Etsy Shop Update!

I've been working on listing pots in My Etsy Shop so take a look! There is sill plenty of time for me to get pots shipped out in time for Christmas. Every thing will ship out in one to two days, with two or three day shipping depending on where you live! I've been one busy little elf! I'll be working on taking pictures of more work in the next few days. Check back on monday for lots more listings!

FALL KILN OPENING

Yep, its that Time of year again!

The Fall Kiln Opening will be,

Saturday, October 19th 10am-5pm & Sunday, October 20th-11am-4pm  
&  
Saturday, October 26th 10am-5pm & Sunday, October 27th 11am-4pm

I've been working overtime on lots of pots for the Kiln Opening. I'll be firing the salt kiln with lots of new work hand painted imagery, patterns and glazed pots as well. Next week I will post some images here on the blog of some the pots from the firing before the opening at the studio.

The first weekend of the Kiln Opening October 19th & 20th, will be in conjunction with the second annual The Randolph Ramble Open Studio Tour take a look at the website to see all thats going on.

For more information take a check out the email that went out to my mailing list.

I read the news today oh boy

 I made the news today oh boy......... 
www.thewashingtondailynews.com/2013/08/14/shaping-the-future-blaine-avery-stays-busy-in-columbia/

Please Join Me Friday Evening!!

While here at Pocosin Arts for my residency. I'll be doing a short presentation Friday evening about myself, life and work at The Vineyards On The Scuppernong Wine Shop  You can also check out the FaceBook event here .

If you are in the area please come on by the Winery and grab a glass or wine or a cappuccino at Elements. I'm having a great time here in Columbia N.C. and would love to share it with you...

Looking forward to a great evening!!! Wine, coffee and art what could anything be better?

Willow Oak Platter salt glazed stoneware with hand painted slips and glazes 

Pocosin Arts Residency

I'm on the second week of my the residency here at Pocosin Arts in Columbia NC. I've spent much of my time here working on the studio, fixing wheels, hooking up kilns and advising them on what the need and how to lay out the studio. The  Pocosin Arts center was flooded back in 2011 from hurricane Irene with two feet of water in building..... So far I've fixed four of the ten wheels and sent four motors off to be rebuilt, I think they will be fine too. I was so surprised that the water didn't do more damage, I had to clean the contacts on the motors and all the electronic parts and that got most of them working.  When we get the motors back from the repair shop I'll know how many they will need to replace.
 If you haven't figured it out yet I really like taking things apart and figuring out how they work. I have ever since I was I kid it's that inquisitive nature in me that lead to be a potter, the technical side of ceramics, glaze formulation, clay formulation, building and firing kilns, and all the equipment that needs to be kept up and running. There is so much more to ceramics then just moulding things out of clay. I't also was what lead me to design and build my own studio and house from start to finnish.

            Here I am hard at work taking apart pottery wheels.....gee I hope 

I can get them all back together.... Just kidding!

Now Im trying to concentrate on some of my work... I'm working on some new tile designs and casting molds for them. Some will be architectural and others will be with a technique called Cuenca. Cuenca is a Spanish name for pressing a mould into  clay to create a raised outline of the design with hollows between. These hollows were known as ‘cuenca’, which means ‘bowls’ in Spanish. The hollows will later be filled with colored glazes.

I'm also hoping to work on some paintings, it's something sort of new for me. I did a few last year and really loved the whole process. It was quite freeing being completely concerned with a two dimensional surface. I'm painting with acrylic on canvas and using many of the designs I apply to much of my ceramic work.

Pocosin Arts and a Rainbow

Have you ever found the end of the rainbow? Well I did....
As I was packing last week for the residency at Pocosin Arts in Columbia NC it rained, it pored and then I went out to load up my truck. As I walked around the corner of the studio I saw the most amazing sight a rainbow. But not just one rainbow it was two, a double rainbow.  I have seen a few double rainbow before but not like this one, It touched ended right on the edge of my field! So I saw the end of the rainbow!! It was truly amazing! A sign a good things to come I think..... :)

Etsy Shop Update

I've been working of listing lots of work on my Etsy Shop. I'll be adding more today check it out. Lots of new work!!

Before And After

The last post was of pots as they were decorated and being loaded in the kiln, here are some of the same pots finished after the firing! The opening went really well I had a amazing turnout as well as sales, thanks so much to all that made it out! 

As the kiln opening continues this weekend, if you haven't had a chance to make it out I still have great selection of pots in the showroom this weekend.

 Slip Trailed Swirls and Swag pattern, fun and free!!

  Dragonfly Tray

 New Owl painting on a tray.

 The Wild Cherry Blossom pattern on a bowl.

Train of turtles on a tray about 16 inches long.

The Pots are Cooling.... The KIln Opening, this weekend!

The Spring KIln Opening starts tomorrow, At 10 am!! 

The kiln is still cooling....... So I thought Id share some a few pictures of some pots went in this firing. I spent many hours decorating and painting for this fining, Im really happy with how the pots and decorations all came together. So here's a few images just a, preview of what will be at the opening.I'll be working on updating my etsy shop on Monday.

 So if you can't make it this weekend April 20th & 21st or next April 27th & 28th look for some new work in my etsy Shop the first of the week.  

Hope to see you all soon!!

Saturday, April 20th 10am-5pm   &     Sunday,  April  21st-11am-4pm 

Saturday, April 27th 10am-5pm   &   Sunday,  April 28th 11am-4pm 

Me ttrimming bowls late one evening last week....

Slip Trailed Swirls and Swag pattern, fun and free!!

 I have only make one of there before, I love the image of the dragonfly and what it represents. It's really involved and time consuming though. I start by sketching out the pattern in pencil and food coloring thats the greenish blue halo around parts of the dragonfly before I begin painting the slip and glaze.

The Wild Cherry Blossom pattern before it's fired. I feel a strong connection to this new pattern. It's taken from wild cherry trees that grow on my property.

New Owl painting on a tray.

 One of my old favorites, The Turtle!

Bottom shelf of first stack in the kiln. 

Fortune Cookie Friday

Welcome to Fortune Cookie Fridays! This may not make sense for a blog written by a potter but Im much more than that..... 

I have thought about this for some time. I love fortune cookies and I also have been collecting quotes for years now, many of them inspirational, some related to art and craft and many spiritual. So I thought would start sharing some of them on Fridays... Because Fortune Cookie Fridays would just be fun!   

This one however is mine, it's my philosophy of life.

I hope everyone has a great Friday!! 

SPRING KILN OPENING APRIL, 2013

Spring Is The Air

So It's here again! I'm busily getting ready for my annual Spring KIln Opening, still lots to do! But I'm not at all overwhelmed because I love this time of year, everything is starting to bloom, the northern light begins to changes in my studio, both give me such inspiration and motivation. It feels so good, the cool crisp mornings, and warm afternoons. To me they are both so fresh, welcoming and invigorating!

 As always, I'm working hard on some new patterns and imagery both slip trailed and hand painted designs. There will be some new shapes too. I'm excited to work out the details of how I will finnish the surfaces, it's daunting yet so inspiring all at once! 

I'll be posting some photos from the studio in the next few days of what I've been quietly working on over the last few months. For now now it's top secret..... :) 

I really look forward to seeing so many of you again this year!  

But know many of you are scattered around the county and some abroad as well. So if you are unable to make it I'll also be posting some of the new work in my Etsy Shop as soon as I can. Be sure to check back soon when the Opening approaches, I'll also post about it on here when I do. 

The dates of The Spring KIln Opening are,

Saturday, April 20th 10am-5pm   &     Sunday,  April  21st-11am-4pm

Saturday, April 27th 10am-5pm   &   Sunday,  April 28th 11am-4pm

Hand made Vessel Sinks, Featured In The Southern Ideal Home Show, Raleigh N.C.

I have my hand made vessel sinks featured in a booth at the Southern Ideal Home Show  this weekend in Raleigh N.C. 
I was so pleased to be asked by an incredibly talented interior designer, Tari Hamilton to use my sinks in her booth at the show. You can find her in the show in her booth Hamilton Designworks booth number 2132.

If your in the area you must stop in and see her work and my sinks She does some amazing work from kitchen or bathroom remodel projects to custom wall and ceiling finishes using several types of techinques, plasters, paints, and glaze.

Her work is quite amazing, I am so pleased that she chose to included my hand made vessel sinks in her booth. She has already sold several and will be using some in her upcoming design projects. She also is going to use some custom hand made tile in some of her projects as well. Needless to say, Im really excited to be working with her!  

Take look at her Booth and stop in and see her too!

"Do you feel me" ACC Baltimore

Have you ever watched TV show "The Wire'"?  Thats right.... if you have than you  you must remember the line "Do you feel me"?  It's my first time here at the ACC Baltimore show so I'm excited to be here. At the moment Im in downtown Baltimore at the the American Craft council Baltimore, show, and Im feeling it!! The show opens tomorrow at 11:00 am and runs through this Sunday the 24th.