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Mark C.

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Posts posted by Mark C.

  3. QothW: Which intrigues you and motivates you most when working with or looking at pots: Form or Surface? 

    in Int'l Ceramic Artists Network (ICAN) Operations and Benefits

    Posted

    I work hard on the functionality of the form 1st. This is a key part of my work-it has to perform as intended well. The glaze also needs to fit into that process. It needs to add to the  form in function then at the same time be spectacular . That will make it sell well work well and make for happy users

    I like the forms to clean easy on fluids inside and look snappy on the outside which is the second process after the functionality of that form

  5. Adding Fee for Credit Cards?

    in Business, Marketing, and Accounting

    Posted

    If you are not taking cards you are leaving $$ on the table. I do not add a fee for cards-I''m not in urban environs ever anymore show wise.Usually a big line with two of us-one wrapping the other taking the funds.The whole business is a happy business -people buying pots are usually happy-pots they sell themselves-.

    If I was ever going to think about adding a fee I would just up the pottery prices and not mention any fees-extra fee are not happy

    In a smaller home town show its about the same with less people -but thay are still happy

     

  6. bed of silica

    in Clay and Glaze Chemistry

    Posted

    19 minutes ago, kristinanoel said:

    Does anyone use a deeper bed of silica as a support for sculptural pieces, to prevent slumping?
    So that the ware is kind of nested in a pile of silica, or in container? 

    I've heard of this but not seen any images and not sure how it would work.
    Can the silica be re-used? 

    Yes it can be reused -keep it on the shelve and not in the elements. You can vacuum kiln after use if you get sloppy

    most use it as a smooth flat bed not in a container.

  8. QotW: Do you have any pottery secrets that you do not share? If so how has your outlook on sharing with others changed over the years?

    in Int'l Ceramic Artists Network (ICAN) Operations and Benefits

    Posted · Edited by Mark C.

    I recently gave away my slip mixer tank and motor and pump to another potter who could and is using it daily in her business-as well as some master molds.

    I bought her SS  VMP20 Peter pugger as well. I did not ask for any $ for that stuff as its hard around here to find anyone who is in the slip making world.This stuff all went to Portland Or where slip is a thing now more than other locations.

    I sold a Brent wheel last year during the begining of covid for a good deal for her (not trying to gouge any buyers) at a time when  wheels where non extistant.

    Its all part of the ceramic community in a broader sense I feel ,we help one another as this is hard enough and helping others avoid mistakes is the right attitude to have

  9. QotW: Do you have any pottery secrets that you do not share? If so how has your outlook on sharing with others changed over the years?

    in Int'l Ceramic Artists Network (ICAN) Operations and Benefits

    Posted

    I feel you change over time about sharing. For me it was quest of knowledge for  the 1st 20 years then the next 20 years was about execution. The past 10 years (yes it been 50 years now)  has been about to some extent giving back. I have lots of knowledge  in kiln building, marketing , firing and glazing and instead of dying with that info I have tried to give some of it back

    Ceramics takes about two lifetimes to master things-I am near the end of the 1st one

    I only have 2-3 things I have yet to share-one is my rutile glaze  reciepe that I use the most of my 15 glazes (its out there if you look) the other is salt/soda coating I developed about 15 years ago. I have shared components of it (today someone is calling me with a salt kiln  question from NC) I have thought about marketing it but am on the fence still.

    The last thing is I was given Otto Heino's Million dollar yellow recipe and  promised not to share it so I respect that promise

    All  the rest is an open book-I have written some articles for CM that really are just sharing  what I have learned. I really want to encourage others on how to be successful in a full time pursuit of ceramics  as I have. The thing is one can make a really good living at this if you have the fortitude drive and tenacity .If I can pass this on to one person I feel I;ve done a good job

    In our area (most of the west coast as well ) there are not many young potters up and coming doing funtional wares-the void is huge. Right now the market demand is at an all high and I'm scaling back. My most hopeful local younger potter has long haul covid and at least for the past 2 years cannot even make pots as he has no energy. -Its a sad story. he may never recover as its all an unknown.

  12. Business Liability Insurance -going UP

    in Business, Marketing, and Accounting

    Posted · Edited by Mark C.

    Well  many here  may not have this  and do not need it  but I do and have for many decades. Since I did many shows over time that required it. Over time this one time cheap poilicy (300$) has really gone up at the same time my exposure has really gone down (only 3 shows this year -two next year). Now for the 1st time I only need it for one event at a shopping center at xmas(and I need to name them on the policy ) The shows I  now do have thier own coverage. Of cource its  more than doubled in price. It was a two million poilicy with a 1k deductible . I have my agent cutting  that  back to 500K  liablitiy and 3k deductible to get to the minimum of 500$ per year. This also covers my studio for 45K for fire insurance (homepolicy does not cover stutio) and 12 k for equipment .

    State Farm is my carrier as well

    I dislike insurance . This is an understatement

  13. Pottery Wheel Advice/suggestion

    in Equipment Use and Repair

    Posted

    The better wheels which will not slow down with pressure are Skutts and Brents and Baileys. Better warranty  as well. These wheels last though the test of time

    Brents are my wheel of choice -10 year warranty 

    Pacificas are slowly getting better with better materials now (no longer have say flakeboard uder the plastic deck) they now use that Bat material which is morte waterproof .

  19. AAARGH SHIMPO you changed EVERYTHING!

    in Equipment Use and Repair

    Posted · Edited by Mark C.

    I did a demo workshop on about 8 of the wispers-they are quiet and thats all they are -they can be slowed down easy with a medium amount of clay and the splash pans are cheesy and will break over time. The cords are to light duty as well. Thats my take-oh ya they do not have good fast service/parts like Brands made in this country 

    a pancake motor is like Naan bread only made on a charcoal fire a low heat-when done its a low torque flavor that is really quiet and small

  20. What are these little black dots?

    in Studio Operations and Making Work

    Posted · Edited by Mark C.

    1 hour ago, boardbutproductive said:

    Thanks all-- I'm not sure if it's coffee or mold, but either way, I'm planning to refire it to see if that helps. I figure either it fixes it, or this mug goes in the bin like it would have anyway.  

    Amaco suggested decreasing the HF-9 glaze I used inside from 3 coats to 2, as they said it looks like the glaze pooled here, causing lots of little bubbles that eventually wore through.  I plan to try that going forward, and also to run some tests with the orange underglaze.  Everywhere I used that orange, it turned into a sort of orange-peel texture (no pun intended) after glaze firing. 

    When those bubbles wear thru that means glass (glaze) came out into fluids most likely witha spoon stirring for example.Not a good situtaion for anyone. If the glaze is to thick toss it as its unsafe for use.  In ceramics we all make mistakes and try to learn from them.It takes a whole lifetime of ceramic mistakes and then in the next life you get to make more-its the learning from them that makes us better potters

  23. Robert Brent Wheels -older information

    in Equipment Use and Repair

    Posted · Edited by Mark C.

    I was going thru downsizing old Ceramics Monthly's yesterday -the 60s and 70,s issues-kept a few 70s glaze recipes rest hit the recycle bin

    I found this ad in the October 1970 issue-My Model C is that wheel assembled it was $265-splash pan was galvanized sheet steel. The thing to note was the flat formica decks and the foot pedal those are the two features that they changed fairly quickly in early 70s.  The other features that changed soon afterwards where 3/4 shafts on all wheels (these where 5/8 inch) and motors that had easy change brushes on the outside of motor. This ad also notes the location in Santa Monica that I bought my wheel from Brent himself-which was 1970.

    Brent moved shortly afterwards to Healdsburg Ca.. I met recently a woman who's husband worked there back in the mid 70s. Small world

     

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