Distressed Leather

This is the finale results of the pots that I used the slip with sodium silicate and iron oxide. hmmm.......interesting.....I think I'll have to explore this further.

I Love this Poem

When the Clay Calls

By Nora Naranjo-Morse

From her book - Mud Woman: Poems from the Clay (University of Arizona Press, 1992.).

This clay starts calling to me only days after I've sworn it off
wishing to leave tired hands to rest,
wanting to release myself from the browns and reds
that bend easily into gentle curves,
instantly becoming a child's face
a woman's skirt, or her husband's smile.
Resting from lines I review,
have reviewed,
and will review again.
Dusting off the sanded earth
as coarse surfaces level into fluid forms
I had not yet discovered,
so smooth and yet richly textured with life of its own.
I am in awe of this clay that fills me with passion
and wonder.
This earth
I have become a part of,
that also I have grown out of.

Work, Work, Work, Work, Work

OK ........ I really love being a potter. My favorite thing is probably working on the wheel. I can loose myself in the motion of the wheel and the clay.....and I love the feel of the wet clay in my hands. I love hand building.....I love firing my kilns especially my large gas kiln and my raku kiln (yup....I like to play with fire) It takes about 5 bisque loads from my Skutt to fill the gas kiln. That's alot of pots! Confession.....I don't like glazing .....it's the only part of the whole process the feels like work to me. Since I spray alot of my glazes I have to wear my Darth Vader respirator which fogs my glasses and makes me feel totally claustrophobic! Oh well....I've got a show this weekend so I guess it's off to work I go.

New Horsehair Raku

After having so many of the pots I've pulled out of my kiln at 1500 degrees crack, I started experimenting to see what would be the lowest temp I could pull the pots out and get good results with horsehair raku. These pots are my latest. Fired to 950 degrees I started applying some of the horsehair while the pots were still in the kiln. This left very bold dark lines. I then pulled the pots and applied more horsehair to some of them which left a much softer line.

Southern Maine Artisans Showcase at Saco Train Station

Maine Craft Association recently installed a Museum Case at the new Saco Transportation Center. The venue is going to be used to showcase Southern Maine Artisans. I feel very flattered to be invited to participate in the inaugural showcase.
The station building opened in 2009 and is the first "Green" train station in the U.S. It features a wind turbine for electricity, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and a roof made from recycled soda bottles.

The Dragonflys of August

The last of the dragonflys are almost gone. Just a few stragglers remain a sign that there won't be many more warm days to come for a while. The dragonflys usually start appearing late in July and stay through the month of August. Every evening they show up in swarms numbering in the hundreds. It's quite an impressive site - like have a legion of small helicopters hovering over our backyard. Our dog, Imazadi, is usually so overwhelmed that she retreats into her dog house until they leave for the night.

Sanford Art Association Hosts Southern Maine Clay Guild

Just wanted to share some pics from the Clay Guild's August 09 show at the Sanford Art Association's Gallery. The women in the photo with the sheep is my friend Mia Auger and her sheep is named Gertie. Mia created Gertie  with over 5,000 individual pieces of clay "wool" (5,050 to be exact) which were assembled on a welded frame. Absolutely awesome!!!!