Pat Parker's Stoneware Pottery

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Chris Gustin Workshop

Last weekend, Jan 24 and 25, I went to a two day workshop given by the famous potter Chris Gustin. He is world renown, but is the most unassuming and helpful person you will ever meet. I learned so much, my head is buzzing. I am hoping to incorporate some of what I learned, into my next sculptural ceramic journey pieces. We also saw a slideshow and many of his pieces displayed at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, FL I went with a new friend and fellow potter, Beth. We had a weekend to remember ;) Below are a few of Chris Gustin's works and a photo of him at the workshop.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

New Resolution for 2014

New website, http://www.stonewarepottery.net/index.html , new banners on etsy, www.etsy.com/shop /PatsPottery , new banner on this Blog, and a new resolution to post at least once in a while:>)

Been really busy with custom orders, but have found time to work on my new Journey Pieces. They can be seen here: http://www.stonewarepottery.net/sculptural.html . Something in a new direction, and I am very excited about the way they are turning out. Been working with cone 6 stoneware and my electric kiln, but just started back to my college classes at BC and will be using cone 10, in a gas reduction kiln. Will see where that leads me. Here is a preview;

Sunday, December 26, 2010

My Wood Firing Was FANTASTIC!!!

Last week I was able to wood fire the pieces I had been working on with the 25 lb bag of Lambert Wood Fire Clay.
I had thrown and bisque fired a platter, 4 desert plates, a coffee pot with four mugs and a tumbler, a teapot and two tea cups plus a small bowl with the left over clay scraps:>) Waste not, want not!
The first trip to Justin Lambert's pottery studio (Live Oak Pottery) in Jupiter, was to glaze the insides of the pots. The next trip was to spend seven hours feeding wood into the Anagama Kiln. A week later we all met to unload the kiln. What a happy dance I did when I saw my pottery!!
Now I am hooked on the rosy flashing and wonderful effects of the ash on my pots. Do you think my homeowners association would let me build a wood firing kiln on my patio? ♥♥♥

Friday, September 10, 2010

Inspiration, or Trepidation?

Pictured above is a 25 lb bag of Lambert Wood Fire Clay. I picked it up last week, and it has taken over my thoughts and dreams. Should I make a teapot, a vase, mugs, cups, plates or ??? Will anything be good enough, or will it be too perfect and strained? Am I going to be so nervous about this that nothing will be good enough, or once I sit down at the wheel, will my trepidations disappear and the work will flow?

I will start at the beginning. Last year I decided to take a ceramics course at my local college. My professor was Justin Lambert who has a pottery studio in Jupiter, FL (Live Oak Pottery)

All during the semester he talked about how he was re-building his wood fired Anagama Kiln. He captured my imagination and I started reading books on wood firing.

I really wanted to participate in one of his firing workshops, but was not able to do so at that time. Now, a year later, both my eyes have been fixed (cataracts) and I have plunked my money down, and picked up my "dirty porcelain" clay. The firing will be in December, so I have plenty of time to dream, perchance to sleep. And when I wake, perchance to make:>)

Sunday, July 11, 2010

☆:¨★~☆:¨¨:★CHRISTMAS IN JULY~☆:¨¨:★~¨:★

OH what fun, my very own mud team is having a ★CHRISTMAS IN JULY~☆sale!!!

Each shop is promoting it's own sale and we have all been as busy as little elves, playing in the mud and firing all kinds of Christmas goodies. Snowflake plates and gingerbread ornaments, nutcracker pendants and Santa mugs! Just take a look at all the wonderful, hand crafted pottery and be sure to read the shop announcement page for the extra special deals being offered for the month of July.
Please check out all these Etsy Mud Team Shops for Great Deals, exciting new holiday decorations and skilled craftsmanship!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/patspottery

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Life is GOOD!!!

The last five months have been very busy and very productive.

Finished my Ceramics II class at Broward College after 30 cylinders, 10 bowls, 8 vases, 8 bottles, and 5 lidded pieces.
Made a huge bowl for the “Partners in Health”'empty bowls project to help Haiti's victims.

Last week my final project for the semester, was juried into the Broward College Potters Guild Show, 2010 opening in the Fine Arts Gallery,

My Birkenstock, (see photo in previous blog) was not accepted, but an arts professor happened to see it and asked if she could put it in another show:>)

I was very fortunate to be able to go to the NCECA (The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) 3 day Conference in Philadelphia this year. I also attended a two day workshop with Greg Pace. My life has been full of pottery and new experiences.

I have really enjoyed this experience and after taking time to work at my own pace again in my own studio, will probably take some more classes.

Life is GOOD!!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

The End of the Adventure, at least for this semester:>)

The carved bowls and the Winchester Lion come out of the fire, not quite as expected, but OK. There was a mishap in the kiln that splashed red glaze on two of my carved bowls, so now I have a 3 piece set instead of a 5 piece set. The orange slip burned out at the cone 10 firing for Mr. Winchester, but I may try an overglaze on him to see if I can salvage his tawny coat. My other 4 piece bowl set were put in different kilns by someone, so they are color coordinated instead of matched:>) And so the joys of the shared school studio are also the despair! I got an A, which made me very happy. I got a note saying "College not a small business incubator", which made me very unhappy.

We shall see what the next year brings ♥♥♥

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