Getting Organized...

Well I'm clearing space inside my head to move forward with my work... I basically have 2 color stories happening and I needed to see them in a clear-ISH format.
I've got my "Pales" and my newer "Jewels". Basically they are a combination of semi-mattes and glossy glazes and I really need to make large amounts of the bulk of them so when I glaze I can just push ahead. I've been making small amounts testing everything for so long, on and off now, that I am dreading actually buckling down to make the large batches.
PLUS... I have a small(?)project as I am going to make 5 dozen coffee cups for a very cool local restaurant... so of course I want to refine the shape and start crunching... and on top of that, we have spring break coming up Friday and I will be away for a week in Colorado with my family(snowboarding...and celebrating Passover...and totally BUMMING as I will be unable to attend the NCECA conference!!!)But, while I am away, it is a perfect time to sketch and organize my ideas and direction going forward... So I organized my color ideas ahead of time:
Pales:




































































































































Jewels:

I'm exposing my DARK SIDE

That's all I'm sayin'...

Glaze Testing = Glorious Fun.

Not.
Try as I may...to love love it...it's tedious...but, the tests are in the kiln...
Except for my little glaze "faux pas" that I accidentally(yes I am a ditz!!!!) mixed in Ball Clay (OM4) instead of the recommended Kaolin...which I had been using EPK for anyway... well..all of the dry ingredients and colorants are mixed for two separate colors but I am thinking I can save them by adding Alumina Hydrate...a Facebook compadre made this suggestion...now i need to figure out how much to add...

These are the last batch "test tiles", etc.

















Here the newly mixed glazes that are being tested in my kiln....

















And here is all of the lonely,naked bisque waiting to be picked up, dressed up and fired!

A Couple of Special Orders and glaze testing...

I will spare you the glaze test photos because...honestly...they won't mean anything to you ...
I am trying to figure out layering of glazes that will add some depth and dimension to the work and it's a bit of a struggle but...I will press on...also...trying to move into to some darker tones without losing the movement/sculptural quality/detail of the piece... For instance... I am afraid glossy black just looks like a big blob of glossy black...working with mattes...and glossies...Colors that blend...not real harsh color changes on the pieces... I tend to feel that subtle color changes are the ways to go with my pieces. I don't want a block of color, big changes...big contrast or you lose a lot of what i feel is the "essence" of my forms... now I'm just rambling...
but here are a couple of the pieces....
(The darker purple was a request...)

OFF TOPIC... AGAIN...

I know this is off topic...
AGAIN.
BUT...
I spent the day making glazes...
AND
I finally got some great photos back from the Bar Mitzvah...
SO...
I thought I would share...
BEFORE...
I deal with more glazes...
TOMORROW.
Here we are all dressed up for the ceremony:
Me and Mike












Me and the Boys.


















And then the evening...

A sample of the floral arrangements...













Here's the four of us...













And a girl deserves a dance if I can get my dad to NJ...


















And I love to swing with my little guy...

















And Jake and The Band Rocked out..
(I would tell you the name of the band but it has changed SEVERAL times...)












And Dad even picked up one of the give-aways to brave the snow storm!!!

happy ♥ day!!!!

I don't have MUCH to say... we have been away snowboarding for a week and had a great time...
Ready to dig back into my clay and make some glazes but I've been up to my ears in laundry.
Still dealing with Dad stuff... just another part of my life now...
Heading down to Baltimore for the day on Wednesday...
Praying there won't be new snow issues.
Loved seeing Apollo Ono ...that speed skating is CRRRRRAZY!
I will eventually get back into posing more pottery/ceramic stuff...
Check out this article about the Harvey Meadows Gallery that I thought was cool!

Have you seen the latest?

Not quite my new direction...but moving the glazes along... here are a few new things in my Etsy Shop !

Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story

I've been invited to participate in a special show with potters from throughout the United States and abroad. Entitled "Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story" .
I can't tell you how excited I will be to show with these people!
Excellent work and super cool on-line comrades!

Here's the info:

Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story
Arts Council of Moore County, Campbell House
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Opening reception: October 1st 2010
6 to 8pm

It will also include an online element as well.
The Online sale will start October 3rd.
That's good news for everyone who may not be able to make it to the on-site opening.
we will eventually be able to post a link.

Big thanks to Meredith Heywood for putting this together!
Check out her blog:
http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/

Here is the incredible line-up of potters who will be showing:
(I think there are 48 of us!)

http://oohmyheck.blogspot.com/
http://anniesingletary.com/
http://claygarden.wordpress.com/
http://averypotteryandtileworks.blogspot.com/
http://supportyourlocalpotter.blogspot.com/
http://bulldogpottery.blogspot.com/
http://musingaboutmud.blogspot.com/
http://chrislutherblog.blogspot.com/
http://artmakinginthenorth.blogspot.com/
http://danfinneganpottery.blogspot.com/
http://slipware.blogspot.com/
http://garysthirdpotteryblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.hannahmcandrew.blogspot.com/
http://studiotouya.blogspot.com/
http://hatchvillepottery.blogspot.com/
http://jeffmartinceramics.blogspot.com/
http://jennifermeccapottery.blogspot.com/
http://jimgottuso.wordpress.com/
http://colepottery.blogspot.com/
http://joytannerpottery.blogspot.com/
http://juditavill.blogspot.com/
http://mountainhousestudios.blogspot.com/
http://henhousepottery.blogspot.com/
http://potsapalooza.blogspot.com/
http://kittyshepherd.blogspot.com/
http://carpenterpottery.blogspot.com/
http://bluestarrgallery.blogspot.com/
http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/
http://mattgrimmitt.blogspot.com/
http://www.clayandglassblog.com/
http://feffakookan.blogspot.com/
http://michaelklinepottery.blogspot.com/
http://fromthegrounduppots.blogspot.com/
http://www.patriciagriffinstudio.com/
http://paulthepotter.blogspot.com
http://powenliu.blogspot.com/
http://bumcrane.blogspot.com/
http://theponderingpotter.blogspot.com/
http://ronphilbeckpottery.com/
http://www.timayerspottery.com/
http://tgraypots.blogspot.com/
http://tsbroome.blogspot.com/
http://fetishghost.blogspot.com/

I've been "Bowling"!

Just a little CORNY pottery humor....

Slowly but surely...

Still working....
Trying to be "productive"...
while dealing with all of the other things in my life
that continue to pull me in 15 different directions...

I "got my carving on" here:


















Adding a little personal info... my son turned 13 and had his Bar Mitzvah Dec. 19th....in a 1 1/2 feet of snow....
So... I have had my hands full ...
This was on his actual b-day Dec. 20th and Nice try but NO I did not make the cake!
You might be able to see some of our pottery collection in the background...
That's why I sell my work...to buy others!

New Year! What's new?

Ok... so...HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!
I have a lot to say and no time to say it...So...
I am working on being more mindful and PRESENT in this new year.
I hope to see more fluidity and freedom in MY work this year and I'm moving toward seeing that happen.
I challenge YOU to tell me what you hope for OR are working on this year!

Fun Front Page of Etsy Today!

With my Tsunami Sushi Set pieces!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Great New Online Gallery

The Laurel Tracey Gallery in Red Bank has just open this online gallery called ...interestingly enough : Laurel Tracey Online !

It is so great because it has small works available from FABULOUS artists and once you buy a taste of them in a smaller size like this:











Elwood Howell. Red Bird
Elwood Howell
Acrylic on Panel 7 x 7 in Framed
Price: $350.00

You may be interested in in a larger piece...Like this... at
The Laurel Tracey Gallery


Green-Blue, 2009. Acrylic on linen, 40 x 38 inch (Call for pricing)

They are launching the on-line site with a gallery opening:
This Saturday: November 21st.
6pm -9pm
at
10 White Street
Red Bank, NJ
732-224-0760
Check it out!

What a TREASURE!

I was contacted by a lovely ETSY person to tell me that I was featured in her Treasury!
It is so beautiful and cheery during this INCLEMENT weather...that I just wanted to share... And of course show you my Lidded Vessel!
Enjoy!

Always nice to get a little press...

A little something in the news...
My sushi Set is in the Asbury Park Press Magazine 4074 Nov/Dec issue scroll through to find my sushi set...

You can find the whole set to order on ETSY .

Or a small portion available now!
Also on Etsy!

A little something on this dreary,rainy day...

Something to put your liquid in?

I posted some new drinking vessels on Etsy.
What I like about this is the way I played with strontium crystal magic spraying it with my glazes and how i have started to develop some crystals and blush reminiscent of a gas kiln firing... I'm not saying its the SAME... just interesting....