San Antonio Clay Festival and Sale

I am excited to be participating in San Antonio Potters Guild annual sale. It is called San Anton Clay Festival and Sale. I will be sharing a booth with Taaffe Caton. There will be 25+ potters from around San Antonio at the Pear Brewery open market. The Guild is excited by the prospect of increase foot traffic from the Saturday open market. This will be the third time I have participated in the Guild's annual sale. This I will be able to do credit card sales!

New Sawdust Kiln

I made another attempt at building a sawdust kiln. I will try it out on Monday

Working and working

I am back at school. Two weeks of trying to do classwork during the day and artwork during the night. I really need to create a schedule. I can't work on art every night. I went through my calendar and saw how much work I need to do for each and every show. The biggest event I have coming is San Antonio Clay Festival. I need to produce some high quality work for that event. I also have little events in between. I'm grateful for all the people who have asked me to participate in their events. Very different from last year. I next goal is Friday September 9th on St. Mary's Strip. Third month at El Milagrito. I hope things go well.

Busy morning

I have to say having deadlines can keep a person busy. I have an art show next weekend. I need to deliver new work tomorrow. Labor Day weekend also has a show I'm participating in. This too will needs new work. So today I decided to build the sawdust kiln I've been thinking about. It is based on the idea of the downdraft barrel kiln I used this summer at Southwest School of Art. Only I wanted to use my kiln brick.

Found an old furnace base and used it as my platform. I suppose I could have made it bigger off the concrete, but I kind of liked the idea so I'm trying it. I used kiln shelves and built the walls using kiln brick from my pit fire box. I felt a bit like the Egyptians when they stole brick from the pyramids to build there homes.

I'll fire it up tomorrow to see if it works. I tried using clay I got from a brick yard to help seal up the chimney area. It probably will flake off. But who knows?

Yesterday I presented to the Potters Guild what I learned from the Alternative Firing Techniques class I took at Southwest School of Art. I received a scholarship for the class through the Guild. Taking this class allowed to learn so much this summer. The class conducted different types of raku: Horse Hair, traditional raku and naked raku. We did a saggar and downdraft barrel firings. Each created unique surface textures. I began using porcelain clay for the first time. Saggar and barrel firings created similar results from my pit fires. Barrel is so much easier!

I also took a wheel throwing class. Things finally started to click at creating the form. I'm throwing more upright to help save my back. I am pleased with the forms I got in porcelain.

Selling

Last night I was with "SA Artists" at Woodlawn and St. Marys. This is a meet up group that got together to sell work. This was the second time we met, and had twice as many artists at this location. No one really made any money last night. It is always a disappointment when I don't sell something. But...


I think this will work out in the end. Just in most relationships in business or personal, there is that awkward time. Each time I show in these mobile selling situations, I try learn as much as I can. Most have similar problems. Each time I work through them. Here are a few:

• Quick set up. I no longer bring a table. I use a wooden portable shelves I made earlier this month. 4 Shelves and it folds up.
• Pricing. Currently I price depending on the situation. I maybe pricing too low. This is something I need to work through better.
• Connections: Lately I'm being asked to show at future craft shows. I'm not seeking them out (although I need a few more BIG ones). I'm getting a few repeat customers too.
• Packing up work. I pull work from my shelves for each show instead of keeping them in the boxes. It keeps me aware of what I have and what I need to make.
  

My new car has been a real trooper. I'm able to fit quite a bit it. I do need to find similar sized plastic boxes that will be easily packed and stacked. Once I get a canopy I'll need to use my space in the car better.

My next official show is at La Gallaria Balleza on August 27th. I may take some stuff to school for a bit of pocket money.

Rejuvenated

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted on my blog since November. I had quite a bucket list. So much has happened since then, I don't know where to start. To be honest managing the new normal for me is been a bit stressful. But I don't regret the new venues and friends I've gained over the course of the last 6 months.

What I've accomplished so far:

• I've learned that I need to create a variety of work that ranges in prices. In other words I do need to sweat the small stuff. Crosses throughout the year were a big seller. I have gotten a great response to pit fire pieces and my "Dollies". I hope to continue exploring new designs.
  
• I don't expect much help in setting up my booth. I started out setting up a table but have evolved into a portable. The shelves are easily set up and display the work in the best light.
  
• Work on clay constantly. I find that when I take a holiday from work, I end up scrambling the last minute to produce enough work for the spur of the moment show. Deadlines are a great motivator.
  
• I need to balance my job and my creativity. I have to admit, I got tired a lot last year. I still need to work on this. I have to clubs and other various duties at school. I also the PR rep for San Antonio Potters Guild. This involves creating a newsletter every other month.
  
• I now have a much clearer idea what I'm doing. Create! There is no substitute to actually doing the process. I took two classes at Southwest School of Art. I took "Basic Throwing Skills" and "Alternative Firing Methods. Check out my new pictures. I started working in porcelain, both in throwing and for hand building. The clay has some incredible effects from the alternative firing. I'll blog later on what I've learned. I started throwing a bit differently. I never really was a good thrower I didn't have a clear understanding of the process. I now can set up the wheel at school and can actually teach the kids the basics.
  
• Social media is a godsend. I've used it to share my experiences and my work in progress. I've gained new friends from my shows and life in general. Facebook has become a useful tool to spread the word of myself as an artist.

I truly feel rejuvenated for the upcoming school year. I am anxious to get started and hope to spread the my positive energy into my students.