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.

Updates

ARTROCKS in Luverne, MN is a few days away. Not nearly are ready as I'd like to be. Don't worry it will all work out. I realized last week we had thrown away all our shredded paper we pack the piece in for shows since it was sopping wet. My 3 junior assistants did not have time to shred with all the final getting ready for school stuff. Still have not replaced my literature holders, that will be done tonight hopefully during my sons football practice.

Also we are upgrading vehicles, hoping to find one that can haul kids plus hockey bags, or kids plus show booth, is all wheel drive or 4 wheel drive, is not a tin can, and a few other bells and whistle may good. Our 1994 transport, has served its purpose, but it needs to be moved out our mechanic's assisted living program. Once the replacement vehicle is here I will be able to better judge what i need to pack for the show.

Anyway, ARTROCKS is this Saturday, it is a Awesome little show, its our 4th year here. I heard this year is heavy on the pottery, which I enjoy, wondering around and seeing what else is out there. I will be bringing a piece that is near and dear to my heart. I have used the piece for many photos and festival entry forms, but now it time to move it on out. This will be the 1st show it will be out at. Come check it out.

Google +

Was invited to join Google + this last week. I joined. Has some nice features, but I cannot see it ousting facebook or twitter. I am in a couple circles, and basically it is 2 people who fill up my wall. The others that are on it that I know and have circled haven't posted anything.

Does anyone have any experience or feelings toward Google+? I am still surprised by Linkedin and the number of people I know on there and am connecting with, so my feelings on Google + are still in the air.

If you want to find me on google+ we are listed as up in smoke pottery

If you want to find me on Linkedin it is Chad Dykstra.

Holiday Show

It is August, our typical show seasons wraps up in 6 weeks. We have not found a winter/holiday show falls in line with our goals. there is one that is relentlessly badgering us to pay the $300-$400 to partake in theirs. I gone as a customer, I would never make the money back. We are looking at one in a new market, but waiting for a little more, we may do it just to have a show to do.

Which has led us to do our own holiday open house/ open studio. For those of you on FB you are getting this twice since this will post to the FB account as well, but for those in webland, if you'd be so kind to offer your input as to the hours we should be open.

The poll has been up for a couple hours and have gotten great feedback, much different then we expected. And a few great messages/IM/ comments/ emails on the subject.

Thank you in advance for your input.

professional potter?

Last night, I thought occurred to me that I may have met one of my life goals, on a technicality. For about the last 20 years, I have always said I wanted to be a professional potter when I grow up. Thinking back to the definition of professional in terms of athletics, you were considered a professional when someone paid you to do it. Well I have sold pots for over 3 years now, someone is paying me for my work. I guess by definition I am a professional and have met my goal.

The technicality comes in, when I said that goal, i always meant that would be my profession, and I supported my family on that profession. I never stated the goal was to be a self sufficient potter, just a professional potter.

I don't feel like a professional. What does a professional potter feel like? I know I have people come to me for help with their pottery. Our website is doing well, even thought the search engines ignore it, (i'm working on it). I have been taking more and more custom orders for stoneware, a technique I'm don't do regularly.

I know when I was a manager of restaurants, I considered myself a professional and many of the same things applied. Was it that I reported to someone and they told me I was a professional? Or did I just act the role of the professional because of the title?

In my current night/day job the infamous W2, I am regarded as a professional. Once again not sure it is because someone told me I was or the prestige of a title. I do enjoy my W2 job, it is very satisfying knowing you did make a difference or an impact nearly everyday. On the other side, I have found out things and learned things about people I can never forget and somethings are better to be naive about.

I know I now need to amend the goal. It just feels weird to put professional pottery behind my name. I realize by definition I have obtained that right, but not certain if it appropriate yet.

Website

totally rewrote the home page and working on redoing some of the others. The processes page has been changed to an overview of atmospheric firing , the sub page of pit firing has been re written with lots more detail, and more detail to come, the education and contact have been separated. I will add a book list and links as well as a description of each of the work shops.

Anything you'd like to see? let me know.

Anyway, tomorrow is the trip to Omaha with a few platters and our "Sun." I'm withholding pics until after the show opens. For those of you who were in Bemidji, you got to see it's sister piece in our booth, it received several compliments, but the real sun didn't shine long enough for anyone to take our home with them.

Still mentally hashing out studio redesign...do I us money to make the studio pretty, or do i use it to make the antechamber look better for the open house....still have to think on that one.

Whew...

My mind is seriously drained. Over the past 53 hours or so I have built a website, made several modifications, opened an etsy store, and set up payments through paypal, worked W2 in emergency services during a flash thunderstorm/flood where people have no problems driving through flooded streets and upset when their car and belongings cannot/will not be rescue until water subsides, couple structure fires caused by lighting, cars falling into construction holes and man holes were the lid blew off, plus the normal day to day things of being a father and husband. Tonight I have meetings and back to W2.

I did make it into the studio for a short period today, I worked on sealing a couple pieces in tung oil, a new process I'm trying. Also added a google+1 button to the website and began working on making it more search friendly.

My brain is still working the details on a couple new designs, one would be a customizible series and the other new design for my new found, but rarely seen (yet), expression pieces. One will be going to White Crane Gallery in Omaha next week.

Also while sitting sealing pieces i began to rethink the studio layout. I need to think a bit more on that for a while. trying to determine if I should rebuild my drying table for one that has more room, but sacrifice my space for a future slab roller. Definitely need to think on that for a while.

Website

Well, I finally took the plunge and created a website. It is something I have been dragging my feet on for the last couple years. Had some people offer to do it for me($$$), but never came to terms. Anyway a couple weeks ago I stumbled on a potter's website that I liked, (www.goodelephant.com) , Potter does great work, but it was the little button at the bottom of the page that piqued my interest. It was button to design your own website, for free!

I spent about a day researching the site and navigating it, talked with Kiesha, heemed and hawed, etc, etc. We decided to go for it. It was really easy and I was smiling the whole time. I cannot believe I designed a website and did not pull my hair out. Everything was drag and drop, very user friendly. I spent 4-5 hours on day one, and 1-2 hours on day 2. It should have been less but I kept changing my mind on what I wanted, I guess I should have drawn it out first.

Anyway, check out www.upinsmokepottery.com and find your own little button at the bottom of the pages.

And Mea (the good elephant potter), if you are reading this I do really like your work also, it just the button was golden ticket in the chocolate bar.

I feel like a proud Papa!

Its been and interesting past month, I connected with a potter over the internet. He asked lots of questions and needed a little encouragement. He was a capable potter prior to connecting to me, and I know he was asking other potters as well, so It wasn't all me. But he did a foil saggar firing on his own, using the guidance from at least two overseas potters communicating via FB and other methods. I will say he did get some great results. When I saw those photos gave me one of those proud papa moments like a get when my kids do something great. Way to go Gareth.

Bemidji Art in the Park

I know I'm a little late, considering the festival was last weekend, what can I say it has been a crazy week. between the W2 job and kids activities pottery has been on the back burner. I did get an order shipped, does that count?

Anyway, I am now a believer that credit cards help increase sales. We increased sales in Bemidji by 125%, of that 88% was on plastic. We even had people buy multiple pieces! The weather did not cooperate otherwise i believe we would have had even more growth in the sales category.

The weather, what can you do. On Saturday the police ordered the park evacuated due to a thunderstorm, by the time we had battened down the hatches so to speak they gave the all clear saying the storm had broken up. Well it was late enough in the afternoon that people who had left didn't return, but there still some people who ventured out, but the crowds were much lighter.

On Sunday the storm did hit with 90 mins left, at which point the vendors including us, decided to pack up. No last minute sales this time.

Alas, credit cards are good for sales, i know most of you are saying DUH! but I'm set in my ways. We are now exploring the possibility of online sales via paypal. I'll keep you updated