Inching Closer to my Goal

This week is one of trying to get organized in my home life, I cleared my book shelves and rearranged them so everything looks a lot neater, and all my ImagineFx, Artist and Illustrators and the various pottery magazines that I have (that aren't in a box under the stairs) are now on the on the shelves.  I had various other magazines on their, I cut out what I liked then put the rest of the magazines in the recycling with a commitment not to buy those magazines unless I am in them.

When I was in University I used to buy magazines to help with the weekly mood boards that were part of every assignment I ever did in ceramics. I found piles of materials for those so most of those have been recycled too, I have to suppress the "What if I need it for..." instinct that goes along with the hoarding that runs through my family. I have also piled up over 40 books to be sold or donated and some video games too.

Here are some of the images that I edited for the website, they are all edited to the same dimension, I need to go back and take more photographs.

Bombay Sapphire Spoon Rest

Mug

Teapot - I want to make a new generation of these

Vase

Small Platter - Reduction Fired

I have been considering doing earthenware slip decorating again to play with something different, but it would have to be a bit more locally sourced, I want to do something that is truly back to earth including all the digging.

Designing a new Website.

Working on the website again, this is how I left it with my friend who has been helping me design and code the whole thing, we have been friends since college eleven years ago, though he has been friends with my wife for even longer and introduced us nine years ago this year.

The text on there us just checking the formatting for the code, so I have to write the replacement this week.  The images are going to go across the entire screen, and there will be a few fading in and out (without using flash) with captions.  It is still going to be a joint site between myself and my wife, so it is all a balancing act between my work, hers and the teaching side of the business.  still a few more things to work out.

For instance not sure how to display the gallery, I have looked around at various potters websites at how they display their galleries, but don't have a set idea of where to go.

I would appreciate any feedback on the site so far.

Joseph.

Dinosaurs, Kings and Museums

T-Rex Wandering around at the World Museum, Liverpool

Last Friday we took the little one to Liverpool to go see the dinosaurs at a special exhibition in the World Museum.  He enjoyed it, but the animatronic dinosaurs scared him a little, while we were there we also took him to the Walker Art Gallery next door and he played in the children's art gallery whilst I had a wander around, I haven't been there since the first week of Art School many moons ago.

Bernard Leach Pot at the Walker Art Gallery

 As well as Bernard Leach they also had a piece on display by Svend Bayer, Walter Keeler and David Frith.  The piece by Svend Bayer had a "please touch this pot" sign on and wasn't behind a wall of glass so I did so despite the strange looks I got from other visitors.

On Wednesday I travelled all over the place going to see Art Galleries people had recommended to me and even went over to see Rob Miller and his small gallery that doubles as his studio, over in Bolton.  He gave me lots of good advice, I had only gone to see his work, I really love his paintings I just wish I wasn't so very broke.

Today was the little one's preschool nativity and he was so cute.  Afterwards we went over to my little brothers to wish him a happy belated birthday as he has been in Belgium all week.

Been working on the marketing but has been going so slow, need to light a fire under myself and get going.  Also been painting but this latest one is just too frustrating, been too long since I have done an acrylic painting, I have been trying watercolour and goauche which are good for studies but I want to use oils or acrylics and do bigger pieces than 6*4inch.

Teaching Results

I have been so busy trying to get organised and into a new routine, working when I used to go down to the studio was easy, I opened at 10am every day tried to get organised, made some pots, packaged up what had to be brought home to the kiln.  In the evenings I used to fill the kiln and then set it going the next morning and let my wife kiln sit which would just be coming to the upper end as I got home from work.

Now things are different, I kiln sit myself but I don't have as many new pieces coming through at the moment.

Commissions are open and we are available to come and do parties, groups and Schools.  I am preparing information packs to be sent out to various organisations and to request one just email joseph(at)redfoxpottery(dot)com.

Here is the work from two of my adult students from the summer school Course.

Ben's Pots, Iron Stripes, cobalt and copper spots

Ben's Pots(2), Iron Stripes, cobalt spots

Michelle's Pots with Iron Details

Michelle and Ben's bugs cobalt, iron, copper and transparent glaze

Pumpkin Pie

This week the dresser moved in as we cleared the shop.  The walls have been plastered now and I am going to paint come Monday morning in the hopes that I can get the keys handed over to the landlord at the end of the month.  Talking to my barber I need to try and claim back my business rates from the council.  I also went for a job interview this week, hence the reason for going to the barber.

Made a pumpkin pie today, I have a pumpkin and walnut bread in the oven, and I made a little bit of bread just in case, it hasn't been baked yet but never mind.  I have two big bowls of pumpkin purée in my fridge, I guess I will be having soup in the next day or so.

So Long and Thanks for all the fish.

At 4pm Saturday 15th October 2011 with the help of two friends we finished packing all the pottery into boxes, took the opening times down and closed our doors for the last time.  Red Fox Pottery will no longer trade from Unit 9 Marsh Mill Village, though we will still be trading just working from home, as I still have all my equipment.

There are still quite a few jobs to do before I had the keys over to my landlord but they will get done this week.

We would like to thank all those that supported us over the last year and we hope you will continue to enjoy your pottery, for its lifetime.

For those still wanting to buy Pottery, there is pottery to be viewed from Oxheys Mill Studios in Preston and if there is anything you like on any of the blog posts just contact us and we will see what we can do the email address is joseph at redfoxpottery dot com.

Looking for some work on the side and over the winter will also be working on painting and drawing both traditionally and digitally.  I want to finally learn some graphic design skills so I can at least work on my own branding.

We are also available for bookings, for youth groups, scouting groups, school groups, Christmas and Birthday parties, as long as you have somewhere we can come.  We can do hand building, throwing or a combination of the two, once again email for details.

Only a few days left

I only have a few days left at the shop before I empty it, I wish I was leaving on better terms.  I will review the entire time once the shop is empty and maybe repainted.  I am both looking forward to and dreading losing the studio.  It has been my own personal space to work in and if it hadn't cost me so much I would have stayed but it is too expensive.

People keep asking where we are moving to and at the moment I am not even looking because I have enough money to even think of renting elsewhere.  I am applying for lots of jobs in the hopes I can get something to earn some money.

I am a potter in my heart and soul and not having a workspace already feels tough, I wish money didn't have to be a worry as I just love to pot, I find it is all I ever want to do and I am most relaxed and happy when I am throwing.  I just want to keep improving and getting better.  I know I think to much but the only time my mind rests is when I am throwing, and I am already finding myself bored, unfocused and disconnected from the world.

Second half of the Fleetwood Mural

I have been struggling to get this 2nd half done, I haven't found the determination to get it done.  I can't find the solution to what buildings I want on it.

My shelves still very full

It has changed since this photograph as I have sold a few pieces including the big pot at the bottom.

My wheel

This is my first wheel and since April it has been a shelf, I cleared it off and I have thrown a few bits on it, I forgot what life was like before my Shimpo Whisper T and I prefer this wheel, it has more character to the way it moves, to the way it turns, the Shimpo just seems so electrical and smooth opposed to what is a mechanical beast where you can feel and hear all the parts whirling.  The foot pedal is so much nicer to press on than the Shimpo's too, not it doesn't stop in one place to throw big pots, but for smaller pots this is what I prefer.