January 2012

Wow, where has time gone. It has over 2 months since i was on the blog, sorry about that. Since I last posted we have had our Holiday Open House, lot of great pieces found their way out our door. Kiesha had prepared a delicious spread of food, I got leftovers for a few days but I didn't mind. The family Christmas came and went. The kids have been busy with hockey, and so have I as a league manager/supervisor, also was talked into being a tournament director.

The end of the year also meant inventory, ugh!, double ugh!! and I am at a point the taxes information is ready for the accountant, just waiting on the w2s from the w2 jobs.

January is also the time we empty the bank account with show applications, this year we are planning on 7 festivals, 5 we have done before, and two new ones. I can say we will definitely be in Sioux Falls at the Sidewalk Arts in September. Other than that we will wait and see.

On the throwing side, I have not touched clay or the wheel since November. I set it up again last night, but not sure when I will get to play in clay. But I do have a couple custom orders due in February, so I best get going soon.

Pit Firing 11-6-11

Well, we did what is likely the final pit firing of the year this past weekend. We dug a new pit, using a trench style vs our old standard a large circle or square. We only had 25-30 pots to fire so space wasn't a big necessity this time.

Using the trench was an learning experiment, I believe I can accomplish the same firing with less materials, since there was less square footage. I used definitely a lot less wood, I left a good size pile from what we would normally use for the firing. The fire also burned longer and the ash bed was very large and took a long time to dwindle down. I also used a lot less chemicals this time, notice a little less of the copper reds, but it produced a lot more greens.

I also encountered higher wind delays, was planning on firing at 8 am, but ended up waiting until 5:30 pm as the sun was setting. This turned out to be a great experience, not only watching the fire in the dark and easily seeing the different colored flames. I also utilized the coal bed to test colorants and see what they produced. I only wish I had brought more alone.

There are a few photos of the firing on Facebook, it will most likely be a while before I clean and seal the pots. We are planning a foil saggar firing this week, and then it hockey nearly every night and weekend from now through March. Don't worry I still get my shelves filled so I can fire once the snow goes away.

Thanks for reading,
Chad

Stoneware

Recently I did another stoneware(cone 5) firing, mainly to complete some custom orders/special requests. this typically not something I do often, but find myself doing more and more of to increase revenues.

This last firing I continued to play with Amaco Potter Choice glazes, and am really liking the results. Very smooth and easy to apply, and doesn't run. I did play a little with layering the glazes over one of my DPS Standbys and the results were wanting me to play more.

I posted pics of what I call the tri-batter-bowls, basically a bowl distorted in to a triangle shape, has 3 spouts and up to 3 handles. I use a different glaze on each side with overlaps in the spouts. The two are sold. the 3rd was a test piece, but will most likely be out for the Open House in December. Kiesha wants a few more also by the open house. given the feedback on both Facebook and Google+, I just might have to do it. It also in encouraging me to delve back into stoneware. I have been toying with it all year, but I think I need to narrow down my color spectrum 1st.

Until next time, take care. I attached the photo of the tri batter bowls incase you don't follow FB or G+

Winterfest

As promised a little more about Winterfest, our 1st indoor show. It is an annual event in downtown Aberdeen, SD. The lights are dimmed and all exhibitors are required to light their booths. We decided to try this indoor show mainly because of 2 reasons, one it is in a market we have not been in, and two it is during a time when we typically have no shows. Also it seemed less like a flea market, which is one in town that keeps trying to get me to pay the $400 booth fee to join every year.

So the Arts Association behind Winterfest recommended to use a canopy to help reflect light in the booth area, so instead of using our 150-200 pound Craft Hut, we found an inexpensive "easy up" style canopy on clearance for $60, it weighs about 60 pounds and takes considerably less room in the SUV. That was purchase number one.

Also since it is in November in Northern SD, camping or sleeping in the SUV is out of the question, so hotel for two nights. It will be a nice getaway for the weekend.

Then came the task of lighting the booth, we had considered using christmas tree lights, but were concerned about the amount of light actually produced. So I put the question out on various pottery forums I participate in, and it was nearly unamious not to use the christmas lights. The big recommendation was to invest in a track lighting system. I did look at and began to design, but since we are wanting to redesign the entire booth in the next couple years, I went with option "C". Clip on lights. I selected narrow brooding lights and utilizing 50 watt halogen flood and spot lights.

We tested the lighting set up last week on a moonless night, it was very bright and the colors seemed true under the lights. I will definetly take photos of the booth once it is set up and illuminated for future use. Now we are trying to figure out if we want to invest in a portable pattery system to light the booth during the summer shows. We will have to see on that one.

So if you are near Aberdeen the weekend before Thanksgiving, stop by and see us. We leave the light on for you! hahaha

Paint the Night Pink

Paint the Night Pink was last Friday Night, what a great time.  I don't think a whole lot of art is sold, but it is such a great night to mingle and chew the fat with other artists and John Q.  Next on the Horizon is Winterfest, our 1st indoor show. More on that later this week.

Holiday Open house update.

Been distracted lately, or busy not sure which.  With the upcoming Holiday Open House in December we decided we needed to refresh the studio/gallery/basement before too many people saw it.  I mean we have had a few people over to purchase pieces, but it was not pretty with the holes in the walls, dingy lighting. 

Well we started by recycling some old barn siding from my Grandparents barn that was torn down about 20 years ago to give a real rustic feel to the wall separating the kids area and the studio.  Gives it a separate feel.  I got the idea from the recent home builders parade of homes, and it was used in a very high end home that was the feature home this year.

I then put us white masonite on one wall in the studio behind the drying / slab rolling table.  Its not that this wall got that dirty, but there were several holes in the drywall, and this way it will be easy to clean.

In the actual gallery area, we moved all the pieces out, and then the shelving, repaired one wall and covered the others with drywall, so instead of looking at framing studs there will be a wall.  It already looks better, and it is only mudded, no paint yet.  Speaking of paint....found plenty at the reuse store for free!  Once the walls are ready, i'll prime and start painting. and get everyting back to normal.  Since we realized we need more pots for winter.

Our gallery in Bemidji, MN nearly ran out of pieces, so we sent a shipment this week.  I am happy to report for the 1st time everything arrived as it was shipped no breakage.  We switched to Fed Ex, not only less expensive, but higher survival rate.

We do have a shipment ready for Piper Gallery here in Sioux Falls, so be checking there soon for fresh inventory.

saggar firing 9-20-11

This week worked on getting a quick firing for the piece I was planning on using for the Paint the Night Pink event here in Sioux Falls.  The deadline is this Friday.  the 20" platter/low bowl turned out AWESOME, it did exactly what I wanted it to do.  Got it home and washed up with all the others so I could start sealing today so I can photograph it and write an blurb about.  When done today and there was a chip in the rim!  I don't think I did it, and the kids were not in the studio, I blame the cat.  She has been hiding down there a little too much lately.  Anyhow, I have other pieces for the benefit, and Kiesha will get another broken piece for her wall.

Sidewalk Arts

Could not have asked for a more beautiful day for the Sidewalk Arts Festival in our "hometown" of Sioux Falls.  Sales were roughly double last year, had two different sales of mulitple (3) pieces each.  WoW, I believe it was the addition of accepting credit cards.  Thank you Sioux Falls.

The frames tiles did not get touched much, one got petted a couple times, but that was it.  Not nearly the reception they recieved in Luverne two weeks ago. alas back to the crate.

As the weather gets cooler, kids are back in school, getting back to regular sleep schedule, I now find myself with time to play on the wheel again.  Will have roughly 1-2 days per week , plus some odd times here and there.  This week spun 50#, I realize it not much, but that is more then I threw in the month of June, July, and August combined.

Next on the horizon for us is the annual Paint the Night Pink event, which is a benefit for Breast Cancer research, I need to let them know next week what pieces we will have there, we give 50% of the retail price to the cause.  The same day we have the kids raku workshop at our youngests school, which I just spun all the pencil cups they will be firing.

Have no updates on the two winter/indoor shows, but still working on having our holiday open house.  currently scheduled for Dec 10th, but that may change.

popularity of old work

It was very odd last weekend at ArtRocks and I have been thinking about it all week.  The pieces that created the most buzz and got "petted" the most were from a couple years ago.  They were foil saggar'd tiles in wide wood frames I had made from scrap wood.  Even a couple of fellow artisans who see at many festivals over the summer commented on them.  I had these in a box for the last year or more, never even crossed my mind to grab them, but I did for ArtRocks to save space.

I will bring them again next weekend(Sept 10) to Sidewalk Arts, but it was just odd how pieces from a few years back, and didn't go over very well then, made and impact now.  Here is a photo of a group of them.

I remember reading a post on Ceramic Arts Daily from Chris Campbell regarding the sensation of people asking for her old work.  I guess I know what she meant, not that I totally understand it.

Also its that time of year to look at expanding our gallery representation, which is something i've neglected over the past year or so.  We would like to keep within a 4-6 hr radius from Sioux Falls, but may consider elsewhere.  So if you know a gallery looking, or would like to see our work locally where you live, help me make a connection.

ArtRocks

Another year is done, and finished. Wanted to thank all the people behind the festival. The Artist reception was great, I noticed much more advertising this year. Crowds were light, so artists were never overwhelmed in their booths, but there were serious buyers in the crowd.

This year I personally scored a couple great pieces of artwork to adorn my studio walls. (at least when I have walls) One print from Jennifer White, and a couple small canvases from Chris Francis. Speaking of Chris if you are in Sioux Falls this weekend, he has an opening at Eastbank on Friday, His work is fabulous.

As for the update regarding credit cards, less then 20% of the sales from the weekend were on plastic. Doesn't help the Pro credit side.

Two weeks to Sidewalk Arts, and I'm already preparing.