Open Studio Weekend

The Final Countdown

The count down has begun.  Artists across the state have been working hard and earnestly creating in anticipation of the weekend that kicks off the season for many of us.  The Vermont Crafts Council has done a fabulous job as always getting materials ready for the big Open Studio Weekend.  If you haven't picked up a map you can find one online at http://www.vermontcrafts.com/OSW/maps-directions.html  I can not say enough great things about this event.  Visiting an artists studio, watching them in action and just talking face to face will you give you a much deeper experience into the art and the life of the artist.  There are many new artists this year participating in the Mad River Valley and it should be a wonderful weekend for a joyride from studio to studio.

Glazing and Loading

For many of you who follow my work you know that surface is a large part of my process.  My pottery is highly decorated and patterned much of which I do in the glaze process.  I am pleased to announce that this year I get to share some of that process with you during Open Studio.  For the past decade I have been transporting bisque work to my salt kiln which is in another location.  Many times visitors are curious about this process and I do my best to explain it with photos and descriptions but seeing is believing, or rather a better learning experience.  I will be busy glazing up a new body of work for the recently built propane reduction kiln so this is a unique opportunity to see some wax resit, glaze trailing and patterning techniques that have become a signature in my work.

I hope to see you next weekend or Saturdays at the Waitsfield Farmers Market.  Here's to a great season!

BURNERS!!

Well its finally coming together! This kiln has been long awaited sitting patiently as piles of bricks in the corners and under the tables in the studio.  The idea for a reduction kiln was inspired when I tore down the kiln at Warren Village Pottery several years ago.  Since then I have been holding the materials and picking away slowing at designing and building the new "recycled" kiln. It has been an amazing process transforming the materials into a new kiln! My husband Andy has been a champion helping me weld the frame and refurbishing new functional burners from old pieces and parts.   I am lucky to have him and his ingenuity on board with this project.

Inspiration in the Studio

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.   -Carl Jung

Of course along with the excitement of a new kiln comes the excitement of a new process!  It has

been a decade since I have fired with reduction glazes and I am excited to be reunited with my old shino, tenmoku and celedon friends.  This has started a frenzy of inspiration in the studio.  Textures have exploded throughout the work anxiously awaiting the glossy pools of glaze goodness to come!  Pattern lovers have no fear because I also have an array of ideas floating in my head for wax shino patterns and have been mixing glazes that promise to carbon trap some beautiful surfaces for pattern development.  

This should be an exciting summer of creativity and play in the studio and I look forward to the months ahead!

The Kiln: A Potters Secret Tool

Building the Arch

I've been taking advantage of this mild Vermont winter and working outside on the new kiln.  Using the recycled bricks I had collected I created the first layer of the arch.  Here's a peek at progress on Woods Road!