Joy Tanner Pottery

Creativity

2012-01-29T18:37:00.000-05:00

The right side of my brain has been fighting to get out lately as bigger topics such as business, taxes, and other large winter projects of the self-employed hover over me each day of my week. The other side of my brain just doesn't feel good doing those things and after a while I notice myself feeling overloaded. Once I get back into my creative side at the studio I feel my 'normal' left handed self!

I've been back at making pots slowly during the month of January, trying out some new things, as well as going with the comfortable, familiar pots that I love getting warmed up with. Being in that position of trying new things when you have no idea where they will take you, or even if they will work, can be painfully slow and frustrating. At the same time, these exercises can be very challenging and helps spark new ideas and thoughts about each detail. You want to see instant gratification, but working out new ideas can take time.

So I've been trying to figure out some oval boat forms, which aren't pictured here. But in the meantime, I figured out some cool smaller basket or vase forms. I'm thinking specifically of making new ikebana vases, or flower bricks forms. You can probably go back into the old archives of this blog and notice that every January I go through the same phases of making pots for the spring. Dreaming of seeds, planting, and flowers, the inspirations and thoughts are endless here. As for new forms, being in that tough spot of not sure where I'm going with a form can be nicely balanced with the other half of the day throwing my favorite ridge bowls, pictured above. The familiar contrasted with the new and challenging. I didn't realize this was happening, but it made the transition from seeing a whole week flying by just tinkering around on a few vases feel better to see a couple rounds of bowls completed and ready to be slipped.

Photography Workshop

2012-01-02T17:21:00.000-05:00

Join us for a repeat round of DIY craft photography workshops taught by John Britt and myself. We are offering two separate one-day classes, February 4 or 5th. These fill quickly, so please sign up soon!

Digital Craft Photography Workshop
Saturday February 4, 2012
One day, hands on class on basic craft photography.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
$85.00 (includes digital photographs of 2 pieces and a delicious lunch).
Joy Tanner and John Britt will conduct a one day, hands on class on how to take digital photographs of your three dimensional ceramics/crafts using a simple, low tech approach for the beginner.
Space is limited to 8 people.

Digital Craft Photography Workshop
Sunday February 5, 2012
One day, hands on class on basic craft photography.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
$85.00 (includes digital photographs of 2 pieces and a delicious lunch).
Joy Tanner and John Britt will conduct a one day, hands on class on how to take digital photographs of your three dimensional ceramics/crafts using a simple, low tech approach for the beginner.
Space is limited to 8 people.

To sign up please contact: John Britt Pottery
154 Sparks Road
Bakersville, NC 28705
828-467-5020/ 828-688-6615
http://johnbrittpottery.com/workshops/
johnbrittpottery@gmail.com

Winter Cup Show

2011-12-09T16:28:00.001-05:00

Come find a cup of joy at this beautiful cup exhibit of WNC potters at the Clingman Cafe, in the River Arts District in Asheville, NC.

If you're stopping in for a cup of coffee there's a great lineup of handmade cups for sale! This show will be up through the end of January and holds a diverse collection of cups and mugs from the hands of over twenty WNC ceramic artists. Most are studio potters here in the River District, with a few tucked into studios a little further outside of town. As you peruse the shelves you will find delicate porcelain teacups, sturdy wood-fired mugs made from local clay, traditional salt-fired steins, earthy little teabowls, curvy wine tumblers, and lidded steeping mugs, to name a few. It's a great place to find local, handmade, practical gifts for the holidays!

Come check out the work of these wonderful local artists:

Karen Newgard

Maria Adrade-Troya

Josh Copus

Alex Matisse

Angelique Tassistro

Melissa Weiss

Heather Tinnaro

Emily Reason

Kyle Carpenter

Joy Tanner

Will Baker

Julie Covington

Joey Sheehan

Beth Bond

Pancho Bond

Jennifer Kincaid

Becca Floyd

Paul Frehe

Katie Hill

Will Dickert

Erin Paradis

Elaine Buss

Holiday Tour and Sale!

2011-12-02T10:49:00.001-05:00

This weekend there are a few great spots you can come and see my work. Today through Sunday is the Toe River Arts Council Studio Tour, where you can come visit Will's and my studio and see our wood fired pots at the Energy XChange in Burnsville, NC. For more info: www.toeriverarts.org

On your way into town, stop in to the Burnsville TRAC Gallery and you can see my exhibit, Pots and Paintings before you head out on the studio tour.

Also, I'm showing in Asheville on Saturday at the Southern Highlands Holiday Sale at the Folk Art Center. Show is 10-4 pm. For more info: www.craftguild.org

And....I've stocked up my online Etsy shop with lots of beautiful pots!

Consider buying handmade for the holidays, and shift your shopping to support small businesses and the artists behind them!

Online Pottery Sale!

2011-11-22T10:06:00.001-05:00

I've been adding some great new pots, as well as this Bark Basket, to my online shop, and I will continue to add more all week long. Please consider shifting your shopping to buying handmade!

Clayworks Workshop

2011-11-15T20:49:00.001-05:00

I'm teaching a workshop this Saturday in Charlotte at Clayworks. It's a busy time of year with shows, workshops, our upcoming studio tour, and new pots I'm selling on Etsy! It's go go go!

Wheel Throwing Workshop with Joy Tanner

“It’s all in the details”

Saturday • November 19, 2011

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hosted by Clayworks

4506 Monroe Road

Charlotte, NC 28205

Fee: $75

To Register contact Adrienne Dellinger

704.344.0795 or adellinger@clayworksinc.org

In this one day workshop, Joy Tanner will demonstrate several wheel thrown and altered functional pots. Particular emphasis will be made on form and surface as Joy demonstrates her techniques for adding texture through carving and impressing into the clay surfaces. Joy will show how the attention to subtle details can create a fully resolved form and bring a form to life.

Joy is a full time potter from Bakersville, North Carolina and is currently a Resident Artist at the Energy XChange, a renewable energy center utilizing methane gas and waste wood to fire pottery kilns and glass furnaces. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was a Resident Artist at the Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts in Asheville, North Carolina. She is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and Piedmont Craftsmen.

Toe River Arts Council Exhibit

2011-11-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Up and coming at the Burnsville Toe River Arts Council Gallery I'll be showing some work November 18- December 31. My most recent wood fired pots will be displayed among Bakersville painter Anita Connelly's watercolors and acrylic paintings.

Hope to see you at the opening reception!\

November 18, 5-7 pm.

For more information, visit www.toeriverarts.org

AKAR 30 x 5 Invitational: Salt/Soda

2011-11-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars for this spectacular group of salt and soda fired potters that I was invited to exhibit with! Looks to be a great lineup of pots and I'm quite honored to be included in my first invitational exhibit at AKAR.

Show opens online November 11, 2011, 10:00 AM CST

View the show at www.akardesign.com

Mark of the Fire Exhibit

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

Don't miss the opening reception of this exhibit of Will Baker's and my work from our recent wood firing at a the Pottery 101 Gallery in Salisbury, NC, not far from the Charlotte area if you are around.

This Friday, November 4, 2011, Opening reception 6 pm.

Exhibit goes through December 31, 2011.

Pottery 101

101 South Main Street

Salisbury, NC

Hope to see you there!

Great show!

2011-10-14T12:06:00.001-04:00

The Spruce Pine Potters Market was a great success! It's one of my favorite shows I do all year, in a beautiful space with an amazing collection of local potters. We organize the show ourselves, and now in it's 5th year, it feels like the force of it keeps getting stronger and stronger. I feel so fortunate to be in this area where there is such an amazing quality of work. What's unique to this show is the individual personalities of each potter who come together with their own skills and resources to pull off a fantastic event.

Thank you to all who came out and supported us this year! Now it's time for me to get outside and enjoy our beautiful autumn weather. Up here in the mountains the color seems to have come all at once and I'm loving it!

Spruce Pine Potters Market

2011-10-05T23:25:00.001-04:00

Great firing last weekend! Unloaded today, now I'm getting all of the pots ready to head down to my favorite local show of the year, the Spruce Pine Potters Market. Please come, it's a show you don't want to miss! It's a room full of great pots from 30 local potters in the Penland area.

Hope to see you there!

Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9, 2011, 10- 5 pm
31 Cross Street Building
Spruce Pine, NC

Click here for our newsletter

www.sprucepinepottersmarket.com

pottery land

2011-09-27T23:37:00.001-04:00

Here in pottery land I have been working some seriously long hours day and night to make the last few pots for our second firing. After the last firing two weeks ago we just didn't quite have enough pots to load it, so getting going again in the studio there's always that excitement and hope of all the pots I dream of making. Well the reality is, I just can't spin them out as fast as I can think of them. But I've been feeling like a machine sort of, as I stocked up on the necessary mugs, cups and bowls. With these two firings, this should get me through December and although I'm sure I'll be back making pots soon again, I probably won't be doing another wood firing until winter. I had so many shows and events scattered about this year that I haven't slowed down since, well... I'm not really sure. There was last winter where I worked to fill wholesale orders, some spring shows, then I got married, then there immediately were summer shows to fire for, then there were fall shows to fire for, and now I'm hoping for a fall break very soon! The kiln being so big can be great, but sometimes filling it seems much more daunting, so often I find myself thinking of my dream studio and kiln and I envision a few different kilns in all shapes and sizes...two more years here at the Energy Exchange, which will fly by. But Will and I are already thinking ahead to the big what next question, and thoughts are heavy as we mull over ways to do it. I know what's next. It's just making it happen. Buying a house, setting up our permanent studio, and living happily ever after in pottery land, right? It's a great land here alright. A hard working land, where self employed means your boss doesn't let you off very often or very easily, where you have to put on many hats, hold on tight and grow tough, hard shells and ride the roller coaster of an artist. Yet I do what I love and I love what I do and that really and truly is something to be very grateful for.

Details

2011-09-23T10:11:00.000-04:00

I separated out a few new favorite pots from the wood firing to photograph. As always, it helps me to see the pieces in a different light and behind the lens of my camera. It gives me a chance to evaluate what's either working or not working about a piece. Usually then it sparks a new angle that I like to think about working on the next time I return to that form in the studio! I'm excited for the direction some of the tiny new details are taking me, the teapot below was the different one out of a batch of 6, and I'm happy with where it's going.

Mugs for Jugs

2011-09-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

Mudfire Gallery is hosting an exhibit and benefit sale of handmade mugs with proceeds donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I sent along two mugs for this exhibit to open online at 10:00 EST on Saturday, October 1. There will be a reception that night from 5-9 at Mudfire Gallery in Decatur, Georgia.

To view the show online on October 1, visit here.

Follow Mugs for Jugs exhibit on Facebook

Colors of fall

2011-09-19T22:52:00.002-04:00

I'm still happily sorting through all the new pots here at the studio, took some photos of some to apply to some shows. This firing is reminding me of fall more than ever it seems, as fall is creeping closer and closer up here in these parts. The pots are more reduced and a bit darker and even flashed a brighter red this time. That could be because we put a pound less of soda in this time, as well, which was an accident, actually. We had all the soda measured out but didn't notice we forgot to put in the last pound we had planned to put in. So some of the pots were drier, but others came out with a nice balance of soda and red flash, which is usually exactly what I'm going for, I love dark red! I'm quite happy with this bowl below, had a couple of them like that, as well as the platter below.

I'm already making pots to finish filling up our round two firing that's right around the corner. Since there's a short making cycle this time, I'm making lots of cups, mugs and bowls, and hopefully some other pots, too. We'll see how far I get before I have to cut myself off before the firing. A potter always wants more pots.

Shared Spaces

2011-09-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Will and I are showing together in an upcoming exhibit, near Atlanta, Georgia at the Roswell Arts Center West, from September 19- October 14. Shared Spaces is an exhibit showcasing the new wood and soda fired pieces created in our studio. Sharing a life and studio together, we each create our individual work and fire together in a wood kiln, fueled by discarded wood pallets.

I hope you get a chance to see the great collection of wood and soda fired pots we sent down there! You can view the show online here. Here's the statement we wrote about our exhibit:

Looking back we realized that our paths would have crossed inevitably, and that in one way or another, we have been sharing spaces for several years now. We first met as a result of us both seeking our own paths as potters. Each drawn towards atmospheric firings from the very beginnings of our clay careers, it was only natural that we would soon be putting our heads together to find our way through the intricacies of soda firing. After each leaving Resident Artist positions at the Odyssey Center in Asheville, North Carolina, we soon began relying partly on shared firings in a small wood kiln that Will built for himself. Sharing the labors and excitement of a wood fired soda kiln and combining our talents and observations allowed us to learn together to create the firings we have today.

Although we choose to fire our work in the same type of kiln, our interests for our work are often different. We strike a balance between sharing a very similar aesthetic and enjoying the freedom to make individual choices about our own work. Joy’s forms are embellished with hand carved patterns and impressed textures, and often further enhanced by pooling glazes; Will’s work relies on strong, masculine forms emphasizing both the dramatic and the subtle effects of flame, ash, and vapor leaving their own mark on the surface.

The last year marked a new transition for us as we began working in the same shared studio and combined our work and our energies to fill and fire a larger wood kiln as Resident Artists at the Energy Xchange in Burnsville, North Carolina. While we continue to each focus on making our own forms, sharing the same space has brought unexpected benefits. Nearly side by side on a daily basis, we see the constant ebb and flow of each other’s working cycle. We have found that the energy of one of us often feeds the energy of the other and helps add momentum to each new cycle of making and firing. Both of us usually have our own intended plan for a certain piece, yet we are still able to offer encouragement to one another, and serve as the source of inspiration or simply a different perspective. In the last few months we have seen both of our forms evolve and grow in ways that we might not have expected.

We have always shared the same commitment to continually refine our work, down to the little details that only our own eyes can see. We realized early in our relationship that we shared a common level of dedication and persistence; now we have come to truly rely on each other’s commitment to fire the kiln. When we peek into the fire to observe the wood flames wrapping around our work, we know our combined energies have helped to feed that fire. A few days later, unloading our wood kiln proves that we have shared not only the kiln space but the flames as well.

Strictly Functional Pottery National

2011-09-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

I was excited to get this set of carved square bowls juried into this year's Strictly Funtional exhibit.

The opening reception is coming up on September 23, 2011. Be sure to check out the details below on this great annual show:

Strictly Functional Pottery National

Don't Miss the Opening Reception

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 / 6pm - 9pm

Juror Mary Barringer is a studio artist who has exhibited her
work nationally and internationally, and has taught at numerous
art centers and universities. In addition to her studio
work, she has written and lectured on ceramic history, and is
editor of Studio Potter Magazine. She lives in Shelburne Falls,
Massachusetts.

Admission of $15 includes refreshments, music, a presentation

and a gallery walk/talk with juror Mary Barringer.
Exhibit is held at Kevin Lehman's Pottery at

560 S. Prince Street in downtown Lancaster.

1 DAY WORKSHOP

Barringer will give a demonstration workshop

on September 24 from 10-5. $55 per person.

There are still a few openings!

Call Kevin at 717-509-7547 to reserve your spot!

EXHIBIT DATES

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2011
Free to public - Donations welcome.
Hours: Mon-Fri / 10am - 5pm
Sat / 10am - 4pm
Sun / Noon - 4pm
For further information visit:
www.strictlyfunctionalpotterynational.net

www.klpottery.com

Unloading the wood kiln

2011-09-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

Lots of new pots all around; Will and I had a great firing! We got some different looks, more reduction in some areas resulting in richer darker red flashing of the slips and wood flame. Will side fired some of his taller pots on the top and bottom shelf and they turned out really great. There are lots of pots to sort and ponder over, and also time to gear up for round two of another firing in a couple of weeks. More pics to come!

Fully loaded

2011-09-11T21:21:00.003-04:00

I made it through my glazing week which seemed to take longer to drum up the energy and momentum after a week away assisting the class at Penland last week. It seems I never caught up on some much needed R&R, but the glazing had to be done and the resting will come soon enough! We loaded up the wood kiln this weekend and Monday we'll be firing it off. It was a good stack- I always enjoy loading kilns, full of such promise and excitement of new forms and surfaces. Plus, it was a beautiful September day that reminds me of how much I love living here in these mountains. Tomorrow will be a long day, so I'll see you on the other end when I can show you the results of the fire!

Glazing glazing glazing

2011-09-08T08:52:00.000-04:00

Now that I'm back from my great week at Penland, I'm back in the groove in the studio, glazing loads of bisqueware that has piled up high in the studio. Will and I are trying to get a shared wood firing in by next week and another one by the end of September. We're gearing up for lots of great fall shows, the favorite being the Spruce Pine Potters Market on October 8-9. (save the date!)

Although I'm glazing for the wood kiln, usually most people assume that my glazing process is quick, but it's actually not. With all the carved panels of texture, I brush my glaze into those areas, leaving the smooth contrasted panels bare with flashing slip. So this means a lot of glaze prep with wax to help me glaze a bit neater! It's a slow process for sure, aided by the help of either great ipod tunes or an engrossing audio book!

Coming up

2011-09-05T20:38:00.004-04:00

This month holds several interesting exhibits I'm involved in that you should see if you are in the area. "Out of Proportion" is a collection of pieces large and small from members of the Piedmont Craftsmen at the gallery in Winston-Salem, NC. I have a large and small bark basket there in the exhibit.

Will and I are both exhibiting our tableware in "Dining with Frank," at the FRANK gallery in Chapel Hill, NC. The opening is this Friday, September 9, 6-9 pm and this group show of a great collection of potters continues through November 6. I sent along a carved wood fired place setting of a dinner plate, lunch plate, carved bowl and carved cup. Hope you get a chance to see all the great pots!

Momentum

2011-08-28T09:30:00.000-04:00

I've had some long days and evenings in the studio lately trying to make enough pots to fire the wood kiln twice in the month of September for some upcoming shows that will keep me busy through the fall. Right when I was in the momentum, I had to pause for a bit, because now I'm headed just down the road, still in the neighborhood, to Penland where I'm assisting Susan Filley and Linda McFarling in a clay class this week. Great food, yoga classes twice a day, and enthusiastic clay people- it's going to be a slight change of pace for a week until I get right back to glazing for the firing as soon as I get back!

Shadows and patterns

2011-08-24T22:13:00.002-04:00

I've been making lots of pots lately, feeling the joy of the momentum in the studio. I was slipping these plates yesterday, enjoying the late afternoon light coming in my window when I noticed the interesting shadows coming from my plants in the windows.....new inspiration to take on, I think....

And as usual, I'm having fun carving mugs and cups....

Color

2011-08-03T17:21:00.000-04:00

Inspirational colors... I just love summer and all its lush and vibrant food. The last of my lettuce in my garden is coming along way too fast with the hot summers end. I'll have to plant another crop of some greens for the fall so I can continue making these colorful salads!

My sunflowers that I started from seed have exploded as well, and are quite a nice cheery face to return home to each day. It's so amazing to get up close and see the intricate patterns in the middle of the bloom. Such vibrant colors!

Back at it

2011-08-02T22:40:00.002-04:00

I've been back at it in the clay studio, this time starting with the more complex pots in this making cycle. Usually I warm up a cycle with easier, quicker forms like bowls, mugs, and cups. But sometimes that leaves less time for the more complex pots, the ones I love to make, because usually the firing date comes near and all of a sudden I have to stop making and fire the kiln!

So this time I switched it up, and I'm having fun. I jumped right into these teapots, some ewers, and some oval serving dishes, complete with their own little details. Now jars are in the mix for the rest of this week.