Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Anasazi-ish Pottery

Saucy handles and polka dots...
Spots and stars...
Lunchtime helper, disguised for the interweb...
Argyle patterns and stripes...
Striped handles with polka dots...
Third shelf from the bottom...

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Trades and Belated Presents

Bought some wire tonight, so that I can put hangers on these...
A wall heart for Elaine Pinkernell: heroine, neighbor, and friend...
This is way overdue from an internet dare with Mrs. Bowers...
A wall heart for Betty Spindler, also a clay heroine...
Arti always gives me the best fudge.  Seriously, the best...

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Worlds Collide

Bottom shelf of three shelves of Anasazi pottery...
Cups for the first round of our "Cup Swap"...
LuLu angrily looks on while I unload the kiln...
More cups, and this is only round one...
A record setting three boxes from the bisque firing...
These belated Christmas presents are going into the kiln...

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Yard Work vs. Beach Dog Walk

Carsick Dog
Taking Flight
Sculpture
Epic Waves
Delicate Scent
Rickety Pier
Heading Due West
Night Night

Monday, January 20, 2014

Undercoat Experiments

White coat and sanded lamb shack...

This kiln load is full of plates at the bottom and experiments with undercoating over brown Navajo Wheel Clay near the top. I like the clay showing through, but I also like to see strong color. Consequently, I've been working on layering a lot of color, and then sanding or sponging through it to see the brown clay underneath. After these come out of the kiln, they'll need a wash of coffee brown underglaze. The wash will be sponged back, to fill the texture. Then, they'll head back into the kiln for a final firing. Fingers crossed!


Layers of blue and purple with sanding...
Turquoise first...
Chartreuse and key lime sponged off...
Golden yellow undercoating... 
Turquoise and avocado sponged back...
Sand undercoating on a wall heart...
Another wall heart gets the same treatment...
White, then sand coating on birthday kids...
Colored and sanded...

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Shrimp and Chips

Love these many murals in Watsonville...

I treated myself to lunch after viewing my work at the PVAC Gallery. It has been a long journey for me to be able to put my work "out there".  It requires an enormous level of bravery. So, after looking at the show, and seeing the many wonderful pieces, I headed off to Moss Landing for some quick eats. Then I headed back home to lesson plans and kiln filling. I'm hoping to dry the kiddie pieces in my garage, by firing a load of my work tomorrow night. There's still a lot more glazing to do!

Oceanside of the harbor...
Super crowded, as usual...
Celebratory shrimp and chips...
Wall mural in the outdoor eating area...
Packing boxes and pallets...
Those onions look tasty...
On the road home...
My home electrical pole leading to the kiln...