So many pots… so little time… and now far less cash in my wallet!!!
So much fun touring and seeing all of those great pots. Great to chat with all of the artists… and to add a “few” pieces to my already too huge pottery collection!
Starting with a new mug by Matthew Metz. And a slightly new style with a dark clay body dipped in a light slip and then carved with his signature sgraffito style. I especially loved the “finger prints” on the bottom of the cup where he held it to dip into the slip.
I also added a Bob Briscoe mug to my “mug collection”… and a new Bob Briscoe lidded jar… for M&M’s or Hershey’s Kisses?!!!
At our second stop, we met up with Steven Young Lee… a former teacher of mine. Of course I had to add another mug of his to my collection. I have quite a few “vintage” Steve Lee pieces. And now I have some of his new blue & white style. Unfortunately, I couldn’t decide… so I had to get a couple!!!
Blue & white… and a stark contrast with a carved monochromatic tea bowl.
On Day Two, we started from the beginning and did the Tour all over again! We started at Bob Briscoe’s again… and he had unloaded another kiln overnight. So he was restocked with a few pieces. Including these two bowls that “had” to come home with me… to join the other four bowls already in my kitchen cabinet.
I also picked up a mug by George Lowe… I loved the texture and the rusty, crusty finish!
One of our last stops on Saturday was The Rogue Potters. I picked up a couple pieces, including a mug by Randal Anderson and a plate by Mark Johnson.
Can you please help me understand something? I’m a (very) novice potter. The spectacular bowls above by Steven Lee are, well, spectacular, but I notice there is a lot of crazing (?) in the glaze. I am understanding this is not desirable and considered poor quality, and yet I think it makes the cups so much more expressive. Do you know, is this something he wanted to achieve? And are they then not food-safe? Am quite confused. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.Thanks. 🙂 Looks like you had a wonderful time on the tour.
Thanks so much for stopping out Gary! It’s always great to see you, and we’re so happy to have some of our pots come home with you! We’re honored.
Teaching and inspiring at the same time – as usual 🙂
AUDREY – That’s a VERY good question. And I don’t really know the answer. In my own work I try to avoid crazing in my glazes. I think it’s much “safer” for food service pottery to NOT have these tiny fractures in the glaze. I do know though that glazes with a lot of crazing have been around for thousands of years and have a long history in Asian ceramics. I don’t know Steve’s “intention” with the crazing in his pots, but I’m sure he has some master plan. And yes, I do agree… it makes his pots even more striking!!!
Thanks so much – I have just dipped the smallest part of my little toe into the world of glazes, and am always glad to learn new things! Enjoy your weekend. Looking forward to your next blog posting. 🙂