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About GEP
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Rank
full time potter / past forum moderator
Profile Information
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Location
Silver Spring, MD
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Interests
biking, jogging, cooking and eating, veggie gardening, baseball (Orioles)
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Pres reacted to a reply to a status update: Kiln arrived yesterday, and is now in the shop. I am in the process of reassembling,
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2021 shows-update-they are back strong soon
GEP replied to Mark C.'s topic in Business, Marketing, and Accounting
I had one show that was tentatively scheduled for July, but they recently decided to cancel it. I am still optimistic for fall shows. I got my first vaccine shot this morning! The term I’m hearing is “revenge spending” meaning the third and fourth quarters of this this year are expected to be insane for retailers. Because consumers need to let it all out! -
GEP reacted to a post in a topic: 2021 shows-update-they are back strong soon
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PeterH reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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GEP reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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GEP reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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Callie Beller Diesel reacted to a post in a topic: How do you make a glaze "more white"
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If you have metal marks on a white pot, there’s a good chance you can remove them with Bar Keepers Friend (aka oxalic acid). These marks are not damage to the glaze itself, just a stubborn stain. Having said that, if you are making pots that you intend to sell, it’s best to formulate glazes that don’t metal mark in the first place.
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GEP reacted to a post in a topic: Firing work for others and charging a fee
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A total newb question about trimming ....
GEP replied to Rebekah Krieger's topic in Studio Operations and Making Work
I try to trim a small mouth bottle as much as possible right after throwing it, when the bottle is still right side up and attached to its batt, using a Dolan 120 tool. https://www.baileypottery.com/c-096-120.html Then I finish trimming when leather hard on a bisqued chuck. I don’t use clay wads, I just work gently and slowly, and re-center the pot every time I knock it off center. But there’s usually very little trimming to do. -
Rebekah Krieger reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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Rebekah Krieger reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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Several people have offered the answer “no the painted surfaces are not ceramics” but you won’t take that for answer. And you defend your position by arguing an “art” defense but not providing a “ceramics” defense. That’s why it doesn’t seem like you understand that these are two different questions.
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@itsALLart, you came here and asked the question “is this ceramics?” but what you you really meant is “is this art?” You don’t seem to understand the difference. When you are making art for your own personal exploration/growth/satisfaction then it doesn’t matter if you call it ceramics or not. However, if you are trying to enter professional venues with your work, the standards and definitions DO matter. Just like with any other professional field.
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GEP reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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GEP reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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Roberta12 reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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Benzine reacted to a post in a topic: Help! Cracks in base of thrown pots.
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shawnhar reacted to a post in a topic: Help! Cracks in base of thrown pots.
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Help! Cracks in base of thrown pots.
GEP replied to Jtsonday's topic in Studio Operations and Making Work
Break those pots fully in half, and I bet you’ll find a big difference in thickness between the walls and the floor. This is an addendum to the above “uneven drying” answer. Evenly thick pots will dry evenly. -
Hulk reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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JohnnyK reacted to a post in a topic: Question about alternative finishes for ceramics & acceptance by ceramic artists
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GEP reacted to a post in a topic: Should I sell a mug that may not be fully vitrified?
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My pots are still on their throwing bats through this stage, right side up. Any pot that is 6 lbs or more will probably be on a Hydrobat, which helps with even drying. And this problem is definitely worse in the dry winter climate too, compared to my humid summer climate.
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I have this problem on a regular basis in my drafty studio. It’s because one side of your pot is drying faster than the other side. The softer side is easier to trim than the harder side, so the trimming tool makes faster progress on that side. I can even things out a lot by draping fabric over my thrown pieces until they are leather hard. It creates a mini-environment that is evenly humid under the fabric, and guards against drafts. I still sometimes get unevenly dry pots to trim, so when I see it happening, I brace myself into a firm hunch and hold my trimming tool with two fists. Th
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That’s good news then. The glaze looks like a satin matte, which is always more likely to stain compared to a glossy. I would recommend exploring glossy liner glazes. My main glaze is a satin matte, but I line the insides of vessels with a glossy glaze. (It will still develop coffee stains after years of use, but not after one use. ) On my dinner plates, the satin matte glaze will touch food, and one customer reported that she stained it with blueberries. I’m not that worried about it, because blueberries are not something you eat everyday. But I am thinking about changing the way I glaz
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Have you done a vitrification test? (fill with water, leave sitting on a sheet of paper for a day or two, see if paper becomes damp) The question is whether the stain is above the surface of the glaze, or getting past the glaze and into the clay.
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GEP reacted to a post in a topic: What’s on your workbench?
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My motivation source is similar to @Pres's answer: Give yourself a deadline. Shows are terrific for this. Once it's confirmed on your schedule, you have no choice but to get ready for it. With all of last year's shows cancelled, I had to create my own substitute events, but they worked the same way in terms of giving myself a deadline.
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When choosing a business name?
GEP replied to nicrob42's topic in Business, Marketing, and Accounting
My first name is Mea (pronounced mee-uh), and I cannot count the ways that people have managed to mispronounce it. I would avoid any business name that can potentially be mispronounced. Not because it will hurt your business, but because it will drive you nuts. It's hard to be an effective salesperson if you are feeling aggravated.- 14 replies
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- business name
- naming your business
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I would advise not buying any material that you’re not sure you will need in the future. It’s already likely you will end up collecting a whole bunch of things you don’t ultimately need. That’s just part of learning how to make your own glazes. Storage space is an expensive commodity in any studio, so try to keep the extraneous materials to a minimum. Start researching recipes and narrow it down to a few that you want to try first. Then buy the materials for those recipes. Buy them in small amounts for now EXCEPT for Silica and EPK. Go ahead and buy 50# sacks of those, and containers to