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Friday, December 3, 2010

Places to see handmade pottery in the wild

Please take the opportunity to visit the Artisan's Guild Gallery. Several local potters exhibit their work there, including some ACC teachers. The Artisans Guild Gallery is located in Millhopper Square Shopping Center, between Leonardo's and Alternatives.

Here are two places online where you can see what other potters are making:

Etsy is a website where hobbyists and professionals alike can offer work for sale online. There's very wide range of quality, styles and prices for pots here. Also some jewelry and non-functional items.

Akar features higher-end work by well-respected ceramic artists and potters.

Simon Leach and his brother John both have online sales galleries (Simon is in Spain, John is in the UK):

Simon Leach Ceramics

John Leach's Muchelney Pottery

Cheers,
Jay

P.S. I'll have some work on sale/display this Saturday at a friend's open studio event. Hopefully I'll be able to post some new work soon on my Etsy store and on my Flickr site.

Resources for further study


I hope you enjoyed our (very) brief introduction to making pots on the potters wheel, and that you'll consider continuing your study and practice:

Get an ACC membership
After learning the basics of throwing, all you really need is some practice. A semester membership to the Arts and Crafts Center at the Reitz Union is $75 for students and their partners, or $100 for the general public. There's a great community of members who are more than willing to share tips and techniques.

Take another class
I'll be offering a 7-week beginning throwing class next semester that's similar to the one you've just completed. Returning students can use the class as a refresher or to work on larger, taller, and more complex pots.

I definitely encourage you to take a class with another teacher- you'll gain an entirely new perspective on making pots.

Registration for Spring leisure courses begins in early January.

Paint your own
Paint-your own at Reitz Union Arts and Crafts Center (There is no membership or hourly fee required to paint the pre-formed bisque pieces. The pottery pieces are priced to include glazes that you can paint on the pots and the firing of the pieces.)

Do-Art is a local privately-owned studio that also offers paint-your own pottery ($9 studio fee for adults; http://www.doart.com)

Books, magazines and videos
Most of these are available either at the Architecture and Fine Arts Library () or at the Headquarters branch of the Alachua County Library System in downtown Gainesville ()

Ceramics Monthly 


Monthly magazine about ceramic art and pottery.


Studio Potter



Studio Potter is a not-for-profit journal exploring the aesthetics and philosohpy of making pottery by hand. Each issue focuses on a particualr issue. Published twice a year.


Thrown Pottery Techniques Revealed: The Secrets of Perfect Throwing Shown in Unique Cutaway Photography by Mary Chappelhow

"This comprehensive guide takes the mystery out of throwing clay by revealing in step-by-step demonstrations precisely what is happening at each point in the throwing process. With clear photography, instructive text and unique cutaway photographs, potters will easily learn throwing techniques and how to make beautiful objects."

Pottery Form by Daniel Rhodes

"This well-illustrated book by a professional potter and teacher offers practical information about the processes of pottery making as well as insights into the meaning, history, and spirit of pottery forms. 177 striking photographs reveal the craft's subtleties and mysterious beauty."

Cheers,
Jay