So it's been a little while since I've been on this thing. Like a couple of months. The November to December season is kind of busy, so there's that, and there are the two kids, which of course keeps a person on their toes, but still...I have no excuse. I might be the only person reading this thing, really, so maybe that's why- a lot of what I have to say to myself I can take care of pretty quickly, without the trouble of going through a blog to do it.

The past month has been spent making colors. I have a set of glazes, and they've been fine- but that's the problem. They've been fine. Not great. So the past two months have been spent reading everything I can get my hands on about the world of glaze chemistry, and I'll tell you, if there's a thing out there that would make me want to run screaming into the street, it would be glaze chemistry. I'm learning this as I go, and I understand the basic components of glazes in a very general way, but MAN! It's like sitting through high school chemistry while drunk. 

Not that I know what that's like.

But we're making progress. So far the definates are the clear, the black, the blue, and a nice brown I'm starting to play around with. I've got a green that's very formica-ish, and I'm not sold on it, but it's growing on me, kind of like, well...formica, I guess. The new colors you can see here.

That's it. Back to work.
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I thought I'd take a minute and talk about some of the things in my studio that, well, just make me happy. It's raining out today, I didn't get a chance to work yesterday (March Madness, baby!!), and I'm feeling like I just need to talk positively about my workspace for a minute.
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This is the workspace. It's a little crowded, but not so bad once your actually in there. The wedging/reclaim/drawing area is in the middle, and has a good amount of clearance on either side. The wheel is in the corner under the window, which is nice, though the window looks out over our driveway, which is not ideal. Win some, lose some. And really, there was no where else to put the drill press.
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Here's where the wheel lives. The window is nice, and I think it'll get nicer in the summer when I can open it up and have a breeze coming through. And I can just see the ridges of Mount Mansfeild off in the distance while I'm working, which is also very nice. And there's also the beer shelf, pictured above, built specifically for that purpose. Though it's also very good at holding up a baby monitor.
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My son comes into the studio sometimes, and I added a wall of chalkboard paint to help keep him entertained. Originally it was just going to be at the bottom. But why? Who doesn't like chalkboard paint? I went for the whole wall, and now I spend more time drawing and sketching on the wall than I do in a sketchbook.
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Wedding ring storage. Otherwise I mark up the sides of all of my work with gouge marks. I keep my ring here while I'm working, and the frequently leave it here while I am not working. At least it's cute, right?
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Here she is! 03/03/2010
 
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Ahhh...the studio. 

When my wife and I bought this house there really wasn't any place to work, and to be totally honest, I hadn't really "worked" on art in any sustainable fashion in years. A photo here, a painting there, a couple of weeks in the glass studio...it was all disconnected, sporadic. So to have a space now where I can close the door is great- I get to walk in, drink some coffee, watch the neighbor back in and out of his driveway, and work. It's luxurious.

Though I'm questioning the wisdom of sharing a wall with the TV and Wii. On the other hand I can't say enough good stuff about Pandora.

I'm working with pottery now, mostly, with some photography and framing projects mixed in. And I find I've forgotten one of the key elements of working in new media- practice is still the name of the game. So I'm generating tons of small tea cups, and working my way slowly up to teapots. And I can't get over how zen-like it all is. There's the constant hum of the wheel, the almost hypnotic circular running of the clay, the steady application of water and pressure. It's peaceful. Until I stop paying close enough attention and pull the clay too hard off-center, and then it goes so wrong, so fast. Hence all the practice.

So if anyone out there needs a five-sip teacup, let me know. I'm totally your go-to guy.
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