My brother just sent me what I think is the most wonderful photo of me and I never knew it existed!
I’ve had a lot of very flattering comments about me in this picture but frankly, what I am most excited about is proof that, not only was I throwing pots at age 16 but it was a DECENT looking pot!
The story of this location is that my first job was working for a local potter. His studio was in his barn.
I pugged clay, sifted straw ash, stacked wood for the kiln, mixed glazes, mowed his lawn and ocassionally, did his dishes. The perks were that he taught me to really throw and trim (I still don’t make a tall enough foot by his standards!) I got to make some pots and fire them- Raku!
It was such a great job- one I’ll never forget and was certainly deeply influential on my whole life. Here are a couple of tea bowls I made that I still have from that time.
And since I’m being nostalgic, I thought I’d throw in this photo in to show you what a flower child I was at about age 14.
and I’ve put animals in there for the first time
and a redwinged blackbird singing by its nest
You can see the nest in the bigger picture- I made it, it’s a soap dish! I’m trying to get some egg-shaped soap.
Also, either I’m getting better at installation or my daughter, who helped me for the first time, was just incredibly good. There was no swearing! Everything went smoothly!