S.C. Large Pots Workshop 2013

Here are some of the results of my work in the Large Vessel Ceramics Workshop last week. This is a workshop through Santa Cruz Adult School, George Dymesich being our teacher, leader, mentor--and the life force behind the Adult school ceramics for so many years. He has inspired or started so many local and non-local potters on their way into ceramics.

This is my largest pot this year, maybe ever by weight for sure--though might have had one an inch taller before. It started out as a hand thrown base about 15 pounds that I through up to about 18 inches. Then was added to with one inch coils, each well attached and thrown further to form.

The table in the background is tall enough to require stools not chairs, but I didn't take a final measurement and it is still at the studio.

Up next is one of my couple favorites of my work this year. It will be a succulent planter.

It works sort of like a strawberry planter, with plants planted in the side cups/openings. The piece is three cylinders connected for the main body and then two other forms thrown to make the side pockets.

I was also inspired by another potter there to try out some surface decorating and designs and learned a nice way to do starfish... though I did them on a small pot, a bowl planter for succulents.  I'll need to pick some the go with the reef or tide pool theme.

And a lot more planters--large then small with left over clay late in the week...I am doing lots of planters of late.  The first one with a cracked balck surface is dome with black slip put on with the form is tall and narrow.  Then as it is pulled out wider and wider is cracks open showing the clay underneath.

Back to Making Birdhouses

Just coming off a week and change vacation (University Christmas closure) and got the garage pottery studio opened up again.   Here is a just assembled birdhouse, a bit heavy this one, but came out nicely.

There meant to be mostly garden art, but the right size that a bird could move in.   I have done a couple lighthouse birdhouses last summer, and one two story.   They would have to be hing in a high safe place to really get a family to nest, but they look nice in any garden.