Support Your Local Economy, Buy Handmade Art!

This Saturday and Sunday the Covert Potters will be at Deja Vu Fashions in Claremont Ca. On Foothill near Towne. We have much to offer in Holiday cheer and gifts. Stop on by!  A gift of a handmade ceramic piece shows you care, support the arts, support the local economy, come on out and buy some pots!

Finding Treasure

FYI!

Sometimes I find something and think, I should tell someone. On a whim I bought the book Ceramic Design Course - principles, practice and techniques: a complete guide for ceramicists by Anthony Quinn. On one hand this book is geared to “ceramicist” or people who design pots and have them massed produced by others, but what great tidbits of information. Oh, and the photos are lovely and inspiring. Beginners will be given plenty to think on and old timers may learn something new, but you will definitely be reminded of what is good.

-Sally Anne

Is there a book you treasure?

And Now, As The Wheel Turns...Ask A Potter

I think the below answers say so much more than what they say... in so many ways.

What is the strangest or funniest comment or question you've ever gotten about your work?

Celeste:

A person asked why 2 items of similar size had different prices. One had some carving with no exterior glaze and the other one had a smooth surface with glazing. I took a deep breath and told the person that the carving took me about 4 to 6 hours to complete. Sometimes what seems apparent to the artist is not always apparent to the consumer.

Chris:
Standing in front of a large bowl with a hole in it, a sink, I was asked "Is that a lampshade?"

Jon:
Paul Soldner once told me my pots might look better if I threw them left handed.

Workshops, Learning And Experience

I love a good workshop. There is nothing like going somewhere, getting away from the everyday and immerse yourself in what you love. For me it

Ok, something that I thought was a jewel of wisdom: Val said that when he makes containers, he does them in a series and he throws the openings to the same size. That way he can get into a groove and throw many bodies and then later sit down and throw many lids. Such a simple idea. I do small batches of sugars bodies and then throw lids measuring each. What was I thinking. Most are different from each other by a sneeze one way or the other. How did I never think of this? Really?!?!?!

This is why I love going to workshops. Yes, learning a new technique is always good, but it's the little tips of experience that make all the difference.

-Sally Anne

All About Evan...

Just trying to see what makes Covert Potter Evan Vieser tick... I asked him:

You have been selected to go on an all expense paid drinking binge for three days with historical figures: an artist, a writer and one free choice. Who are your drinking buddies?

"The artist would be George Ohr, because he seems like someone who's a bit on the edge and there would almost definatly not be a boring moment. As for a writer I'd have to choose Chuck Palahniuk, only because his sense of humor is much like mine, he also has an insane amount of useless knowledge. The only problem with this plan is after 3 days, I quite possibly wouldn't remember a damn thing."

Who would you choose?

Get Inspired

The show opens tomarow night!  You can get a little preview here, but you really should try to come out to the opening.  Several of the Covert Potters have work in the show, Sally Anne Stahl, Celeste Iida, Chris McCormick and Evan Vieser.  Wre are all looking forward to what promises to be an amzing show!

Trials And Tribulations

I used to be a member at the Xiem Clay Center in Pasadena California.  All work at Xiem is fired to Cone 10 in reduction.  After many years I had finally figured out the glazes; which ones worked well together and those that didnt play nicely.  It was just about that time some major changes occured in my life and I set up a studio at home, firing to Cone 5 oxidation.

It has been a challenge.
I have my work table, wheel and kiln and have purchased various glazes but getting the results that I want has been tough. I think my biggest problem has been that I have not had the time to do some serious testing.  So I am working on getting some more glazes to round out a palate and hope to do some serious testing at the end of next month.  At least thats the plan...
What cone are you working at?  And what challenges have you worked to overcome?
I often go to YouTube when looking for information on any topic, there are many videos on glaze application but not that much on specific glazes and what works with what.  I guess that is because there are so many variables from kiln to kiln and glaze to glaze.  Or even the geographical area you are firing in.
Which leads me to another question, where do you go when looking for help or information?
~Chris

Introducing The Newest Covert Potters

T Roberts

T Robert and Jon Pacini are new members of the Covert Potters Association. I met them the first time I went to Fred's to fire one of his kilns.  Ok, Fred is everything a curmudgeony old man should be. And at the time of him telling me that he had room in his kiln for me, I had not met him either. I made it to Fred's and was offered food. Fred and his wife had gone to LA for a birthday party and told no one I was coming. These lovely strangers invited me in, gave me food and made me feel welcomed.

T and Jon could not be more different as potters. T is very sculptural, hand-built and she loves to alter her thrown pieces. Her joy is to wood fire. Jon spends more time on the wheel with beautiful forms. He has spent much time in the past with crystalline glazes and is now doing wood firing.

I hope you will come to a Covert Potters Event and meet these two.
~Sally Anne



Jon Pacini

Dont Forget!...

To come up to Xiem Clay Center for thier annual Falliday Ceramic Sale!  The Covert Potters will be there, sharing two booths!  Be sure to stop and say hi, you wont be able to miss us!  Hope to see you!

 

Share The Link Love

If you would like to share a link with the Covert Potters, leave a comment below with the link you would like listed.  And let us know when you have listed us!

Thank You, Read on...

And Now Another Installment of... Ask a Potter!

What?!?! I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the noise... hehehe. Or maybe I’m just not listening to you... No, just kidding. I often wonder: What do you listen to while you pot?
Chris:
I usually like to listen to more ambient sounds with deep rhytyms like Shpongle, can never go wrong with David Bowie, the Yoshida Bros, Zero Seven
Evan:
Rock and Roll, Jazz, Blues, all at the same time
Celeste:
I listen to the radio. I prefer jazz and oldies
Sally Anne:
If I'm at home: NPR. Love the weekend programming. Or music - Angry chick music mostly. I pot outside so I don't sing along… want to keep the neighbors friendly. At the studio: other people. It's a community place and It's nice to connect.

Do you listen to anything while you work? Do you prefer silence? Is there something you wish you could listen too?

We’d love to hear your questions for the Covert Potters. Please leave a comment with any questions you may have and we will try to get them answered as quickly as possible! Thank you… read on.

Make It A Handmade Holiday

With the Covert Potters!  We will be showing our latest creations on the annual Fall Sale at Xiem Clay Center.  The sale opens friday night November 12th from 6 till 9 then 10:30 till 4:30 on Saturday November 13th.  Stop by our booth and say hi.  Free gift with every purchase!  Hope to see you! Follow the link for more info on the Xiem Clay Center

Ask a Potter ~ The Power of Attraction

Sometimes you just have to ask a potter to get an answer. So we will be putting members of the Covert Potters to the test. Check in with us from time to time or click “Get The Feed” down to the left to subscribe to get all the juicy tidbits on life, pottery and the pursuit of clay…

Let’s start at the beginning. Very good place to start… I’ll stop before the doe, rae, me – or not. Today’s question is: Do you visualize your Art before creating? Do you know what it will look like before you begin? What's your process?

Chris: I sit and let it flow. Rare is the occasion where I sit down with a preconceived idea and work it out.

Sally Anne: I usually visualize new forms/shapes before I create them. I first try to see it completely in my head, working out how it is to be made. Do I need supports? What clay? What glaze? What techniques? I like to have it worked out in my mind before hand, than as I work, I might have to change or re-think something to conform to the reality of the situation.

I like to think about new pots as I drive, at my day job or when I go biking. It gets me through the day. I see the thinking process as the arty part of what I do. And I can do it pretty much any where. But once I get with clay, I’ve pretty much know how I’m going to proceed with what I’m making. Then again, I tried to make my baskets by throwing the bodies and altering them. That was a grand mistake. I realized I could get what I wanted by cutting/darting and forming the bodies and handles.

Celeste: When I create sculpture or carved work, yes I visualize the piece from the start. I do not use thumbnail sketches because I don’t want to spoil the creative process and I often change the silhouette if the carving or the form does not want to adhere to my preconceived idea.

We’d love to hear your questions for the Covert Potter. Please email us with any question you may have and we will try to get them answered as quickly as possible! Thank you

Ask A Potter...Is It Love?

Ok, we’d all love to say we do this for the sheer love of art and clay, but let’s be real, one has to pay the bills. So, we sell what we love and home it goes to a happy place where it’s used and loved. Right? Today’s question is: Does getting paid for your art work embarrass you? If so, why? If not, why not?

Chris: Not at all. If your art is functional or non functional all that matters is that someone derives joy from what you made. If you create something that so moves someone else as to spend their money on it how can that be embarrassing?

Sally Anne: It’s weird for me to charge my friends. If I could, I’d just give it way to them for free, but then there’s the reality of clay, studio time, workshops… I get over it pretty quickly. I sell to make back my money and to get rid of pots. The more I have in my closet, the less I feel like making. And it’s nice to see what people will spend their money on, especially in these tough economic times. It makes me doubly appreciative of what I do sell. I’m not inexpensive like Crate & Barrel.

We’d love to hear your questions for the Covert Potter. Please email us with any question you may have and we will try to get them answered as quickly as possible! Thank you… read on.

Covert Potter Spotted In Nature

Enjoying a cup of tea?  Yes, look closely at the end of this clip and you will see a Covert Potter enjoying a morning cup of tea.  In a handmade cup! Enjoy handmade functional pottery anywhere!

ART From The Ashes ~ INSPIRE

Being a mostly functional potter, I really enjoy the nudge to just be creative and explore through clay. I usually do this when I wood fire. I have no set objects that I make for the anagama kiln. I start to play and see where I end up. I wish the firings were more frequent, so that I could push things farther in the process...

And then an other Art from the Ashes exhibit comes along.  Last exhibit I made two large hanging wall tiles. I had tried this before with horrible results: cracking in the bisque firing. I changed scale and the clay and made more. This time it worked so close to perfect. The tiles had small boxes to put artifacts from the Deukmejian Wilderness Park burn site. I chose wood, metal, bone and glass. I really enjoyed making.

The founder of AFTA, Joy, told me during the last show that she hoped to do another truly highlight all the talents of the AFTA artist. I was on it and got a few pod pieces into the wood kiln. The closed thrown forms fired amazingly well. I have inset copper flashing and glass into them. 

The thrill of the up coming “Inspire” show, is that we also get to exhibit non-AFTA themed work.

I went back to my wall tiles for one piece. I made a series of tiles based on my love of trees. I once again changed the scale. They are smaller: 6.5”x6.5”x1.5” I carved trees, branches, leaves and bark. I use oxides on the carved areas and glazed on a reserved area. I tried to invoke, sky, sun, night, snow and life with the glazes I chose. I’m really happy with the results.

I also included into the selection process some of my wood fired leaf bowls. And to round it all out, a tea set.  I’d like the viewing public to get a fell for all of my pots, and maybe a bit of me.

~Sally Anne Stahl

Xiem Clay Center Fall Sale

Handmade Bowls, Homemade Ice Cream & Toy Trains

It's summer time and with the first heat wave of the season, we have been trying to figure out ways to cool off. What better way than ICE CREAM! A childhood favorite that must be indulged. We are pairing hand-made ice cream bowls with the home-made delights of the lovely Valerie Campbell who is opening her home ...and churning the maker for us! Come join us...Sunday August 22nd from 12 to 4 at 917 Alma St, Glendale, Ca. 91202.  Pre-order and save!!  tickets are $17.50 in advance, $20.00 at the door.  Just click HERE!
Lots of great flavors and toppings! Pick a bowl, handmade by a Covert Potter, enjoy some ice cream then take the bowl with you!

What are the flavors you ask?... We have all chosen one for Valerie to make;
Lavender Sorbet
Mexican Chocolate
Rum Raisin Vanilla
Pistachio
Watermelon Sorbet
Very Berry Strawberry
Margarita Sorbet

OOOoooooohhhhhh. Pretty! Ask A Potter

OOOhhhhhh. Pretty. Have you ever wondered what kind of pottery potters have in their house? Well I do? And I had to ask: What is your favorite pot that you own?

Sally Anne: When I thought about this question, so many pots went through my head. I have 94% my pots, 5% other peoples pots and 1% store pots. I have to admit, sadly, I am my favorite potter. I like to think it’s a good thing...hehehe. And as I thought about this question, I realized that I tend to love the last pots out of the kiln as my favorite. I’m in love with a little black mountain with a drippy korean blue Celadon glaze. It’s has a crazy stamped design and a beautiful round body. It’s perky. And it reminds me to make more, to push the decoration and to be true to myself.

Chris: Like many people/potters I collect.  So I have all these tea bowls, mugs and tumblers that I use on a daily basis. I enjoy choosing which to use on a particular morning.  It makes the morning routine a bit special.  There's a tea bowl from Tom Coleman, a Birdie Boone and many others.  And yes there is one of mine!  These are some of them.  This morning I enjoyed my Heidi Brandenburg!

Evan: The blue falcon.

So, what is your favorite pot/art work that you own?
We’d love to hear your questions for the Covert Potters. Please leave a comment with any question you may have and we will try to get them answered as quickly as possible! Thank you… read on.

What's Your Muse? Ask A Potter

Inspiration! It can be the muse that lets your mind run wild and your leads your hands to create with joy. It can knock you over, whisper in you ear or leave you high and dry. We’d like to know: What, if anything, do you consistently draw inspiration from?
Celeste: I am inspired by nature and by works created during the art nouveau movement.
Sally Anne: Food. Sometimes it’s what I’m hungry for or food I’ve been eating and I think: How would I serve this. And sometimes it’s just a need I have. I need plates or a butter dish. I’ll get on a kick and then walk away until I get excited about that form or idea again Nature. The clouds in the sky, bark on a tree, leaves, mountains, rocks, etc. I’m a big fan of seed pods. I like to keep track of the changing of the season’s via pods.  Conversations/interactions with people. Sometimes things happen between me and someone else and I will put a response in clay.  I’ll steal. Sometimes I see someone doing something or a piece in a shop and I think: I can do that better. And I’ll process it out in my head and do it.
And life in general.
Chris: The smell of the salt air as you approach the beach, orange blossoms in the morning or the innocence of the children at work
Evan: Nothing's consistent.
Is there anything in your life that always puts a creative thought in your head?
We’d love to hear your questions for the Covert Potters. Please leave a comment with any questions you may have and we will try to get them answered as quickly as possible! Thank you… read on

ART From The Ashes

The opening of the show is coming up, save the date!!  Saturday June 19.  Covert Potters Chris McCormick, Sally Anne Stahl, Celeste Iida and Evan Vieser have all created works of art for this event.  Hope you can make it!

Other Mediums? Ask A Potter

I don’t know an artistic person that sticks to their medium solely. There is so much out there to be seen, worked with and known. We just have to ask: What other mediums do you work in?
Celeste: Food. Fabric. I used to sew all of my evening clothes until I met clay.  Since meeting clay, my wardrobe has down graded to sweats and jeans but I don’t mind.
Evan: My art is mainly contained to clay but occasionally I'll paint and photograph roads.
Sally Anne: Glass. Just started to fuse, but I'd love to learn how to blow. I play with photography and yarn. I'd would love to learn how to weave.
Chris: I like to paint and sculpt though it has been a while.  I have to say I am increasingly intrigued by and drawn to glass and am looking forward to taking some classes and “getting on the torch” as it were.
So what materials are making your heart sing and your hands move?We’d love to hear your questions for the Covert Potters. Please leave a comment below with any questions you may have and we will try to get them answered as quickly as possible! Thank you… read on.

Insecure?... Ask A Potter

With all the talk about National Security, let’s talk about personal insecurity.... Describe an insecurity you deal with in making your work?
Sally Anne: The idea of beauty. Is my idea acceptable to others? I know I shouldn't care, but I do...
Chris: Is it done? No, just a little more, CRAP!  Always second guessing myself
Celeste: I am less anxious about the building process now that muscle retention is part of my being. I still have concerns about the glazing and the glaze firing but refuse to change to a different firing temperature.
What are the insecurities that you fine are running around your head when you are working on your art?
We’d love to hear your questions for the Covert Potters. Please leave a comment below with any questions you may have and we will try to get them answered as quickly as possible! Thank you… read on.

Look Into The Future ~ Ask A Potter

Who doesn’t want to think and plan about the future. We potters are in a long line to the past with the clay we use, the forms we make and the process we explore. But we do look forward to much. Today’s question: What do you look forward to about your pots?
Chris: Having the time to create more, to learn more and release that knowledge into the clay.
Evan: The ones that don’t make the cut and smashing them with a hammer.
Celeste: Getting them out of the kiln.
Sally Anne: Seeing something come out of the kiln and it’s better than I could have hoped. Especially from a wood firing and knowing that I made it – Pride.
You can’t tell me you don’t have hopes or thoughts about what you are doing. What do you look forward to?
We’d love to hear your questions for the Covert Potters. Please leave a comment with any questions you may have and we will try to get them answered as quickly as possible! Thank you… read on