Thomas Bumblauskas

CLAY ARTS VEGAS

2012-02-07T05:20:00.000-08:00

WOW!!!
Brian Paco Alvarez*, Las Vegas' Culture Promoter has pleaded his support to the CLAY ARTS VEGAS project. We at CAV are excited to have such an important member of the Las Vegas' art scene interested in our project.
Please sign up to follow his blog:
http://lvartsandculture.blogspot.com/2012/02/clay-arts-vegas-moves-downtown.html

We are looking to start classes in March 2012

*Brian Paco Alvarez, is a professional curator, urban historian and native Las Vegan. He has dedicated his life and career to the cultural arts and historic preservation in the Las Vegas area and throughout the state.

CLAY ARTS VEGAS

2012-01-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

I have discovered a cool new project in Vegas, CLAY ARTS VEGAS. Check out the blog, webpage, facebook, and the twitter. These guys have it going on!!!! If you can help them in anyway I would appreciate it.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003221121192

http://twitter.com/#!/ClayArtsVegas

http://clayartsvegas.blogspot.com/

http://www.clayartsvegas.com

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Happy New Year!

FRESH POTS! GET YOUR FRESH POTS!

2011-11-30T16:29:00.000-08:00

Admittadly not the best photo.

So I fired Coleman's Grey Blue Celadon at cone 10 in my electric kiln. I got much better results then expected. The reading I did about firing Celadon's in oxidation said they would be matt, and more then likely have a brown or pink hue. These don't ----

Super excited about the sale this weekend, and now I have some fresh pots to add to the collection.

GLAZING For weekend sale

2011-11-29T10:30:00.000-08:00

So---- I am glazing so work for the sale this weekend. I am going to fire some Coleman Grey Blue Celadon at cone 10 in my electric kiln. Have had offers for a place to fire in reduction, not enough work to fill a kiln.

Will post results

HOLIDAY SALE.

2011-11-14T22:55:00.001-08:00

After a very successful OPEN STUDIO TOUR, a few of my ceramic artist friends, a jewelry designer, and an amazing painter, are holding a HOLIDAY SALE..... Of course just be an excuse to hang out and drink eggnog and eat cookies.

STUDIO TOUR MAP

2011-10-21T11:30:00.001-07:00

Its getting closer and closer..... The 1st ever Las Vegas Art Studio Tour. Come join the fun!

What a week ---

2011-10-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

THE MESSY MOOSE

2011-09-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Had a great time in Casper WY. The folks at the Moose were amazing, and the community snapped up my work like it was the next hot trend. Well actually two trends, the Face Mugs and the Desert Landscapes. (the vacuum needed the press).
I am thrilled with the response.

Starting to think of returning to grad school.....

The Messy Moose Sept 22nd - Sept 24th

2011-09-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Thom Bumblauskas will be at The Messy Moose Sept 22nd - Sept 24th for a "Sculptural Pottery" show.Thom has focused and trained in the style of the legendary South Eastern pottery dynasties. He draws inspiratiion from the work of the Hewells and Meaders. He is interested in preserving tradional forms but giving them a contemporary twist.

THINKART!! GERTRUDE - Lunch Box

2011-09-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

Just got this email]

Dear Thomas:

On behalf of ThinkArt!, I would like to thank you for entering the Marriott SpringHill Suites ArtNight Juried Art Exhibition, Black White & Night.

We are happy to inform you that you have been selected to be showcased at Marriott SpringHill Suites ArtNight theme art exhibition, Black White & Night. The work(s) will be showcased from September 13 – 27, 2011. The juried process gave us a peek, a glimpse, of your artistic talent and we would be proud to showcase it at our event.

Black White & Night Reception event, an evening of entertainment and refreshment, has been scheduled on September 27, 2011 from 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm. It is also on this night that your work(s) is available for purchase. Your attendance is most encouraged.

The following work(s) have been selected:

Gertrude - Lunchbox

All wall pieces, accepted by ThinkArt! and Think & Wonder, Inc. must be prepared properly for hanging. All other work must be ready to be installed. Sculptures must be able to sit sturdy on pedestal or on floor.

Because of space limitations with any given exhibition, not all works that have been accepted will be on display.

Artwork(s) Drop-off/Delivery Deadline:

Saturday, Sept. 10 between 10 am - 6:00 pm

Please drop-off or deliver your work(s) to:

Marriott SpringHill Suites

2989 Paradise Road · Las Vegas, Nevada 89109.

If you need direction to the hotel, please call 702-433-5880.

Thank you once again for your participation in the Black White & Night Exhibition. We are excited to showcase your work(s).

Warmest regards,

Dinh

SUCCESS

2011-08-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

The piece I did not put in the show... I really enjoy this soda fired pot.

Last night the WEST SARAH LIBRARY ART SHOW opened without a hitch. From my guess we had about 200 people attend - for Vegas that's a great turn out. Thanks to Nevada Clay Guild for helping to spread the word.

I need to run off to the studio. Would like to get three 28" platters thrown today, then off to Aardvark to teach class tonight.

Ill try to post photos of the platters tomorrow.

Thinking about starting a REFER A FRIEND to my blog - if you refer three (?) people to the blog, you are registered to win a piece of my work. This is all still in the mulling around in my scattered brain. Details to be nailed down soon

WEST SARAH LIBRARY SHOW

2011-08-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Here are the pieces I have in this library show. All three were wood fired, the Devil Cup is my (today) favorite. The atmosphere from the firing made this guy very special.

Cosmopolitan’s Art-o-mat - featuring me

2011-08-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

Cheaper Than a Pack of Cigs

How the maker of the Cosmopolitan’s Art-o-mat provided art lovers with a $5 entry into the art world

By Andreas Hale

July 21st, 2011

Whittington in his garage studio in North Carolina.

If you’ve explored the Cosmopolitan, surely you’ve noticed its scattering of old-school cigarette vending machines, which deliver $5 miniature works of art instead of Marlboro Reds. They’re called Art-o-mats, and they originated as a conceptual art piece by Clark Whittington. Today the Art-o-mat has grown to sell work from 300-400 artists from 10 countries. There are 100 machines in the U.S.A. (and machines in Australia, Canada and Austria), with the Cosmopolitan housing seven. Vegas Seven spoke with Art-o-mat’s founder and creator to discuss its origins, its appeal and how it wound up in a casino.

What was the inspiration behind Art-o-mat?

My art has always been conceptual. I would base a lot of my work on things that I observed. I came up with the idea of putting art in a vending machine based on a friend’s reaction to snack wrappers. When he’d hear the crinkle of cellophane, he’d always go and buy something for himself. When I moved to North Carolina in 1997, cigarette machines were being banned and thrown away. That became the foundation of the first Art-o-mat machine. The idea of art in cellophane was to take art that wasn’t marketable and repackage it into something consumer friendly.

Are people purchasing the art simply for the experience of using a cigarette machine?

It’s the experience at first. Repeat purchases are based on the fact that they enjoyed their first experience. Some people keep coming back and amass a huge collection. We’re reaching this middle ground of people that have been alienated by all of the pretentiousness of the art world. We are introducing people to art who may not have bought art before in an affordable manner. The whole art of buying something out of Art-o-mat is sort of like a piece of art, anyway.

Did you anticipate having so many machines?

No way! My art has always been pretty much a flop. The first Art-o-mat was one of 13 pieces I had at a show in a coffee shop that featured my own art in there for a dollar a piece. I expected to get rid of the machine after the 30-day show ended. At the end of the month the coffee shop owner said that I couldn’t take it because it was “too cool.” But I couldn’t keep it filled with my own art, so we invited other artists to sell their art.

How did you connect with the Cosmopolitan?

As crazy as the Cosmopolitan can be about pushing the envelope, they are very normal people that understand how to make connections with people. One of [director of content and entertainment at the Cosmo] Chris Burns’ buddies was an Art-o-mat artist. He mentioned the machines to Chris and got him intrigued with the concept. He contacted us directly, I met with him and he was very approachable. I wanted to start with one machine, they wanted more and we took it from there.

How do you select your artists?

They select us. It sounds cheesy, but I never want anyone to be a part of this because they felt pressured to do it. I want people to approach us naturally. It’s cool because you can get your work literally into the hands of people. Any artist out there—and we need artists—go to our website Artomat.org, follow the guidelines. We do have some Vegas artists that have signed on recently [Kelly Murphy, John Gregg, Stephanie Ford, Lisa Fields Clark, Thomas Bumblauskas, Christopher Ralph Vasquez and Alyssa Risley]. That’s kind of cool because we want each city and machine to be a resource for local artists.

Tags:

Teapots and Pitchers

2011-08-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

Having a crazy week, again.
Teaching two days at Pottery West, and two days at Aardvark Clay and Supply. This week I am focusing my demonstrations in teapots and pitchers.

It seem to be making all of the students happy. I'll try to remember to photo the pieces was are creating in class. Better then the ones I have posted.

AUG 3 2011

2011-08-03T10:49:00.001-07:00

This is a jug from our last Wood Soda firing. Mr. Flower's and his Water Jug. I just posted him to my Esty store.

Last weekend I was at the Howard Alan show in Park City UT - not to be negative, but what a stinker. I think we saw about 300 people, really. Saturday night we went for a ride around town to see why this might be. First we only saw one poster, secondly the construction in front of the show as terrible. One lane in each direction. Needless to say I was not thrilled about the this show.

This week I am working on the Tom Coleman gas soda firing workshop at Pottery West. So far lots of fun!!!!

AMAZING WEEKEND

2011-07-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

First a HUGE thank you to Amy Kline and Pottery West for letting us us the facility and having such amazing equipment!
Remember I am in Vegas; most of the weekend was in the mid-90's - it was great! Here is our firing schedule. We held about 4 hours, that should be enough time to develop some great color and give is some good sparkly pots.

WOOD SODA	July 15-17 2011			Cone pack
				010; 06; 8;9;11
Crew	Time	upper temp	lower temp	notes
	July 14/15/16
Marc R				Cleaned Kiln
Danni				CleanedFurniture
John G				Vacuum, kiln wash shelves, wadding
Thom B				Split wood, grind bag wall, wadding
Donna/Brian (son)				Split wood, brought personal chain saw...
Thom\John				Purchased 13 new shelves (last firing purchased 8)
	07/16/11
John Thom Beth	2pm – 7:30p			Load (planned 8am start – had to finish prep)

Thom B John Beth Morgan	730	96	96	Start Fire
Thom Beth (Morgan)	830	18	18	Probe wrong
Thom Beth (Morgan)	930			Probe wrong
Thom Beth (Morgan)	1030	245
Thom Beth (Morgan)	1130	300
John Beth (Morgan)	1230	364
John Brian (son)	200	324	356	Probe Died Pulled new probe
John Brian (son)	300	550	390	moving to box
John Brian (son)	400	650	516
John Brian (son)	500	900	690
John Brian (son)	600	1100	812
Thom John Brian (son)	700	1301	1030
Thom John Brian (son)	800	1490	1229
Thom John Brian (son) Donna	900	1775	1500	Reduction
Thom John Brian (son) Donna	930	1600	1400
Thom John Brian (son) Donna	1000	1800	1600	fire box full:coal bed high – open 2 passive (high)
Thom John	1100	1962	1819	switch to pine only
Thom John Marc Mary	1130	2118		stirring ash every 10 to 15
Marc Mary	1200	2100
marc Mary	1225	2150
marc Mary	100	2145		50/50 pine/mahogany
marc Mary	125	2175		bed still high
marc Mary thom	145	2180	2157
marc Mary thom	215	2170	2180	c8 bending middle
marc Mary thom	250	2186	2179	coal bed nice – one passive out
marc Mary thom	315	2180	2150
marc Mary thom	335	2211	2195
marc Mary Thom	420	2208	2200
marc Mary Thom	445	2220	2250	c8 down, c9 starting to bend (bottom/middle)
marc Mary Thom	500	2245	2208
Thom B John	600	2260	2240	c9 bending all over
Thom B John Donna	700	2250	2250	Added soda as sawdust – bury box only
				50/50 mix (5lb total) over 3 stokes(flutter damper)
Thom B John Donna	830	2201	2190	high ash bed
Thom B John Donna	930	2250		HOLDING
Thom B John Donna	1030	2267	2226	c11 bending C11 down in middle
Thom B John Donna	1130	2350	2270	HOLDING
Thom B John Donna	1200			Closed – temp dropped to 2100 in 8 minutes

Opening July 21 – 3pm				Note: Firing of Refrigerator with Mr. Alyiss took
				took place 6am to 5pm on 7/17

				Total wood used 2.5 cords.
				Need to look at termites and carpenter bees in pile

WOOD FIRE WEEKEND

2011-07-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Spent the last 14 hours glazing pieces for the Wood Soda Firing at Pottery West.

Glazed the "Bento Boxes" using a combination of flashing slips and glaze. They should be amazing! I decided to try using a latex wax and Aluminum Hydrate on the "lids" for the forms. Off to Aardvard Clay and Supply to teach class....

The photos I keep forgetting to add

2011-07-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

Playing with the idea of "Lunch Boxes" -- Would have loved to open my locker at school or work to find one of these dudes with my lunch in it.... Now that they are to this point, firing, should prove to be a wadding nightmare.

The box scooter arrived in....Scooter -- YEAH

FUN STUFF

2011-07-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

first spent a $1.75 to fill the tank on my new ride -- Cruising back and forth to studio on a scooter: Wearing a helmet as the Vegas drivers are NUTS!

Just got an email that my face mug "SPIDEY DUDE" was featured on a new artist blog; http://etsianartists.blogspot.com/2011/07/wonderful-wednesdays.html

Check it out.

Tomorrow I start splitting wood --- who's idea was it to wood fire when its 110 outside; oh it was mine.

New Adventure --

2011-06-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

My new project: Bento Boxes, sort of...

Found a open to interpretation, the theme, “To Go,” hopes to inspire both vessel and sculpture creation, from the obvious flasks, thermoses, car cups, lunch boxes, things with lids, wheels… to the more outrageous or unpredictable. The possibilities are endless – surprise us!

I think this is a fun idea, even if I don't enter the show.

process photos soon

IT'S ALREADY MID JUNE....

2011-06-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

So when last I blogged, I was loading the Wood Soda Kiln at Pottery West. The firing was AMAZING lots of really good work. We had a slight mishap, we used three of the hollow core shelves at the front of the load. Those shelves are now dead, and hollow core shelves are in general are dead to me.

For the last two weekends I have been in north of Salt Lake City selling pots. The first show was in Ogden UT, a great one day art show. The weather was amazing and the folks there ate up the new product.

Last weekend I was in Logan UT, it was a three day show called LOGAN SUMMERFEST. It was interesting. I did sell one of my favorite pieces from the Soda Fire. I was told told by the women who bought it was going to be a Father's Day gift. Her dad is a collector...

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

What better way to kick off the summer heat in Las Vegas then an old fashion Wood Soda firing - we a Japanese smokeless design. So John Gregg, Marc Rosenthal and Myself (and some great students at Pottery West in Las Vegas) have been splitting wood, grinding shelves and furniture, kiln washing all the parts and glazing like mad.

We will be starting to load this Saturday (5/28) early in the day, and hope to start the fire by 8pm. I think we will be doing a 30hr firing, we could do it much faster, like 18 hours, but who wants broken pots, and non-developed color. The plan is 100 degrees pr hour for the first 800, then a bit faster to 1250. After that we can let it rip. Of course there is reduction at 010, and reduction again at cone 9.

I would really like the kiln to get to cone 11 bending, and keep it in that area for for four hours or so. Talking with Tom Coleman the other day, he said four hour hold should be fine, he would rather it be about six to get the best color development. We will see where our energy and labor force is..... I am already planning on DENNY'S very early Monday morning.

Some photos from the last wood soda fire in February....

What better way to kick off the summer heat in Las Vegas then an old fashion Wood Soda firing - we a Japanese smokeless design. So John Gregg, Mark Rosenthal and Myself (and some great students at Pottery West in Las Vegas) have been splitting wood, grinding shelves and furniture, kiln washing all the parts and glazing like mad.

We will be starting to load this Saturday (5/28) early in the day, and hope to start the fire by 8pm. I think we will be doing a 30hr firing, we could do it much faster, like 18 hours, but who wants broken pots, and non-developed color. The plan is 100 degrees pr hour for the first 800, then a bit faster to 1250. After that we can let it rip. Of course there is reduction in there, and again at cone 9. But I would really like the kiln to get to cone 11 bending, and keep it in that area for for four hours or so. Talking with Tom Coleman the other day, he said four hour hold should be fine, he would rather it be about six to get the best color development. We will see where our energy and labor force is..... I am already planning on DENNY'S very early Monday morning.

Some photos from the last wood soda fire in February....

FRESH FROM THE KILN

2011-03-30T10:29:00.001-07:00

All of these pieces were fired at Pottery West in Las Vegas. John Gregg and I did a 19 hour firing in the propane reduction kiln.

These three cups were glazed with B's Shine over Laguana's Soda Fire body. Not sure the reason for the orange peel. Candled for for 4 hours at 250; two days after glazing... Love it, but confused.

This little dude is a porcelain cup that was a re-fire. I he was fired in the wood fire soda kiln a few months back, but had a huge dingus in the handle. A little grinding and a shot of glaze, and some more time in the kiln, he is good to go. (He needs a name..)

This small tea bowl has the same issue as the first three cups. But boy oh boy did the warmth of the Death Valley clay body come through.

Off to post a piece on Etsy.

Back in the saddle

2011-03-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

s
So I have been back from my East coast adventure for about 3 weeks; I leave next week for Columbia Missouri to design a production THE MERRY WIDOW. While in Vegas i've been throwing, teaching classes, carving, and loading kilns. I have also been applying to shows and compilations, its great to be back.

Last night John Gregg and I were firing the "Refrigerator Kiln". It is a aprox 45 square foot propane reduction down draft. We fired it to cone 10 in 20 hours. Long time candling, something like 7 hours, as it was rainy and damp the day prior.

While firing I worked on 10 face cups... here is one of them.

13th Annual Faces Juried Online International Art Exhibition

2011-03-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

A few of my pieces were accepted to this show: check it out!

http://www.upstreampeoplegallery.com/exhibition/default.asp?XD=3/1/2011&AN=Akrish%2C+Esther

DEBRA FRITTS Workshop

2011-02-03T10:54:00.000-08:00

I had the great fortune to travel to Baltimore before the snow-mageddon 2011 and participate in a great workshop with Debra Fritts at the Baltimore Clayworks. The workshop revolved around creating a hand built head with attention to proportion and human anatomy. Super fun and made me leave the comfort zone of my face jug creations.

Day 1: Creation of the shell.

Build Neck

Create Chin and Head: Tapper Neck

Find Jaw

Setting placement for features

Ears, Jaw, Cheeks....
Closing the head

Day 2: The fun - Making it personal

I didn't take any photos of the altering and adding of the parts pieces and shoulders. I did take a few of the piece after the AMACO under glazes and englobes were applied. AMACO provides the underglazes for the workshops.

Debra showed us how to apply layers of dry clay to create a interesting surface texture that will crackle when it is fired. Wonder if it will work at cone 10?

I think the one of the things that Debra reminded to be a painter. I spent years painting for theatre and film, and I do not think I have ever tried those techniques with glaze. You don't always need to spray an even coat of glaze, perhaps I need to think of it as colored gesso.

Thanks Debra!

head to Baltimore to make heads (?)

2011-01-24T10:43:00.001-08:00

His guy came out of the Wood Sofa a few weeks ago, finally got him cleaned up and did his head shot. The stars were a low fire glaze (04) - gold: firing in a gas environment created an amazing bronze finish.

I'm headed to Baltimore to take Debra Fritt's Workshop Head Talk at Baltimore Clay Works, super excited!

Also working on a production of RINALDO at OPERA VIVENTE. I will miss all the folks at Pottery West.

Reasons I love WOOD FIRE

2011-01-17T22:37:00.000-08:00

Here are some pieces I am loving from the wood soda fire at POTTERY WEST on January 8, 2011

Laguana's Kia Porcelain with Matt Long's Red Flashing Slip, and Old Time Jack Blue Flashing

Aardvark's Black Mountain Cone 10 Clay:
Blue Chun Liner and Elaine Best Celadon (bottom mug)
Light Dusting of Matt Long's Red Flashing Slip
Heavy spray of Andrew Wong's Luster

I will post the rest of the pieces on my website: http://www.whirledmud.com in the next day or so.

January WOOD SODA @ POTTERY WEST NV

2011-01-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Kelly for photoing the Kiln opening.

All in all good results. In retrospect I think we should have soaked for about another hour or so.

Wood Soda Firing at POTTERY WEST

2011-01-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

Had the opportunity to fire the amazing WOOD SODA KILN at Pottery West in Las Vegas.

The (aprx) 45 cubic foot kiln always performs well. John Gregg and I had about 125 pieces between us, and there were a number of pieces from artists and students from the Pottery West. There was a combination of green and bisque pieces.

From 7pm till 12am we used a propane weed burner to candling to 200.

Our friend and fellow artist Derek over saw Midnight to 5am shift taking the kiln to 5oo degrees; sadly at 5am I had a face jug blow up. Quick thinking on John's part, he opened the door and pulled the shrapnel as it was resting on some student work. His description of the event reminded me of his fearless raku technique.

At 6am I came in; with John, our friends and students of PW. It was great to see Gigi Marquart who is the president of the Nevada Clay Guild and Linda Whitehair a great ceramics teacher and artist.

When the kiln was at cone 9 down we added our soda with a combination of burritos and spray:

Burrito recipe:

1.25lb Soda Ash
1.25lb Baking Soda
3lb of wood chip

Allow to soak 3 days

Take Burrito filling wrap in Newspaper.
Insert using steel angle iron into the kiln

We also sprayed 1 gallon Baking Soda/Soda Ash solution into kiln via high a high port.
1lb Soda ash (in boiling water)
1lb Baking Soda

We ended the firing at 9pm. When we closed the kiln we did a final stir of the ash bed and filled the bury box. In total we burnt about 2 1/2 cords of wood.

Kiln opening on 1/12/2011 at 3pm!`

Thank you to Amy Kline for allowing us to use the kiln and her vast knowledge.

Sorry video is in the wrong direction

AMAZING YEAR

2010-12-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

Although its not over yet 2010 has been a blast. Showed my work in lots of galleries, did a lot of "art" shows, and taught a lot of classes.
Currently I am plugging away at Face Mugs. Those little buggers really sold this season; with a wood soda firing in January at POTTERYWEST I really need to make a new series. Perhaps a exploring the seven deadly sins??

At the end of January I will be in Baltimore for a workshop on making faces at Baltimore Clay Works. Should be fun to get some new pointers, and meet some new folks.

Happy Holidays

BACK IN VEGAS -- BACK IN THE STUDIO

2010-11-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

Got back from the East Coast on Wednesday. Loaded glaze kiln Thursday, loaded the bisque on Friday.
Opened both today.

Here are the cups I am entering in POTTERY WEST'S 1st Annual Cup Show: Juror: John W. Hopkins, Sculpture and Ceramic Professor at Riverside Community College.

craziness in the office

YA-HOOO

2010-09-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

Had a great Saturday. "BIRD MAN" won first place at the art show portion of BITE AT THE MUSEUM sponsored by Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada. Juror - Brian “Paco” Alvarez. The event was amazing an we all got a sneak peak the new NEVADA STATE MUSEUM at SPRINGS PRESERVE.

BIRD MAN is approximately 24" tall, Porcelain, and was fired in a Wood Soda kiln at Pottery West in Las Vegas this past spring. He is glazed with shino's and a number of slips and under glazes.

Crazy Busy

2010-09-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the Durango (Colorado) Art Show. Amazing weather, we shared the weekend with a Coffee Festival and Beer Festival.
While I was Durango, the kiln was opened, some really great stuff.

The Antelope platter is a commission for Nevada Ballet Theatre. They are going to auction it off next week. A dancers will be displaying it... Ill post a video

Also in rehearsal for a production of FOOL FOR LOVE for Nevada Conservatory Theatre at UNLV....

Death Valley -

2010-09-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

Throwing lots of DEATH VALLEY clay from Laguna. Loving it, although I gotta say all my shorts are stained pink.

I need to throw some cups for the POTTERY WEST "CUP SHOW" deadline is November 1 and i'm out of town all of October. Time management challenge.

Blues and Arts Festival

2010-08-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

Made it back from Keystone Colorado. We drove up 70 to Keystone through the valley. So beautiful the rock formations, the river and small rapids. Next year I will have to schedule some time to get out of the truck and explore.

The show was "OK"; not very well attended in my opinion. Sold a few pots, met some great people. Two weeks till the Durango CO art show. Time to make the more platters and believe it or not mugs and Face Jugs. Hope I have time to fire it all.

PARK CITY

2010-08-19T09:21:00.001-07:00

Park City was really nice! The Redstone show is one week after the huge KIMBALL ART SHOW. But for a first time show the traffic was not to bad. Sunday proved to be a better day then Saturday.. thats was kinda odd

Just packed the truck for the KEYSTONE BLUES AND ARTS FESTIVAL - Keystone Colorado. Send your friends!

6th Annual Blues Festival and Art Show

River Run at Keystone, Colorado
August 21-22, 2010

The RedStone Art Fair in Park City, Utah August 14 - 15, 2010

2010-08-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

Prepping to go to Park City UT for the art show. These are some of the new pieces I a bringing to the event.

new photo

2010-08-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

Kelly McLendon just got me a cd with some photos she took of my "bird house" called HOME.

This piece is 28" tall and 10" wide. -- images are crazy big so you can see the detail

LAST CALL

2010-07-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

SUPER bummed. I didnt get accepted to LAST CALL in St Petersburg FL... next time.
Are the photos bad? I know you dont have the real piece anywhere near you..

let the glazing begin

2010-06-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

Although I didnt photograph the stack, I have some 20 pieces to glaze and another small herd to glaze. If a group of pottery really a herd, or is there a better name. A gaggle, murder, or.....

Trimmed 4 platters last night. It's good to be in the studio.

class

2010-06-19T21:26:00.001-07:00

Taught the Saturday class today. Lots of fun! Did demonstration of some basic "Vases" - then did slip trailing and altered the forms. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

studio

2010-06-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

working in studio last few days. Had bunches of green ware to prep for a bisq firing. I am trying two pieces at 022 to see if I can carve on it. If it works should be great for platters....

AMAZING UT WEEKEND

2010-06-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

I had to bail on the Coleman work shop on Friday. When to Ogden UT for the Arts Festival. It was rainy, super windy and 50 or under; the folks there had the good sense to move indoors to UNION STATION. It is cross between a civic building, convention center, and museum. There were something like 50 artists; 5 potters. Lots of great feed back and sold a number of pieces.

The best part of the trip was staying at Crystal Hot Springs/Campground. Although the weather was questionable, it was great to be able to soak in the hot springs after peddling pottery all day.

Can not wait to get back to work in the studio after two plus weeks of workshops and art show prep I need to get some clay under my finger nails.

2010-06-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

Still assisting Tom Coleman on his workshop at Pottery West in Vegas. He demo-ed slip decoration today. Lots of great technique and ideas. It was really fun watching the participants using the techniques, and discovering new skills.

Also got a chance to photo this piece I got out of the wood soda the week before last.

This piece is called HOME - he is a birdhouse roughly 24" tall. Used a combination of slips and Matt Longs Red Flashing Slip.

Got to get back to packing for my show in Odgen UT this weekend. Thankfully Peter has been packing and fixing shelves all week.

GREAT DAY

2010-06-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

Finally got the pieces from last months photoed. Kind of excited by what came out of the Wood Soda fire. We sprayed at cone 9. Cone 12 was bending, cone 11 was bent --

This guy reminds me of an Opera Singer --- or a friendly devil (16" tall)

Always like the jugs of smokers (he is about 5" tall)

This teapot was a combination of Tom Coleman's Orange Carbon Trap Shino, Malcom Davis' shino, and Orange Crystal Matt -- I spattered it with Elemer's Glue working on trying to create some patterning with carbon trap. (10" Tall)

Crushed Spirit is my darkest piece from this firing. From the other side you see the where I crushed the head causing the porcelain to crack. The glazing is a combination of shinos and blue glaze and clay which was dug from a local dinosaur dig. (10" tall - 14" long)

Tomorrow is day 2 of the Tom Coleman workshop at Pottery West --- I an the studio assistant; amazing amount of information to take in!

SODA FIRING

2010-06-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

So the firing was really great. Cone ten down, eleven and twelve bending. Put in soda at cone nine. Used a 50/50 formula. Now if I could just find the widget to get the photos off the camera and phone life would be golden.
Can not wait to post the new bird house and the teapot.... both super hot!

BACK IN VEGAS

2010-05-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Wow- After a month I am back in Las Vegas. I really hit the ground running. Got in on Tuesday night at 10:30p, Wednesday I glazed a number of pieces for the Wood Soda fire; got up at 4am on Thursday and w0rked with John Gregg, Derek and Mark to do a 24 hour firing.
Did laundry on Friday, and taught the beginner and intermediate class all day today. It is great to have my hands in clay again!

I have photos of the load on my phone, I will try and post the before and after pictures tomorrow or Monday. I can not wait to open the kiln

RAINY DAY IN PHILLY

2010-05-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

MAGIC FLUTE is open; go team! check out the information. Getting to spend a few days in Philly.

I missed NCECA; but I was still able to catch some of the pieces still up from the gallery shows. Gotta say I found the the work of Alex Irvine very interesting. His "Ugly Jugs" are/were being shown at the Snyderman-Works Galleries (www.snyderman-works.com). Rick said they were painted with acrylics, but I think he might be mistaken.

Also got to stop by The Clay Studio. The Small Works collection is a riot! I forget the artist but they created a miniature wood kiln with a tumble stack ready for firing; it has a solar collector... made me laugh a lot.

HENDERSON ART SHOW

2010-05-10T05:33:00.001-07:00

Although I am still in Baltimore, I was involved in the Henderson (NV) ARTS FEST. The turn out was really wonderful. Lots of folks looking for last minute Mother's Day gifts. My work is not really the kind of thing you give to most moms I guess but the work was not flying out of the booth either through selling or the 60mph winds.

The best part of the weekend was having my partner in the booth hearing the feedback and getting called with updates and his excitement about what people had to say.

MOTHER'S DAY SALE

2010-05-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Although I was not in attendance, POTTERY WEST had its 1st Annual Mother's Day Sale. Seems I sold I few piece. That is always a good thing.

So its a warm and muggy day in Baltimore, I am kind of missing the dry windy days in Vegas.

Has anyone tried the the Ben Owen Red glaze

Copper Red cone 9 to 10 (red.)
Nepheline syenite-25
Flint-14
Whiting-12
EPK-7
Bentonite-1.5
Copper carbonate-.5
Copper oxide-2.5

Need to find a more stable red then the Tom Coleman that I am currently using

THE SET

2010-04-30T20:37:00.001-07:00

This is the quick sketch of the set.... With luck the "HON" letters are deliveres on Sunday or Monday

BALTIMORE

2010-04-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

Crazy few days building the set for MAGIC FLUTE. I forgot how much work it is to hang doors and build walls - it is super fun, but it has only been three days and I miss hum of my wheel and the dust of the studio. In three weeks I may be climbing the walls.

Reminds me I need to call Heidi Kreitchet and see how the dog is...

hope to post soon!

MAGIC FLUTE

2010-04-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

So working on the opera MAGIC FLUTE. I have a few people helping me build my set, and a super supportive Artistic Director at OPERA VIVENTE in Baltimore. Feeling super lucky I get to create work on this scale. Although I gotta say carrying bags a clay is a lot easier then lumber, doors, and large 4'x8' platforms.

Hoping to go visit the folks at Baltimore Clay Works I am very interested in the recent announcement of their TEAPOT show.

Cynthia Bringle PT2

2010-04-26T09:20:00.001-07:00

Cynthia's workshop continued.... Two best things for me:
She made this great bottle stopper - so simple feeling dumb I didn't think of it myself.

The second thing that got me all tingly: the one piece small wine goblets. When I get back from designing MAGIC FLUTE in Baltimore (opera vivente) I will be cranking some of those out. Can not wait to see the "gargoyle" heads on them.

Rumour in the studio -- Wood firing in late June. Sure it will be 115 outside, but its cooler then in the kiln.

Cynthia Bringle

2010-04-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the first day of a two day workshop, here in Vegas at POTTER WEST. Cynthia threw a small bunch of pots. A few mugs, a square container and a large pitcher - nice demos! I have lots of new tricks and way of explaining things for when I teach..

I also was able to pull a few pieces of the Geil "Car" Kiln. Hope to post them tomorrow after I clean them up.

1st entery

2010-04-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

BUG MUG -- Head is the handle
BLIND VISION - Wood Fire Soda atmosphere

LOCK JAW - Gas Reduction
I have been working the last two days to update the webpag. Editing lots of photos...
These are three of the mugs I just posted.

Thomas Bumblauskas

CLAY ARTS VEGAS

CLAY ARTS VEGAS

FRESH POTS! GET YOUR FRESH POTS!

GLAZING For weekend sale

HOLIDAY SALE.

STUDIO TOUR MAP

What a week ---

THE MESSY MOOSE

The Messy Moose Sept 22nd - Sept 24th

THINKART!! GERTRUDE - Lunch Box

SUCCESS

WEST SARAH LIBRARY SHOW

Cosmopolitan’s Art-o-mat - featuring me

Cheaper Than a Pack of Cigs

How the maker of the Cosmopolitan’s Art-o-mat provided art lovers with a $5 entry into the art world

Teapots and Pitchers

AUG 3 2011

AMAZING WEEKEND

WOOD FIRE WEEKEND

The photos I keep forgetting to add

FUN STUFF

New Adventure --

IT'S ALREADY MID JUNE....

Memorial Day Weekend

FRESH FROM THE KILN

Back in the saddle

13th Annual Faces Juried Online International Art Exhibition

DEBRA FRITTS Workshop

head to Baltimore to make heads (?)

Reasons I love WOOD FIRE

January WOOD SODA @ POTTERY WEST NV

Wood Soda Firing at POTTERY WEST

AMAZING YEAR

BACK IN VEGAS -- BACK IN THE STUDIO

YA-HOOO

Had a great Saturday. "BIRD MAN" won first place at the art show portion of BITE AT THE MUSEUM sponsored by Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada. Juror - Brian “Paco” Alvarez. The event was amazing an we all got a sneak peak the new NEVADA STATE MUSEUM at SPRINGS PRESERVE.

Crazy Busy

Death Valley -

Blues and Arts Festival

PARK CITY

6th Annual Blues Festival and Art Show

River Run at Keystone, ColoradoAugust 21-22, 2010

The RedStone Art Fair in Park City, Utah August 14 - 15, 2010

new photo

LAST CALL

let the glazing begin

class

studio

AMAZING UT WEEKEND

GREAT DAY

SODA FIRING

BACK IN VEGAS

RAINY DAY IN PHILLY

HENDERSON ART SHOW

MOTHER'S DAY SALE

THE SET

BALTIMORE

MAGIC FLUTE

Cynthia Bringle PT2

Cynthia Bringle

1st entery

River Run at Keystone, Colorado
August 21-22, 2010