Mark C.

My guess this is because of the new world demand for batteries in phones and cars is the major resone for this injustice-Thats just a guess but greed usually is the culprit . My stocking up was long before the world ramped up on the cobalt greed scale.I was pointing out also that its just not only cobalt or diamonds in terms of labor injustice. I do not buy ornamental diamonds myself or my wife but we do use industrial diamonds in many things . Ceramics is not a light footprint on the planet . I do not take this for granted but understand it as part of the whole.

Mining the earth for materials is what Man has done for oh so long in history. Its never been anything short of exploitive really.People get exploited in most mining operations from land grabs to labor. Its been a fact for eons.Not just diamonds. I use almost a pound cobalt oxide per 10,000 grams of my black glaze which manly I use as an underglaze (sample #3 on my website) I usually keep about 20,000 grams in a huge bucket and go thru a large quantity of this glaze per year. I have always bought large quantities when the price was low About a decade ago I bought a 55# drum of cobalt carbonate from a non ceramic supply source-I sold 2/3 of it as I did noted that much but the price was good for all of us then-I still have some left. The same is true with cobalt Oxide I bought a bout 30#s when it was ow cost-still using it and have enough to last maybe 5-10 more years-maybe all the years I have left in ceramics The cell /car battery market has put a crunch on this material in past years . One thing to learn is watch the market on materials as we potters are the trickle down users who account for near zero in the materials market. When the price is low buy a lot when its high hold. If you only buy as a hobbyist then you will get clobbered now and then on price-thats true with many materials as well . I mentioned some of the points in My CM article last year Its all about paying attention-been that way with Tin oxide as well for my 47 years in the business.

Its a blend of form and function that appeals to the user . Say in a mug the handle feels right and the form feels right as well as the color is good for that user.Everyone has a different value for this but you know when it all lines up for you. The bowl looks like it should weight as much as it does and the way it feels and works makes it just right.The foot looks and feels right and the balance is great between these aspects .

I took private lessons in 1969 to learn to throw. It was in Seal Beach Ca. I was in high school and I did it as a suggestion from a friend`as we had wheel access at scholl but no instructor . So we signed up for a night class and threw on 5 different wheels-3 were power and two kick wheels.I do not recall how many months we did this maybe 3-4 months. That same year I bought a wheel for home and within 6 months moved away to collage where I had more training in throwing. I guess about 4 instructors in total for throwing skills. I think it took me about 6-8 years to master it really. I thought I mastered it in 4 yrs but looking back that was not the case especially handles.

I.m a motivated high funtioning individual I have been told.. It helps with a production pottery business as well I have found out.

Back from big successful show and taking 12 days off to finish remodel -siding up on last wall-need to paint it soon before the weather changes. Hook up hot and cold water copper lines and waste lines for 1/2 bath and also hook up 3 forced air heat vents and trim out one closest and hang a wall hung toto toilet and hook up sink facuet and drian and supply lines-also drain line for mini split need installing -I should get this all done in next 12 days.then its back to gallery orders for fall-and a larger wholesale order as well.I only have one local private sale left this year at xmas

It takes me more time to trim a bowl than throw a bowl. 100 is a great way to learn a form

In a normal production week all wet clay goes into peter pugger-all trimmings (usually 2-3 five gallon buckets goes into my weekly trash pick up can. (auto can loader on trash truck) I used to take it down the hill to our road concrete recycle plant but I stopped that as I got tired of hualing the buckets.I have zero clay or shard dump on our 1 acre property.I like a clean place relatively speaking-no clay or shards anywhere.I do dry out my settling clay vats in the sink system and throw away a clay box amlost weekly of wet goo as well from that system .

I used to dig clay and add things to it to make it work-what a hassel for crappy clay. I also used to reclaim all my trimmings-what a hassel-I started in clay in last year of high school(1971) I was full time in 1976- after graduation -drying my scrap in large plaster forms and wedging it all then pugging it at facilities at collage for trade like class tours of studio . I gave that all up in tyhe 80s and trew dred trimmings away-still do. I bought a second hand peter pugger in 2013 if I recall after hand/wrist surgery(PRC -3 bones removed) I wish I had done that 35 year earlier-and I could have If i chose to. I will add that making your own clay gives you insight to clays and the same is true making your own glazes. I like having atht background as a full timer when issues pop up yuou have the skills to guide you. Clay is cheap and making it costs more time than its worth money wise at least for me. Its a young mans fancy as its also a back killer-I reall that part well. With ceramics knowing as much as you can gives you a edge as the rest of your life you will add to it and never get it all-its about 3 lifetimes worth of stuff to learn

I'll bite Cone 10 porcelain mostly Daves from Laguna -fired in treduction atmosphere to soft cone 11. All homeamde glazes dipped and some brushing. Aslo use a bit of 50/50 porcelain and some Babu both from Laguna clay company. down to 6-8 tons per year now.95% thrown forms with minor slab work.I fire in two gas kilns-a small 12 cubic footer (fired my 18th laod yesrterday for the year in that kiln and my car kiln. (35 cubic feet) fired my 17th load yesterday for the year in that kiln. I like porcelain as it tougher and shows the glazes off better than stoneware and chips less as well.

For me it may be building two salt kiln conversions at a Molkai Art center on two different trips. Pro Bono as well. I am in the giving back space of life and passing on knowledge is part of that process. It felt right and was for a good cause . It still feels great years later

Nice piece

My workbench /wheel is now empty after a two week production run that may have been one of my largest output periods ever. The last two kilns are firing now and the van is about 2/3 full for an upcoming big show. This last two kiln loads has my wall fish and odds and ends in them. I plan on a small ceramic break after the show and do some diving before returning to my remodel for a few weeks in August. I'll get back to clay near end of month for fall shows . Now packing for a huge show and a dive trip all in same vehicle .

Reminds me of making 125- 2 inch baby vases for a friends wedding. Pro bono deal felt great when done-one was at every table place setting for each guest.

I have full blown large set of speakers(cerwin-vega) in studio also a set in outer kiln loading area-and 5 more sets spread around like kitchen living room salt kiln-office all hooked to two 300 cd disc players and also can pipem pandora thru the system.Most speakers have their own volume control nearby. The players and amp is in the living room so its dust free.There is a 8 speaker control as well. Player goes all day on shuffle .Or pandora on a shuffle mix . Music is must for me.

Working on a kiln load -bowls mugs and glasses so far. Been doing remodel work mixed in . Helping my sheet rock finisher and getting ready for new windows and the flooring guy on the 15th. Moved out of bedroom June 1st-sheet rock mud will be done on Friday -then painting before wide plank maple hardwood floors

I seem to have started to really use less tools these days sponge/water needle tool wood stick with point screwdriver to pry plaster bats off of clay pad I rarely use a cutoff wire unless the pot is over 10 #s as its thrown then on a plastic bat and need one vs not using one on plaster bats.

some times my salt refires come out spectacular in reduction fires as well.

Un loaded two kilns this week and have dispersed most of it. I'm taking a break from clay some (still putting in a few days a week) in next 6-8 weeks. The last remodel project is starting on the house .Its a big one -but only one room-the main bedroom. About everything one can do to a room-

I do not use or have a damp box (never did) I use plastic sheets-some are dry cleaner bags from friends but most are plastic just a little thicker(tougher) from items we have recieved.I keep a tub full of them and use them about every day.I think I was in a dry cleaners in 1963 with my mother? but am unsure .

3 inch brick is the way to go with all firing as far as I am concerened as it s better insulated and does not use as much energy.I even no\tived this in bisquing in electrics. If I was going to cone 6 all the time it would be in a 3 inch wall with elements made for higher temps than cone 6 . You will get more life from them if they are cone 10 elements fired to cone 6.

And can someone tell me if I *Have* to have 3” bricks in a ^10 kiln? Or can I get away with the 2.5” brick? Yes you will need 3 inch brick for cone 10 and really that is just a bare minimum .Forget about 2.5 for cone 10