Little Rain Pottery: June 2009

Kiln opening...

It's a wonderful experience opening a soda kiln and to enjoy each nuance of every pot.

Test Tiles for the Gwinnett Center for the Arts Ceramics Education Department

Carol and Connie headed up the test tile project of producing and displaying all the glazes offered at the Gwinnett Center for the Arts. Carol is standing by all her hard work and Connie took the picture, thanks for all you effort in this most needed project.

Loading Vicki's Soda Kiln today

Vicki's firing tonight. Vicki, Carol, Connie and I loaded today. Temps in the mid 90's here in GA today! Will post results. Pottery is great but so are the friends you make... try it! Thanks for taking pictures Connie!

About My Journey To Here

I have always had an affinity for little things. Going back as long as I can remember I've had a fascination with objects or things that are small. Especially in nature, I am fascinated with the beauty of this earth and the many little wonders that I experience everyday. I am grateful to my ancestors who gave me the love of the earth. When I'm outside or working in my garden I find so much to appreciate there; the petals of a flower, the wings of a butterfly, a seedling poking it's head up out of the dirt, the spots on the back of a lady bug, the shades and shadows of light, the colors of nature....so many and too many to mention here. I have always said to my family and friends that I always have felt the closest to God when I'm in my garden where his love is shown everywhere.

Art has always come naturally for me but not necessarily easy, I believe I've been blessed and think of it as a special gift. Whether it's through a pen or brush with a piece of paper, or when I hold a lump of clay in my hand and I start it’s form, it’s God’s gift to me. From the very first moment of working with clay it felt so right for me.

I was introduced to ceramics more than 35 years ago when I was in college in South Florida and had a couple of classes with a teacher who inspired me. The desire to learn and work with it never left me. I hadn't worked with clay for all these many years while getting on with life and raising my girls, but I always had my garden to keep me in the dirt and always knew that one day when I ever had the time I would pick up that ball of clay again. For me working with clay and working in my garden has brought much enrichment, enlightenment and enjoyment. It has also come with its challenges and successes.

I started back in this, my pottery journey over 8 years ago taking classes at the Gwinnet’s Cultural Arts Center in hand building and wheel. This past year I now have put together my own studio, which has been an experience and an experiment. I have been fortunate to have had wonderful teachers past and present. One in particular is my current teacher Mark Knott who structured our class to focus on one particular form at a time. This particular session which is now a couple of years ago focused on the form of the teapot. I thought okay you want a teapot well here you go, I wasn't thrilled with the idea and rolled my eyes, but then as I started the process my teapot took the form of one that fit in the palm of my hand. The form took on it's small shape naturally. It felt so right and there the seed began to grow. Little did I know then what I tapped into at the time, not only in teapots but in other small functional clay forms. I remember a sermon when I was much younger that I have never forgotten and it comes to mind again now, the title was “It’s the little things in life that can get us down as well as bring us up.”

My life's journey has now brought me to this point with my love for mud so to speak and my love of little creations. This is also my beginning in sharing and being out here on the www. Thanks for reading and sharing this journey with me. I'm working on my website and will let you know when I get it launched.

P.S...My experience and time with my classmates, acquaintance's and contacts has also given me some amazing knowledge and wonderful and talented friends. Not only do these friends help keep me balanced so that I don't become a studio recluse. They have taught me so many things about the pottery craft that we've shared and explored. Plus the wonderful and precious gift of friendship, ideas and inspiration that gives me a deep sense of belonging that is irreplaceable and some super duper great times! I would recommend it highly. So get out there and explore!

Little Rain Pottery

Kiln opening...

Kiln Opening

Test Tile Board

Test Tiles for the Gwinnett Center for the Arts Ceramics Education Department

Loading Vicki's Soda Kiln today

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Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'

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About My Journey To Here