Auction

Some friends in the Raleigh area have been organizing a art auction for me to help with the costs of my Lyme disease treatment and expenses. It will be at Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor, NC August 18th. Many years ago I apprenticed there with Sid Oakley and then I maintained a studio as a resident artist. They have been posting images of the art work that will be at the auction and with it being less than a month away there are new things everyday. Of course there is pottery but there are so many wonderful things from blown glass and jewelry to wood and textiles. The work is by some very well know artists some of the pottery is out private collections, I even saw some pots from internationally known potters that you can't buy anymore because they have retired or are deceased. You can find out more about it on the auction website or the event Facebook page.

For more info visit Friends of Blaine Avery

I have been completely over whelmed with everything my friends have been doing with organizing this auction and all the donations from people, some I don’t even know. It’s just truly amazing! I am so much more than lucky and I will never be able to thank everyone enough for everything they have are doing.

 

My battle with Lyme Disease

 Hello everyone!
 I haven't posted on here in a very long time, as some of you may have heard I have been really sick for quite some time. Numerous Doctors searched to diagnose my illness to no avail and my condition just kept deteriorating to the point I could no longer work. Then over a year ago I finely got a diagnosis of Late stage Lyme disease it has effected my nervous system and as a result have long list symptoms, the worst are an unbearable pain in my feet and legs and severe fatigue. I can't stand or walk very far just a trip to the grocery store is utterly exhausting.
 
A friend has set up a Go Fund me fundraiser, Blaine's Treatment for Lyme Disease to help with my expenses there you can read more about whats been going on and how you can help.

 I haven't been able to make pots or work in over a year and a half. Thia picture was taken about three years ago I am making a 30 pound platter that has finished size of approximately 24 inches wide. I so want to get back to making pots it is my joy and calling it's all i have ever done I can't imagine not being able to create. I'm doing everything I can for my health so I can return to the life I love.

Celebration of Spring

This weekend is the Annual Seagrove Celebration of Spring with over 50 potteries participating it's sure to be a great weekend to come down to the Grove!

Saturday April 16th   9:30-5:00
Sunday   April 17th 11:00-4:00

I'll be in the Studio and Judson is selling lemonade to rase money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It's sure to be a beautiful fun filled weekend!

Shops will be offering studio tours, demonstrations and much more! For more information check out The Celebration of Spring website

Holiday Kiln Opening Preview

 I'm really exited I got some wonderful pots out of the kiln today, here are a few of the many pots that I'll have at the Opening See you all. 

 Saturday December 12,  9am-5pm 

Holiday Kiln Opening 2015

Winter Kiln Opening

Saturday December 12th, 9am - 5pm

Please come and join me for my Winter Kiln Opening. I will have wonderful selection of pots including mugs, bowls, vases and large selection of plates, platters and bowls, both large and small. As well as some new slip trailed decorations and much, much more.

I hope you can join me this Saturday December 12th, to see the new stunning work I have available.

-Blaine Avery

Potters Four, at the Ackland Museum Store

Potters Four, opens this Friday, June 12, 6-8PM at the Ackland Museum Store,  Chapel Hill North Carolina. I'll be there for the opening and am really looking forward to it! 

The show runs June 12th through August 9th. 

Im honored to be invited to be in the exhibition with three great potters Doug Dotson, Bruce Gholson, and Samantha Henneke.

Pottery Fair On The Square

I'm really looking forward to this Saturday, I heading to Old Salem in Winton-Salem, NC for the fifth Annual Pottery Fair On The Square  It's always a fun show set in the hart of beautiful Old Salem if you have never been there this would be a great opportunity to see Historic Old Salem and a great selection of pottery.  

A Great First Day!

We had a great first day at the Kiln Opening, one more day, tomorrow and I still have some great pots! It was a fun day too! And Judson was the most amazing official tour guide!

Spring Kiln Opening Preview!

Here is a preview of some the pots I'll have this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 18th  & April 19th. There is so much more to see and will it will all be out first thing Saturday morning.
I hope to see many of you this weekend,
-Blaine 

Slip Trailed Bowl with Thistle

Cooper Red Bowls 

Copper Red Bowl

Cruets

Slip Trailed Mugs

Bowl with Beaver

Peacock Vases 

Bird Houses

Tall Ash Glazed Mugs

Three Turtle Tile

Slip Trailed Swag Platter

Spring Kiln Opening 2015

Saturday April 18th 9am - 5pm &

Sunday April 19th 11am - 5pm

At the studio,

Avery Pottery & Tileworks 

636 Potters Way Road 

Seagrove, NC 27341

Spring Kiln Opening 2015

Announcing my Spring Kiln Opening,
Saturday April 18th 9am - 5pm &
Sunday April 19th 11am - 5pm

At the studio,

Avery Pottery & Tileworks 

636 Potters Way Road 

Seagrove, NC 27341

 I have been busy making bird houses, bowls and serving pieces. I will also have a great selection of copper red porcelain bowls that came out absolutely beautiful! As weekend approaches, I will be posting some images of pots from the firing that will be at the kiln opening. In the spirit of community there will also be 60 other potters in the Seagrove area also having Kiln Openings too!

I'm really Looking forward to next weekend! I hope to see you at the Kiln Opening, it's going to be a great weekend!
Cheers,
-Blaine

Etsy Shop Update!

I have lots of new pots listed in my etsy shop! Take a look there is still time to get something shipped to you in time for Christmas! I'm shipping things out the next day all with two or three day shipping.

Finding myself..

Look who I found on the Visit NC website, I think he looks familiar.... 
Seagrove, a Pottery Paradise 
http://www.visitnc.com/story/seagrove-a-pottery-paradise

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.