A wild, wide-ranging mania of activity seems to enter my creative life this time of year. And I like it. Making pottery hits a fevered pitch as I balance each stage of the clay-making process with pushing for deadlines of custom orders, supplementing inventory, and shows. Ideas flow for new projects. The kiln is filled, fired, emptied, refilled and fired continually.
Some of the custom projects where I've been creatively stuck have become clear and reached completion. In particular, I was asked to design a wall sculpture of a school of fish for a local customer. I knew how I would make the fish, but had not totally settled on the hanging element of the piece. A search through my stash of collected driftwood solved the dilemma, and now this one of a kind artwork hangs in its new home.
I’ve been playing with different underglaze and glaze combinations. This blue/green is now one of my current favorites. When it is applied to a familiar shape I’ve made in the past, it gives the piece a whole new look.
Packing pottery for shipment is an art unto itself. This group of 10 packages took several hours of attention. I want each package to survive the rigors of long-distance travel. A combination of bubble wrap, packing paper, shipping peanuts, protective cardboard, and the appropriate box help provide the protection that ensures the pottery arrives safe and sound. Still, I hold my breath each time I send my creations off to their new homes.
Would you like to join the frenzy? If you've been considering a special ClayByLaura piece as a gift for yourself or someone else, now is the time to let me know. Click on the photo above to send me a message and begin! I'd love to create a special piece just for you.