bodner046

My parents, over the years, have often lamented that everyone takes pictures at family gatherings but they never get to seen them. The photos stay on peoples phones or computers, some are uploaded to facebook, but the older generation that aren't online, are often left out. I decided to do something about that on Father's Day. I created a journal, scrapbook, photo album, or whatever you want to call it... for my Dad.  I incorporated art work with a few old photos, as well as more recent digital pics that he has only been able to view on someone's phone. Many were from the last year that my mother was with us for family gatherings. I included photos from his big adventure to North Carolina in 2016. And his 90th birthday celebration!!! Included with the journal was a glue stick so that he can add more photos and artwork.  I am going to encourage other family members to print some of those photos on their phones and cameras, and send them his way. I hope they will include a st...

 This was installation week for Jeff's platter project at the Belle Meade Retirement community in Southern Pines, NC. The resort community is undergoing a dining room renovation and Jeff was commissioned to create sixteen, 16" platters to be hung on two walls. Hanging these was not an easy job. It took Jeff about a day and half to complete the installation. These are heavy platters and needed to be securely attached to the walls. The design team was great to work with and the sub-contractors on site were always helpful. Jeff is planning to go back for a final photo shoot once the furniture is installed.

I have been talking about mixing some black slip for a few years now. I actually mixed a small amount three years ago, but didn't had enough mason stain and the results were blah. This weekend I decided to give it another try. I added 25% stain. It looks pretty black. We shall see how it fires on this test bowl, thrown with B-Mix. This weekend I had a night to myself. Jeff went off to STARworks for the evening session of the NC Wood Fire Conference and I was feeling anti-social. I settled in on the sofa for an evening of Netflix. If you haven't seen the series "Abstact - The Art of Design", I recommend you take a look. So far I have only watched the first episode and it was very good. So good that I even took notes! Here is a quote from the artist featured in episode one: "It's about showing up and getting started." - Christopher Niemann

Carved these little bowls yesterday. The first of my new sketches translated onto clay. Next on my list is to mix some black slip and do some of these on white stoneware.

The pigs are gasping for fresh air! This firing had a very creative stack. Jeff has a commission for an installation of sixteen, 16" platters, to be installed on a wall in the dining room of a new assisted living facility in Pinehurst. There were twelve in this firing. Flat things are often problematic. We utilized plate setters to squeeze in smaller items and student pots. Overall it was a great firing.

Some of you may remember the blog post I wrote after reading the book "Big Magic". If you missed that post, you can find it here . At the time I was struggling with being known as the piggy bank potter. I vowed to take some time this year to work on more creative things, while continuing to think of piggy bank making as my day job. Here we are in June, at the half way point of 2017. I thought I would check in and write about how things have been going. The piggy banks are still selling well, and I really do enjoy making them. Etsy, in general, has been very good to both Jeff and I this year. As for my creative pursuits... I am feeling like I am not following through 100% of my goal. But I am not giving up! A few weeks back I read a blog post by ceramic artist Whitney Smith. She mentioned rediscovering gel pens, more specifically using white gel pens on dark card stock. The line quality with this pen reminded me immediately of sgraffito. I thought, what a great way to work out...

Jeff spent a lot of hours working on this thrown and altered vase. He paddled it into a hexagonal shape, then rolled foot. In this photo he is adding his signature texture. When he was ready to put the handles on he asked my opinion... two or six? I said SIX! Isn't it a beauty? The next morning we woke up to this... Can you see that crack? Into the slop bucket this beauty will go. Cracks are one of the hazards of pushing your work to the edge. Luckily it doesn't happen often and Jeff doesn't let it stop him from creating more. If it were my piece, I might have cried. Heck, I almost cried and it wasn't mine. The moral of the story is:  Shit happens and never give up the strive for excellence.