Josie Goes to Pot

Best Intentions

2012-01-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

I love January.
It is a time when I feel like I can re-group, take a breath and cook up projects for the coming year.

This year I vowed to clean out my studio space and make it so shiny that the reflection off my gleaming surfaces would make Christa (who's area at fourth & clay is directly across from mine) wear her sunglasses. Well...that was the plan. I got distracted and it doesn't look like it's going to happen this month...maybe February???

I am working on 5 little"chocolate bowls" for a show at TRAX which I feel very honored to be a participant in. I will post more about this event as the time grows near.

I am also working on Valentine's inspired work for my ETSY shop as I will be part of the Poppy Handmade Valentine/Wedding Market.

The year's off to a great start...now if only the elves would come at night, to do the cleaning job I had intended to do, I'd be a very happy camper.

pictures attached are work that was sold during the holidays.

Top Ten List -2011

2011-12-31T08:09:00.000-08:00

I love reading top ten lists this time of year. I thought I would create my own of artist's work and show's I saw that have delighted and inspired me this past year...
I hope your Holidays were fun and that 2012 brings happiness, creative joy and peacefulness to you all.

Ruth Gurvich Her work amazes me, it is so beautiful it gives me goose bumps...is it paper or porcelain?

Betty Woodman Always at the top of my list.

Ann Van Hoey So thin and tranparent..these pieces make me hold my breath.

Yayoi Kusama It's hard to discribe how touching the exhibit we saw of her work was at the Centre Pompidou, Paris this fall. Orginally we had gone to see the much hyped Munch exhibit (didn't love) and wandered into a side gallery showing Yayoi Kusama's sensual polka dot filled environments and earlier work. I LOVED it.

Makoto Kagoshima Oh his drawings are so wonderful and I love all the little lines and scratches that are so fabric-like.

Isabelle de Borchgrave She had an amazing show at the SF Legion of Honor in Feb.. Her painted paper dresses were fabulous.

Elke Saba Love her use of colored slips especially on these less precise vases.

Derek Au (thanks to Melt My Heart)Love his pattern worked shapes.

The Museum of Hunting and Nature, Paris. This museum was right around the corner from the apartment we rented in Paris. We had visited it years ago and found it interesting but not spectacular. BUT it has been totally redone and is an amazing cabinet of curiosities, with videos, painting automated talking heads, ceramic bunny busts. If you have the chance to go see it...GO!

Craig Underhill Layering and scrathching on these large hand-built forms kept me staring at his web site for hours.

A Little Break

2011-12-21T06:23:00.000-08:00

My table at fourth & clay is clean.
I will not touch clay for at least another week.
No more retail until the next open studio.
WHEW....it was fun but a little break is necessary.

Time now to cozy in with family and friends. Time to make cookies and snow globes with the grand-kidlets, go shopping with the daughters, celebrate my son's 40th birthday (yikees), have hot toddies with my husband and to share in the cooking of several feasts. Time to enjoy this beautiful Holiday Season.

I hope you all are able to take a little break too and that you have the happiest Holidays.

PARTY TIME

2011-12-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

This week I have been preparing for the fourth & clay Holiday Show and PARTY.
This year's theme "DESSERT".... yum.
The party is always a blast, great art, funky music by our "house band" FRONTJUNK, cheap wine and good people. This year the artists are bringing a dessert to share so get ready for a sugar rush.
Please join me and 23 amazing clay artists:

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T07:51:00.000-08:00

As we prepare for this wonderful holiday,
I give thanks for my great family and friends.
We are getting ready to prepare a feast and I am remembering one I had in France...the
above is a picture of an amazing salad I had in a the little outdoor cafe, l'Estiminet Cantine in the Marche Enfant Rouge.
Happy Turkey Day Everybody....Let the Holidays begin!

Santa's Workshop

2011-11-22T07:52:00.000-08:00

Dessert Plates for the fourth & clay Holiday Desert Show waiting to be glazed

I returned from France about 2 weeks ago. I had a wonderful adventure. So much fun that I didn't have time to blog about it!
Upon returning though I have been in a total daze getting ready for the HOLIDAZE. At first I was in denial ...Thanksgiving couldn't possibly be next week. Now I am in the weeds...glaze buckets slopping on the floor, wild kiln dances as I fill up Big Bertha and pray my hurriedly glazed, lovingly made (made before my travels) pots will be blessed with a good firing. This Holiday madness has it's upside. Our studio is humming with activity as Christa, rae and I are all in the same boat. The Christmas tunes started last week and the Happy Hour juices are flowing. Misery LOVES company but as things go this is definitely not so miserable.
It's good to be home.

Ornaments all ready on the clothesline.

Vallauris

2011-10-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took our trusty rental car and drove the 35 round-abouts, tiny, one way roads and super fast freeways (thank you GPS) from the Luberon to the Cote D'Azur to visit the amazing ceramic's city of Vallauris. My studio-mate, rae dunn, was a resident artist in the A.I.R. Vallauris residency program last June. You can see some of her work in the attached photo taken in their gallery. I was afraid she was never going to be happy once she returned to Berkeley as she fell so in love with her life in France and I can truly see why. The beautiful little town is filled with ateliers, museums and galleries all featuring ceramics. The gallery director, Dale, took us on a tour of the A.I.R. facilities. It looked pretty dreamy to me... A place where you could easily live your art without distraction but live it so well. The little Cafe du Coin right across the street from the gallery was a great place to start eating! We were served the yummiest seasonal eats by people who REALLY cared about what they were doing. The day was DEVINE. I can only imagine what a nice long residency would be like.

Fall in France

2011-10-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

This fall my husband John and I are off to France to wander around and pretend/dream we are living there.We'll be back in time to get ready for the Holidays. I'll try to send pictures. Au Revior!

Bye-Bye Summer

2011-09-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

I am packing up my summer studio in Tahoe today for the trek down the mountain, back to Berkeley, tomorrow.
POOH...I LOVE the summer and hate to see it end.

Bye to long hikes in the wild flowers
Bye to gin and tonics on the deck at 4pm
Bye to my funky studio that started buried in 8 feet snow and ended surrounded by towering woods in the sun.
Bye to clear and cold LAke Tahoe swims with the dogs.
Bye to the TAhoe City Thursday Farmer's Market where we could get the greatest peaches and sunflowers.
Bye to no traffic and not leaving the cabin for days.

See you next summer.

Weddings

2011-08-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

This has been the summer of weddings. Kids growing up, falling in love and tying the knot in the warm beautiful summertime.

We are off this afternoon to journey to Maine for the wedding of my godson.
I am dreaming of eating lobsters and wandering on the beach.

I wanted to make a special gift for the new couple.
So I came up with these funny "His and Hers"cups.
Thankfully this fun loving couple has a great senses of humor.

Queen of Cups

2011-08-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

This has been the summer of cups. I have made and sold dozens both at the ACGA show, my Etsy shop and through wholesale orders. Quite a few of them went to this great new store that should be opening in San Francisco any day now. My patterns are now perfected and I am actually feeling a great sense of pride in being able to produce multiples. For me, a reluctant and very slow production potter, this has been quite an accomplishment.

The wholesale orders are a bit painful. Getting paid half the retail value for these labors of love is just a KILLER. The old manufacturer/capitalist mentality in me raises to the surface and I have a hard time saying NO. Getting paid before delivery does, most definitely, help. Putting work in a gallery, waiting for it to sell, getting paid half when it does and taking back the pieces that don't sell after they have sat dormant for a sad, long time can be even more painful. It can feel kind of like renting expensive storage space. However there is something so ego boosting about seeing my work in a beautiful gallery perfectly displayed and precious.

I don't have the answers about what's the right direction in this "career" of mine. Anybody out there have any insight you might want to share?
I just know that I should be turning off this computer and wandering down to the studio to put on a few more handles.

Good Show

2011-07-13T15:48:00.000-07:00

Last weekend's show - the Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival - was GREAT. Thank you all who came, saw and shopped. The weather was perfect and our new space at Rinconada Park was spacious and easy.

Here's a little video that John of my booth. You can catch a glimpse of me and my show neighbor and good friend , Whitney Smith as well:

Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival

2011-07-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

John and I came home from the mountains yesterday to prepare for The Palo Alto Clay & Glass Festival. This great show is the one craft/art fair I participate in. It's outdoors, chocked-ful of great ceramics and glass and is usually a very sunny, fun event. Come by and say Hi and meet Gus while he is still somewhat little. I am using him as booth bait!

Happy Friday

2011-07-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today my work was featured on The American Craft Magazine Blog.....

Oh Happy Friday!
and Happy Fourth of July weekend to you all.

Fixin It.

2011-06-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for the annual Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival I packed my trusty little mountain Cress kiln , programed it for a medium bisque and went to bed. It never got to temperature stubbornly staying at 1546 degrees all through the night. I thought maybe because it hadn't been used in a year it was just a little cranky so I optimisticaly tried it again...nope again it got only to 1546, being cranky was not the problem. Why does this ALWAYS seem to happen right before a show ????

We are up in the boondocks...I had days of work to fire and transporting it bone dry back to the Bay Area made me shiver. I couldn't call the amazing kiln doctor, Saadi, who comes and makes everything better in Berkeley. I emailed Cress (which luckily is in Carson City NV - 1 hour's drive from my house) and got an auto message back that they were on vacation. My heart sank. Next minute I got another message...Arturo from Cress was breifly in the office and could give me the parts to fix the kiln if I would come and get them. I have never "fixed" a kiln but I was desperate and my husband, John was game to try. I had diagnosed the problem as a relay because both the elements glowed red during the firing and the little clicking noise that signals the temperature raising was non existent when the kiln reached the higher temperatures. Arturo said relays were a piece of cake to fix and guess what ....they were. John took out the old replaced with the new and VOILA...the kin is fixed. Much thanks to Arturo Maldonado who REALLY went the extra mile and of course to John Schnick, who's screw driver skills amaze me!

Working in a Snow Cave

2011-06-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

view out my studio door

We made our annual summer mountain migration to our cabin near Lake Tahoe about a week ago. We knew we would find snow, we just didn't know how much. We found a seven foot glacier out my studio door and snow fields where the flowers usually are. It's been sunny, warm and beautiful. The snow recedes at least a foot a day. At this rate it might be the end of July before we see bare ground and are able to cross the creek (which is now a roaring river of icy water) and hike in the high mountains without snowshoes.

I have been working in my cave-like studio (think natural air conditioning) doing production on a nice sized order that came my way right before I left Berkeley. I am learning patience and how to schedule my time but I don't think I'll be adding the title "production potter" to my resume any time soon.

The dogs are in love with the snow and will be sad to see it go. John made this video yesterday. It is shot a short walk from our cabin:

Inspiration

2011-06-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

I find Hella Jongerius to be so inspirational. I love the book Misfit. It is covered with clay fingerprints in my studio because I use it for reference so often. I found this delicious video via Poppytalk today. Just listening to her voice gives me goosbumps.....

Sketchbook Project

2011-06-06T06:23:00.001-07:00

Last year I participated in the Art House Coop's Sketchbook Project.
My theme was "Inside/Outside".
I kind of went crazy researching the history of underwear.
My book was full of little cutouts that, when the outside garment was lifted, showed the underwear of the times on the next page. I had a great time doing this and was proud and happy when I shipped my Sketchbook off. These books on tour, there are over 10,000 of them to choose from, are viewed by thousands of people. WELLL....I waited and waited to be notified that ANYBODY had viewed my book (we were to receive an email notification when our books were viewed). As of today ONE person has picked up my sketchbook and paged through it. WAAA, I felt swindled. My studio mate rae dunn (her book has been viewed twice) and I hatched a plan to go to the San Francisco Sketchbook Tour stop and steal our books back. But today I received notification that my book had been digitized and can be viewed online.
Perhaps you'd like to view it (please)? Click here if you do (keep in mind that the little clothes drawings were cut to lift up and reveal the undies underneath):

GUS

2011-06-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

Since our beloved Kitty died in January Harry Potter has been grieving big time. So the time is right to get him a friend...enter Gus...an 8 week old golden doodle puppy.
He ought to liven things up around here!

Here he is with Christa on his first day at fourth & clay. I think it was love at first bite.

Cuba Sí

2011-05-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday John and I returned from Havana, Cuba. We got to go there legally because our son-in-law is Cuban and the Obama administration has made it possible for relatives of Cubans to visit with a tourist visa. This was our second trip there and this time we decided to hit the beach. We spent 3 days in Havana and 6 days at the Playa del Este right outside of Havana. Bright sun, magic sea, glorious music , good food (prepared by my co-mother-in-law, a world class cook), old car watching and large amounts of fabulous rum ...what more could a girl want?

Actually there is LOTS more to Havana that a girl could want, especially a pottery girl. Before I went I contacted Peter Held who had given a talk on Cuban ceramics at the latest NCECA. He, without hesitation, gave me names and introductions to some of the country's best ceramic artists. I will be forever grateful. Though my family is incredibly supportive of my ceramics obsession, my pottery touring time was limited. We were able to meet with Alejandro Alonzo who is the director of the Contemporary Ceramics Museum in Havana Vieja. Alejandro so generously spent a whole morning with us showing us the museum's beautiful collection and talking to us about the growth of Cuban Ceramics. Being in Alejando's energetic presence was being with a person of greatness. He glowed with enthusiasm in his beautiful museum. What an incredible experience, one I will never forget.

Attached is a little video that John made of our trip to the museum and our tour with Alejandro. You will also catch a glimpse of an amazing street artist we happened to see on our way to the museum. He is creating tile patterns on the street to simulate classic colonial floor tiles. He is using stencils and water and washing away decades of dirt. The artist informed us it was a political statement meant in some way to show the involvement of the community in Cuba. I think the work,both in concept and execution, is exceptionaly beautiful.

Button Bangles

2011-04-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

Anybody who knows me knows they can hear me coming before they see me. I have always worn multiple hallow silver bangles (most purchased in Jaipur years ago) that "CLANK" ...John calls them the "Josie Alarm". Recently I started experimenting with taking my mishima textile patterns and making ceramic bangles. I wasn't sure they would be sturdy enough to withstand wear but to my happy amazement they work perfectly. My daughter Susannah has been wearing a proto-type while serving yummy lunches at this great Berkeley restaurant. Instead of my usual "CLANK" they make a really pretty "PING" when more than one is worn. You can check them out here in my etsy shop.

Nesting

2011-03-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

It's been raining non-stop in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am inclined to cozy in, bake stuff and watch reality TV. But off to the studio I go and the foul weather has inspired to make these sets of nesting bowls. What better thing to do on a rainy day, other than sitting in front to the fireplace with a fresh batch of these cookies?

Blackboards and chalk

2011-03-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Way back in January I took a workshop from Sandy Simon and Bob Brady at Trax Gallery. Bob taught us a great technique that I am calling "reverse mishima". You coat greenware with black underglaze and bisque. Then coat the piece in white slip and with a etching/drawing tool draw through the slip to the black. I have gone one step further and am also painting black underglaze on the white bisque and etching through this. The line is scratchy and I am loving it. For some reason this striped oval vase reminded me of notebook paper - so I added some alphabet lettering. I didn't glaze the outside. I left the underglaze exposed. I like the way the chalky dry surface looks like an old school black board.

New Work

2011-03-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

Spring is in the air and finally I have some photos of some of the work I've been making.
Why is it so difficult to take those pictures?

It's just the last step in a very long process. It's one that only takes a minute. For me it is so great to have a reference of what I have done over the years as my work changes so rapidly. Sometimes I can even get in-inspired. But somehow taking a photo always slips by the way side...sometimes it's too late. A piece can long since have left the building and try a I may I can't remember how I made it.

At any rate I dragged some of my new pieces up to the loft in our studio which is set up with photo lights and gear. I just loaded my Etsy shop with the results - including these pieces in my continuing Birch Tree Series.
I hope you like what you see.

How to Keep Busy in a Snow Storm

2011-02-20T14:28:00.000-08:00

We ventured into the mountains this past week and were cabin bound for 4 days while 10+ feet of snow accumulated. It was kind of thrilling and kind of scary (especially when our electricity went out).

The sun is peaking out now and the trees are covered with fluffy white pillows. It's dazzling.

Here are 5 things I did to keep busy during the storm:

1. Went down into the basement studio and tried to throw pots out of freezing clay with frigid water. I guess I am too much of a fair weather potter. I only lasted down there for about an hour.

2. Shoveled snow. Actually this proved to be quite fun as the snow was light as a feather but kept falling so I'd shovel and think I was making great progress and turn around and it would be covered up again.

3. Read a good book.

4. Knit a scarf.

5. Cooked, ate, drank, went hot tubbing and told stories with John, and friends Jack and Sharon.

Soda Fire Workshop at Trax

2011-01-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the privilege of taking a soda fire workshop at Trax gallery taught by Sandy Simon and Bob Brady. Our class rocked. I met and was inspired by the most fabulous people. It was a week chocked full of learning...tips on throwing, hand building, glazing, new clay bodies. I learned that I have A LOT to learn, especially about firing. I think I'm ready to go back to my Easy Bake Oven of an electric kiln and save the amazing process of soda firing to the experts.

A scattering of work fresh from the kiln.
As in any workshop some pieces came out great and some not so pretty.

My amazing class mates.

Smash - Up

2011-01-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

Our annual Pottery Posse New Years Smash Up was yesterday at fourth & clay. Participants included Diana Fayt, Christa Assad, Whitney Smith, rae dunn, Sara Paloma(who won the award for the best thrower with the most beautiful seconds ever) and me with much help from our men, Andrew Hayes and John Schnick .Here's a little video John made of the event. I crack up every time I watch it especially the limbering up scene. What an incredible way to start 2011...ridding the world of ugly pots, toasting in a new beginning and being with good, fun loving, pot making friends.
Happy New Year to you all.

Welcome 2011

2010-12-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

I'm ready ....
Time to eat black eyed peas and dream up adventures for 2011.
Time to think about taking some inspiring workshops...here are the 2 that will kick start my year:

Starting with this soda firing workshop with Sandy Simon and Bob Brady at Trax in January.

In February Forrest Lesch-Middleton will be coming to fourth & clay....

I love Monday

2010-12-13T06:40:00.000-08:00

AHHHH Sweet, Quiet, Monday. The clay studio I share with Christa and rae, fourth & clay, is next door to VIKS Chaat House - probably the most popular Indian restaurant in the BAy Area. The food is good and inexpensive. VIKS moved next door to us last January so this is the first Holiday season we've had them as neighbors. The 2,000+ people who walk by our studio on Saturday and Sunday are usually HUNGRY and not really interested in buying handmade pots but this seems to have changed a little for the Holidays. We've been insanely busy. Now if we could just get the restaurant to stop announcing customer's names over their super LOUD PA system that vibrates through our walls we'd be happy campers. Mondays VIKS is closed. It's a giant, quiet sigh of relief.

The little movie above of my pitcher was made by my husband John Schnick for a light show he did for the fourth & clay Holiday CUP show opening.

Invitational CUP Show and Holiday Party

2010-12-02T03:04:00.000-08:00

fourth & clay is having a CUP Show and Holiday Party starting next Thursday (Dec 9). We invited 27 of our friends and people who's work we admire and they are each bring 4 - 6 cups for sale and viewing. I can't wait to see what these amazing artists bring.The show will be up until Dec 19, but if you are interested in seeing all work in all it's glory come early as buyers will be able to take their purchases with them.
Come join us for our always very fun Holiday Party, Dec 9, 7 - 11pm.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2010-11-27T06:53:00.000-08:00

Pitcher from a new series I've been working on inspired by this book.

First Saturday of our Holiday hours at fourth & clay and you will will find me in our cleaned up studio serving cookies, listening to Christmas carols and maybe covered with a bit of clay dust.

The holiday season begins. I love this time of year especially now that I'm "retired". Working my old job and trying to be together for the holiday was a bit of a stretch. December was always one of Sweet Potatoes busiest times of the year. I had a huge collection to design, salesman's samples to produce and get shipped out by January 1. Getting people to deliver on time during this busy season (or even work) was a nightmare. Just the memory make me sweat (and it's been 6 years...yikees!).

The pressure of getting new ceramics together, sprucing up the studio, helping plan a party and being open for a few weekends is a delight for me. Just enough to keep me busy and out of trouble. Do I enjoy being at fourth & clay every weekend? Yup...especially in the beginning when people come by and are NICE. So come on by and have a cookie.

It's Beginning.....

2010-11-15T07:01:00.000-08:00

It still a bit early to be bringing up the Holidays but every day in Berkeley, even though it is sunny and warm, it's beginning to look a little more like Christmas. Whatever happened to waiting until Thanksgiving to start playing Silent Night or stringing lights on the neighborhood trees? I guess I am showing my age here.

Our Christmas tree is a huge mishmash of wonderful stuff and lights including some ancient bubble ones. Some of my favorite ornaments are random school pictures of my 3 kids (I love the one of my son Ezra during his heavy metal phase), glass ornaments that resemble pets long passed, stuffed frogs, a biscuit made by my godson, Andre (when he was 3), that looks like a turd. You get the picture - it's not exactly reverent.

For the past few years I have been making and selling a special edition ceramic ornament. This year I am making UNDERWEAR. I am loving these - polka dot boxers, tightie whities, corsets with or with out fishnest, bra and pantie sets, slips. They are drawn with mishima on both front and back and wired with nicron wire. I can't wait to see them on my tree. This is a shameless plug but... if you want to spice up your tree you can get your very own tree underwear here.

Complainer

2010-10-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

I hate consignment. Remember this summer when I was elated to have gotten my work into Gumps? Then when it SOLD OUT I got a HUGE (for me) re-order? Well guess what...for some reason most of this labor intensive, beautiful custom work didn't sell. And guess what again...yesterday I drove over to Gumps to pick up my work and bring it back to my studio. The good thing is that the Holidays are upon us and I now have a wonderful variety of work to sell. I can say that I am disappointed and a bit discouraged with my attempt at consignment sales. I learned a great lesson though, that is I should have quit when I was ahead. Sold out at Gumps, head held high instead of making more work and limping back across the bridge with 2 big boxes of the unsold inventory. Anybody want to buy a bowl?

AND while I'm in the mood to complain...My vase was included in the beautiful, new 500 Vases by Lark Publication. It looks fabulous...full page (pg 282), standing proudly HOWEVER the name credited to the piece ISN'T MINE. They screwed up, it will be corrected in next printing.

So how was your week ???

Pattern Making

2010-10-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Mark Pharis's flat pattern

forming the piece

finishing the bottom

I've been rocking out with roofing paper.
Last spring I took a workshop at Trax with Mark Pharis who demonstrated how he drafts and cuts patterns from roofing paper and adheres them to wet slabs to build his pieces. I was inspired to say the least. He was talking my language - combining pure rigid flat pattern making technique with pliable clay. It took me all summer to get started in this direction...What can I say...I get distracted easily...but the idea percolated away in my brain. Now, back in Berkeley, I have been drafting away building large tall vases, creamer and sugar sets, pitchers using the simplest of patterns.

my very simple pattern

greenwear tea pot and pitcher made from above pattern

Packing Up

2010-09-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

somewhere in the wilds of Nevada

The road trip is over. We saw moose, elk, eagles, deer, buffalo, trees changing colors and the wide open roads of Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. We hiked in the mountains, dined in funny little highway cafes and visited my super Colorado family. It was a wonderful adventure.

home on the range

yummy moose butter

hiking near Jenny Lake WY

We're back in Tahoe packing up the tons of stuff we hauled up here three months ago - pottery is not a very portable profession. Tomorrow is our last day of summer mountain living for this year....back to Berkeley, wearing shoes and having to comb my hair!

Packing up the last bisque firing...here is a sneak peek of a few pieces from a series I am working on inspired by shadows and textile patterns and Molly Hatch's fourth & clay workshop.

Cattle Rustling Shoes

2010-09-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

We are on a road trip. The first stop was Elko Nevada and a little visit to the Museum of Northeastern Nevada. This pic is of shoes worn by a notorious cattle rustler... Pretty stylish don't you think?

Summer Reading and the Art of Underwear

2010-08-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

Up here in the boondocks Amazon and the UPS truck have become my best friends. I have read some great books this summer including Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman both wonderful transporting reads. I am currently termiting my way through a book that is consuming my thoughts...Dancing to the Precipice by Carloine Moorhead. This book is based on the journals of Lucie de la Tour du Pin, who, as part of the court of Louis XVI, was an eye witness to the French Revolution. She lived through the Reign of Terror and went on to lead a remarkable life. Reading this book has colored my thinking about the terrible state of our world today especially all the horrible news I hear everyday on the NPR as I pot away in the studio. Things are indeed very bad now but man they could be worse.... think guillotine that chops off 7 heads in one swipe. Will man E V E R learn to be civilized toward his/her fellow man?

This book has also made me fascinated with the dress and more specifically the underwear of the 18th century. OK, I'm weird but I wonder who invented the "pannier" - pictured above and why????
As I have been reading I have also been working on a sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project. My theme is Inside/Outside and you got it...my sketches are all about underwear both ancient and modern. Of course all this comes around to clay.... Check out the little ornaments I am doing in my etsy shop.

Guilt and the Art of Wildflower Picking

2010-08-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

Most of you already know that I live my summer's in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. I have a studio in my basement so I don't miss a minute of clay making. It's a very delicious set-up.

Because we had a very late rainy season up here this year the wildflowers are still blooming like crazy. Out the cabin back door and down a steep hill is the Tahoe Rim Trail. We walk sections of it almost every day. Lately, in spots, it feels like I am about to enter the Emerald City through the poppy fields. Some of the meadows of flowers are as high as my head. It's indeed very, very intoxicating.

My friend Michele,who is visiting, gave me the evil eye this morning for suggesting we go flower picking.. "Don't you know you are NEVER supposed to pick the flowers?"she informed me as I swiped an Alexander Thistle that was growing by the trail. YIKEES, I didn't know my good friend was part of the Nature Police. I can't help myself. When there are oceans of color right out my door I figure plucking one or two flowers couldn't really hurt, right?

I do have a bit of a conscience. I did recently make a small vase specifically designed to accommodate just a few flowers. I got it out of the kiln yesterday and filled it this morning. Above is a pic complete with the little thistle that I smuggled home from the walk. Below is a detail of the mishima design on the vase.

Dry

2010-07-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Working at 7,000 feet in the dry mountain air is so different from working at sea level 2 blocks from the SF Bay. Things happen that I'm not used to - both good and bad. I can make a cup in a day, dry it in the sun and fire it the next day. BUT... Last week I learned a painful lesson while making 3 large compote bowls. I have to REALLY SLOWLY expose complicated pieces to this unforgiving air. See what happened (thankfully this was one piece out of 3)........

One tip that has helped me tremendously up here is a tool that Christa helped me make when she came to fourth & clay. It's a damp box made from a simple plastic storage box with a tight fitting lid. You simply fill the bottom with about 2" of prepared plaster and let it cure for about a week. Put enough water in the bottom to totally soak the plaster without any puddles and VOILA you can store work in process or slowly dry finished pieces for an indefinate amount of time. I guess I should have left this piece in the box for a little longer.

Don't you just love pottery..it's so fun to guess what next can go wrong.

The Day After....

2010-07-12T09:10:00.001-07:00

Back home from the 2 day Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival. Here are some photos of my booth right after set up. Thankfully many of these pieces have found new happy homes. Now it's time to unload the truck and decompress. The show was decent for me, better than last year sales wise. The weather was spectacular except for the afternoon wind that would come breezing through and send all potters with tall slender bottomed vases (that would be me) heart's racing. The crowd on Saturday was good and so positive. Sunday was a sleeper. I did manage to sell one of my ceramic peas to a blind lady. ACGA should consider having the festival be one day with a Friday preview? Just a thought.

Are you wondering about my kiln misadventures before the show? All I can say is third time's a charm....everything came out great after I hauled it up the hill and used my sweet husband John's new spiffy John Toki kiln. I feel like a crazy girl for having such a hissy fit. When faced with a similar dilemma in the future I am going to practice what I have preached to others - "Drink don't Whine...."

Trickster

2010-07-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Please join me at the sensational Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival this weekend:

I am hoping I'll have tons of new work for you to see. Kiln problems have me doing a last minute firing in a borrowed kiln. The work in it is largely inspired by my flea market obsessions ... Primarily my love of vintage textiles. We'll see what the trickster kiln gods serve up for me. Keep your fingers crossed... I need all the help I can get at this point.

Centering

2010-06-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

Anybody who knows me and/or reads this blog regularly knows that my attention span is as long as an ant's. This is not something I'm proud of. I seem to switch styles every two weeks. I come up with the best idea ever and I'm off - trying to master something new and completely different. This summer I am attempting to change my ways, to focus and work in a more directed way...attempting to center my head as well as my pots.

So far this hasn't been too difficult because of two reasons:

1. I decided NOT to take any workshops this summer. I am a self professed "workshop whore" and will take anything that looks even vaguely interesting. I live in the mountains in the summer and Sierra Nevada College has a wonderful program of visiting artists. Look at the great folks they have this year- Sequoia Miller, John Britt, Linda Christianson... Oh, man these workshops look interesting to me. However every class means I go spinning off in a new inspired direction. With GREAT self control I am staying put in my cabin studio this summer and not participating. I can go to the free Tuesday "Meet The Artist Night" and get my groupie fix that way .
2. I got a huge (for me) reorder from Gumps ...YAY! This order requires me to make the same little bowl (pictured above) 25 times, the same 2 vases 6 times, the same 2 compote bowls 6 times. For a girl with CADD (ceramics attention deficit disease) this could prove to be very difficult. So far I've got the bowls made. The rest are a bit more challenging as I have never had to really duplicated the same work twice. Thankfully I took photos before the original work was delivered. This ought to keep me busy for awhile. If it doesn't center me nothing will.

Cluck...

2010-06-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

I got a nice order for rose bowls the other day and I began rolling and rolling and rolling. I actually enjoy this labor intensive process, it's quiet, meditative. I joke I am getting "rose butt" as it requires sitting for long periods of time and I can feel my already rather large ass getting larger as I settle into my comfy chair.

I have always glazed these pieces with a creamy satin "white" glaze that is a close match for my clay body. If the spraying of the glaze misses a bit underneath where the roses attach, no one is the wiser. I have always dreamed of doing pieces in red (and maybe even black) but have stopped short of applying the color as the pieces take so frigging long to make. I was scared to risk losing one to an experiment in color. Last week I took a deep breath and filled my sprayer with a satin cherry red.

Take a look....a lesson learned for me...stop being such a chicken.

A Solution

2010-05-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

For years I have been battling with the idea of setting up a web site. My husband John actually set up johnandjosie.com. This was supposed to feature my work along with his but I have found it WAY to difficult to keep up dated. My work changes so radically from month to month (really maybe like from week to week). The idea of anyone interested enough to seek out my web site seeing work that is not current drives me NUTZ. Consequently my gallery section on the site has been non existent.

When people asked me if I had a web site I would refer them to this blog. My thinking was if someone could patiently sift through the words they could get an idea of what I was currently working on. But it hasn't been a really a satisfactory solution for anybody who just wanted to see my work.

I belong to an great organization - the ACGA (Association of Clay and Glass Artists). This group of over 3oo California artists hosts the incredible show in Palo Alto that I participate in every July. They have also provided the solution for my web site dilemma, I think. Check this out. It offers a glimpse of my current work. The biggest plus is it's very easy for me to keep updated. I can now have John link this on the johnandjosie.com site as my gallery page...the old girl is catching on... ...pretty cool tool I say!

The Pottery Posse Does Gumps

2010-04-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

christa, rae, diana, whitney, sara and me

I promise this is the last post about the Gumps show. The opening was so much fun that I wanted to share these photos taken by Stacy Cahill for Drew Altizer Photography.
The Bay Area Pottery Posse was well represented with work looking almost as beautious as we did....HOT DAMN!

some of my work on display

whitney smith

rae dunn

sara paloma

diana fayt

Good News/ Bad News

2010-04-18T06:28:00.000-07:00

The good news is I received an email from Gene at Gumps a week ago. He's worried that the work I submitted for the Floral Inspired Show will be sold before the show opens. YAY... I was so excited I did a Snoopy Happy Dance. He wanted more work. YAY.... again... I had lots of work to give him. The bad news is he wanted more of the ROSE PIECES.....BOOO...the only work that I didn't have any more of. Of course, this also happens to be the most labor intensive, takes the longest time to dry, work.

Guess who's been frantically rolling roses this past week? I start candling the four little pieces I was able to complete today.It's wet as can be but if the fickle kiln gods are on my side there will be roses at the opening on Thursday night.

Before and After

2010-04-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

This is a study of a work in process. The vase is part of the work that I sent to the Gumps floral inspired show that opens on April 22. rae took the picture of me, looking very goofy (and posted it to Facebook), while I was in glaze mode going crazy with stickers. I am working on earning the title "Queen of Dots"....get the tiara!

Thrills and chills

2010-04-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

The photo is of some of my new work on display at fourth & clay.
Yesterday was our official day to be open - the first Saturday of
every month. Our street was hoppin and boppin with springtime energy
and we actually had some customers...YAHOO!
I met a potter from Montana, Heidi Haugen. She was the purchaser of
a cup I donated to the Portland NCECA cup sale many years ago. It was
great fun meeting her and also knowing that my little piece had been
treasured all these years... Quite a thrill for me actually.
Tomorrow I deliver my floral inspired work to Gumps for their show opening April 22 - another thrill -
to be included in this show (thanks to claymate Sara Paloma for recommending me).
So what are the chills alluded to in the title of this post? It's
raining and pretty darn cold for April...Where's our Spring?

Crack Pot

2010-03-20T05:39:00.001-07:00

For the last few days at the studio EVERYTHING I touched turned in to a complete and utter disaster. I have been invited to show floral inspired work in a show at Gumps. With about had 2 weeks notice I decided I needed some new work to round out what I already have. So far I have managed to break more work than I have created. Cracks appeared in four intricately made ewers when I left them uncovered, attempting to dry them too quickly. An error code appeared on my kiln during a routine bisque firing (UGH...I am not even sure what that means - but I think it got to temperature???). Last night (BEFORE Happy Hour, mind you!) I picked a beautiful green wear piece, I had just finished the mishima technique on, by the rim and shattered it....what an idiot...these are all things I should have learned not to do in pottery 101. I am bull in the china closet, a crack pot in the pottery. All these problems are happening before the stage that usually gets me....the dreaded glazing. Today has got to be better.

This is the sad scene inside my garbage bucket.

Greater than the Sum

2010-03-03T06:39:00.001-08:00

I just had some new photos taken of my work by fabulous photographer and my friend for 30 years, Jean Michel Addor. It always amazes me what he can do to enhance the pieces. Jean Michel can make the work positively glow and have a greater presence. It's thrilling to work with him in his studio and watch the magic happen.

I saw a similar thing happen the other day at Trax Gallery. There is a wonderful show there now - 5+5, an Exhibition of 5 California Potters& their 5 Invitees. Christa has work there that I've watched her create, fire and finish and have lived with daily in our studio. Seeing it at Trax, beautifully lit and displayed, elevates it to it's true greatness.

Time for Love...

2010-02-11T06:53:00.000-08:00

Christa was asked to do an article for Studio Potter Magazine about financially surviving as a full time potter. Her well written musings on this subject can be found in the current issue. She included me in the story! Along with this the magazine published 2 photos of my work. What's not to love about that? Many thanks Christa.

I have been loving being in the studio after the holidays. I am finally preparing to do a glaze firing... maybe tomorrow? I've been "in the trees"...continuing the direction I was taking before December working in inlaid porcelain and mishima on a birch tree motif. I've managed to work a whole month in one direction .... man, that has to be a record!

Speaking of mishima...fourth & clay is hosting a great workshop exploring "The Altered Surface" with Molly Hatch in April. More information about it can be found here. Come join us. Berkeley in April is beautiful and so is Molly's work.

Ah...CUBA

2010-01-16T07:44:00.000-08:00

Back from a week in Cuba.
LOVED every minute though it was quite cold.
Magic land.
Time stopped soon after 1959.
This is a REALLY GOOD Thing.

See you in C U B A

2010-01-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

We are taking a little trip to Cuba. We'll be gone a week, adventuring and meeting new family (my daughter Susannah's husband's). I'm planning on taking lots of photos, hoping I get to snap images as beautiful as this (lifted from the wunderground site):

Adios.

Ready for 2010

2009-12-31T07:17:00.000-08:00

Time to dust off your fancy dress and P A R T Y...

Me? I'll probably be happily tucked into bed by 10:30, dreaming of the new pots I will be making this year.

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R.

Gumby Inspired

2009-12-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

While you are wrapping your presents and finishing up your last minute decor you can watch this really cool little piece made by the creator of Gumby - Art Clokey. I found it most inspiring:

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like....

2009-12-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

....I'm going to make it!

Christmas approaches next week. The tree is up, my presents are made - well almost, tonight is Cookie Making Saturday Eve for my daughter Susannah's cookie party tomorrow. This is fourth & clay's last weekend to be open during the Holiday open studios. If you haven't been by yet and are in the area please come by for a visit. Next week my daughter Molly and her soon to be husband Rafael arrive from Brooklyn. The very best thing for me this time of year are the cozy, busy days before Christmas shared with good friends and family.

I'm wishing you all Good Yule.

Party time at fourth & clay

2009-12-05T07:21:00.000-08:00

I had a great time last night at the first ever CAB+ (ceramic arts of Berkeley) event. People came, I sold some work but the best part for me was getting to work with the incredible John Toki, Derik Van Beers and the EB ceramic artists and friends who dreamt, planned and made it happen. What a wonderful group of clay folks we have here in the Bay Area - they not only make fabulous work, they know how to party. Special thanks to my studio-mates who provided the "hootch in the cave"....scotch goes down so smooth when you're freezing and standing for 5 hours straight.

Now it's time to get ready for the next party...this time at fourth & clay. See what happened last year here. Come party and celebrate the season with Christa, rae and me this year.

Dec4
7-11pm
fourth & clay
2370 4th st (at Channing Way)
Berkeley

48 Ceramic Artists

2009-12-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

On this Friday, from 5 -10 pm, 48 of the Bay Area's finest ceramic artists will gather to show their work. Pleases join us for the first ever CAB+ (Ceramic Arts of Berkeley) Holiday Event. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Martin Luther King Jr ceramics program.

CAB+ Holiday Event
Dec 4
5-10 pm
Leslie Ceramics
1212 San Pablo
Berkeley, CA

A Small Whine at Holiday Time

2009-11-25T06:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday our new Berkeley High Intern, Jackson, stripped all the old work out of fourth & clay, mopped and waxed the floor, moved the furniture, changed the burnt out light bulbs (he's 6'7" and that really helps with the light bulb changing)and polished the pedestals. Our studio is is now a blank slate ready to be filled today and Friday with wonderful new work.

Forgive my whine for a minute .... Getting set up for the Holiday Open Studios involves so much work for everybody...starting with making the work, designing and printing the post cards, setting up the studio, mailing the post cards, reprinting the post cards, emailing our announcement, being open every weekend until Christmas. Our email list is a mess... Why it is SO UNFORGIVING...one mis-placed period, or letter and BAM we get an error message....UGH..it has NO HEART.

Now that we are almost set up the anticipation of what is going to happen sets in. Will people show up or are we going to be sitting in our beautiful studio drinking hot cider and eating all the yummy cookies by ourselves?
Help! We need to keep our girlish figures...Please come by for a visit.

fourth & clay
2370 4th st (at Channing Way)
Berkeley.
open every weekend until Dec 20
11 - 5 pm

Black & White

2009-11-21T08:01:00.000-08:00

Lately my work has been all about black and white.... the user supplies the color.
My friend Lynn who owns several of my new inlaid clay pieces told me that a bright orange tangerine or several acid green olives look fabulous in the black and white bowls.
This gives me a whole new thought process on my work ...trying to integrate the shape, color,texture of what will be put inside the pieces as part of the overall composition.
Seems elementary but really it trips off light bulbs in my head.

If you are in the area please come by and visit fourth & clay and see my new work as well as the fabulous new work by my studio mates, Christa Assad and rae dunn and our guest artists, Susannah Schnick, linea carta and Circadian Studios. We are participating in the Berkeley Artisan Holiday Open Studios. We will be open every weekend after Thanksgiving from 11 -5pm and during the week while we are there working. We'll have cookies and you can see first hand how good they look on my new black and white plates.

Friday at the "Flea"

2009-11-06T09:11:00.001-08:00

Technically what we attended today is called Brocante de Antiquites. It
Is the massive 10 day antique faire held in Paris every November. I
feel so happy we were here for it. It flanks both sides of the canal
near the Bastille. You can find everything from old egg cups to Louis
XIV divan chairs, plastic cupids to marble busts of laughing French
maidens.
The food is in a league of it's own. Booths are scattered through out
where you can taste wine, eat oysters, sample sausage. There is a
stall that serves the most delicious vin chaud brewed in huge copper
vats on a small gas stove.
We ate in a beautiful little tent that was serving wonderful food on
china plates with real silver and glassware and ofcourse quantities of
good red wine.
My beloved Alameda Flea can never live up to this.

Patterns

2009-10-29T22:18:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we wandered in Paris with my daughter Susannah and her
husband Yadir. It was the perfect Paris day. If I had one complaint
it would be that for some reason there are tons of tourists
around.... Isn't this supposed to be "off season"? Go home people we
want this beautiful place to ourselves!

One of the spots we visited was Notre Dame. Even with hordes of folks
milling about, it never ceases to dazzle me. It looked like they are
about half way through cleaning the frescos in the back nitches and I
could actually see all the intricate patterns that cover the walls. I
remember it as being quite dark and spooky back there. Yesterday it
was bright and beautiful with details and gorgeous color.The picture
above is one tiny corner.

Cemetary Ceramics

2009-10-26T23:10:00.001-07:00

OK I'm a bit eccentric but I really love visiting cemetaries. On
Sunday we walked to the little one in Lourmarin.
to pay our respects to Albert Camus, who is burried there. On many of
the graves were bouguets of wonderful ceramic flowers like the violets
pictured above. There were also small oval ceramic plaques on many of
the graves with images of the deceased.
Whoever chose the photos certainly wasn't thinking of glaming up the
memory of the dead. These were a most earthy bunch of folks. Almost
all of them looked like rather bad passport photos, hardly a smile,
lick of make-up or tweesed eyebrow in the whole bunch. Come on people
- just because you're dead doesn't mean you can't be remembered lookin
good!
Hope you have a Happy Halloween!

Friday- Lourmarin Market Day

2009-10-23T05:29:00.001-07:00

Today is Friday and that means market day in Lourmarin. We've been
visiting many of the local markets of Provence-some have been a bust.
Chateau Neuf for example had only one vegetable stand, a rotessiere
chicken truck and a dude selling mattresses. Viason la Romaine was
huge and had everthing from cheese vendors to underwear salesmen.
Lourmarin, the village we have landed in is tiny and doll like. It
has great cafes and pretty little shops. You can easily walk the whole
town in an hour including stopping for a drink and shopping for
dinner. I love it here.
I didn't know what to expect of the "big" Friday market but it was
SUPURB. Because it is "off season" it wasn't the mob scene of my
other favorite market L'Isle sur la Sorgue(Sundays). The vendors said
the market is much smaller now than it is in the summer but we were
able to actually talk to people (kind of /sort of because my French is
more than limited). I met a wonderful potter. Her stuff reminded me
of home. It was so playful and special. She has no Internet - laughed
when I asked- but if you're ever here look her up : Helene Paris, Rue
de la Chapelle des filles, 84160 Cucuron.

Clean Feet

2009-10-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

These beautiful Roman jugs
were at the city museum across from the HUGE ancient threater in
Orange. They were so perfectly preserved.What impressed me most was
the trimming on the feet - so perfect, precise and dainty with the
tiniest little turn up at the edge.

Being in the restored theater, that could hold 10,000 theater loving
(sometimes porno loving.... Yup... Something I didn't know, maybe
didn't need to know!) made me feel like a speck...a little bit of dust
in the air of time.

Seeing those beautiful ancient everyday pots made
me REALLY want to take the time to finish my bottoms and feet better.

Travelog from Caianne FR

2009-10-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

We arrived after a few unexpected transfers and many hours in the
air. John bravely commandeered our rented hybrid Citroen down tiny
country lanes with two lane traffic, around many traffic circles.
People are very serious about getting to their destinations fast
around here. I close my eyes and try to breath normally.. Right....
We did find our beautiful little apartment perched high up on a hill
in the Vaucluse over looking the Cotes du Rhone wine growing area.
Tres gorgeous and reminds me very much of the Napa Valley.
Today we are off to hike in the Dentelles mountains and maybe ( just
maybe) stop in at a winery or two or three.
(the pic above shows how inspired I am by rae -raedunn.blogspot.com- to use my sketchbook.
You can see sketches from her travel notebooks every Friday. Thanks, claymate!)

One more test

2009-10-06T08:11:00.001-07:00

Just to make sure.
OH, This is SOOOOO cool.
Next post will be from France, I promise.

Works Like A Charm

2009-10-06T08:04:00.001-07:00

This is a test to see if I can blog on my iPhone.
IT WORKED.....iPhone and Andre I LOVE you.

A Question

2009-10-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

Next Thursday John and I leave for a five week adventure in France. I am so excited. We've been planning this trip forever and I just can't wait. Photos attached are from a trip we look 3 years ago.

I am wondering if any of you out there in the blog world knows how you can download the photos taken on an i phone to the blogspot blog. Is there a trick to it or an app available? I would love to be able to blog about my travels but I'm not taking my computer. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Mastering Mishima

2009-09-28T08:12:00.001-07:00

I finally got some of the pieces I made at Christa's workshop I took this summer finished. I took the hammer to a couple as the glazes were just plain awful but this one came out pretty well...I think. I was inspired by many, many things in this workshop but the one I am using the most in my work is the mishima technique that decorates this saki set. I have gone crazy with it in my new work. The results I'll post when I get the work out of the kiln (if the hammer doesn't get them first).

There are 100 pottery blogs out there

2009-09-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received notification that Josie Goes To Pot is one of the top 100 pottery blogs. This honor is given by the Daily Reviewer. I have never heard of the Daily Reviewer but they didn't want any money so I am accepting this award and would like to "thank my mother, husband, agent and the academy"....
The best part about it is I didn't know there were 100 pottery blogs out there. Now I have many morning's worth of reading ahead of me. Thanks Daily Reviewer.

Top pottery Blogs

Old School

2009-09-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

Several years ago (and I am talking SEVERAL) I got hopelessly addicted to my kid's Game Boy game Tetris. I eventually got my very own little gray box and would keep it by my bed - switching on the eerie, vaguely Russian music and trying to lock in the fuzzy yellowish geometric forms before I even had my morning tea. My justification for being obsessed was that it would prevent Alzheimer's. Some how I overcame my addition and lost the box which was immensely freeing. Last week my daughter FOUND The Game Boy...UGH...and the batteries were still working. So guess what I am doing this morning after I write this? Maybe I'm loosing my buttons.

Speaking of buttons...Now that I am slab building I have been making buttons as I wait for my slabs get to be the right dryness to manipulate. Buttons are so fun to make and instant gratification. I make them on one day and leave them overnight to dry. I under glaze them and single fire them the next. I paint the background cards and sew the buttons on the next while watching whatever horrible thing I can find on TV at night. A 3 day pottery project start to finish.

On a Clear Day...

2009-08-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

Back to work in the Berkeley studio.

Waxing, glazing, waxing, glazing, UN GLAZING. Duncan discontinued my favorite clear glaze, Diamond Clear, I think because it had a teeny, tiny hint of lead...the nerve. I got my summer's work glazed and THEN decided I better TEST the new glaze before I loaded all the work in the kiln. The glaze Duncan is marketing as Diamond Clear's replacement crazed like crazy as you can see above. Of course that could be because it's an 05 /06 glaze and I fire to 5 but still the old stuff was a perfect fit and it also was a cone 05 glaze. It's CLEAR for god sake....it's hard to think of a glaze that could possibly be easier. If I wasn't such a lazy person I would make my own. Anybody have a fool proof recipe they want to share?

It's so lovely to be back at fourth & clay. I so missed the companionship of Christa and rae not to mention our wonderful happy hour. I have rediscovered the joy of vodka at four o'clock. AHHHH....Vodka after a day of being crazed over crazing and getting the giggles with my girlfriends...what could be better?

Leaf and Twig

2009-08-05T06:44:00.001-07:00

Last week Sharon Virtue and I took Christa's workshop at Sierra Nevada College. Man, what a great teacher she is. The challenge for me was how to learn her wonderful industrial forms, based on antique irons and machine parts and somehow translate them into my wonky, organic style. Here are a few pics of my bisque interpretations of Christa's iron teapot and corrugated handled pitcher .

twig tea pot

leaf and stick handled pitcher

Invasion of the Pottery Posse

2009-08-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

This past weekend in Tahoe we had a "Bay Area Pottery Posse (plus significant others)" weekend. This included: Christa Assad, Sharon Virtue (and Jack), Whitney Smith (and Andrew), Diana Fayt, John and me. WOW...not a lot of pottery was discussed because we were too busy eating biscuits,waffles and cookies, BBQ-ing lamb, sausages and 'smores, drinking gin and tonics and beer, hiking on the Tahoe Rim Trail, swimming at Dog Beach and Sugar Pine Point, hot tubing and story telling. A wonderful time was had by all (but we missed our rae and Johnny). It's now so quiet up here I don't know what to do with myself except wash all the sheets and towels and get ready for my daughter Molly (coming from Brooklyn) who arrives today. YEAH a summer filled with family and friends - what could be better.

I stole these photos off Diana's Facebook page...I hope you don't mind Diana but I was too busy drinking to remember to snap photos.

Musing

2009-07-26T07:31:00.001-07:00

It's been 2 weeks since I returned to the mountains from the Bay Area after the ACGA show. The muse did not return with me. I have been avoiding the studio. I get down there , ditz around for an hour or two and find some excuse to leave. This is not like me, usually I can't wait to goof around in the mud. For now I am figuring the lightening bolt of inspiration is going to come down and strike me some time soon....I hope.

I think, actually, help for my potter's block is on it's way up the mountain this very minute. Next week my friend and fellow clay maker Sharon Virtue and I are taking a workshop at Sierra Nevada College from my studio mate, Christa Assad . I know that if anybody can kick my clay inertia in the butt it's going to be Christa.

Though I haven't been inspired to produce much work these past weeks I have been inspired by my surroundings. John, Harry (the dog) and I have been off exploring the Tahoe Rim Trail. Yesterday we took a 3 hour hike to Paige Meadows.....FLOWERS...oh, my god. The beautiful book pictured, along with being shoulder high in the flowers it illustrates, is shaping my thoughts, if not my fingers.

Drink Don't Whine

2009-07-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

The ACGA Show - Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival - is over...phew. It was a great, fun gathering and I loved hanging with my clay mates, family and the happy supportive shoppers but... What a BUTT LOAD of work! Forgive me for a small whine. I sold some good pieces (not as many as I had hoped but "in this economy"....) and a lot of little green peas. I will be there again next year but for the next couple of days my fingers will not long to squish in soft wet clay. Tomorrow ...I'm back to the quiet of the mountains and maybe I'll venture into the studio after a long hike in the woods and a chilly swim in the lake.

Absolutely Fabulous

2009-07-10T06:48:00.000-07:00

I'm ready. My boxes are packed, the kilns have cooled. I have to sew some little curtains for my booth this morning, put the dogs in the swanky dog hotel then John and I are off to set up for the Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival.

What a week...It reminded me of finals week in college - late nights, drinking, smoking, eating, working. On Wednesday night Christa, rae and I had all 3 of our kilns cranked up and it was blistering hot at fourth & clay. I was afraid the paint on the wall was going to melt off. This was the first real test of our expensive electrical system. It was designed so that 4 kilns could be turned on at the same moment and fired successfully. We did stagger our start times, just to be safe. YAHOO,it worked...when does that ever happen?

I have tons of new work including these new "Pattern Bowls". These are the result of the decal workshop with Richard Shaw I took 2 weeks ago. I think I've finally succeeded in combining the past with the present and I'm pretty happy with the results. The joke with my potter friends is that I change direction with my work every week but.... to misquote Ab Fab..."this is the one, Darling"..... at least until next week.

Down by the Bay

2009-07-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

I'm out of the mountains and back to civilization for a week. I'm getting ready for the ACGA Show this weekend. My kiln is cooking up a storm. I have tons of new work so if you're in the area please drop by for a look.

Sweet Tweet

2009-06-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or does the word "TWEET" make you giggle when you hear it being spoken by very serious men talking about their uber serious communications? Who ever dreamed up that name had a great sense of humor.

Here in the mountains my head is filled with real bird songs and gorgeous wild flowers. I am getting ready for the Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival, held at the Art Center July 11 & 12. Here are a few of the pieces I've been working on. Can you feel the influence? These bird vases and flower/cake pieces are drying...quickly please. Now all I have to do is get these suckers fired and glazed and get back down to the Bay Area for the festivities. I'll be in booth #58. Come by and give me a TWEET.

Summer Begins

2009-06-17T06:47:00.000-07:00

We have begun our annual summer in the mountains. It is SO beautiful up here. The sky is a blue so deep it feels like you could go swimming in it. Last night we saw our first bear - a rather mangy one - grazing on somebody's poorly stowed garbage.

John and I have started this summer by taking a workshop at Sierra Nevada College with the amazing Richard Shaw(pictured here with his wonderful wife Martha). We are learning plaster casting and decal/silk screen making. So much information, so much fun. Why did I want to cast baby doll arms? Beats me... All those damn fingers are a total pain especially when I am told I can easily buy the mold. What am I going to do with baby arms IF I can remove them from the mold once cast? I have no idea...maybe make tattoo decals and decorate them appropriately... a tasteful MOM might look great.

From Flat to Round

2009-06-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

Last summer I took a workshop with the phenomenal Sam Chung. He uses flat patterns to create ceramic forms that are very beautiful and very complex. It has taken me a year to figure out how to apply this information in my work. I love the idea of taking one more element from my former career in clothing design and applying it to my new career in clay.

This new vase form is very simple and I am excited about the possibilities. The stripes are inlaid black clay (the below photo is the piece fresh out of the bisque so no glaze yet). I am loving pairing the stripped down vase form with the black and white surface patterns. I have done this style in big dots, little dots, squiggles, lines, birds, taller/skinner, shorter/fatter. They look great in groups...can you tell I'm going a little nutz? The best part of this whole process is that I don't engage in my least favorite part of the ceramic process...the dreaded glazing. I simply dip in clear and fire....YES!

Show Time

2009-06-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

I can stop holding my breath....It looks like all my pieces arrived safely. Here's a video taken at the Bay Area Pottery Posse's Mudfire Gallery show. I am proud and honored to be part of such a great group of tallented, beautiful, funny, hard working ladies. A huge thanks to Diana, Eric and Lube from MudFire for putting this together:

Hoping for a Happy Landing

2009-05-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

This Blue Bird vase was shipped to the MudFire Gallery for a show of Clay Moders curated by Diana Fayt. Thanks Diana for putting this show together.

This is the first time I have shipped more than a piece or two and I wait now to find out if it arrived safely. Shipping these 10 pieces was yet another lesson in Pottery 101 and I'm not sure I passed this class. I ended up paying an astronomical amount as I shipped my large double boxed package via UPS. Both rae and Christa, my much more savvy studio mates, shipped via Fed-X. They also shipped in more than one package. Their shipping costs for essentially the same amount of product were about two thirds less than what I paid. Now I wait with my breath held hoping all my pieces arrived unbroken. Did I use enough bubble and peanuts? Did UPS use my box as a step ladder or a football? The shipment is due in Decatur today. Suspense.....

Jean On Jean

2009-05-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Jean On Jean (Molly Schnick) is coming to San Francisco. She is playing one solo show. I can't wait. Did I mention she's my daughter? Hope you can join me....

Jean on Jean Show in San Francisco
Solo at The Knockout
3223 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-6994

Tuesday, May 26th
10 pm

Are We Having Fun Yet?

2009-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Man, I hate GLAZING. I know, I know you've heard this before. Why is it so hard, so unpredictable? I just read rae's blog this morning and I am inspired to follow her thread. We both had rather disastrous glaze firings this week, the kind that make you scream. The kiln gods at fourth & clay weren't happy. We were preparing work for a show in Decatur Georgia at MudFire Gallery. Our pieces had to be shipped ASAP. My interior glaze on some essential cups crawled,a problem I had last firing as well. What kind of idiot would use the same defective glaze twice?...Ah, that would be ME! Time to throw that glaze bucket away and start fresh. I find the whole process so frustrating. I love the "making "process but the glazing sucks the life out of me. I HAVE to find a way to make this easier...maybe even fun ???? Is this a possibility??? Does any one have FUN glazing?
Glaze hating is part of the reason I have begun the new series of pieces that are done with inlaid clay. For now I am using Cassis Black Clay with Come 5 B-Mix with grog. It's a really direct way to explore surface patterns as well as pattern making on flat slabs. SO FAR what goes in the kiln is what comes out of the kiln - no surprises. I should be breathing a sigh of relief. However I don't think I'm ready to throw in the towel completely with glazing the thrown and altered pieces. I'm kind of on a Marie Antoinette/"Let them eat cake" roll these days. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

Feats of Clay

2009-05-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

My husband John got a sculpture accepted into Feats of Clay. I had never been to this show before even though it's been held for 21 years and is only about an hour and a half from Berkeley. It was a thrill he got in...over 1,000 entries and only 75 pieces were accepted. So of course we put on our most artsy outfits and boogied up the road - at least 30 strip malls from Berkeley- for the opening.
The show, juried by Tony Marsh, was incredible but what was even better was the huge building the show was held in. Gladding McBean takes up half the town of Lincoln CA.It has been there since the 1800's and besides making gigantic sewer pipes has produced architectural ornaments for buildings built from then to now. The building the show was held in housed multiple bee hive kilns some of them firing, one of them housing part of the show. John's piece was in the third floor gallery. This floor was a treasure chest the old plaster molds. There was everything from Dante's head to Alice in Wonderland, from a HUGE eagle to glaring gargoyles. There were miles of these molds...boy, did I want to start digging, flea market style for the perfect piece. Here are some photos but they don't entirely capture the magic of the place. If you have a chance go see this show - we're going back for a second look soon. What I really wish is that I could figure out a way to steal a couple of those old molds....Do you think they would be missed?
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Kiln Goddess

2009-04-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

I've been finishing up a big batch of new work, preparing for fourth & clay's annual Spring Sale. This is the only time of the year that I sell seconds and old stuff that I'm sick of but I also offer first quality work. I have been working on a series of pots that have ropes and roses . I had high hopes that when I opened the glaze firing that these pieces would be beautiful. I had used glazes that I knew well and thought I had down pat....right...think again! The outsides of the pieces were beautiful. The matt white glaze was smooth and clean, the peach roses and shiny green leaves were without problems. However, the inside glaze, which is usually a no brainer,had crawled in lines and pocks. UGH...I was going to have to offer them all as seconds - even as seconds they were pretty UGLY.
Whitney Smith to the rescue. As usual the girl had a solution. Heat the pieces to 100 degrees apply more glaze and re-fire to the same cone (5). IT WORKED....no more crawling my dismal seconds are now perfect firsts. How often does that happen? A MIRACLE!
If you're in the area please join us this weekend and see what great stuff we have for sale

Open

2009-04-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited....yesterday I opened my Etsy shop. I was encouraged to do so by my wonderful claymate, rae dunn. She has been selling sucesssfully on Etsy for years. She said it would be EEEASY.
Because my last name is impossible to remember I named it - Josie's Pot Shop. I must admit I have been a little scared to do this. It really feels like diving into the unknown. I have been crazy free with my work, doing exactly what I want when I want...a spoiled brat of a potter. The idea of having a shop that is open 24/7 is a bit daunting and exciting. I wouldn't say it was eeeasy... There was much to figure out. As rae was out of town, I called my pottery buddy, old Etsy hand, Whitney Smith mutiple times to find out which button to push, which policy to put in place. I went to bed at about 2 am my head spinning. I guess I'll know if it works when I make my first sale...wish me luck!
In the meantime here are some photos of new work that just came out of the kiln. These little pickle bowls are made flat, inlaid with black clay ,folded up and "stitched". They are the perfect size for playing 3 Shells and a Pea.All you'll need is a cardboard box and a pea... and you can find them here...even the pea!

Inspired Shopping

2009-04-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday was the monthly Alameda Antiques Faire ...better known as the "flea". It was a beautiful sunny day and there were thousands of eager flea market shoppers strolling, getting tan and eating kettle corn. Amongst the stalls selling old eye glasses, "French" cake stands and photos of gray haired old grannies in hats I found this amazing booth selling relics from an ancient Italian church that had fallen down. The interior frescos were displayed irreverently on card tables but their inner beauty just glowed. The flowers and the drapery on this piece evoke some of the new work I am trying to do and will hopefully get glazed fired this week. I wish we could have afforded to purchase this beautiful bit of history (a deal at $900.) but I will just have to conjure it up in my memory when I'm making my next batch of rose pieces.

A Piece of Cake

2009-04-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

What can you say about a day that starts with cake and ends with cake...FABULOUS.....

Being Inspired While Eating Tofu

2009-03-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

I am back from a week in Mexico where I was pampered at Rancho La Puerta in preparation for my up and coming BIG (we're talking HUGE... a LOT of years) birthday....UGH. This one is pretty scary.
While eating in the Ranch's pretty dining room John looked closely at the window casements and was struck by how much their shape reminded him of Andrew Martin's pieces.

My eyes wandered to the massive Trees of Life that flanked the door way. I was struck by the wonderful obsessiveness of these pieces. You can find Trees that celebrate all aspects of Mexican culture from Day of the Dead to one we saw in town that was a tribute to the pottery of the different areas of Mexico. If I thought I was obsessive in making my rose pieces I have a really long way to go to match the details found in these Trees of Life.

A Case of ADD

2009-03-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

I seem to be unable to settle into one style of working and stick to it. I see something that inspires me and SHAZAM I am off doing something completely different. My work is beginning to look like a schizophrenic did it. At the very least I think you can say I have a well developed case of ADD. Try putting a show together when the work looks so diverse. I can't seem to help myself though. I just get swept away. There is so much to learn, so many, many ways to manipulate the clay.

These days I am enthralled with inlaying colored clay on flat slabs and handbuilding. It really combines my love of textile print patterns with my dress making/flat pattern making skills. What a gas to roll out a slab, cut a pattern and fold it all up, giving it wonky dimension. How totally different in feel than using thrown forms as a base and building from there - which I still love doing....

The photos attached are the 2 directions I am pursuing THIS week. These are bisque pieces waiting to be glazed. The inlayed clay will fire black.

Maybe if I settled down and concentrated on developing one style I'd get somewhere but I think I'd be afraid I'd be missing something.

Photos

2009-02-17T14:05:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I had some professional photos taken of pieces that I wanted to submit to the newest Lark Publication- 500 Vases. I have lights and a pretty good camera at my studio and usually take photos of my work myself. I know that they are not nearly the quality I would get if I hired a professional. I also know that the money involved in professional photos is astronomical and not an option most of the time. To get into 500 Vases the real deal was needed, so I called my friend Jean Michel Addor and spent a fun day in his studio watching my work come alive. I think it's interesting to see a photo I took of the same piece next to the one taken by Jean Michel. It is easy to understand how much a guy who knows what he's doing can truly enhance a piece. It makes a world of difference.

It was difficult trying to pick 3 pieces to submit for consideration. Should I go with what I'm better known for? Should the 3 pieces make a cohesive statement or should I submit 3 totally different looks and hope that maybe one would be what they were looking for. In the end that's what I did. We'll see....

Jean Michel's finished photo

My feeble attempt

Generous

2009-02-08T15:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's Andrew Martin workshop at fourth & clay was memorable. We had 17 people show up. One of the participants was Renee Margocee - The Pondering Potter. She came all the way from West Virginia. It was so great to meet her. You can read about the Plaster Disaster on the fourth & clay website. What struck me most, though, was how much information Andrew gave out from 9:30 - 5. What is it about potters that makes them so generous with sharing their skills and ideas? It really overwhelmes me.
Will I try casting? I'm thinking about it. Andrew's workshop made it look pretty do-able though unbelievably messy. As the workshop progressed there was a little plastic chicken statue staring directly at me. I kept thinking how great would that be to cast? I don't know, stay tuned....

(Photo above is a casting of my favorite textile stamp. I stamped it in reapeat on a large stab. Andrew cast it using 4 boards as dams...so easy. Now I have one BIG stamp.)

Workshop

2009-01-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading this blog for awhile you know that I am a bit of a workshop whore. I take many classes looking for some new snippet of information that might be lacking in my non-formal clay education. I have taken classes as far away as Italy and it has been an absolute gas learning from my clay heroes and getting to travel too.

However I have come up with a new solution for my quest for clay knowledge:
Offer a workshop by someone I want to learn from at Christa, rae and my beautiful, big, Berkeley studio, fourth & clay. That way I can learn and I don't even have to leave the studio...pretty cool huh?

Here's information on fourth & clay's first workshop. Andrew Martin is a world renowned teacher, author and wonderful potter. There is still plenty of room available so please come join us - I think it will be great fun:

Mold Making and Slip Casting with Andrew Martin
Andrew will discuss how his work evolved, demonstrate his unique method of developing forms using paper cut outs, cast numerous forms and show slides.
He'll also sign his book - Guide to Mold Making and Slip Casting

Feb,7.2009
9:30 - 5
fourth & clay
2390 4th St (@Channing Way)
Berkeley, CA
$60 or $50 with student id

Call Josie 510 848 2390 to register

Evolution

2009-01-10T06:48:00.000-08:00

Some photos of work I made before the holidays. I'm playing with pattern and glaze, wanting the runny, shiny glazes to play off the dry, stationary under glazes. I am wanting the patterns to fill the form, run off and continue on into the atmosphere. I used to do this style of work when I first started potting. I used underglazes on leather hard clay and carved around the mostly botanical images. I stopped working this way when I started exploring the magic and madness of glazes and wanted more movement in my work. This came about after I took a workshop with Julia Galloway many years ago. She commented that she thought I was a very intelligent woman but my work didn't reflect this. What a difference that remark made. It made me think hard about what I was trying to do and where I wanted to go with my work. Rather than just wanting to crank out pretty work I began to dig deeper and wrestle with my influences, what was going on inside my head rather than what I could just achieve on the surface of my work. I am not sure I am always or ever successful in translating these thoughts but it keeps my mind spinning in ever changing directions. Anyway here is the old direction sneaking into my work. Hopefully a bit more evolved than it used to be.

2008 - Out the Window

2009-01-02T08:17:00.001-08:00

The brilliant Ms Whitney Smith organized a pottery Smash-Up on New Year's Day. Whitney, Diana, rae, Sara, Sara, John and I threw our uglies out of Whitney's second story window on to the street. YEAH! Just check out the piles of beautiful shards. I feel lighter, brighter and ready to start making new pots. Hopefully I'll have less problem pieces to throw next year. What a satisfying way to begin the new year.

Here is a photo of how John and I spent the rest of New Year's Day...

Hapyy New Year!

Meanwhile

2008-12-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

While we wait for the year to change and dream of new hope, happiness and maybe even peace.....here is a little video of Hairy Potter and Kitty at the dog park on a recent frosty morning.....

2008-12-19T06:11:00.000-08:00

Peas on Earth
Good Will Toward All Men.

Happy Holidays all you bloggers and readers out there out there.