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Author: Ken
August 9 LIVE REBROADCAST – pottery surface design
Hey everybody! I’m doing some carving in the studio. Might even put a handle on a mug, if it’s dry enough. Feel free to ask questions leave comments. I’ll do my best to answer in real time.
Here’s a sped up version, with the finished carving. I hope to fire it early next week.
Kiln Opening 8/7/2020
new pots hot out of the kiln! I had a great kiln opening this week. Most came out perfect, and after putting them on my front porch, they all found their new homes before the weekend was over. Below is a sampling of the new porcelain pots. You can see the whole gallery, by clicking the link here:
kiln opening – 7/28/2020
I recently had a kiln opening, with new porcelain! you can see a photo gallery with all of them by clicking the link here: http://www.kenswinson.com/art/index.php?/category/22 or click the photo below
I believe that pots need to be seen in person, so I don’t sell them online. They are on my front porch, if you live nearby, or want to take a scenic drive in the country, come visit my house in historic Old Washington, where you can pick them up and hold them.
Here’s another idea, maybe it’s too crazy, or too much work, but i’ll just put it out there:
I’m serious about the safety of myself, my community, and my friends and neighbors during the pandemic. I have not been showing in big groups or indoors. I AM comfortable with showing artwork outside (like on my front porch), to small groups, on a porch, driveway, park or garden, with a mask, hand sanitizer, etc. I am thinking about taking my pots on the road. if there is enough interest, you live relatively closeby, and can commit to buying a few pots, I will come to you (kind of like the old fashioned door to door salesmen).
What do you think? Is that crazy? maybe it’s easier to just visit old washington and come to my front porch? Anyway, hope you like the new pots! I
Squirrel Butter dish – 26 July 2020
I don’t always show work in progress, because I don’t want to get people excited, only to be disappointed if it doesn’t make it through the kiln firing.
But this squirrel themed butter dish is too stinking cute to keep to myself!
Keep your fingers crossed that this makes it through the firing. I’m excited about it because i don’t do a lot of handbuilding. Most of my functional pots are thrown on a wheel. This dish was made by a different technique. More like sculpting than throwing. Stay tuned to see how it comes out!
I have been painting – 24 July 2020
So far, this has been the summer of porcelain, but I am still making paintings.
I just finished this group of charming little 6″x4 1/2″ oil paintings (below) . My originals have been popular, but sometimes tricky for collectors to get…especially online. Since they are one-of-a-kind, i struggled to figure out how to display them on the website and keep everything up-to-date.
UPDATE: All paintings have been sold. Signed reproductions on watercolor paper are available for $20
The pandemic is forcing me to try new ways of doing things. I prefer to show originals in person, but I’m trying something different; my website’s gallery has a new “originals for sale” category. Click here to visit.
Hope you enjoy, and this holds you over until we get to see each other (and our art) in person again!
Check in video – 21 July 2020
I haven’t been on Facebook or Instagram for the month of July, as part of the #stopHateForProfit boycott. I thought I’d check in and let everyone know that I’m doing ok. i miss my ‘friends’ but life is actually nicer in some ways without facebook. I’m getting a lot more done: staying productive, learning to work with porcelain..and today, i carved a mug with a horse!
Feel free to comment and let me know how you are doing…i do miss hearing from you all!kiln opening 7/18/2020
My first kiln load using only porcelain. Porcelain is a beautiful clay, with a rich history. It does take some extra care, and there is a learning curve. Still—over half this load are beautiful. Some are going to need some touch ups, and a few are going to end up in the garden. They are on my front porch, if you want to see them in person.
Click any of the photos below (or right here) to see the gallery with photos of all the pots from the firing
Saucers -16 July 2020
I have been working on a series of cups with saucers.
Porcelain cups with saucers The saucer is a new form for me, but I LOVE it! it’s relatively flat, so i can approach surface design similar to the way I would a painting or 2d art. It’s not so big, like a plate, where I run into technical problems, like warping, cracking (hopefully!)
carving the design into a saucer one thing that attracts me to functional pottery, is that it is art made to be used; to be picked up, to serve food, it’s a kind of art that can become a part of people’s daily rituals.
Saucer designs in my sketchbook – finished saucers, ready to dry and go to the kiln I imagine the joy these saucers will bring other people, when they lift their cup, and see the surprise looking up at them from the saucer. THAT IS WHY I MAKE POTS!
Stay tuned to see how they turn out!
Little handmade opossum porcelain beads
Some of the best inspiration comes from playing and having fun in the studio! I was squishing a little ball of porcelain in my fingers, until the clay became a opossum!
I poked a hole on it, and now its a bead! The first one brought me so much joy, I made another! What in the world will I make next?!?!