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Jim Mc Dowell - The Black Potter

Working it out in clay.

I guess sometimes incredibly good things come out of painful life transitions.

I took my first pottery class in June of 2007. I was reeling from another round of reality gut checks. Another in a long line of consequences that seemed to be waiting for me the moment I decided to risk it all and make the big daring move to Austin nearly two years earlier.

Life is patient and steadfast in the delivery of lessons. It does not relent, it does not offer restart buttons and it certainly offers little in the way of an operating manual or survivor's guide. You learn limits by testing them. You learn to swim by jumping in the deep end. You learn to heal by getting hurt.

In my first pottery class, I found a hint of excitement buried in the bottom of a 15lb bag of clay. This was something I always wanted to try. And I was finally giving in to the desire that lingered since childhood.

It's two and half years later and I am still learning. About life. Truth. Creativity. Clay. Me. I am trying to be gentle with myself. Trying to be patient with whatever my feelings and thoughts may be. Trying to let myself go wherever it is I'm supposed to go. Trying, again...to be.

I had a mean sleep. And it definitely hurts coming back to life. Whatever form I take this time - I shape carefully with my own two hands, a measure of wisdom and a pinch of discernment.

Here's the first chapter to a brand new book.

Give 'em the slip

We're still thinking about some of the smashing things we saw at the GNCCF. One of our favourite stands was the slipware pottery produced by Hannah McAndrew shown below.

This pottery decoration technique is very ancient - and involves applying wet clay over unglazed pot... either by dipping, piping or painting. Hannah's pieces have an almost Medieval quality whilst maintaining a modern feel. These small 'Birdie' mugs are great, and she also had some fantastic larger pieces...

...such as this jug & plates with oak leaf decoration.

We have a few bits of slipware dotted around our house such as this lovely little candleholder. Slipware has a timeless quality and is very good at tying together antique & modern pieces.

We picked up this amazing  charger a few years ago at a bric-a-brac shop down on the south coast.

It now sits on an antique coffer - it looks lovely against the patina of the old oak.

This large pottery tankard was also a good find - picked up relatively recently at a local flea market. It's got a bit of age to it - and we think it's absolutely beautiful!

This mug was made relatively recently but is very interesting all the same because of its social history.

This simple little fish plate is another favourite. The scales look to have been created by dragging a small stick through stripes of the wet slip.

And finally, this bowl which sits on our bathroom window sill and is normally full of bath salts & a little scoop - ready to ease the aches & pains brought on by our constant moving of boxes and furniture!

Original Article

Give 'em the slip

We're still thinking about some of the smashing things we saw at the GNCCF. One of our favourite stands was the slipware pottery produced by Hannah McAndrew shown below.

This pottery decoration technique is very ancient - and involves applying wet clay over unglazed pot... either by dipping, piping or painting. Hannah's pieces have an almost Medieval quality whilst maintaining a modern feel. These small 'Birdie' mugs are great, and she also had some fantastic larger pieces...

...such as this jug & plates with oak leaf decoration.

We have a few bits of slipware dotted around our house such as this lovely little candleholder. Slipware has a timeless quality and is very good at tying together antique & modern pieces.

We picked up this amazing 12-inch charger a few years ago at a bric-a-brac shop down on the south coast.

It now sits on an antique coffer - it looks lovely against the patina of the old oak.

This large pottery tankard was also a good find - picked up relatively recently at a local flea market. It's got a bit of age to it - and we think it's absolutely beautiful!

This mug was made relatively recently but is very interesting all the same because of its social history.

This simple little fish plate is another favourite. The scales look to have been created by dragging a small stick through stripes of the wet slip.

And finally, this bowl which sits on our bathroom window sill and is normally full of bath salts & a little scoop - ready to ease the aches & pains brought on by our constant moving of boxes and furniture!

Original Article

Dream Home

Check out this entertainer's dream home. Original owners. View Listings Provided by: Linda L Novick (Lic: 00415294) Windermere Real Estate (Lic: 01325548) 74-850 Highway 111 Indian Wells, CA 92210 Cellular: 760-397-3652 lindanovick@windermere.com http://lindanovick.mywindermere.com/ View Listings link will be available for 30 days. If you do not see a link, copy this text to the address line in your browser: http://desertareamls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Desertarea&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=E8MVZusT6FFNe%2BQKNgdbzWRD912DU%2BgPQL5YrGx2b%2BA%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=

Brendan L. S. Tang, Old school ceramics, new school robot art