Never ending transformation

I am continuing to roll with the frenetic pace of suddenly summer; ever-growing children and weeds, lifeguard duty or rainy day games, and the speed of light with which my thoughts race through new form, carving and glaze applications. Whew!

The Hamster Pants have taken me through news forms I am anxious to share, now drying in wait for carving and bisquing. I wonder if they have run their course? Not sure, but I can say they have been a delightful conversation piece over afternoon barbecues and evening cocktails.  Footed pots will continue for sure but somehow I am called back to more elegant forms, forms that revisit the spiral, growth and lifting the eye.  More on that to come.

At the same time I am revisiting texture.  I have been so inspired by the works of Gary Jackson of Fire When Ready Pottery and Amy Higgason of Pigeon Road Pottery. They both create such rhythm with their stamping techniques as well as adding depth and interest to the clay.I have experimented this last week with making my own stamps from a woodcut I carved long ago. I singled out some of my favorite elements for mini tiles and stamps to accent some of pots. I am curious to see where this leads me.

Pennsylvania Potters

Life has a lot of nerve moving in and taking over. Work, germs, kids, house, and suddenly it’s been how long since I wrote?? Ridiculous. So to back up a bit to where I have been meaning to leave off…

The last leg of the Elephant’s Eye Studio Tour in Bucks County, PA led us to Lisa Naples’ studio and guest potter Gloria Kosco. Gloria and I had a terrific conversation about her recent fire brick purchase for gas kiln building. I love feel of her pieces in my hands. Not buttery smooth like the porcelain I am used to, but just as pleasing in a different way. The texture is meaty. Sturdy and solid. Warm. Her work has so much variety and I love that.

The addition of two of Gloria’s petite mugs to my collection have inspired me to start a wall of pieces like Gary Jackson‘s that I admire.

I have been contemplating Lisa’s gorgeous fountain and her egg forms. I wish I could have talked to her about them further. They have inspired me for a new series of pieces still germinating. Maybe on one of my trips we can meet up for coffee and a clay conversation!

Inspiration!

I just discovered artist Gary Jackson of Fire When Ready Pottery and love his idea for displaying his cup collection!

Seeing all the work inspires me to continue my collection and hope to be part of someone else’s someday. You never know, right?

So many beautiful pieces to look at and be inspired by…attention to form, color, texture, balance, and so much more makes each piece an individual triumph, a unique accomplishment of creativity.