Back to the Studio

Day; 71. Sunny and warm. Definitely spring around here. Temperature on outside kiln; 65 degrees

Plum tree in full bloom..... Ahhhhh. Can't wait to buy some annuals but that doesn't happen until May 1st around here and that is a  month away, and 2 weeks before it is commonly suggested I do so ( possibility of a freeze until May 15th!?) Damn, guess I have to be patient. Not my strong suit....

 After what seems like weeks, but is only days, I am finally back to the studio with wet clay and making stuff today. I threw a dozen small one-serving sized bowls ( 1.5 pounds of clay) and a few larger ones. Rolled out a few milagros for my special order and received an order for, guess what?!, more bowls. I am starting to think seriously about just making bowls and cups for the clay fair and studio tour. It is all people seem to want and at least it is easy for me. I would really do just that  but after the 2nd day I would be bored silly so I will just make as many as I can stand to and then switch to plates...
 I love plates, I really think of them as clay "canvases", they are just so much easier to glaze than more 3d-type  forms with handles and feet, etc... trying to poor a liquid over a round form means it drips in all sorts of unwanted directions, while pouring glaze over plates means I can control where it goes much easier and so takes a lot less time. I do not have to use wax or laytex resist on plates as much as mugs for instance, trying to prevent one color from running all over another. Plates also lend themselves much more to the collaged images I love to use; they are really just little paintings one can also eat your dinner off of....

However, here is what is in store for tomorrow for myself and Pepe-the-shy-intern... you guessed it, an entire kiln-load of cups and bowls to glaze..... !! Crank up that espresso machine.....

Warm Sun, Blue Skies, Short-lived Pottery

Day; 69. Sunny, warm, incredibly beautiful. Almost like summer. Temperature on outside kiln; 70

The most beautiful day I have seen in many, many moons... Really incredible! Warm, no wind, the bluest sky and views of snow-covered peaks from downtown Santa Fe, I am feeling lucky today!

I spent the day in my ez-up tent downtown in the Railyard District selling pots outside the Farmers Market.

 I love Saturdays in the Railyard! ( as opposed to Sundays when I fall asleep from boredom), so much energy, incredible food, musicians, kids running around, friends saying hello, it just feels good. And it is really satisfying to set up my tent in the middle of it all and talk to people from virtually all over the country, and most often, the globe. A real cross section of humanity strolling through the market... great fun. ( except for the 4- 35 pound sandbags  I have to lug with me to keep my tent from becoming a kite.. Did I mention my trip to the chiropractor 3 posts back?!)

And I sold a lot of pots today.. Including one of my favorites... (large white and yellow bowl on the right)..

Sadly it had only a few more minutes of life left after I sold it. I warned the man that the bag I had  with paper handles would not hold it's weight and to carry it from the bottom. He assured me he would, however he was back 5 minutes later looking very chagrined. He was handing it to his wife and let go of the bottom, consequently dropping it and shattering  into countless pieces. I felt really sorry for him, he really loved that bowl,  we even  haggled over the price for a minute or two in order for him to be able to purchase it. 

What to do? I warned him!...But I felt slightly responsible so ended up giving him another little bowl in consolation. I offered to throw all the pieces of the first one away for him but he refused, he insisted he was going to go home and glue it all back together!! Poor man, he must of really liked that bowl!....

I think I will look around on the internet for some cheap plastic handled bags that can carry some weight!

As the Wheel Turns....

Day; 61. Foggy morning. Rainy afternoon. Temperature on outside kiln; 50 degrees

First day back at wet bags of clay in two weeks. It feels really good to actually make something out of clay instead of glazing or transferring images, or loading the Tacoma. Decided to start again where I always do; cups and bowls!

An unending demand for these two items, but I am not complaining. I am working on a special order for a friend ( Alex of the my-truck-and-trailer-were-stolen-at-my-last-show scenario) I feel compelled to make them as beautiful as I can to make up for last weekend's very bad luck. Not sure 3 noodles bowls is going to do it however, but I'll give it a shot!!
Also started on huge wholesale order that I am trying very hard not to have misgivings about.... Did I really agree to sell  my work at 60% of it's retail value?! Am I nuts?! A testament to the lunacy that overtakes all artists in the slow time of year......
If we don't get this order started this week it will not get done; the clay fair and studio tour shows are quickly coming down the pike. Starting to proof the final postcards and brochures for both so here comes the spring shows! My favorite two shows back to back with a family wedding in Sonoma in-between. Hold on to your hats......

The good news is that a year ago I could not have thrown all these mugs and bowls in one day, it would have absolutely trashed my wrists. But after two years of healing from surgery and a slow ramping back up, I can sit and throw a dozen pieces now without feeling it too much. Which is a good thing cuz I'm still paying my medical bills.....!