Getting there...

Lazy gray PA Saturday morning...Spring is trying its best...

So many things full of promise...slowly unfurling.

Mugs and cups are wadded and waiting ...next on the list, B-mix for wood.

Beginning again...mirroring the seasons.

B.Mugs Magee..

Even when your back is killing you...hurting like you have been kicked over and over again in the lower part of your back...its still good to be in the studio. I was supposed to be relaxing the ol' back but instead I spent this gray drizzle day in the studio getting my glaze on! Nancy and I will be firing another cone 6 salt next week. I have about 30 mugs and cups in 3 different clay bodies. I can not wait to see the results. Out the back door of the studio, the salt kiln, with its chamber door unbricked, seemed to beckon to me while I glazed today...

Here is a couple shots of glazed pieces just waiting for some wads...

We are using a lot of new glazes...Nancy has been a glaze making machine...and I am more than willing to test a few new ones for her...I was very pleased with our last cone 6 salt firing and now with a couple new clay bodies and knowing a little more about the glazes I feel a little more confidant about how things will come out. Heck, I had no complaints about the last time when I really had no idea about the glazes...below are a couple mug details from that first firing. I did a decal firing test back to cone 04 and liked the glazes even more...they worked great with my images too! So be on the look out soon for a fresh batch of cone 6 salt fired mugs and cups...complete with new decals. Click on the mug images below to enlarge them and really see the sumptuous surfaces...yeah, thats right, pork with hot garlic sauce! Until then gentle reader...

Maximum Overkill...

Yes, it has happened...way over the top...I know, but I do like the idea of being able to see an online portfolio. I created another Flickr account just to show my functional wood fired works that I multiple fire in electric kilns post wood firing. It is nice to re-visit these pieces considering that most every piece on here has been sold in the last two years. Ahhh, nostalgia...but that's another story. Enjoy these for now...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylehouser2/

Yet another online site...

That's right gentle reader...I have put time into yet another online site. This one is just images...Flickr.com...http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylehouser/ . I was sort of forced to put up a portfolio of sorts on a site so that another interested party may view my work. The work on my Flickr site is a grouping of mid range sculptural objects, functional pieces and site specific outdoor works. The images are from the last three years. I am actually very happy to have done this , I like being able to see an online portfolio of work. Soon I will be going for maximum overkill and put up another huge grouping of wood/salt fired pieces on that Flickr site too...enjoy!

Simple activity...

We have had a few warmer days in a row up here in western Pa...hell, it sure feels like the coming of spring maybe...but maybe not. One thing I have learned up here, is that winter lasts a long time. But it has been these few nice days that have gotten me into the studio and talking with Nancy about firing another cone 6 salt and heck, even talking about firing the train kiln in May!
Like me, the garden seems eager for a change of weather too...the dewdrops and crocus were popping their little heads up through the mulch. I shot some images of the little feller's early last week and by now, those and plenty more are all open, but its been the grey overcast sky and steady rain that has kept me from shooting them the last couple days. Instead I got a chance to get back in the studio...10 big mugs from my rich chocolate brown clay. I think I am changing my name to "Big Mugs Magee".These and some other pieces I am throwing from the two new cone 6 salt bodies that Nancy mixed up, will be going into the next cone 6 salt firing on April 1.

I wish all I had to do was to get some nice mugs made and watch the new season begin to unfold, but unfortunately I have a busy couple of months ahead of me.

With this post, I am making a point to remind myself how simple yet satisfying these two activities are for me..."get out and look at whats growing and get back into the studio and start growing my own work"...words I will try and live by...at least for a while anyways.

Enjoy gentle reader...enjoy, whatever you can.