For those that are studio potters....

[laj4021]

In general, what is your work routine and cycle like for producing work?

 

i.e. Do you only throw mugs on one day, bowls on another day and trimming is an entire separate day? Or do you allow yourself to throw and do a variety of things everyday?

 

Do you set goals for yourself for the day, for the week, or for the month?

 

I could see how people would have totally different ways of working so I am curious what has been the most efficient way for all of you.

 

Thanks for sharing!!

[Mark C.]

Today I unloaded car kiln packed up two gallery orders and my wife (who had the day off from her full time job ) drove them and dropped them-Then I priced the work left over and boxed it then trimmed about 30 bowls from yesterdays throwing.

I'm taking two days off for ocean stuff then back to throwing and trimming which I do a bit of most days. I like to finish yesterdays days work after throwing while pots are in sun drying. Most sunny days I can process most of that days work with some spilling to the next after throwing again.

. When I get enough I bisque Fire then glaze and try not to mix throwing or trimming in that glaze day. When bisquing I mix glazes and clean up. I do not work with goals or keep track of hours. I can tell you if you consider clay work it will be tough road.

This schedule has evolved over 40 years. The cycle I'm tied to more is upcoming shows and gallery demands-I try to always have plenty of back stock. That way you are prepared . Once you get that back stock work hard to keep it always there. That works for me but I'm motivated I'm told more than most.

I tend to work thru huge work times then do some other interests then fall back to huge work cycle again. Like diving a shipwreck at 5.30AM in up coming am. Then build a fence for friends then again back to clay work for upcoming shows.

Mark

[oldlady]

mark,

 

what kind of vitamins do you take??? i want some..............

[Diane Puckett]

mark,

 

what kind of vitamins do you take??? i want some..............

 

They may not be legal. :-)

[Mark C.]

My wife says I'm not a normal person and my friends agree as I do not know about kicking back.

You see I do not take vitamins or have many vices-just coffee and breathing air.

I'm not taking anything but clay dust and underwater photos.

The dive was a bit rough with 2 foot vis -going again at 5.30 am

Fence is done-going to drop off some mugs to bagel shop after the dive.

Back to throwing on monday- my plan is sponge holders and bowls then move on to other forms like mugs and casseroles.

Need a fire before the 4th as its my 40th year doing this local show-Wonder whats it like to have the 4th off??

I was 20 when I had the last 4th of July off never missed one yet.

If you need vitamins consider the alternative.

Back on topic I like to throw at least 2 forms every throwing day

If you want to make a great living at funtional ware then production is a key part. Clay has been good to me but I have worked hard at it most of life -now as I slow a bit with age

I get to choose more what when and who.

Mark

[Benzine]

Mark, any links to you underwater photos?

 

I would love to go diving, especially to some ruins or ship wreck. Alas, we don't have a lot of places to do so, here in the heartland.

[GEP]

My days are generally designated as throwing days, trimming days, and glazing days. On throwing days I pick two or three forms, and make them all day, until I either run out of batts or run out of table space. Because I am a numbers geek, I also try to produce at least $600 of inventory on throwing days. That's my baseline, some days I can do over $1000. I make a lot of handbuilt things too, but rarely spend an entire day on this. Instead I'll carve out two or three hours handbuilding amoungst the throwing or trimming. I am always working from a to-do list. Sometimes it's a wholesale order. Or when I'm preparing for upcoming shows, I'll write a list of the inventory I'd like to have at the show. Check things off as I go. Loading a bisque kiln does not take much time, when I have enough to bisque I usually do that first thing in the morning, then get on with the day. After no more than two bisque loads, I will schedule a glazing day, because I don't like the bisque to pile up.

 

The past two weekends, I've done two shows. I've been trying hard to make my show process a lot more efficient and less taxing, my goal is to see these events as "just another day at the office." These two shows we kindof easy. There will be other shows down the road that will be strenuous, like four days in the mid-summer heat and humidity. But generally I no longer view shows as being a big stressful ordeal. I usually take it easy for one day after a show (like today, don't plan to work in the studio at all today). But then it's back to work tomorrow.

 

Mea

[Benzine]

My days are generally designated as throwing days, trimming days, and glazing days. On throwing days I pick two or three forms, and make them all day, until I either run out of batts or run out of table space. Because I am a numbers geek, I also try to produce at least $600 of inventory on throwing days. That's my baseline, some days I can do over $1000. I make a lot of handbuilt things too, but rarely spend an entire day on this. Instead I'll carve out two or three hours handbuilding amoungst the throwing or trimming. I am always working from a to-do list. Sometimes it's a wholesale order. Or when I'm preparing for upcoming shows, I'll write a list of the inventory I'd like to have at the show. Check things off as I go. Loading a bisque kiln does not take much time, when I have enough to bisque I usually do that first thing in the morning, then get on with the day. After no more than two bisque loads, I will schedule a glazing day, because I don't like the bisque to pile up.

 

The past two weekends, I've done two shows. I've been trying hard to make my show process a lot more efficient and less taxing, my goal is to see these events as "just another day at the office." These two shows we kindof easy. There will be other shows down the road that will be strenuous, like four days in the mid-summer heat and humidity. But generally I no longer view shows as being a big stressful ordeal. I usually take it easy for one day after a show (like today, don't plan to work in the studio at all today). But then it's back to work tomorrow.

 

Mea

 

 

Any specific items, you focus on, both wheel thrown and hand built?

[GEP]

My days are generally designated as throwing days, trimming days, and glazing days. On throwing days I pick two or three forms, and make them all day, until I either run out of batts or run out of table space. Because I am a numbers geek, I also try to produce at least $600 of inventory on throwing days. That's my baseline, some days I can do over $1000. I make a lot of handbuilt things too, but rarely spend an entire day on this. Instead I'll carve out two or three hours handbuilding amoungst the throwing or trimming. I am always working from a to-do list. Sometimes it's a wholesale order. Or when I'm preparing for upcoming shows, I'll write a list of the inventory I'd like to have at the show. Check things off as I go. Loading a bisque kiln does not take much time, when I have enough to bisque I usually do that first thing in the morning, then get on with the day. After no more than two bisque loads, I will schedule a glazing day, because I don't like the bisque to pile up.

 

The past two weekends, I've done two shows. I've been trying hard to make my show process a lot more efficient and less taxing, my goal is to see these events as "just another day at the office." These two shows we kindof easy. There will be other shows down the road that will be strenuous, like four days in the mid-summer heat and humidity. But generally I no longer view shows as being a big stressful ordeal. I usually take it easy for one day after a show (like today, don't plan to work in the studio at all today). But then it's back to work tomorrow.

 

Mea

 

 

Any specific items, you focus on, both wheel thrown and hand built?

 

 

My handbuilt work consists almost entirely of plates, platters, and trays. With an occasional tall vase, and small elephant figurines. I spend most of my wheel time on individual-sized bowls, cups, mugs. But I also make a lot of serving pieces, i.e. large bowls, casseroles, teapots, pitchers. For me, it's all about food: cooking, serving, eating, drinking.

 

Mea

[Benzine]

My days are generally designated as throwing days, trimming days, and glazing days. On throwing days I pick two or three forms, and make them all day, until I either run out of batts or run out of table space. Because I am a numbers geek, I also try to produce at least $600 of inventory on throwing days. That's my baseline, some days I can do over $1000. I make a lot of handbuilt things too, but rarely spend an entire day on this. Instead I'll carve out two or three hours handbuilding amoungst the throwing or trimming. I am always working from a to-do list. Sometimes it's a wholesale order. Or when I'm preparing for upcoming shows, I'll write a list of the inventory I'd like to have at the show. Check things off as I go. Loading a bisque kiln does not take much time, when I have enough to bisque I usually do that first thing in the morning, then get on with the day. After no more than two bisque loads, I will schedule a glazing day, because I don't like the bisque to pile up.

 

The past two weekends, I've done two shows. I've been trying hard to make my show process a lot more efficient and less taxing, my goal is to see these events as "just another day at the office." These two shows we kindof easy. There will be other shows down the road that will be strenuous, like four days in the mid-summer heat and humidity. But generally I no longer view shows as being a big stressful ordeal. I usually take it easy for one day after a show (like today, don't plan to work in the studio at all today). But then it's back to work tomorrow.

 

Mea

 

 

Any specific items, you focus on, both wheel thrown and hand built?

 

 

My handbuilt work consists almost entirely of plates, platters, and trays. With an occasional tall vase, and small elephant figurines. I spend most of my wheel time on individual-sized bowls, cups, mugs. But I also make a lot of serving pieces, i.e. large bowls, casseroles, teapots, pitchers. For me, it's all about food: cooking, serving, eating, drinking.

 

Mea

 

 

Awesome. You can always depend on people to want to cook, eat and drink with style, so there will always be a market for such wares.

[Mark C.]

Mark, any links to you underwater photos?

 

I would love to go diving, especially to some ruins or ship wreck. Alas, we don't have a lot of places to do so, here in the heartland.

 

 

I have some pottery-underwater-studio shots-salt kiln etc at link below

The great whites where while I was in a cage.I have been taking undrwater shots since 82-I used to sell to calender companys

Mark

 

http://www.flickr.co...s/23813860@N06/

[laj4021]

My days are generally designated as throwing days, trimming days, and glazing days. On throwing days I pick two or three forms, and make them all day, until I either run out of batts or run out of table space. Because I am a numbers geek, I also try to produce at least $600 of inventory on throwing days. That's my baseline, some days I can do over $1000. I make a lot of handbuilt things too, but rarely spend an entire day on this. Instead I'll carve out two or three hours handbuilding amoungst the throwing or trimming. I am always working from a to-do list. Sometimes it's a wholesale order. Or when I'm preparing for upcoming shows, I'll write a list of the inventory I'd like to have at the show. Check things off as I go. Loading a bisque kiln does not take much time, when I have enough to bisque I usually do that first thing in the morning, then get on with the day. After no more than two bisque loads, I will schedule a glazing day, because I don't like the bisque to pile up.

 

The past two weekends, I've done two shows. I've been trying hard to make my show process a lot more efficient and less taxing, my goal is to see these events as "just another day at the office." These two shows we kindof easy. There will be other shows down the road that will be strenuous, like four days in the mid-summer heat and humidity. But generally I no longer view shows as being a big stressful ordeal. I usually take it easy for one day after a show (like today, don't plan to work in the studio at all today). But then it's back to work tomorrow.

 

Mea

 

 

Hey thanks Mea, I like that you set your goals for the day by $. That makes sense and I don't think I would have thought of doing it that way.

[Benzine]

Mark, any links to you underwater photos?

 

I would love to go diving, especially to some ruins or ship wreck. Alas, we don't have a lot of places to do so, here in the heartland.

 

 

I have some pottery-underwater-studio shots-salt kiln etc at link below

The great whites where while I was in a cage.I have been taking undrwater shots since 82-I used to sell to calender companys

Mark

 

http://www.flickr.co...s/23813860@N06/

 

 

Ew pottery photos......Just kidding. Thanks for the link Mark. Great shots all around.

[Strelnikov]

Mark, any links to you underwater photos?

 

I would love to go diving, especially to some ruins or ship wreck. Alas, we don't have a lot of places to do so, here in the heartland.

 

I have some pottery-underwater-studio shots-salt kiln etc at link below

The great whites where while I was in a cage.I have been taking undrwater shots since 82-I used to sell to calender companys

Mark

 

http://www.flickr.co...s/23813860@N06/

 

Love your pottery. The underwater shots too. Thanks for sharing.

 

Evan