Tuesday, March 11, 2008

SHOW ACCEPTANCE

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yesterday i received notification that i have had work accepted in two national level shows. the oval baker above was selected to be part of the 16th STRICTLY FUNCTIONAL POTTERY NATIONAL which will be on exhibit at the Wayne Art Center May 27 - June 27. http://www.wayneart.org/ the entire show will then be online at:




and this teapot will be part of INFUSION 10x10 at Craft Alliance Gallery in St.Louis May 2- May 22. http://www.craftalliance.org/





Saturday, March 1, 2008

NEW GALLERY

Charlie and Sherry Blim, the generous folks behind VASEFINDER www.vasefinder.com

have given me gallery space on their website. You can find it under POTTERS GALLERIES.


thank you Charlie and Sherry

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Winter


with the holidays over and Winter descending ( 50 degrees here this week in N.H. - go figure ) we have decided to close the studio and not spend the money on propane to heat it. we are in rental space now, but when we build our future studio, i plan on having a Kachelofen, a type of wood burning tiled stove providing radiant heat. the Dec. '07 issue of Ceramics Monthly ran an article about them and a ceramic artist in Canada who learned how to build them in Europe. see http://www.stonehousepottery.com/ they are quite beautiful structures in themselves and one in a living situation would also be ideal.

here is what Mark Twain said of them in 1891

" the German stove - Kachelofen - is by long odds the best stove and the most convenient and economical that has yet been invented. one firing is enough for the day; the cost is next to nothing; the heat produced is the same all day, instead of too hot and too cold by turns; one may absorb himself in his business in peace; he does not need to feel any anxieties of solicitudes about the fire; his whole day is a realized dream of bodily comfort.
the American wood stove, of whatsoever breed, it is a terror. there can be no tranquility of mind where it is. it requires more attention than a baby. it has to be fed every little while, it has to be watched all the time; and for all reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half. it warms no part of the room but it's own part; it breeds headaches and suffocation, and makes one's skin feel dry and feverish; and, when your wood bill comes in, you think you have been supporting a volcano. "
from " Some National Stupidities, " from
Europe and Elsewhere, Harper & Brothers, 1923

because of the complex flue structure lined with a lot of thermal mass, Kachelofens are able to radiate constant, even heat for 12 - 24 hours. the small, high temperature fire of a Kachelofen burns at 99% efficiency, which surpasses modern gas or oil heating systems in emission tests. Kachelofens can be created to heat one or more rooms, installed with an oven and/or stove for cooking, designed to heat some of the home's/studio water, or used in conjunction with solar panels.
a big investment, but one worth the efficiency and aesthetics.




and remember - what would Scooby Doo?
have a good Winter. i will post as i find things that pique my interest. i've begun thinking about what work i will do when i get back in the studio in the Spring, sketching and buying tools ( a weakness ).
adios amoebas ~

Monday, November 12, 2007

KITCHEN FUN

while getting dinner going tonight we noticed how light played through a measuring cup and made an interesting image. the counter was cleared and the camera fetched ........

only one image was doctored other than sharpening. this counts as " other things ".

















Sunday, November 11, 2007

WOODFIRING

this is a picture of Michele and the N.H. Potters Guild kiln. it is designed to be fired with propane or wood. Michele and i took part in a Guild woodfiring last weekend, Nov. 3-4, one of several firings a year that include anyone from the Guild who is interested in taking part. our shift was on Sat. night from 7 p.m. until the wee hours of Sun. morning. since we live about 3 miles from the kiln location we went back and volunteered some more time Sun. afternoon. the kiln was unloaded yesterday and we all got some nice work. the firing went until 1:30 a.m. on Mon. the 5th. and reached cone 11 at least. i will get some pictures taken but in the meantime thought i would post some pictures of pots that have been fired in this kiln previously.



four mugs


ice cream mugs


bowl - about 6" diameter



triangle vase
this vase was included in the Vasefinder Nationals 2007






pedestal fruit compote


these pieces are still available for purchase. please inquire about prices/shipping.

jzpots@metrocast.net

603-942-7113






Sunday, October 28, 2007

MORE NEW WORK

here is some more new work from the last two firings.
square bowl


two small caseroles




drinking bowl






8" serving plate - thrown with cut rim


two more coverred mugs










and a fruit bowl/compote

the wood firing is on for next week with the loading beginning mid week. Michele and i are looking forward to a night under the stars feeding wood into the firebox.








Friday, October 26, 2007

NEW WORK

it's been a while since i have posted images of new work. these pots come from the two most recent firings - in Sept. and just last Sat., Oct 20th.
first up is a drinking bowl. i've started refering to these pieces that way since watching a video of Pete Pinnell talking about cups. the glaze is a Binns rutile with some cobalt carb. and chrome oxide added. dusting with wood ash when the glaze is wet brings out the turquoise color. i'm always striving to introduce that color in my work.

if i have a signiture piece it is this covered mug. again, it is the Binns rutile glaze on white stoneware with temmoku inside and overlapping on the top part of the mug.

these are two small teapots. they are sitting on a 9" firebrick so you can get an idea of their small size. i made them to enter in a small teapot show. i think the title of the image should be
" T41x2 " tea for one x2 ...................


........... and an oval teapot. i made two of these - similar, but different proportions - also with the thought of entering them in a teapot show.




a pitcher with a glaze combination of sprayed blue ash glaze, covered with a dip in
my " wheat " glaze. with dots of orange in between. there is just a little copper in the wheat to give it the color and just a little wood ash as well. this pitcher is white stoneware and i find this combination works better on it than more iron bearing clay.



a 1.5 quart casserole. i've had this glaze for years and haven't known what to do with it. it is a fritted glaze that, originally, was teal. i took out the coloring oxides and added my own combination of cobalt and copper. the handle is dipped in Temmoku, as is the inside. and just a bit of wood ash dusted on the lid. on white stoneware. i'm happy with the way the glaze highlights the decoration which was done with a broken bit of seashell and some stamps i made just after trimming.





and a large 2 -4 quart casserole with the blue ash/wheat glaze.







.......... and another 2 - 3 quarter with my most popular glaze combination.
i have set up a PayPal account to handle online sales. please contact me if you are interested in any of these pieces.
603-942-7113







piggy bank

piggy bank

wood fired bowl

wood fired bowl

wood fired sake cups

wood fired sake cups

About Me

My photo
Northwood, N.H., United States
I am a potter and musician, and in general a very curious type. My passions include my gal, Michele ( ma belle ),clay and music.