"Don't Box Me In" group show opens December 1st

Signature Contemporary Craft in Atlanta will be showing "Don't Box Me In" opening December. I can't wait to see all of the work as everyone included makes such stellar work. If you're in the Atlanta area during December be sure to check it out!

Shows Section Updated

Yet again, another Hiatus.  I have been so busy working to get ready for the  Philadelphia Museum Show that I haven't really had much time to do this sort of stuff.  All of my upcoming shows, as of right now, have been updated here so you'll know where the work will be in the near future.  I'll try to get back on here and write some posts and share some photos because this year has been rich with development and I would love to share with you all.  I am fortunate to be having the opportunities that I am having, studio is flourishing and energy is positive in my life.  Cheers to you all and I'll give an update soon.  Come find me in Philly if you're around, booth 325.  It should be a rocking show and I am pumped about the new work that I'll have there.  Hope to see you!

This platter is in the Harvest show at Gandee Gallery in Fabius NY.  These are about 22" across.  I've been loving them.

Form and Landscape show at Imagine.

I have a show currently up for the month of June at my wife's gallery, Imagine, of new pots and a grouping of small drawings/paintings of local landscapes that I had recently completed. This idea had been floating around in my head for some time, and seemed to fit into her show schedule. landscape has been present on my mind alot lately, both in my work and in my immediate environment, and I like the pairing of the two together both in concept and aesthetic. The idea is still in its infancy, but has plenty of room to develop to better fit the idea and vision going on in my head. Time will tell....

The paintings are all 10x10" and are acrylic, ink and encaustic on panel. Stop by if you're in the area, the show I'll be up until June 30th at Imagine, 38 East Genesee Street, Skaneateles New York.

Paradise City Arts Festival, Memorial Day

So it is now a week after the show but Paradise City was a success. Being someone who has just started doing a few large retail handcraft shows, I never really know what to expect and I feel like I'm usually rolling the dice. But I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome, handed out a ton of cards and sold a bunch of pots. Having the first hand contact with people who are interested in taking home your work is great. Good research, good feedback, and some nice momentum to return to the studio to make more. Next on the list is getting a couple of boxes to Red Lodge Clay Center an then get work to the Society Of Arts And Crafts for a featured artist window display at their location on Newberry Road in Boston.

This was one of a number of small, medium and large whiskey flasks made for the show. I'm going to be making a bunch more of these in the next few days.

And the icing on the cake was my 1950 "Zero" brand fan, donated by our good friends to keep me and booth-goers cool. The weekend was super hot, and although the show was indoor, the arena was still open to outside air flow and I didn't come with a fan. This little gem was in our friend's barn, and I don't know how many people commented on how perfectly it fit the booth, and one woman even wanted to buy it. I don't know if I should take that as insult or compliment, although she left the booth without and pots...

Kiln coming down!

So we have been in the middle of a house and studio move for the past month or so, which I wouldn't recommend to those who have a number of deadlines in the studio, but the lure of land and family has pulled us to the country.
The studio is still operational, but the soda kiln needed to be relocated. I wasn't too sure how successful the disassembly was going to be as we have been spraying six pounds of soda per firing for the past five years or so, but the majority of the brick came free with no problem.

It's hard to remember after six years how many brick it took to build a kiln, but having to move it again is a full reminder. I think I'm still recovering. Satisfying to do, but man I'm paying for it.

Someone is going to have a sweet BBQ patio for sure, with direct line right to the natural gas. As I get through a redesign of the kiln and get to building I'll post more pictures of the progress. Having so much room, and the ability to build to suit, I am pumped to be able to work in a number of sustainable attributes to make the studio a lot less impactive. More to come soon.

New instructional DVD now available and other news.

Hey all, wanted to pass along the news that my new instructional DVD titled "Slabs, Templates, Textures, and Terra Sigilatta" is now available for pre- order at www.ceramicartsdaily.org
I got to watch a preview copy the other night and they did a ton of work and it looks really great. It was a bit weird to sit and watch myself make my pots, and you always sound weird on film, but all in all I think that it will be a good resource to people and studios.
Things have been really cruising lately an the next couple of months are jam packed with upcoming events. This Sunday Sarah and I have been invited to do a workshop for the Syracuse Ceramics Guild in Syracuse NY.

It will be a full day of making pots starting at 9:00 am. The guild just moved into a new space that sounds like it should be a good central location for them, an we hope the workshop will be well attended. Should be fun.
I am going to be doing Craftboston again this year and I have been gearing up for that. Last year was successful, and I hope to have learned a bit about the market in Boston and have been busily making work to take. There should be some nice new pots coming out of the kiln in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned. The dates for the show are March 23, 24, and 25 and it will be located at the Seaport Convention Center in Boston.
In April I am scheduled to go up and do a workshop for the ceramics department at St. Lawrence University where Shawn Oconnor is teaching a couple of classes.
I'll put up some pictures as soon as some come through. Later!

Upcoming workshop in Syracuse, NY.

A couple of new surface details

I have really been enjoying some of the new surfaces that have been coming out of the kiln lately. It's interesting that when I really try to pick apart every part of my glazing process and test, I end up with 90% ho-hum results. Then I go and put together a glaze that I haven't used in a while and a slip that I have been using alot of, add a little soda ash and some new things come out. I suppose that while using an easy bake oven, I have to take my surprises when I can get them. Here's a couple of details.
Cheers, here's to finding some time to post. More to come......as usual.