Bluegill plates, a new addition to my fish line

 Teal/light grey with saffron stripes

 Dark grey/blue/saffron with red spot

Blue/aqua/light grey with red spot 

 Green/saffron

 Dark grey/greenwith red spot

Bluey-green/goldish saffron with red spot

These are some new fish that I am adding to my wholesale line of work. They are based loosely on the Bluegill, which I chose for my pottery name back in 1995 or so. People often ask if I fish, which I don't, but I really admire fish. My grandfather, Nolen, took me with him in his boat when he would go fishing and to check his trot lines. I've always loved the sleekness of their skin, the startling colors some of them display and the way they just zip around in the water. Very happy with the way this line is progressing.

Tree Mask

This is a large mask made by a young man in one of my Create in Clay classes. His mom contacted me earlier this year and sent me photos of these great faces he had made on the trees in their backyard. He just dug clay out of the ground and had a great time. He told me that he dug some holes several feet deep. When it rained, though, the artwork washed away. So, he wanted to have an opportunity to work in clay in a more permanent way. Can't wait to see it fired. I love teaching because of the excitement that people bring to clay and how accessable it is to work with.

Renewable impressions

I use Japanese maple leaves and Ginkgo leaves in my work and I'm always so glad to see the soft green baby leaves sprouting on the branches of my trees in my yard. That means fresh new leaves for impressing into the clay in just a few weeks. Oh, I've learned to make due with preserved leaves, worn-out leaves, frozen leaves.......but there is nothing like  pliant, unmarked, unfrayed edges of flexible nature to roll into clay. It's kind of like having to use preserved apples or dried apples at the end of spring to make apple pie.
Just for the record, freezing your leaves is the best way I found to get a supply through the winter. I gather them when they are green, when they are just turning colors and,  in desperation, scoop them off the ground before the first frost. It's best to lay them flat on top of one another so they don't get a lot of wrinkles, then pop the bundle into a freezer bag and press out the extra air.
To use, you just thaw them out for a few minutes. However, don't let them sit out for days on end in the freezer bag at room temperature or they will begin to grow mold.

The moon and paintings

I have been invited to do a painting for the North Carolina Pottery Center's 2nd annual Potter's Palette event. Flowers have been on my mind and this striking view of the moon through my Bradford Pear tree's blossoms caught my eye the other night. There is just something magic about the night and the way things look in moonlight. But, probably won't be doing this image. I wanted to incorporate a piece of pottery in the painting and I think I am going to use my most favorite teabowl. Whenever I need a pick me up, I turn to my Ruggles and Rankin (Rock Creek Pottery), chipped though it is. It's even more valuable to me now, because they aren't making work that I could replace it with. Check back to see how it's going. The painting is due at the Center on April 16th. Best get those brushes moving!

A really green vehicle.

I am just fascinated by this vehicle. I've seen it sitting at a McDonalds and this photo was at a KFC. Those little donkies are pretty patient. I've even seen it out on the road once, clip-clopping along. Makes me want to burst into a verse of "The Surry with the Fringe on Top" from Oklahoma.... chicks and ducks and geese better scurry!

A Clean Up Sale

Bluegill Pottery Spring De-Clutter and Space Creation


It’s time for the clean out of the studio to make way for creation of more pottery. And no, I am not “quitting” pottery, just shedding some of the material baggage and duplicates I no longer need.

Mark Saturday, March 9th from 2:30 to 5:30 on your calendar for the Bluegill Studio Cleanout…………4522 Wilkinson Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28056. For questions about what’s going, call 704-824-9928 or 704-678-6195.
A minor list of the things I’ll have for purchase:

• A slew of books, much fiction and philosophy.
• Artbooks and some ceramics books
• Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated back issues
• A tall director’s chair with khaki seat and back cover
• A small kiln which has potential as a raku container or a test kiln if you want to do repairs.
• Some handbuilding and wheel throwing tools
• Acryllic and metal plate stands in various sizes
• A push mower, muscle powered for the green minded
• Wooden table shelving
• Stained, hollow core doors
• Jewelry beads and stones
• Used canvases
• 16 x 20 frames with glass (no mat board) suitable for drawings, prints and watercolors
• Handmade Bisque stamps and spring molds
• Wooden stools (great for throwing)
Cash or checks accepted.

Call before just “dropping” by, except for times listed above.

India Inspired

 Peacock Tray

 New Impressed Designs and Colors

These are shots from my display set up at Treasures of the Earth Show, Cleveland Co. Arts Council, Shelby NC. The show will be up until the first week in March. I did something a bit different  in that I limited my work to a theme. For this show I wanted all the work to reflect the new glaze colors I have been exploring and the exotic textures of India. To do this, I used wooden stamps normally used in the printing of cloth, other stamps I had made and carving. The carving was limited to a peacock feather design which has fascinated me since last fall.
The exploration of color started last summer with a base glaze I have been using since 1995. To it I have experimented with adding Mason stains in various combinations. The colors I have been most pleased with are  turquoise, teal,chartreuse, saffron and reddish purple.
While this work is a departure from my "normal" leaves and organic designs, it is an extension of my love of texture and color.