Things are not drying in my studio, and that is never good. So today I'm taking 60 pots out into the sun *hello, sun* to dry out so that I can bisque fire tonight. The first 24 of these very Arts and Craft style mugs sold to a gallery hours after they came out of my kiln, and I'm itchy to finish some more and list them on Etsy. I love everything about them- the balance on the narrow pedestal footrim works because they are very thin and the waist is low. The arch of the handles is just right. I get this by pulling straight away from the mug, thinning the handle towards the bottom, attaching it at the widest lower point, and then setting the mug upside down so that gravity forms the arc. I also like the way that the dragonfly sits on the facets so that the gesture of the facets suggests the dragonfly wings.
I have obsessed over mugs more than any other form in my 33 years as a potter. It is the piece that I make the least profit on for my time, so a more sensible person might just throw a zillion cylinders, slap extruded handles on, and take nice vacations occasionally. But since I am not that person,I wake up nights with ideas for tweaking my mugs, and follow the muses wherever they whisper to go. It's what I do.
I need one of these! One day, I'll cme have coffee and get my own.
ReplyDeletethose are very unique shapes, i can see why you enjoy making them so much. i like knowing you persist with the things you love :) the dragonfly adds that bit of magic to the whole piece. nice!
ReplyDeleteLovely!!!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow! 60 pots, all at once! Very impressive! The mug is gorgeous!
ReplyDeletemm, mmm. . . those ladies have such lovely bellies and rims that just call to my lips!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photograph. Very interesting juxtaposition of the one right side up with the others on their rims. It would be interesting to see a retrospective of glazes and shapes you have done in mugs over those 33 years.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement, everyone! They go in the glaze kiln today, so I'll have some finished mugs on Monday.
ReplyDeletePaula (self taught artist)- what's the point of making things at all, other than to persist with the things you love !!??!! Thanks for that phrase!