News | William Baker

Updates

Slow and Steady

Up on the mountain Fall has been creeping in since the last of August, with rain rain rain. This working cycle seems to be taking forever, but I’m finally nearing the end in the studio with hopes of firing the kiln in the next two weeks.

The pottery is slowly piling up, plates and bowls and jars and bottles. This time around I’ve ended up making more of the complicated and time consuming squared pots than I would normally make at one time. Surely this is part of why the productivity seems so low. But on the bright side, the pots stood still long enough for me to shoot some photos of the process of the squared forms and the many steps along the way. So stay tuned for that…

Sep 19, 2009 | Categories: Updates | Tags: soda fired pottery, wood fired pottery | Comments Off on Slow and Steady

Mudfire Exhibit

The good folks down at MudFire Gallery and Studio in Atlanta included my work in their exhibit "Mug*Shots". The show features the work of over 60 artists from across the country, filling the gallery space with mugs and wee cups from some of the finest ceramic artists around. The show runs through September 26, 2009 with an opening reception Saturday August 8th from 5pm-9pm. Be sure to check out the show if you're in the area, but if not you don't have to miss out. They've put together a virtual tour of the show which you can view here.

Aug 07, 2009 | Categories: Updates | Comments Off on Mudfire Exhibit

Another Mickey Kiln

Back from a week long excursion with Captain Conepack to build another Shane Mickey kiln. I've worked with Shane for the past few years, helping him build kilns in I think three states now. I've learned a lot from him about design theory and the practicalities of building kilns, and we tend to ramble on endlessly about minute kiln design tidbits and firing theory. Shane likes to work hard and fast, but he is also always good for a laugh. I snapped a few pictures of the kiln as it went up. This one was a catenary arch wood kiln, built for a great guy up in Culpepper, VA. It has a generous firebox and stacking chamber and of course the "Mickey" flanged door which I've adopted for my kiln as well. We finished up in about six days, but the initial firing is a few months away yet.

Back at home, I found all of my irons still in all of the fires, which is to say that all of the different that's are still lined up and awaiting their turn. In the meantime, back to the studio to get making pottery again, and back over to Joy Tanner Pottery for a round two firing of the little converted electric soda kiln. The test firing gave us good directions to head in to improve the results, so we made a few changes and had at it again. We'll find out soon if we moved far enough in the right direction!

Aug 05, 2009 | Categories: Firing Notes, Updates | Tags: kiln building | Comments Off on Another Mickey Kiln

Here and There

The summer is flying by while I run here and there on all the various projects. Most of them are moving along slowly, but at least they're moving. One of the websites is nearly complete, the plans for the reduction kiln are almost Final Plans, we finished up the building of the little "test" soda kiln and got the first firing out of the way, found time to make a few pots and try to get the rust out, and now I'm off to help my pal build a wood kiln up in Virginia. Another trip with Captain Conepack himself, his tools haven't even dried off yet from his last project so I know he'll be in good form for building. You can see some photos of the latest Mickey Kiln here. I put together a few pictures of converting the electric kiln into a gas fired soda kiln, you can read that here. We'll make a few adjustments for the next firing, try to move the heat around a little more with target bricks and increase the amount of reduction too. The kiln made it to temperature so now we just need to fine tune the details that make all the difference.

Jul 24, 2009 | Categories: Firing Notes, Updates | Tags: converting an electric kiln to gas, kiln building, soda firing | 1 Comment »

Summer Workshop

Coming up in a few weeks I'll be leading a wheel-throwing workshop with a splash of soda firing thrown in. The class will be held in Bakersville, NC at ArtsCentered. I've been teaching a class there one night a week for the past few months, and I have converted a small electric kiln into a Baby Soda kiln. When I went in for class the other evening, the studio was filled a group of folks working hard and enjoying themselves during a one week sculpture workshop with local artist Lisa Clague. Many of the folks were staying at the Bed and Breakfast adjacent to the studio and word on the streets was that it was a great time all around. Below is a write-up of the class I'll be teaching--I think there are still a few openings in the class and at the B&B. Feel free to contact me here with any questions, or send an email to will@williambakerpottery.com

Monday August 3^rd –Saturday August 8^th , 10 -4 pm. Cost: $125 plus $25 materials fee and $15 propane fee Clay is available for $11/bag
Students will build on their wheel-throwing experience to take their work to the next level. We will cover the fundamentals of creating work on the potter’s wheel, as well as the finer points of creating forms with great attention to detail. Class will consist of daily demonstrations and individual discussions to allow each student to progress according to their needs. This will allow for hours of one-on-one instruction and assistance.

Additionally, we will be able to fire a small soda kiln with small works made during the first two days. This will provide the opportunity to explore the soda firing process, with the remainder of students’ work bisque fired on the last day.

Experience: Some basic wheel throwing experience is helpful but not essential.

Class topics: An emphasis on wheel thrown functional pots, as well as discussions of aesthetic and functional considerations. Exploration of the soda firing process, including discussions of flashing slips, firing techniques, etc.

Firing: During the first two days we will make small works to be fired in the soda kiln, students’ work made during the rest of the week will be bisque fired by the end of the class.

Tools/ Supplies students should bring: towel, bucket, throwing tools, sketch book
For accomodations check here http://www.bakersvillebedandbreakfast.com/ or 828-688-6012. If you speak with them be sure to mention to class, they have a special discount package available including an option for dinners.
Hope you can join us in beautiful "downtown" Bakersville.

Jul 12, 2009 | Categories: Updates | Comments Off on Summer Workshop

Back to Work

Hard to believe that we're well into the summer season. Settling back in after the Studio Tour, found the blueberries coming along nicely up here on the mountain. The traffic trickled in all weekend, with many of the visitors being folks with whom we were already acquainted. It's always great to see the rare breed who make repeated trips out to see the pottery. I had five examples of a new form I had made in the last firing and all five went home with someone, it was nice to see that others liked the new vase as much as I had hoped they might. I hope to get back into the studio before too long, but as usual there is a long list of catch up to do which is overwhelming the studio demands at the moment. The next few weeks will bring some kiln building projects, as well as an exciting and ceramic related website project...stay tuned for more details.

Jun 21, 2009 | Categories: Updates | Tags: kiln building | 1 Comment »

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