1.28.2010

Rolling Along

Resisting the "girly pots" use to sort of be my M.O. as you'd say. Of course I have never really been able to make a manly pot. I've tried but they always come out...well...just ugly ( I think). I do like manly pots, heavy, salt or wood fired. Of I guess I appreciate those type of pots. I think when I buy pots, I tend to go for color or decoration. The majority of the pots we use however and brown, salt fired , sturdy pots. So here, above, I think I'm finally embracing the girly pot. Maybe all those feeling of trying to please my male professors and fellow male grad students has finally left me. I had some folks show up to my studio this weekend and we talked a bit about some great galleries in the NC mountains for finding great pots. I mentioned that I had tried a few of those places but they just didn't think my work would fit. I then talked alittle bit about how the majority of my costumers where between the ages of 20 t0 60 and where mostly female. I don't have many couples who buy my work together. Usually the husband steps into my booth with his wife, looks for about a minute and stands out in the aisle while she chooses something. I find human observations to be so much fun when I'm at a show.
All the cups I've been making have taken a lot more time to complete. Larger sprigs are harder to work with I think.

Here's a bunch of stuff drying. I'm getting ready to go out for about an hours worth of work than head to Winthrop for class. My routine has finally taken shape now that January is almost over with. I am getting more sleep which has been my main focus so far this year. My art history folks have handed in the first essay of the semester. I tried to make my course more "user friendly" for myself this semester. I was finding that I was spending way to much time on this machine. We'll see if my revamping paid off about mid-semester!
Tomorrow is Friday!~ YIPPEE!


8 comments:

Linda Starr said...

Perhaps other artists see themselves in other's work and they want that work to reflect them rather than the work reflect the artist who is making the work. good for you for leaving them behind.

I like the larger sprigs. How do you attach the sprigs, score and slip? press on? magic water? I've done some really large sprigs with ferns and leaves and have trouble with them staying attached on curved surfaces

Gary's third pottery blog said...

DO THE GIRLY thing. Be YOU. That is what I am doing in 2010 meself :)

Julia said...

I had an art professor in college who refused to allow me to do a pottery research paper on the history of American factory-made China because he considered china to be outside the realm of serious pottery, and in the realm of "women's collectibles." If his reasoning had been because it was mass-produced versus handmade, I would have been more understanding.

I think your work is absolutely lovely, amazingly unique, and beautifully feminine. I've enjoyed reading your blog.

Tracey Broome said...

I love your girly pots! I sort of have the same customer as you. I can see them coming, they usually come in pairs and one will have her sweater over her shoulders, in the summer almost always one will have on white pants. Can you imagine wearing white pants!?

Judi Tavill said...

I know exactly what you mean!!!
My husband LIVES for a "MANLY MUG" So we have several Sam Taylor ones and a Mark Shapiro...etc... So frustrating for me as those are all heavy, bulky,wood fired, dark... and I like them...a lot.... But as you know...my work is different and even if I went heavier, darker(I have gone with some darker glazes as of late) and groggy... I would still do WHAT I DO....so when my cousin Steve was here for my son's bar mitzvah and fell in love with Sam Taylor's mug and was saying,"Can you make me mugs like these?" I was saying, "No, but HE can make you mugs like that....That's what he does...THIS is what I do...I'll give you his contact info.." _and I didi)
However, I have had MORE Etsy conversations with MALE buyers than I would expect(They want something for them selves AND their WIVES interestingly enough)...but... even as my work evolves...it just doesn't become Sam Taylor if you know what I mean...I mean he's this big strong looking guy... I just can't be him...even if I tried...HOWEVER...in my next life...I will be trying to come back as a Male...just seems SO MUCH easier... BUT I digress...

Ron said...

I've never really seen your pots as masculine Jen. I think you should push the 'girly-ness' and see where that gets ya. I'm gonna push my Medieval man and see where that goes. Ha.

Amy said...

hope you do what's best for you. After all, that's what's most important....

Scott Smith said...

Doesn't matter what your business is, it pays to know your customer and give them what they want.