Take Note

I started writing this weekly studio diary about 3 years ago. Throughout my life, I have kept private notes of events and special activities. These written triggers help me remember the past more clearly when I read back and revisit those words. When I began this journal, my goal was to document the artistic process I experience and share it with my friends and customers so they would gain some understanding of who I am and what I do in the studio. So, writing down and recording my creative time in words and photos has now become a natural part of my weekly routine. 

Tumblers are a new shape I'm developing in the studio.

My memory is not my strongest attribute. I readily admit that. But, when I can look back at pictures and written reminders, I can revisit the past easily and continue to share it with others. 

I completed the set of dishes I have been working on in the studio. I'm happy with the results!

This blog is my attempt to share a slice of time with the reader. Hopefully, you’ll gain insight into the time and creative effort that goes into the clay art made in the studio. Sharing the process on a regular basis has helped me refine and define what I love to do. I go and create in my studio because it makes me happy. By sharing this diary of my studio time, I hope to communicate that joy and hopefully inspire the readers own creative juices.

Despite the fact that snow and cold seem to be lingering, I know that Spring is just around the corner. If you'd like to create your own wind chime for your garden, check out the craft class schedule at The Muse in Frederick, Md. I'll provide the materials, you bring along your creativity!

Another goal of the blog is to spark ClayByLaura sales. Maybe you have a special gift to purchase or desire a clay creation for yourself. By showing you what I make, how I create it and the type of pieces that are possible, you'll remember to visit the ClayByLaura website next time you want to make a purchase.

I'm experimenting with creating some new baking/serving dishes. I'll continue to play with size, shape and the handles in the coming weeks. Here's one of my first attempts.

Finally, I'd like this blog to inspire and pay creativity forward. I encourage you to take notes, snap pictures and keep track of your memories. It does not have to be formal or complicated. Begin by writing one sentence a day on your calendar. I think you'll like it!

If you'd like to share the ClayByLaura blog with a friend just fill out the form below!

Got Heart?

Valentine's Day is less than a week away. I like this particular holiday because it gives me an opportunity to remind people in my life how much I care about them. I may not remember every anniversary or birthday, so Valentine's Day is my chance to reach out to friends and family with a message of love. Plus it often includes chocolate. What could be better??? Hearts have been an ongoing theme in my clay creations. So here's my Valentine gift to you: receive FREE SHIPPING when you purchase a ClayByLaura item with a heart this week for your Special Someone. Flowers eventually wilt and chocolate gets eaten, so consider a gift that lasts far beyond February 14 as a continual reminder of your love. 

I've been working on some new promotional print materials in the studio this past week. I combined my signature logo and the family typewriter where I first learned the keyboard to create the type that will be used on new printed recipe cards and product hang tags.

A week in the studio often involves more than making items out of clay. My computer, phone and camera have also become integral tools for my creative routine. I enjoy the clay time the most, and I’m learning as I go to hone the other important skills utilizing electronics and social media as best I can. It’s a required balance of making and promoting a clay/creative business these days. I learned some new tricks with Photoshop thanks to the patient guidance of fellow clay artist Lyndsay Meiklem and shot numerous product photos in my studio light box to get just the right photo for my new print designs. 

I fired a glaze kiln this week containing some tray and bowl sets and several new items like tumblers.

I've been experimenting with the use of a single color on my pieces. I apply an underglaze to the clay before it is fired and use a wet sponge to wipe some away. After it is fired once, I apply a clear glaze with either a shiny or matte finish. I like how the color pools in the stamped areas as well as showing the marks of the canvas I use to flatten the clay in the slab roller. I feel this portrays the making process in every finished piece.

Of course I've been working on my own Valentine's Day gifts too! I'm using colorful paper clips to create the kickstand for the heart photo frames I made. They'll be in the mail later this week.

There's a piece of my heart in every ClayByLaura creation I make. Over the years, I think my clay creations have revealed this passion more and more as I've found and developed my artistic voice. My goal is to share this enthusiasm with you!

Who Are You?

There are many, many potters making pots in the world. As I’ve explored the business side of clay and listened to other clay artists' experiences through interviews and podcasts, there are numerous similarities in our transition from passion for this medium to making it into a profession.

Once we’ve made an abundance of pottery pieces and gifted them to family and friends, someone inevitably asks us to make them something special and offers to pay for it. ‘Light bulb moment.’ From there, the business journey often begins for many of us and the question, “Who Are You?” becomes important on several levels.

Finding your own personal voice in clay -- your style -- is a guide for creating a specific body of work to sell. Defining who you are through your art is part of the path of this journey. Type of clay, style, shape, form, technique, glaze and color choice all influence the final outcome of clay art. All these creative choices help make each potter’s work unique to them. It can be a fluid development as skills improve, new choices are explored and creative decisions change. As an artist, it’s a good question to keep asking. "Who are you?"

I seem to be making lots of neck warmers these days. They are useful, fun and fast to knit. I made the mug in this photo in 1981. The yarn bowl was made in 2015. I love seeing the history of my clay journey in the pieces I've created along the way. I'm glad I signed and dated each one. It helps me identify the past year's pots that have lead me to the present.

On the flip side, when art becomes a business, artists also start to ask “Who Are You?” about our customers. Why are people drawn to our creations enough to pay money for them? There are analytics to determine the specific demographics to this question. But I think with purchasing art, there is also a binding emotion that plays into a purchase.  A buyer connects to us on a personal level. And since many clay creations are functional, there is a useful application for the purchase.

Many of my friends have also become my customers. They know me and they know what I make. There is a connection there. Taking my creations into the world through craft fairs, private home shows, galleries and the internet has opened up another avenue for sales. In this case, I don’t necessarily know the purchaser.  I rely on my clay creations to communicate who I am to make the connection resulting in a sale. And sometimes, I'm lucky to have my customers become my new friends!

With A Nod To Mother Nature

The winter weather we experienced this past weekend along the Eastern Seaboard is one of those storms that is hard to fully appreciate until you are living through it. I’ve weathered snow, rain, blizzards, a small hurricane and even a derecho in my lifetime, but the appropriately named Blizzard of 2016 called Jonas – has been jaw-dropping. So what does this have to do with art or clay? The simple answer is: nothing and everything.

I finished one mitten and have begun the second.

The storm did not deter me from my regular routine. I was able to continue to create in my studio and sit by the fire and knit even while three feet of snow (give or take) fell and the winds whipped outside for about 36 hours straight.

When the sun finally came out, and we could venture past our driveway (which has been continuously shoveled by my husband and ‘snow-blowed’ by our next door neighbor throughout the storm), the reality of limited movement in deep snow was quickly evident. Even snowplows were getting stuck so only a patchwork of moveable paths are available for maneuvering. It’s going to take days to dig out completely. During this sort of crisis, people –-neighbors –- band together and the community spirit is in full force.  Walking the dog has led to numerous conversations with neighbors I’ve never met before.

So back to the connection between nature, art and clay.  I have an affinity for achieving an organic feeling to my clay creations. When I first learned to throw pots on a wheel, I worked to eliminate any evidence of finger marks on the clay. There was rigidity in my pieces. But I liked the more natural shapes that I saw and aspired to interpret that in my own pieces. Once I began hand building and loosening my stringent tendencies, I’ve begun to achieve a more natural feel for my finished art.

I've been in the studio working on a new tumbler shape for an upcoming yarn pop-up show in a few months. Here are two prototypes I created based on an idea I had. Once I glazed and fired the one on the right, I realized I wanted to tweak the design. The newer model on the left has a narrower base (easier to hold) and a button on the middle (instead of the top) to act as a thumb rest.

This week, I’m reminded of the power of nature in our lives. It can disrupt our routines and shake us out of our habits. It can help neighbors meet new neighbors. It can band people together with a common goal. Nature is powerful, beautiful and sometimes unpredictable. Reflecting those attributes in my clay art is an ongoing practice.

Strength In Numbers

I’ve been thinking of the value of numbers this week and this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. above sums up the power a group of people can wield for a positive outcome. 

Although the business of clay -- and really any craft for that matter -- boils down to one person creating and communicating through an artistic medium; it really ‘takes a village’ to move that art form into the world. Teachers, students, fellow artists, patrons, shop owners and other artistic promoters all share a hand in the life circle of any artistic endeavor. 

I'm working on a new tumbler shape to sell during a yarn pop-up sale in a few months. It took me several attempts to get to the size, shape and design I desired. After these are fired, I'll continue to tweak with glaze application to achieve a final product. 

Numbers are important to me in the studio, especially if I am developing a new shape. It may take me several attempts to achieve the form I imagine in my head. Risk, failure and ultimately success are all part of the process. Once I achieve a desired outcome, the repetition in making multiples helps refine the process and the artistry. 

I've been working on another project in the studio this week. I'm preparing wind chime pieces for a class I'll teach through The Muse in Frederick, Md. in May. Pieces will be bisque-fired, painted with acrylic colors and assembled with beads and buttons. It will be a fun project!

I’m learning that numbers matter in the business side of clay art as well -- and not just the hard numbers of sales and supplies. Making connections to other artists and art organizations has become an integral part of my journey. Discussions, idea exchange and goal setting with other potters through groups like The Potters Mastermind are helpful in gaining new insight into how other clay artists approach their business. 

This weekend, I joined a trade association called CRAFT (Craft Retailers & Artists For Tomorrow). This group extends my number of art connections, opportunities and education on an even broader scale. It is another great organization of people dedicated to promoting the business of art. I'm looking forward to exploring more new connections I make with this group.

Finally, I'm thankful for the number of customers who purchase and support my art endeavor. Hearing from the many people that are using and enjoying ClayByLaura creations is my ultimate reward. 

Taking Care of Business

I’ve spent lots of time this past week with clean hands. In other words, I haven’t been creating clay pieces in the studio. I have been diligently working on the business aspect of my endeavor though. It’s a necessary and important component of any successful outcome.

Since business is not a natural skill for me, I’ve been learning how to improve as I go. Overall, I want the business of my clay art to be professional. It takes forethought and planning to achieve the numerous details of any business – and producing my clay art should abide by similar standards. I’ve been listening to podcasts (Tales of A Red Clay Rambler and The Potters Cast) of other potters to gain new insights and joined a clay Mastermind group to confer with like-minded artists and learn new ideas. This has been very helpful.

I've set up a lightbox in my kiln room to help standardize some of the product photos I take. I based this design on the suggestions of another successful potter who blogs about this sort of thing. 

For me, running a professional clay art business means producing a consistent and well-made product. But that’s just the beginning. It also entails preparation of marketing and promotional materials to describe and accompany each piece including logo hangtags and recipe cards. It’s important to accurately photograph and document the art for use in marketing so I've been working to improve these skills. Pricing and inventory documentation are another important aspect of business management. I’m learning to use social media to help promote ClayByLaura through the internet. I continue to seek and develop new sales opportunities through galleries and private sales. I'll continue to tweak all of these components to improve the business side of my clay art. 

Here's another product shot of the yarn bowls. This time I used natural light and a wood table as the backdrop. 

It can be overwhelming, but as I've broken down the tasks into smaller achievable goals, I've been able to tackle the professional side of ClayByLaura bit by bit and achieved a sense of satisfaction as each piece falls into place. It's a building process -- much like the assembly of a hand built piece of clay. Each element helps make the final product stronger.  Today, I'm heading back to the clay!

Back and Forth

The start of a new year provides an automatic reset for so many aspects of our lives. For me, it signals the end of the winter holiday season, an opportunity to examine past goals and a reflective opportunity to let go and start fresh. It’s invigorating.

I've added daily walks to my routine (again). Fresh air, time to let the mind wander and a little exercise are good reasons to re-establish this habit. Yesterday's walk in nature included cold blue skies, a tree-lined trail and an unexpected dip in the C & O Canal by my golden retriever Carson!

In the studio, it’s a good time to clean. I tend to make a mess when I create. After a flurry of making, it’s easy to identify the favorite tools most used – they are piled up on my worktable. Just as some people work to rid their clothes closets of clutter and unworn attire, I like to purge my vast tool purchases to identify the most used and useful. 

I constantly rearrange my creative space to make it more efficient and enjoyable.  The clay process requires lots of lifting and moving clay supplies and clay objects back and forth between locations including:

*making-glazing-firing process

*photographing and documenting clay creations

*packing/unpacking for delivery to customers, galleries or shows and storage

Re-organizing my work space is an ongoing exercise to streamline all clay studio procedures!

I plan to focus on the photography of ClayByLaura creations in 2016. Photography is a key tool for communication – especially in the internet world of websites and Instagram. In 2016, I intend to improve this important visual aspect of my art to reflect the same effort I employ when creating a clay piece. 

The empty shelves in my studio won't last long. I'm looking forward to getting my hands muddy once again and seeing where the creative juices lead me. Thank you for accompanying me on this journey. I like the back and forth communication you provide as well. Onward! Here's to moving forward in 2016.

Reflection

As New Years Eve approaches signaling the end of one year and the beginning of twelve new months ahead, I like to spend time thinking about my life and my life’s work and set some goals for the coming year. Some people call these desires resolutions. I like to think of these promises to myself as building blocks – ways to improve what I’ve been developing over a lifetime. My classmate friends and I are turning 60 throughout 2016. It’s one of those ‘halt in your tracks’ age numbers. I think this significant milestone adds another layer of reflection to this annual ritual. I look back to see what I’ve accomplished in six decades and forge ahead to prove I’ve still got a long way to go!

As always, my time in the studio mirrors what is happening in my daily life. My creative plans for 2016 are specific and fluid. I have a few new shapes I’d like to attempt. I’d like to play with the finished surface of my creations. I’d like to pursue more fundraising items I’ve created for worthy organizations.  The unique gift/marketing items I've made for businesses are a big hit -- I'd like to create more of these too. I’ll continue to tweak my website to reflect the art from my studio and develop the way I sell on-line, in galleries and pop-up shopping opportunities. Overall, I’d like to attract the positive and decrease the negative in my life and my studio.

I've been catching up on some of my knitting projects these last few winter weeks. It's another passion I enjoy. I find it meditative and engaging at the same time. The unique design of my yarn bowls are based on my experience as a knitter. Most of the clay yarn bowls I've seen have a slit cut into them for guiding the yarn -- a design flaw in my opinion. My bowl shape cups the yarn, has two heart-shaped 'feeders' for multiple yarn colors and can be used for snacks or knitting accessories when not in use for stitching. In 2016, I'll work on a slightly larger version to fully accommodate two large hanks of yarn. 

I was fortunate to help fundraise for several worthy causes in 2015. These clay items from my studio not only attracted donations, but continue to be useful reminders of their cause!

I was fortunate to create a variety of totem stacks for people throughout the country in 2015. Each was a labor of love and a lot of fun to make! Do you have an idea for a custom totem? 

I'll continue to make tray and bowl sets in 2016. It's a popular and useful form. The fish-shaped tray was a new item in 2015. I'd like to play around with this design a bit more in 2016 to make it even better!

Garden art continues to be a source of creative exploration for me in the studio. I'm sure there are some new shapes to discover in 2016!

Bowls have always been one of my go-to shapes in the studio. This coming year I'd like to play with these shapes to create some dishes that can be used right side up and upside down. Stay tuned to see what I come up with!

Happy New Year! I hope you've had some time to reflect on 2015 and set your own goals and building blocks for the coming year.