Designing and Making

I've started to hit a nice little groove in the studio after struggling to find my skills my first week back. Last week was productive and I got about 50 small pots made. It had been a very long studio layoff while we played, and played, and played on Cape during the summer.

I'm getting ready for a few shows this fall and right now I'm focusing on the waxed/incised/slipped deco. I am planning on getting some decalware made for the shows but I'm really going to focus on 2 forms for that work. Most likely just mugs(or cups) and tumblers. The trouble I ran into in the spring with the decals was that each form required a new template in Photoshop or Illustrator for the decals. With two forms, I'll only need two templates and I'll be able to experiment more with each image while not worrying about how they'll fit on each piece. I think the long term solution is still slipcasting cups for the decalware...I actually can't wait to start that. But for now, it's time to keep throwing in the studio to take care of what I do know how to do.

Some basic basketweave patterning on the mugs.

I like this design and I think I'll keep playing around with it...perhaps there's some color in all of that open space?

I threw a dozen tall soup bowls this morning.

I thought I would try some larger porcelain bowls(9 pounds).

Some even larger ones may appear on the table tomorrow.

Hurricane Earl whimpered through the Cape last week but today we're feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Hermine and it's been absolutely pouring here today and is supposed to continue on through Thursday. Good thing....we need the rain down here.

New AOTP Website!

I finally got the AOTP Website up and running. Please check it out here and let me know what you think. I have a few more pages to build but we were ready to get something new up there.

I used Wordpress to build it and even though I'm still figuring out some of it's quirks, I like it and am thinking of switching this blog and my site over to WP.

Other than the website build, I've been busy getting ready for Art City Austin. I'll be firing Ryan's kiln in about a week and a half. I'm pretty excited about my new work. It's all porcelain, lots of fluting, some squaring and in the end it will have lots of decals.

I wish I was at NCECA...never thought I'd say that again but for some reason it seems full of energy this year. Maybe it's because of Michael Connelly's pre-conference got things rolling.

A Month Late...

Update, 12:50pm:

Sorry for the image quality on the NYC postcards. I guess I used the halftoned jpegs that I used for the actual decals rather than the original image. More on that later when I get a how to together about the decal.

Original Post:

I'm ready to attack 2010. I may be a month late but procrastinating has always been my downfall.

I had planned a 2009 review but it's a bit late so we'll go with the Cliff's Notes version for everybody...We moved to Texas.

The rest is a blur. It's been a good move and we're definitely beginning to feel a little more settled in. It was awfully strange returning back to Austin after the Holiday Road Trip. Well, a month has gone by and I'm ready to start working again in my new city.

I haven't actually made pots yet but the (extended) time off has given me some ideas of where I want to go next. The year in Austin began with CityScape line drawings and then I moved onto laser toner decals. I don't think I ever posted any pics of the decalcomania wares on the blog so I will put some up shortly. I did post them on the Kreeger Pottery Facebook page though.

I used photos I took of the current Austin skyline as well as used some postcards from my grandfather's extensive collection. The postcard ones turned out to be my favorites. Here's a couple of sample postcards I used:

And here's a couple of the Austin photos I used:

I'm really enjoying using the cards with the handwriting on the front. Most of the ones I used were postmarked in the 1920's and 1930's. There was something very cool about using these artifacts on my pots. I also really enjoyed the method of photoshopping the cards, cutting the decals and applying them to the pots. Yes...one more step to the process. And, we moved here at a really interesting point for Austin's downtown as the City is trying to figure out it's next move in development. The skyline has changed dramatically since we first came here a few years back and decided to move. I guess I'll develop my work as the city develops itself.

My plan for the next month is to make series of cups and tumblers, fire them in Ryan's soda kiln and then apply the different decals. I'm planning on 2 main series, Old York Postcards as well as finding some Old Austin ones around here too. I have 2 CDs with about 1500 scanned postcards so I have some work to do finding the ones to put on. It's awfully cool research though.

I'll take another look after this next firing about what to do next but I'm thinking I have to split my studio mind into 2 distinct groups...decal wares and line drawings. I'm hoping it makes sense to my customers and galleries. I also hope it makes sense to me as I'm working.

I'm glad to be in the studio writing this post. I was ready to put a big old on hiatus post up and wasn't sure when I'd be back. Brandon kind of forced the issue the other day. So..hopefully more soon.

All Set Up

We're just about all set up for E.A.S.T. which begins tomorrow. I've got a few things to tweak tomorrow morning but with Evangelina's help the place looks fantastic. Hope we'll see you this weekend. We're at 902 Gardner Rd. Unit 18.

For more info on E.A.S.T. check out their beautiful website.

E.A.S.T Catalog

E.A.S.T starts tomorrow. We're still setting up and pics are coming shortly but here's a quick peek at the catalog. It is quite a publication and I'm excited to see what this weekend will be like.

That last pic is the ad for the huge party planned on 11/21 for my studio complex.

East Austin Studio Tour

I'm starting to find out that this East Austin Studio Tour (E.A.S.T) is a pretty big deal. I'm incredibly excited about it and better get to work mixing glaze so I'm ready for it.

I had just about the best weekend ever and after I catch up on my work I'll tell you all about it.

Sugar Creamers

Been a while since I've made any of these but I'm at the end of my throwing cycle and that's when I usually don't know what to make. I was working out a few design ideas in these four as I was throwing. Sequoia Miller has a new blog and he addressed that idea nicely the other day:

A great thing about making as a practice is that design and fabrication are interwoven. Our culture separates them for specialization (and wealth) but one reason why craft rules is that we can make things and think about them at the same time.

check it out here.

These sets will get some deco and then they'll head into the space being saved for them in the bisque which I'm planning to fire off tomorrow.
Here's that bisque. Almost ready.

Coming up next weekend is the East Austin Studio Tour. I thought I had planned ahead well but it's almost here. I'll mix up a glaze or two tomorrow and hopefully fire a glaze kiln on Monday.

Re-Organized

One of the hardest switches down here is that since the studio isn't next door, I can't ask my wonderful wife to come by and help very often. Today, I needed the help to re-organize the studio and luckily...she obliged. We didn't change too much but we were able to make the studio flow a little better. We also created some space for finished pots...which means another trip to Ikea is in the works tonight to get some more display shelving. The East Austin Studio Tour is coming up in a few weeks so I do need to get my finished work out of the boxes and get the new work through the kiln.

Anyways, here's my main worktable with a view to the back of the studio. my office area is on the right by the chair and my lounge(ikea sofa) is on the left. Those boxes next to the sofa will be replaced by som bookshelves soon.
Here's another view to the back with some shelving visible. Apparently...shelving is supposed to be used to organize and hold stuff. The floor is not the correct place to put piles of stuff. Thank you sweetie!

Here are a few pots drying for the next bisque. Not sure how that polychrome piece will do but it may at least make it into the bisque.
Bisqued pots, ready to glaze which means it may be time to mix up a bucket of something.
Another bisque is already started. I'll probably fire a glaze afterwards...I'm used to cycling through for a larger kiln so I need to adjust to just make, bisque and glaze fire a shorter cycle but old habits are hard to break.

Now Back to our Regularly Scheduled Blogging

I fired my first bisque here in Austin yesterday. I had to head home before the kiln had finished and was pleased to return this morning to find out that the kiln works after the move and that the studio is still here after the first firing.

I bought a kiln vent from Bailey. I got the double-kiln vent even though I only have one kiln at the moment. As I was started the kiln I looked at the instructions and it said to get a standard 4" pipe cap if you only have one kiln hooked up. I didn't have the "standard" pipe cap on hand so I made do with what I did have.

On the making front, I got a round of plates thrown. I have to send a plate to an upcoming show at the Ferrin Gallery so I'd like to get these in the next bisque. I'm planning on giving these guys the CityScape treatment that most things seem to get these days.

Whoops!

These are my keys.

I need these keys to get into my new studio.

When I got to my studio this morning after my 20 minute commute, I did not have them with me.

I had to drive back across town, then back across town.

Damn it!!!

I didn't need keys to get into my old studio...it was at my house. I never got locked out of my old studio. I think I miss my old studio.

A Visit From an Old Friend

Thanks to my good friend Bruce, my Soldner foot pedal has been rescued from a deserted studio on Cape Cod. I got my Soldner wheel when I first opened up my studio on the Cape and it quickly replaced my Brent as my main throwing wheel. Subsequently, my Brent became my trusty trimming wheel which gave me the luxury of not having to clean the wheel between throwing/trimming/throwing.

As I mentioned earlier, the Soldner Wheel made it onto the truck but the pedal missed the ride down. I figured, it's 12 years old and I might as well look into getting a new pedal. I quickly learned that a replacement pedal was $531 and I also quickly sent Bruce on a scavenger hunt to find the pedal wherever I had left it.

I returned home from taking Javi to a tennis lesson yesterday evening and found a box had arrived with my trusty pedal....I'm looking forward to getting some pottery made on my trusty old wheel. Thanks Bruce!

And as a bonus...that wasn't the only package that arrived yesterday. Abigail sent down a fantastic care package from Michigan full of pickles and jams made with her crop from her super-garden. Can't wait to try it all! I didn't have the camera with me this morning so the pics of the deliciousness are going to be posted shortly.

Mad Monday

This past weekend was the first time that my folks made it out to visit Austin since we moved here. It was great having them in town and it was great to show them our new lives here. We were a little limited in what we could do since Ale had come done with a fever and my mom was recovering from a little knee surgery. That didn't stop us from having a good time though. We even made it out on Sunday to check out Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in 3D. Better yet, we made it out for a nice dinner with everybody on Sunday evening and got to see the bats depart for their nightly feeding from the Congress Street Bridge. That was a first for everyone except Evangelina. I have to say, it was pretty cool and my father who isn't a big fan of bats handled it quite well, although the wine at dinner may have helped.

So, after a few days away from the studio I found everything intact and was able to carve into the bourbon bottles I had made before the weekend came.

I made a few more bottles/jugs this afternoon as well as some large mugs that should fit into car cupholders....something that has become important to me as I now have a morning commute.
My morning got off to a late start as I had to get my car serviced. I had an appointment for 9:40 but they didn't start on my car until an hour later....I complained, they got the car serviced quickly and didn't charge anything for the service. I guess they earned another chance for my business.

I also wasted a bit of time this morning on Twitter and Google hunting down the Drapers' dinnerware. Yes, I know they're only characters on a tv show but, last season I caught a quick glimpse of their cups and saucers and needed to know what it was. I had googled it all back then but there wasn't much about it. A tweet by Lois Aronow got me interested again and in no time the internets had saved the day, Raffia Pattern dinnerware from the Vernon Kilns. I found some plates for sale and a few other items but I'd love to get a couple of cups and saucers. I guess an ebay search is coming later today....Wait!

I found one! Perhaps it's time to make some cups and saucers? And, maybe it's not time wasted but rather corporate research/espionage?

Oh, and I haven't watched last night's episode yet so please no spoilers in comments.

Batter Bowls

Still working on the porcelain stuff. Along with the switch to electric firing is the switch to porcelain. I've always dabbled with it but it's an adjustment to have it be my only clay. I'm starting to enjoy it a little more and the forms are starting to come together. I made a few batter bowls the other day and they got handled up today.
The clay doesn't stay put like I'm used to with stoneware so hanging these handles upside down is letting gravity work with me rather than against me. We'll see how much strain was put on those microscoping little particles once the drying begins. I'm hoping they stay put.

Today is my half day of work because of a ridiculously overscheduled afternoon for the kids....of course, they all go in different directions. At some point I'm hoping to make it back here after dinner for a productive evening. We'll have to test the nighttime commute at some point. That will most likely be tested as we get closer to a deadline. I have a few things scheduled for the fall but they all seem distant now.

Working Through It

I feel like I'm slowly moving from making random objects towards entering a working cycle. I think it's partly due to the move but also partly due to the fact that it's been months since I've made new work. I made some monster cappuccino/latte cups that I was planning on "squaring" up but just couldn't bring myself to alter them when the time came to. There are a couple of squared mugs hiding behind the biggest of the latte cups.
I also made some bowls and batter bowls because when things aren't flowing as you'd like them to, what else is there to make besides bowls?
Here are a couple of those small test vases from the other day with some incised lines. I didn't have wax so they didn't get my normal treatment. I'm sure I'll figure out how to get those patterns to stand out under the glaze.

And finally, here's a group of random objects that have came off of the wheel Friday.

The electrician was here today measuring things out and getting everything set so that later this week he can hook up the disconnect box. It won't be long until I have a kiln operational.

I've tried a few different porcelains so far and as of now I'm most happy with the least convenient...for me. Matt & Dave's Clay has been really nice. I'll leave the detailed analysis up to the porcelain pros like Jim & Jeff. There is a clay supply about 5 minutes down the road from my studio which I was hoping would have a clay body that I would fall in love with but that hasn't happened. It will be convenient though since steady readers of the blog know that I am sometimes without the main ingredient of a glaze while I mix up a batch. On the Cape that was a slight problem since the closest clay supply was 1.5 hours away. I still have yet to try Coleman Porcelain that a clay supply in San Antonio carries. I would assume that by next week I'll have a decision made as to which clay body I'll stick with for a while. Matt from Matt & Dave's has been very helpful in figuring out a cost effective way to get a larger amount of clay down here so it is still a likely option I'll end up with that clay body. I don't particularly mind paying a premium for good clay, I mean seriously...are material costs our main issue as functional potters?

Well, tomorrow I'll be finishing those bowls and getting handles on those cups and then it's time to settle into a cycle...won't be long now.

Friday

I'm still trying out clays and testing my surroundings. I made a short run of small flat bottomed bowls this morning and because of the a/c in here I'll be able to finish them up before I head home this evening. (sorry about the blurry pic)

I was also trying to work out some new variations on little vases and I decided to go the Michael Kline route and make some 1 to 1.5 pound versions. These will probably get a little bigger but not much since I don't have my big gas kiln to fill any longer. Something here will probably evolve into a small bud vase, something I haven't really made in years.
So many new things to get used to. I think the smaller kiln will be nice as I'm able to work through the cycle a little quicker than I'm used to.

The other thing I realized was something that I twittered about earlier today. Until now I've been able to sneak into the studio quite easily over the weekend. Spending 45 minutes in the studio putting some handles on mugs on a Sunday while the kids did a project was a no brainer. With my studio across town I no longer have that same luxury. I feel like I may be complaining a little too much. I've got a few hours left to get something done so I should do that.

I'm sure that coming in here next week will go a little more smoothly than things went this week.

New Space, New Work

Other than a few mugs, the gravy boats/batter bowls above are among the first pieces I've made here in Austin. I'm adjusting to a bunch of new variables and hopefully by next week I'll have actually figured a few things out.

This is the first new space I've worked in for almost 12 years. I'm a creature of habit so it's going to take me some time to get used to the new surroundings. Seriously, I have I think 8 or 10 of the same gray t-shirts that I've been wearing for the past 3 years. You can find me either in jeans and one of those t-shirts or shorts and one of those t-shirts. I can and do dress up on occasion but for everyday outfits...it's that t-shirt...or perhaps a 9 year old standard ceramics supply t-shirt given to me. That could be genetic, my dad has been wearing khaki's and a blue oxford shirt since 8th grade and on my mother's side, my grandfather wasn't exactly known for his fashion sense and often wore mis-matched suits to the office.

Needless to say, it's going to take me a little while to get used to the new creative surroundings.

It's a great space but I'm trying to get used to it. I'm getting used to a commute across town instead of downstairs and down the hall. I'm trying out some new clays including, the blogosphere's newest sensation, Porcelain for the People.

So...new clay, new studio, new studio hours....it's a lot for this creature of habit. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works out. Better get back to work.

Oh...and I left my foot pedal for my Soldner Wheel back on the Cape. I'm missing that more than most things that I've forgotten. I've been throwing on my Brent, which for 12 years I've used for trimming. I'm going to call a friend and see if they can find the pedal in my studio and ship it down so I can have one thing feel normal here.

Here We Go!

I had hoped to get a studio together by October 1st. For the first time in my life as a professional potter I'm ahead of schedule. I just signed a lease for this great studio space in East Austin. It's in a brand new live/work condo development called Cobra Studios. The woman I'm leasing the unit from is a painter and had planned to use it herself but luckily for me decided to lease it out instead.

Here are a few pics. I'm planning to move everything in by Friday and hopefully I'll be fully operational by sometime next week.

Here is the main space of the workshop. I'll probably have the wheels, table and shelving set up here.
This is the back area. I'll set it with shelves and a table for glazing.
Here's another view of the back area. I have an electrician coming in to wire up a disconnect box for the kiln along that back wall.
Here's a view from the main are out to the common area of the complex. There are 4 buildings around this courtyard. If it ever rains again in Austin, those giant tanks are supposed to hold the water to use around the complex.

Someone was nice enough to put a leaf imprint in the concrete during construction.

So, now that I have a space and will begin life as a potter again, perhaps posting will resume on a more regular basis.

Settling In

We're adjusting to life in Austin pretty well so far. The toughest thing is the heat but I'm proud of myself for dealing with it as well as I have been. Mainly, I'm planning on not being embarrassed about sweating anymore. It made it up to 106º again today.

I've spent the last few days tooling around the city trying to find a new studio. My friend from Skidmore, Mike Merritt, has been living in for Austin about 12 years and lives on the East Side of town. I drove around with him the other day looking at the neighborhoods and brainstorming about studios. We even stopped by fellow potter, Ryan McKerley's studio. Ryan rebuilt his kiln recently and had a studio full of work that he was getting ready to fire. He shares a studio space with jewelry artist Lisa Crowder, whose work we had carried at our gallery. It was nice to catch up and see what's going on in town here.

I looked at a couple of spaces yesterday and today. My dilemma is, do I want a space close or within a retail area or a space a little further away and one that will be purely a studio space? Obviously, there's a price difference between those 2 ideas. The benefit would also be the ability to sell pots out of the shop, something that I'm very used to.

Right now I'm leaning towards leasing a place a little further out. It's a new space in a brand new live/work development in East Austin. It's a little further out from downtown but nothing is too far in this small city.

I'm going to look at a few more places but hopefully I'll have a studio soon.

Here's where the new studio might be...

View Larger Map

SummerTime Happenings

Post Originally Started 7/13...finished & posted a week later.

Well, there's not much happening here in the studio now. That's incredibly strange because it's the complete opposite of what I'm used to during the summer. Instead of being in the gallery 6 days a week and trying to refill empty shelves with fresh pots, I'm slowly winding down the studio here on the Cape. I've been trying to write a lengthy post for the blog, my website and to put on the door here as finish up but I haven't been able to phrase things quite right. I guess that post will have to wait a little while longer.

One of the main points of this move is to get away from the seasonal nature of what a business on the Cape is all about. It's been a joy to have a studio and shop on Main Street of a busy destination town. Although, with that good-fortune comes the trade-off that I'm inside the gallery during the best months of the year here.

For the first time since I started the shop in 1998, I've been enjoying all of the reasons that people come to Cape Cod...

I've been putting off my final firing before the big move...I guess I've been blocking out the reality of it all. If I don't get it taken care of soon I'm going to run out of time. It's only about 1 1/2 weeks until I disconnect the electric kiln and get it ready to get on the moving truck. I better get to finishing up work in the studio so I can start packing up shop.

List for Apprentice

It's going to be a busy few days...Can you please:

1-Wax all the pots that came out of the last bisque

2-Mix white glaze

3-Cycle another earthenware bisque

4-Scrape & wash gas kiln shelves as needed

5-Clear off the glaze table so I can glaze over the weekend

6-Once I have most work glazed we can get ready to load the gas kiln

7-Make cone pads

8-Please stop hovering as I'm loading the gas kiln...I promise I'll get your favorite pots in there

9-While I'm turning on the pilots please clean the glaze area

10-Put the clear glaze on all of the earthenware just as I showed you

11-Load the electric glaze firing....I'm not as picky here so it's all up to you

12-Turn on the electric kiln to fire overnight as the gas kiln climbs slowly

13-Start firing the gas kiln with the first turn-ups starting at 4am(don't worry.  I'll do this one)

14-Don't worry...the kiln will even out

15-As you worry about the un-even kiln clean up the studio to alleviate your stress

16-Shut down the kiln when we get to 9 1/2 on the bottom....don't let the top 11 get too soft

17-Get some rest since we have to clean the gallery and fill it up with the new pots

18-Don't forget to set up the photo equipment so that we can photograph the new work

19-Grind anything that needs grinding/sand anything that needs sanding

I'm sure there's more but most importantly, I don't have an apprentice.  I think that once I set up the studio in Austin I'll look for some part-time help.  I'm hoping that with UT nearby someone eager will show up.  I've never been too good with assistants before...I've always been a control freak but I'm ready to let go of about 15 or so of these steps.  

Unfortunately, I can't let go of them yet....it's going to be a busy upcoming week for me.  Now that the kids are older and have tons of weekend activities, I probably won't get a ton done this weekend....although if I had an apprentice I would probably be very productive first thing Monday morning.

PS

Perhaps with an assistant I won't have to put my cone pads in the oven for a half hour when I realize that I'm almost done stacking the kiln and need to make them.