Slabs, Slabs, and More Slabs

I have some projects at the studio that need finishing.  No, not the deep cleaning and kiln shelf grinding that I have mentioned previously.  Pottery projects.  Commission work that folks asked me to do before the world shut down.  

I ran a bisque fire late last week and then glazed my work.  I hoped that I would have enough to justify running a glaze fire.  Well, I didn't.  There's maybe enough for roughly a third of the space in the kiln.  That's just not enough.  

So...change of plans.  Now I am trying to get enough made to run another bisque fire as soon as possible.  Because I'm trying to fill up the space with just MY work, I decided that I would make some big things.  Big, odd shaped things normally drive me nuts when I'm loading the kiln.  But now they are perfect.  

My first thought was to do a couple large, drape bowls like this one.

These start with a large slab.  I cut out a circle and add texture to both sides.  

Next, I drape the slab over a big ball.

A little work to change how the clay "drapes" over the ball.

Add some feet.

Then make an attempt to level them.

After that dries for a day or so, I'll work to smooth off the edges of the clay.  When it is firm leather hard, I'll lift it off the ball and flip it over to finish drying sitting on the feet.  

Note: if you are wondering about the texture in these pictures, you are not nuts.  These are two different pieces.  The first one I made had mostly geometric shapes and the second one is more flower and leaf shapes.  

The other night, Dixie and I watched a new video that Bill Van Gilder put on YouTube.  (You too can watch at  https://youtu.be/bkfRNe24cHw if you are interested.)  To be fair, Dixie mostly slept through it, but I got all excited to try something new.    

These big bowls also start with a slab.

I made a paper template and used it to cut out the shape.

I have two of these bowl shaped hump molds.  They worked out perfectly for this.

Drape the clay over the bowl.

Carefully press it down.  A clean paint roller works great for this. In a perfect world, I'd have a 4 inch roller on that frame.  In case you have not yet noticed, my world is far, far from perfect.  This works ok and does not involve a trip to Lowe's.

After it dried to leather hard, I lifted the clay off the mold.

Used a sure form rasp to trim the edges.

Cut a hole in one end for a handle.

I added feet to some of them.  I only added 2 feet to lift one side of the bowl.

All of these have a different texture on the inside.  So far, I've made four.  Two have feet and two do not.  The non-footed bowls have a small flattened bottom so they don't just roll all over the place.  The slabs started out about 14 inches from point to point. When they are finished, I think they will be between 12 and 13 inches.  They are fun to make, and I think they are going to be really cool when they are finished.  I hope they are things that people would want to have in their homes and/or give as gifts.  In a few weeks, I hope I'll have pictures of finished pieces.  

Speaking of pictures, I am working on getting pictures of a lot of the finished work that I have so that I can share them online for folks to shop.  I have work at Buffalo Creek Gallery, in the gallery at A Griffin Pottery, and some at my house because there's no more room to store things at the studio, so the picture taking is not as easy as it would be if everything were in one place.  On Monday, April 20 I will be using FaceBook to share lots of this. I will be the featured artist on the Local Online Vendor Fair group.  I will also put things on the A Griffin Pottery FaceBook page and on Instagram.  Stay tuned for more information.  I am still turning ideas over in my head about how to best handle this.  How should I organize what I'm showing?  If someone does want to buy something, I will offer free local delivery,  pick up at the studio (where I bring your items to you as you wait in your car), or I will ship for folks who are out of town (as long as you do not mind paying shipping costs).  It is a lot to get my head wrapped around.  This is one of the reasons that I have not gotten moving on this faster.  

And Now For Something Completely Different

April 13 - The studio has been closed for two weeks now I think.  It's weird.  I go every couple of days to check on things.  I'll confess that I do a little clay work while I'm there.  I'm the only one there, so my being in the studio versus at home makes little difference.  I'm still struggling with motivation and focus, so I don't do a whole lot while I'm there.  Plus being Uptown right now feels weird.  It is way too quiet.

I do, however, recognize how lucky I am to have a safe place that I can go during this difficult time.  The days that I have stayed at home are good days.  I have enjoyed working in the yard when it is pretty.  I've given myself permission to be lazy and spend a couple of days napping and being a slug while I do absolutely nothing.  But it is also REALLY nice to be able to jump in the car with Dixie and go to town.  Here are some of the yard pretties...

These azaleas are so pretty this year!

Blue bells and azaleas.

Dixie is finally getting more comfortable being outside.

It's been so fun to watch her snuffle around.  She LOVES monkey grass.

(Note: Dixie is inside right now whining to go outside.  Jeff caught her trying to knock the wood in the wood rack over.  We think a mouse or chipmunk or something must have run in there. In an attempt to not have our sweetie crushed by firewood, we are making her stay inside. We are so mean!)

When I initially closed the studio, I thought that I would use some of the time to do some deep cleaning.  Shop vac the heck out of things and maybe even mop.  I need to grind the kiln shelves and start over with kiln wash.  Know how much of this I've done?  NOTHING. NADA. ZERO. It turns out, that I do not like to clean.  It's not fun.  Oh well.  It's a pottery studio.  If I cleaned it, it would just get dirty again. 

I talked about my new apron a few weeks ago.  Here is a side by side shot of the new and the old.  See how much longer the new one is?  Well, after I complained about that here, I got an email from my friend Gloria offering to fix my apron.  She stopped by one afternoon, picked up the two, and was back in maybe an hour with my newly shortened new apron.  She also shortened the ties for me so that they tie in the back.  Gloria is such a nice person!  Her daughter Stephanie is too.  Thank you!

I've been eating a lot of eggs lately. These are my favorite.

It is a good thing they are not available all year round because I can eat a whole bag of these in a day.  Easy.  Allen liked them too.  He and I polished off a few bags together over the years.  He'd be on once side of the table and I'd be on the other.  Both of us working.  Bag of Cadbury's in the middle.  Good times. 

I've not shared much pottery today.  I'm working on a few things now that I will share.  I've got to get a few more pictures of next steps before I can explain what I've been working on.  Be on the lookout for that soon.  

Before I go, one more thing.  Pictured below is my friend David Bryson.  David teaches at Shelby High School.  When they transitioned to teaching remotely, he put a piece of shower board on the side of his barn, propped his phone up in the bed of his truck, and proceeded to record an AP Government and Economics lesson.  Riker the dog totally stole the show.  One of his students sent him this screen shot.  I can not stop laughing!  He has since banished Riker from the classroom and that makes me, and possibly his students, a little sad.  

Stay safe, my friends.  If possible, enjoy life like Riker does.

I Can't Even See My Comfort Zone Anymore

I'm so far out of my comfort zone, I can't even see it anymore.  Good gracious! 

A Griffin Pottery is now on Instagram!

You will find me at @agriffinpottery

I must warn you.  I have no idea what I am doing.  Maybe I shouldn't tell you that.  But there.  I did.  It's out there.  Some of my friends are trying to assist from afar by making suggestions and such.  I really do appreciate the input from folks who have more experience. 

I know I've got to start somewhere.  Baby steps and all that, right?  So far, I can kind of almost post a picture.  Sometimes those pictures end up in my "story", but sometimes they don't.  I haven't figured out what I do that makes that happen sometimes and sometimes not.  And what the heck is my story anyway?

I think my main problem is between my ears.  (Stop it.  I know that is where most of my issues come from.  You don't really need to tell me.)  I feel pressure to get this up and running so that I can sell some pottery this month.  I have friends and family who have busted their fannies shifting their small businesses online.  Yoga studios and fitness centers are doing virtual classes online and I can't figure out how to get a stupid picture of a pot on Instagram. 

Baby steps.  Take some pictures.  They don't have to be GREAT pictures, right?  Post them with a short description and a price. Maybe some body will want to make a purchase.  Then I can figure out how to take an online payment.  Gah! Another thing to learn. 

Soup bowl - $18 each - 4 available

Mugs in red and green - $18 each - 4 available

Covered butter dish - $40 - one available

Textured mugs - $18 each - 2 available 

Coffee pour over in turquoise - $16 each - 2 available

Turquoise mug - $18 each - 6 available

Pour over set - $32 for the set

Stay tuned...

Working With Slabs

Here's my latest slab creation.

I get regular emails from Ceramic Arts Network.  Sometimes there are deals on books, sometimes video clips showing helpful how-to's, and sometimes excerpts from articles from publications like Pottery Making Illustrated.  Yesterday's email contained directions to make a tray like this one - all from a single slab of clay.  

I tried it first using an oval pattern that I cut out of newspaper.  It was OK.  Just OK.  I do not love it.

I sure learned a lot though.  Often times, attempt #1 is where I figure out what not to do.  First of all, don't waste time making a paper template when there is a perfectly good oval shaped GR Pottery Form in the studio.  (Use this link to learn more about GR Pottery Forms.)  It's a much nicer shape than what I drew and made a much nicer tray.  Secondly, remember to put the texture in the handles BEFORE lifting them off the table or ware board.  Duh.  The last thing that I learned is that the handles don't need to curve too much.  

After I taught my regular Monday afternoon pottery lesson (from a safe distance across the studio), I made tray number 2.  Here's how it went:

I cut out the oval and transferred it to a newspaper line ware board.  Using a 2 by 4 (because it is what I had), I marked two lines separating the bottom of the tray from the 2 sides.  Then I added the texture to the sides.

Next cut along the lines about 1.5 to 2 inches from the ends.  The center part between those cuts is going to make the handles, so add texture.  Score and slip the four triangular shaped pieces.  Lift the sides off the board.  I used a small piece of wood (thanks, Ronnie) to get a nice, consistent, straight fold along the line I marked.  

Lift the handles off the ware board and fold the triangles behind the handle.  I didn't get a picture of the end at this step, but think about wrapping a gift.  The points of the triangles should either just meet in the center of the handle or should slightly overlap.  Press firmly. 

Curve the handles out.  Not too much.  I fluted the sides too.  This is optional but I like it.  My clay was really soft, so I ended up distorting the sides a little bit as I brought them up.  The fluting camouflages that somewhat and if the piece warps any as it dries or is fired, it will be less noticeable.  

I added 4 small clay "buttons".  Two on the outside of the tray where the triangles of clay come together under the handles and two on the handles at the base of the texture. I used a small stamp (thank you, Gail) to press the buttons to make sure they were attached securely.  

This project is going in my mental file of things to consider for future "clay classes."  It was relatively easy and quick.  I believe that even folks with no experience working with clay could do this with direction and a little assistance.  

Here's another project that is probably going in that same file.  

I didn't get any pictures of the process here, but it is something that I think I could make work for a group.  This takes a slab and some coils.  I rolled the coils by hand for this, but I would definitely use the extruder if I needed enough coils for a group. I still struggle with coils most of the time. 

What I think it really cool about this is that it can be any shape you can imagine.  I like ovals, but squares, rectangles, or circles would all work.  Cut the slab the shape desired.  If you want to put some texture on the rim of the slab, do that and then flip it over so that the texture is down.  Arrange the coil about an inch to inch and a half in from the edge.  Score and slip it and press it down. At this point, flip the piece over so that the coil is under the slab.  If  you added texture, it should be up now.  Using a sponge, press the slab down so that the coil on the bottom defines the "inside" of the tray.  Flute the edges and add handles if you want.  Handles are definitely optional.  

Come to think of it, this idea came from a video from Ceramic Arts Network too.  I watched it years ago and make these free form trays periodically. 

Good Bye, Old Friends

Almost four years ago, my friend Allen Griffin died.  Three years, eleven months, and 20 days ago, I said good bye to him in this space.  It was the morning of his memorial service and I could hardly see what I was typing through my tears.  I miss him all the time.  A few weeks ago, I sold the last of his faces at the pottery studio.  "Face jugs" we call them, but Allen's faces weren't always on jugs.  There were watering cans, pitchers, mugs, lamps, and planters. 

These last 2 pieces were lamps.

The gentleman that bought them assured me that they were going to a good home.  He described the newly redecorated bedroom.  The lamps will go on the bedside tables and are going to be perfect there.  I'm happy.  But I'm sad that there aren't any more of Allen's face jugs in the gallery.  

I have been running the studio very much the same way that Allen did, but I am trying out some new things.  Recently a friend of mine asked if she and her husband could come in and make something to celebrate their ninth anniversary.  You know those traditional anniversary gifts?  I didn't know this, but year nine is pottery.  Here's a link to a list I found online: http://www.holidayinsights.com/anniversary/year.htm

She initially asked about a paint your own pottery kind of thing, and I explained that is not what we do at our studio.  I thought about it a little more and suggested that they come in and I would help them make something.  

The first "Clay Date" was a success!  

I had a really good time and I think they did too.  They each made something and picked out a glaze color.  I'll fire the pieces and then they can come pick them up when they are finished.  

I am working on coming up with ideas about other classes that I could offer folks.  I think it would be fun to run a class once a month maybe where we all make a specific thing.  I have been experimenting with some hand building projects that I could use.  I've got to figure out how I can fit a group in the studio so that each person has the necessary tools and work space for the project.  There's a long way to go yet before I can make this fly.  Stay tuned.  

This bird house is one of the projects that might work.

I've also tried a hand built mug and hand built small casserole dish that might be good ideas.  When those pieces are finished, I'll share pictures of them.  

My new replacement apron arrived this week.  (That's the old apron in the picture.) Sure enough.  I don't like it.  It's too long.  The length is OK for now when I'm wearing long pants, but once hot weather gets here and I'm in shorts, it will not be ok.  I don't want people to think that I have on no pants!  Come to think of it, the strings are too long too.  They are probably supposed to wrap around and tie in the front.  I need it to tie in the back.  Ties in the front will get in the clay and be a problem.  I'm really picky.  I know.  

This week has been really strange.  Life as we know it has come to a screeching halt and we have no idea what next week or next month will bring.  I have struggled to find motivation to make things.  Who know how long this will go on?  When it is finally over, will anyone still want hand made mugs or pasta bowls?  I sure hope so. 

Big One Is Done

I feel like all I did this week was glaze pots.  I'm sure that's not quite true, but there was a lot of glazing.  And a lot of glaze firing.  Two to be precise.  

The first included all the things that my students had been working on the past few weeks.

Before firing.

After firing.

Most of those things on that top shelf are student work.

They are doing some really neat things!

I had never done cups like this before, so I'm learning too.  The slab needs to be thin or it just makes the cup HEAVY.

Look at this tree!  This was painted on the piece with wax resist before glazing. How cool is this?

The second kiln load included that giant pot that I've been working on since late January.  I was really afraid of it, but I made myself just suck it up and get it done.  It is terrifying to move a huge piece of green ware.  It was HEAVY and so very FRAGILE.  So scary.

It didn't explode in the bisque.

I wish I could show you how pieces are stacked up to use the space on the shelf with the big whopper.  I cram as much in a bisque fire as I possibly can.

But then I had to glaze it.

More glaze. Who thought making this big thing was a good idea?

I added glass beads at the handles.  My hope was that it would melt, run down the sides of the pot, and look cool.  Then I had nightmares about the glass jumping off the pot and sticking to the fire brick and new elements in the kiln.  In a glaze fire, pots cannot touch, so there's no fun nesting and stacking when loading up glazed things.

First peek in the kiln. No messes!  What a relief.

Hauling that big sucker out of the kiln.

I promise this is a big piece of pottery even though it doesn't look like it. Note the streak down the side under the handle. That's the melted glass beads. Also, I don't always "dress up" for kiln openings.  We stopped by the studio right after church today, so I was still in my nicer, non-pottery clothes.  My hair is also brushed - another indication that I'd been some place other that the studio.

There she is in all her "glory."

Jeff used a flash to take that picture.  The colors are really dark - black at the top, and then mostly blue and green down the sides.  It turned out ok, but I'm not satisfied.  I keep telling myself that it's ok because this was my first effort on something this size, and I learned a lot.  Maybe I'll make another one sometime.  

I really am happy with the glaze on this vase.  THIS is what I want to happen on my next big piece if I ever have the guts to try again.

I made some soup mugs this time around.  I like how they turned out.  Might have to put those in my regular rotation of things to make.  That is if other people like them too.