On Being a Nomadic Potter

I can't wait to get into my new studio space! The hard thing about being a potter is finding space to work. Over the years I've taken classes at studios that allow you to work, but you are limited in many ways to thier clay, glazes, schedule and shelf space. I finally got a studio space and started buying equipment only to lose it because the landlord wanted to expand his workspace. For the past few months I've set up a "studio" space in my apartment. My dining table is always covered, I'm constantly cleaning the dust, and I can't fire anything over a few inches in my test kiln. But I'm makin' it work. I look at alot of the "Featured Sellers" on Etsy.com (one of my favorite sections) and see I'm not alone, almost everyone has set up some kind of makeshift studio. I love to see how people have full screen printing studios in their garage, welding equipment in their city apartments, or CNC machines in their parents basements. But there all doin' it, and seem really, really happy!

I guess the vision board works...

A few years ago I found an article on Nancy Bauch of White Forest Pottery in Martha Stewart Magazine. To say I was inspired was an understatement. Her work is sublime and I want one of everything. It is obviously handmade and has the imperfections to show it. But what really hooked me was her lifestyle. I'm not sure if I had already decided to move to the Hudson Valley yet, but I think seeing her studio, her home, her garden, and her great style made me want to have it all. I have lived in so many different places and didn't know if I'd ever find a place where I felt completely at ease. When I saw her lifestyle I realized the Hudson Valley is somewhere I would feel at home, and I do. I guess vision boards really do work because I am in the Hudson Valley, starting my own pottery business, and starting to piece together a studio, the home and garden will have to wait.

They are not really featured on her website but Nancy has a new line of crocheted paperweight rocks and her vessels are at Hammertown in Rhinebeck. They are georgous objects and I hope to get one from Santa.

Hudson Vally Pottery Student Sale

The student sale is coming up at HVP. Opening is December 6th from 11-4. It should be a fun time. I did a quick poster and I think it came out pretty nice.

This week I made some slab porcelain cups. They are super thin and a lot of them separated from their slab bottoms already. I need to experiment with how much slip is needed to make them stick. I also need to dry them slowly. I'll have to do some research on any porcelain tips & tricks. I'm thinking I'll make some more pieces, then do a bisque right after Thanksgiving. Then I will have enough time to do a glaze test kiln before the holiday and another after. At the studio I threw two nice big pasta bowls but one of them has a super thin bottom. I'm trying to correct my s-crack problem and have been over compressing my bottoms. Now that I am throwing decent size bowls I really don't want them to crack.