces that I think I can squeeze in by the sale as well.I started to feel relieved that I would have just  enough work for both sales, but barely.

This morning when I opened email, I got an email from Harry about the Berman sale. Unfortunately not enough people have signed up so there will be no sale. I was saddened but then also kind of relieved. I would be doing two sales back to back weekends. I’d be stretching myself to thin with work, getting pieces done, working on a painting and trying to have somewhat of a social life. With one sale out of the way, I can ease up a bit more.  I can also put more focus on a painting I would like to have done towards the end of the month. Not quite sure yet though but that is the goal.

So with one down and one still going, I know that I will A LOT of pieces. . I still may try to do the sale at Echo but that sale is in December, giving me somewhat of a break and some time.

copyright anna becker 2011