This week in my SURFACE DECORATION class, we tackled stamping & sprigging. I showed them the basics of how I approach a pot, how try emphasize the shape & geometry of the pot with my stamps… and the most important part… how to stamp! Sure, not rocket-science, but there are a few tricks!!! I did my demos and then set them loose… with their own stamps they had made the week before, as well as some of my collection. Many of them had made their “homework” pieces to work on, but I was glad I had a made a bunch too so they had more to “play” with! I tried to emphasize how stamping can become addictive… and they heard the mantra more than once…

MORE IS MORE!!!

Hybrid mugs moving along! Trimmed the bottoms today on the wheel. You know how much I LOVE trimming & a good footring!!! Gives everything a sense of style & refinement.

White to black… and black to white. Just playing with some fun ombre’ blended slip colors. And then a little squiggling & chattering to add to the surface decoration & textures!

It’s another Floral Friday… this time with an oval vase full of orange tulips gracefully cascading to the side. I love how oval vases allow the flowers to spread more side-to-side… and not always so vertical like in normal vases. A little stamping… a little soda-firing… and a little soda flashing on “raw” unglazed B-Clay!!!

Beautiful clear skies except for a layer of clouds hanging low on the horizon. The temps were surprisingly warm & humid… totally feels like a nice Spring day. Although the clouds will be moving in later with a prediction of rain for this evening. But I’ll take it… a beautiful start and then some of those proverbial “Spring Showers.” And you know what those bring?!!!!

For tonight’s SURFACE DECORATION class, their homework assignment was to bring a couple soft-leatherhard pieces to class to work on… as tonight we’re focusing on Stamping & Sprigs. Well there’s a chance… hypothetically… that I “may” have made a few extra pieces for my students to work on in case they failed on their homework!!! Allegedly…

Some fresh new berry bowls just in time for some fresh Spring berries… also ready for my first few art fairs! First up… the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival on Memorial Day weekend. Well look at me trying something “new” by having these ready ahead of time!!! Shocking, I know!!!

You can check out this year’s art fair schedule by clicking here : Summer Art Fairs 2025.

Another beautiful sunrise along the lakefront.
Sure the headwinds made it a little challenging, but the clouded drama made it all worthwhile.

It’s been a productive afternoon assembling these “hybrid” mugs… wheelthrown & handbuilt combos. There’s still a good amount of work to do on them… refining, trimming, adding handles, drying, firing, etc. But this feels like a good start. It’s always great seeing these “hybrid” mugs come together!

It’s been fun using some of my new handrollers today from MKM Pottery Tools. I’m generally a more “geometric” kinda guy when it comes to patterns & textures. But I will say I’m pretty excited about some of these new rollers that a more “illustrative” pattern on them. We’ll see how it goes with more rollers for more patterns!!!