Slip decoration

There have been several requests from potters, friends and customers who want to see the process of my slip decoration. So here it is....
These are done on my Bollywood inspired mugs and of course I have to listen to Bollywood music while making them. If you put one of my mugs against your ear you might still hear some music. :) I hope you enjoy the clip.
The music track is taken from the movie Saawariya starring Ranbir Kapoor
To purchase, please visit my store http://creativewithclay.etsy.com/

More slip decoration

I was browsing etsy and came across the wonderful work of Kristen Kieffer. She stamps her work, uses sprigs and slip to give them that ornate look. The pieces are also altered and carved. You can see there is lots of detail in every inch of her pieces.

The pieces are glazed in nice soothing colors. I have seen her work published at other places too, but coming across her website was great. Do have a look at her process and you will really appreciate the patience it takes to make good handmade pottery.

http://kiefferceramics.com/

Colorful bisque firing

Almost every potter I know is excited after a glaze firing, just like me. We can't wait to open the kiln. Just take a peek even when we shouldn't. I have even used a torch light through the key hole to peek in. Pretty desperate and still don't see a thing.

A bisque firing on the other hand is just a boring stack of white pots. Looking at the pile just reminds you of all the glazing work ahead of you.

However this has changed for me recently. With my new glazing technique and slip decoration for my Bollywood theme pottery, I realized that I am getting equally excited about a bisque firing. The pots come out white with bright colors and love the way they look waiting to be glazed. They pop with color and I can't wait to glaze them. See the pictures below of the bisqued and glazed bowls. This is something that is always exciting about new work.... you get excited over something you never even thought of. Very soon these bowls will be listed in my shop too.

Just Art Auction for Seattle Men's Women's Chorus

I recently donated one of my "Dancing Diva" sculptures for the Seattle Men's Women's Chorus. I just got the catalog and I am very impressed with all the art work and not to forget the quality of the catalog and printing. The picture I submitted looks great. I bet the event is going to be fun. You can see other art work for the auction at http://www.flyinghouse.org/specialevents/art_auction/2008/

Bollywood mugs go on etsy

In my previous posts you must have read about my Bollywood inspired sculptures. I wanted to get the Indian fabric look on my functional ware as well. I had talked about my mugs evolution and I am now posting them on etsy for sale.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5953258&section_id=5639444
Keep looking for more Bollywood inspired mugs and bowls to come this holiday season.

My first treasury: Curvy Curves

I am so excited that I finally snagged a treasury on etsy.com. I had no idea how could everyone grab treasuries so quickly. Every time I logged on, the waiting list was huge. But I finally did it.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=8859. The link will not last forever so attached is a snap shot of the treasury as well.

What I put in the treasury is art work with curves. I love organic shapes and how one curve meets another creating another shape... then you join it with the starting end of the first curve with yet another curve and you get a totally different shape. A good example of this Tara Robertson's Offspring sculptural vessel. Great flow of curves making something very unique.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6924819

One thing I realized while making this treasury is that the best pottery forms that respond well to curves are pitchers and teapots. So I have included these. Note that even a simple lidded jar with a dramatic curved handle can make you look at it in a completly different way. I am talking about Barbara Dunshee's lively lidded vessel. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12341301

I also included some nonpottery items, like these earrings

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15103458

I like the decoration and especially like the way the bone white earrings are photographed against the dark leaf background. The curves really stand out here.

Published online

Few days back I got an email from Ralph Stuckman from http://www.arttoartpalette.com/. He had stumbled upon my website and was intrigued by my story of how I got started in clay. He asked me if I was interested in getting published online on their website and I gladly agreed. Why would I say no to that....
There is also a chance of getting published in their bi-annual magazine and if that happens it will be great. I also got a chance to share the page with some of my favorite potters.
Go to http://www.arttoartpalette.com/ and click on the Potter Asks icon. Scroll midway to read my blurb.

Pottery Trade

I am at the Puyallup fair and I see the most gorgeous pottery by Ginger Steele. She does these beautiful intricate patterns and fires her work in a salt kiln. Her business is rightfully named "Insomnia pottery". All of us potters have had those nights. But looking at her designs I am sure she takes the cake.

We talked about pottery and she liked my work too. So we decided to do a trade. One of my wall sculptures for her platter. Attached is the picture of the platter. It is so wonderful, both my wife and I can't stop staring at it. Check out more of her work at http://www.insomniapottery.com/

What is going on in the kiln??

If you are a potter, I am sure you always wanted to peek in the kiln and see what is happening in the kiln to your glazes.
Here is something for you curious folks. Just some special effects.. I was not sticking my head in the kiln to take pictures. LOL

Puyallup fair

I am at the Puyallup fair from September 5th through the 21st. Yes, it is a long fair but every year is exciting. One great thing about doing this fair is that I don't have to haul my shelving or booth for the show. I just take my work and setup on day 1 and leave my over stock in the back room. The artists there are always on their feet sticking your shelves.

Sometimes I have gotten stuck in a corner there which hasn't been fun. But this time I got a good spot to display my "Dancing Divas". I got to display them on a white wall with a white grid and I think they really stand out. Also my pots are against a window, so people walking outside can also peek in. This is the first time I am displaying my divas at the fair along with my new slip decorated work.

Here are some pictures of the display there.