Kip O'Krongly

Working Again, With a New Perspective...

2011-09-23T00:03:00.000-04:00

I've been back in the studio for a little over a week now - and much to my relief, it's great to have my hands in clay. To be honest, I was a little worried. I felt no pangs for the studio while traveling this summer, no itching for something creative to throw myself into, no wandering thoughts of my idol workspace. Okay, okay, to be fair I had plenty to keep me occupied (like 23 college students), but it was disconcerting to NOT miss the thing I spend a huge percentage of time either making or thinking about making. And I think that's exactly what this summer showed me. The amount of time I spent devoted to my ceramic practice was a little over the top last October - May. So over the top, that I royally burned myself out and didn't even miss the studio ONCE while away for three months. Lesson learned. (I hope.)

And so the question looms large: now that I'm aware of overworking myself, how do I avoid a cronic cycle of burn-out such that I eventually end up hating the thing I was once so passionate about? As the holidays rapidly approach, and the deadlines mount, I'm not entirely sure how to avoid working myself cross-eyed. I do think it's important to acknowledge the regular cycles and rhythms of the retail world - this time of year is typically mayhem for anyone selling ANYTHING. And after my extended time away, I'm refreshed, recharged and ready to have at that pile of fresh clay in my studio. But I don't want to wake up next spring exhausted, drained and creatively sapped. So, I'll put the question to the few of you who still have me in your blog feeds: How do you manage your time (especially around this time of year)? What do you do to avoid burn out? When you ARE burned out, how do you recover?

As I type, my first load of work is cooling back at the studio. And while I'm not overly giddy with anticipation of cracking the door tomorrow afternoon, there IS a flutter of excitement. It's there, I can feel it. It's good to be back.

Tractor cup patiently waiting for corn sgraffito...

Anonymous Potter

2011-09-13T23:42:00.000-04:00

Miss Anonymous...

The title of "Anonymous Potter" is fitting in a number of ways - I have certainly been anonymous from this blog, and even anonymous from the US for the past two and a half months (check out www.carletoncambridge2011.blogspot.com to see what I've been up to). I just scrolled back through my posts on this blog and was shocked to realize that the last time I wrote anything here was well over a year ago. While my own posting withered away in the spring of 2010, I have continued to be an avid blog reader (and know I'm not the only one who struggles for time to update a blog!). But, I have a new reason to jump back into the game - I recently received the Anonymous Potter grant at the Northern Clay Center, which will provide me with studio space for the next year (yea!). Below is a peek into my new studio space full of boxes waiting to be unpacked...

The Anonymous Potter studio space

This grant period seems like an ideal time frame to document, and I'll do my best to keep the momentum going this time. I've been back in MN for just a few days now, but I managed to throw a few things today for an upcoming show at the Charlie Cummings Gallery - Cup: The Intimate Object VII.

Cups patiently waiting for their surface treatments

I'm looking forward to recording the changes in my work over the next year and am excited to get some practice writing again. So here's to my new role as the Anonymous Potter of NCC, and to my reemergence on the blogging scene!

It's That Time of Year...

2010-05-12T13:07:00.000-04:00

Summer sale time! While it doesn't quite feel like summer out here just yet, the sale season has definitely begun. We had a studio artist sale a few weekends ago at Northern Clay Center, and I'm participating in one this weekend at the Front Porch Gallery (aka my friend Anna Metcalf's front porch :) ) If you're in the area browsing the Seward garage sale madness, stop by 2813 29th Ave. and say hi! We'll be there on Friday from 9 - 5pm and Saturday from 9 - 7pm. There will be yummy treats, too!

There's Just Something About...

2010-05-10T00:18:00.000-04:00

...plates all stacked up. So satisfying :)

And reclaim, too...

The Battle: Surface Vs. Form

2010-05-08T00:20:00.001-04:00

First off, here are a few pics (photo credit: Scott) from the Earth Matters exhibition at NCECA - only a month after the show - ha! It was exciting to have work in a well attended exhibit like that, and really got me thinking about my ceramics and the direction of my clay ideas...

I applied for one of the Jerome artist grants offered by the Northern Clay Center earlier this year. I didn't get the grant - boo - but I did have the opportunity to sit down with one of the jurors, Cary Esser (who was also a McKnight resident at NCC, and is an AMAZING lady!), to talk about my proposal and my work. I was excited to talk with Cary, because I greatly respect her opinion, and I was eager for feedback from someone rooted in the academic clay world. At the crux of our conversation was the issue of form. She, along with the other two jurors, felt that while my surfaces contain a strong concept, my forms do not. I totally agree with this assessment of my pieces. The form is a place where I just make and enjoy the material. The surface is a place for me to think hard and set up ideas and a narrative. While there is part of me that would like a more definite place to pull from formally, there is another part that worries my work will lose accessibility if I increase the complexity of the pots. So, finally, here is my question: Are there ways to pull the concept of my surfaces into the forms while keeping the pieces functional and approachable? I think the successful marriage of surface and form is an issue for a lot of folks, especially those who put imagery on their pots. I've had a few ideas about how to balance concept and functionality, but I'd love to hear what any of you out there have to say (and maybe how you have resolved/not resolved this in your own work)!

Good Combo!

2010-04-18T12:34:00.000-04:00

I am definitely into this... Found here on the Cartolleria blog. More updates to come soon! I've got a few pictures from NCECA (hard to believe that it was already over two weeks ago now...) and a question for all you clay people out there. But for now, I'm off to the studio! Happy Sunday.

Interview UP!!!

2010-03-18T21:47:00.002-04:00

The interview I did with Connie Norman is live on her blog (thanks again for the opportunity, Connie)! If you're interested in learning more about my work and where it comes from check out what I have to say at: http://connienorman.com/blog. Enjoy!

Oh and a little side note: Below is concrete proof that lowfire white clay should never (ever!!) go in a high fire gas kiln. And yet, it somehow manages to happen every term at NCC. UGH!

Back on the blogging horse...

2010-03-16T23:20:00.000-04:00

I've been looking for a nudge to get myself back into the blogging routine, and I found just the thing to do it! Fellow clay artist and blogger, Connie Norman, will be posting an interview we did about my work on her blog this week. Not only does Connie make excellent clay work, but she's interviewed some great clay folks (most recently Jeff Campana and Ron Philbeck - a few of my favorites...)! You can check out Connie's work here and her blog here. I'll be sure to post an update when the interview goes live...

Pots in Progress

2009-11-16T09:22:00.000-05:00

I've been working on a big round of custom orders for the past month or so and thought I'd post a few pictures here. My timing on this wasn't great, given that the holiday season is upon us, but I needed to get these out the door. The images are of work which will be heading up to Alaska (hence the theme). They are about 16" across and have taken me a LONG time to make! I have four deco'ed and done, and three more to make. Then I'm on to my Amphicar order!

Oooh, La La!

2009-11-16T08:57:00.002-05:00

Look at this new beauty we got last week at NCC! I'm in love with the spring loaded lid lifter :) His name is Bob, and I'm guessing he won't stay so pretty and shiny for long, but he is a welcome addition to our electric kiln family...

Two Months?!?

2009-11-09T00:07:00.004-05:00

Well, I am hardly on the once a week blogging plan that I swore to at the start of this year. It seems like the longer I let the blog slide, the harder it is to get back up on the horse (and the more monumental it feels the post should be). While my first post in two months may not be of monumental proportions, the pile of clay in the photo to the left (aka Mt. Reclaim) may fit the bill. I've come to find in my two months as studio tech at ncc that reclaiming clay is a lot like doing laundry: a never ending project!

One or both?

2009-09-07T01:11:00.004-04:00

So, I'm working a new crop duster design into my line of pots and I can't decide which one works better - crop duster dusting, or crop duster minus the dust. Any preferences??

Quick Question

2009-09-03T23:14:00.004-04:00

I'm working on a few show applications and could use some advice on how to best give dimensions. I'll use the work below as an example (a new one fresh from the kiln!!):

Would you give the dimensions as the piece is oriented in the image, or as it is when set flat? In other words, what should the height of the piece be? My initial inclination is to put the dimensions when it is set flat (so 3.5"H x 15" L x 11" W), but as I'm thinking about it that may be a little confusing to someone looking at this image - maybe the height should be 15?? I dunno...

Any thoughts?

More new pots to come soon!!!

New Studio!

2009-09-03T22:52:00.003-04:00

It's official, I've moved into my new studio space at Northern Clay Center. It's cozy, but luckily my new studio mate, David Swenson (aka Swen) is easy going... My shelves are filling up fast with pots waiting for decoration, thank goodness the latex resist I ordered from Laguna arrived today!

Below are a few pics from the new space, this is where I'll be spending a lot of time for the next year...

Here we go...

2009-08-22T01:21:00.007-04:00

Things are on the move... I swapped over to my new studio space a few days ago (which I am sharing with fellow Fogelberg recipient, David Swenson and will post pictures soon!) and am nearly settled. I managed to fire off a few loads of work amid the chaos of transition, so I'm hoping I can keep the momentum going. Only a few more days now before I officially start working as the new studio tech at NCC. I am excited and nervous! I was looking yesterday at the ginormous gas kiln expertly packed by managers Pete and Irene and I was filled with jittery anticipation... But, once I start, I really won't have any time to be nervous. I'll dive right into the NCC American Pottery Festival, which is their biggest sale and exhibition of the year. People come from all over the country to see work by some of the finest ceramic artists out there working today. There are dinners and openings and workshops to tech. Lots to set up and hopefully little to pack in the end. I worked as a volunteer during the event last year and can't wait to be behind the scenes as a staff person this year.

The images I've posted are from a series of work commissioned by my mother (thanks, mom!) for her friends in Alaska. I included a picture of the moose stamps in my last post and you can see them in action in the top picture. As soon as I get photos taken of all the work fresh out of the kiln, I'll be sure to get a post up here to share...

Persistence and change

2009-07-23T11:56:00.011-04:00

I came to Minneapolis last summer with high hopes - my husband would begin teaching at Carleton College in the fall, and I had fingers (and toes!) crossed that I would become the next studio tech at Northern Clay Center. Sadly, the job was not to be mine... So I started out small - taking a glaze calc class in the fall (with the amazingly knowledgable Margaret Bohls!) and setting up a tiny corner of our kitchen as studio space. Lucky for me, there was a private studio open in January, at which point I moved from the student side of the NCC building over to the resident side. While being a resident artist in the studios is lovely, paying for space/firings/materials can be a bit of a burden for an emerging artist. So I applied for a Jerome Fellowship to offset some expenses along with a work-study grant to help get me out to Penland for a workshop with Ayumi Horie. No dice on either. Boo. I was feeling gloomy with the weight of rejections, but at the same time excited about where my work was headed. So, I kept trying, next for the Fogleberg grant at NCC. Low and behold - I got it! And then, my work was accepted into a gallery (Local Elements). Yea! And now the big one: the tech job I applied for a year ago reopened. I applied, and this time the stars aligned. I'll be starting as the new Northern Clay Center studio tech in late August. And the final bit of exciting news - my work was just accepted into the 2010 NCECA invitational exhibition. I won't deny the thrill of floating on this surge of acceptances. But, those rejections are still out there, lingering, waiting to give me another kick in the pants. And while I don't eagerly await the next "no" on the horizon, it's overcoming those hardest rejections, getting back up and trying again, that make these yesses all the sweeter.

So this fall, my studio practice will see a very significant shift. I will go from full time maker to studio tech, teacher, and fogleberg fellow. I'm excited for these opportunities, but nervous about how I will continue to push my own work forward. Luckily, with our move to the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis, I am now a mere three minutes by bike from the studio. I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time in the NCC building - which, in all honesty, is exactly what I've been waiting for.

June madness...

2009-06-12T12:24:00.011-04:00

I started off this month racing to finish up work for a group show and upcoming applications (amid much drama with elements burning out and packed kiln schedules), zipped off to Seattle, pots in hand, for a wedding on Orcas Island (lovely!!), and I am now in New Jersey visiting with the fam and headed to another wedding tomorrow (number three of four this summer). Such is the season. When I get back to Minneapolis next week, Aaron and I will round out the packed month of June by boxing up our belongings and moving a few miles east to the Seward neighborhood of the city. Come July first, we will be a grand total of four blocks from the Northern Clay Center. I am thrilled (double thrilled!!) by the prospect of walking to the studio, the grocery store and the coffee shop! Aaron doesn't have it quite so easy, he'll be commuting south to Northfield three to four times a week, but at least it's a reverse-commute... I'm hopeful that we'll find a place in the future where we can both walk to work - wishful thinking, I know - but a girl can dream!

On the clay front, I've added some tractors into my line of imagery, and I want to put them all over everything! I love having new stencils to play with and explore. I have endless lists of stamps and stencils yet to make, but the process is a tad (just a tad!) tedious, and so my image arsenal is rather slowly mounting. I really want to get back into the farm animals, cows in particular. And bees, I need some bees in the mix!

I'm still trying to resolve how much color to use in my work as well. I love the little splashes of yellow that the canaries provide and the subtle variation that I can achieve by layering the white slips. The red clay adds another lovely surface, but I'm left wanting a little more. Like some blue... I have a thing for blue, like a lot of folks do. I know that there are some potters out there who think that blue is a cop-out, just an easy way to sell some pots. But, honestly, there's a reason they sell - blue can be so spectacular! So, I'm going to keep testing glazes and continue to slowly build up my surface. There is this delicate line between too much and not enough that I try to tread upon, it can be so hard to know when enough is enough!

So my work over the next few days (besides wedding fun-ness and family time of course!) revolves around those things I manage to neglect when there is clay at my fingertips. Take this blog for example, or my website that could use another round of updating, or my etsy site that needs finishing. I'm excited to have some time to give these things the attention they deserve, and hopeful that I can eventually find a rhythm where they fit more regularly into my schedule. Do any of you clay bloggers out there set aside weekly time for the non-clay activities essential to running a successful business? How would you say your weeks/months are allocated? The more I delve into this clay business, the more I realize that there are a lot of other responsibilities other than just making work. But, all of these things are part of the package, and keeping my toe in all aspects of the business side of things only seems like it will help me in the long run. There are some times though, when I'd just rather make pots and not think about anything else. I stumbled across a great posting by Whitney smith earlier today that outlines one of many things that can get away from you if you're not careful. It was a good reminder that to be successful requires some sort of system - I'm still tinkering with what works best for me, and I while I dread excel spreadsheet days, after I enter all those numbers I feel that much more legit. It's sort of like exercise for me - painful while I'm running, but so satisfying when I'm done. If anyone has any good tips for successful accounting though, I am all ears!

Have a great weekend.

Done!

2009-05-15T00:48:00.003-04:00

I just unloaded a kiln today in preparation for our spring studio artist sale at Northern Clay Center starting tomorrow. I had a chance to photograph some of the results, so I thought I'd post a few finished pieces up here on the ol' blog. The middle image is of a set of bowls, but in the photograph you completely lose all sense of depth - they just look like little plates... I'm not entirely sure if that's a problem, but certainly something to clarify on a slide list if I'm ever applying for a bowl show!

Where have I been???

2009-04-23T21:03:00.013-04:00

It's always amazing to me how quickly time can slip by. I swear I've posted more often, but it looks like I've transitioned from the once-a-week to the once-a-month blogging plan. But, despite my lack of posting, I've certainly been reading a lot of blogs these days! I think that may be the problem, I use up all of my computer energy reading a number of the wonderful blogs out there and I can't muster up the motivation to write a post myself. But, I've decided I need to get back on the horse and keep up with the posting - I really enjoy having a record of my progress in the studio and the wonderful feedback from this incredible online community. So here goes, back into the blogging waters.

I've been working lately with building up my surface through lots of layering. I think I'm moving in a more subtle direction with the oil related imagery because I feel like that is more true to how it exists in our lives - beneath the surface of a lot the things we rely on. I'm also thinking a lot about memory these days and how our brains are wired to lock onto patterns. So the oil imagery is positioned in a pattern in the background - maybe it will stick in my brain better that way!

Here's an example of my latest work:

And above is a close up of the oil tanker stencil in the background - I'll glaze this with something that will pool slightly in the recessed area so the tankers will appear subtly behind the truck stencil.

The canaries are a new development as well. I've been thinking about the way miners used to use canaries to indicate when conditions became unsafe in a shaft. Which led into how we are often terrible at perceiving when conditions become dangerous or unhealthy. I also enjoy how they are so cheerful and happy looking, but can indicate something ominous. I think these little yellow guys will be playing a significant role in my work from here on out.

And here is the back side...

I've continued to work with the corn series of work as well and am playing with new ways to integrate corn into my work. I have two versions I'm working with right now, one where the corn image is stamped into the surface and another where the corn is sprigged on top. Any opinions on which works better??

This guy is still waiting to be slipped (and I think I may add some wind turbine stencils in there somewhere).

A detail shot of the stamped in corn:

I am in love with the way these guys look on the inside, they make me want to crawl around and explore...
And here's the sprigged version, all slipped and ready for a top coat of stencils:

A detail shot of the sprigged corn:

And the underside...

That's it for now, I hope you all have a great weekend. Up next - glazed and fired pots!

New Work

2009-03-06T12:38:00.003-05:00

I had a critique a few weeks ago with a fantastic group of women from the U of MN. They were tough, which is exactly what I need at this point, and had some excellent comments. It took me a few days to digest what we talked about (and I'm still digesting, I guess!), but I've started a new round of work as a result of our conversation. Looking back, I realize I haven't had a critique since I was a senior in college, which is going on eight years ago now! I was definitely due... Here is a glimpse of the new direction I'm taking things - the same ideas, but delivered using a slightly different approach.

Fired and Photographed...

2009-02-26T09:35:00.005-05:00

I've finally gotten some of my work through the kilns and even managed to take some photos! I had a serious motivator for the photography part though - an application for a Jerome Project Grant through NCC. It was a difficult process, but I'm so glad I went ahead and applied. It's amazing how sitting down to write helps to clarify ideas and to work through some of the kinks in your thought process. Even if the grant doesn't work out, I'm confident that my next round of work will be stronger just from what I gained out of applying.

I also applied for a workshop this summer at Penland with Ayumi Horie. I've never been to Penland (although I feel like I have with all the NC clay bloggers out there), and would love to spend a few weeks in such a ceramic haven. I should be hearing about both of these applications by the end of this month, so keep your fingers crossed!

Have a great weekend!

Eureka!!

2009-02-10T19:08:00.008-05:00

My friend Mark left me a fantastic present in my studio the other day:

Why, you may ask, would a girl be so excited about a plastic table cover (besides the fact that they are breezeproof, of course)? Here's one reason:

And the best part is - they're reusable!! The plastic is thin enough that it adheres to the surface of the clay with a little water but then washes up to be used again (and again, and again!). I have six of the trucks cut out and need to invest some time transferring my other shapes into star covered plastic stencils. Here's a truck bowl using the above truck:

It still required a little clean up after the stencil was removed, but all in all, it worked pretty darn well. Certainly better than paper, that's for sure!

Here are a few follow up photos of my work in progress a little further through the process:

Decoed butter dish

Interior of banana split dish

Outside o' split dish

I've got all this work loaded up in the kiln for a bisque firing tomorrow and then hopefully a glaze firing early next week. I am seriously looking forward to having some finished work...

New Work...

2009-02-05T20:16:00.004-05:00

Wow, so much for posting once a week! While I may not have been posting, I have been making work. I'm hoping to do a bisque firing next week and then glaze soon after that, which means I may actually have some finished pots to share. For now, work in progress will have to do...

Slipped butter dish (this guy is gonna get some cows...)

And underneath the cover

Truck bowls!

Power bowls

Outside o' power bowls

Banana split dish waiting to be decorated (and filled with dessert!!)

Coffee Set

2009-01-19T21:00:00.003-05:00

Here is the finished coffee set, ready to dry and get terra sig. I like the decreasing cup sizes with the cars, but I'm not sold on how the decoration works on the coffee pot. I'm wondering as well about the top section of the teapot body and the bottom section of the cups - both are currently bare clay. Does that need something else??

I'm excited to keep playing with this sort of concept, but I think it's going to take a few goes to get it right. I do find myself missing the visual interest of some of my earlier plates that had areas of stencils, painting and scraffito - I like the building up and layering of the surface.

Lots to think about - it's probably time to consult the sketchbook!

Mmmmm...

2009-01-18T21:44:00.003-05:00

Following the trend of some other potters out there in the blog-o-sphere, I thought I'd include one of my latest baked creations. I have a passion for food (a trait I'm sure many of you out there share!) and I love to bake in particular. I'm a huge fan of Tom Grey's posts that merge his love of cooking and food with ceramics and am excited to try out the delicious looking recipe recently posted by John Britt. It's always interesting to get a glimpse into the lives of artists outside of their art, so here is what I spent a lovely, snowy, Sunday afternoon doing!

Have a great week...

Set up and working!

2009-01-14T22:02:00.001-05:00

I got my last table up to the studio this week, put on a fresh covering of canvas (heaven!) and got a little more shelving in place. I'm now to the point where I'm getting some work done, slowly but surely. It's amazing with regular hours in the studio how aware I've become of my tortoise working pace. But, I know what I want things to look like and the physical act of making is a large part of why I'm a potter. There are times though when I'm tempted to crank out a shelf full of pots just to make sure I still can!

Above is a shot of my latest creation - a coffee pot. I've got the form done but a good deal of decorating left to deal with. The coffee pot is going to be oil themed (hence the barrels as a knob) and it will have four accompanying cups that have cars - one with a hummer, one with an suv, one with a mid-sized car, and one with a smart car. The cups will decrease in size according with their gas consumption. I've got a lot of ideas for this type of coffee set - I'm excited to keep experimenting.

Paper Resist

2009-01-10T12:58:00.013-05:00

Awhile back, someone had asked me about my paper resist process. Now that I'm all settled and making work again (!!) I thought I'd go ahead and post about this technique.

The photo above shows one of my drawings that I've begin to cut. I tend to cut the interior spaces first before cutting the outline of the shape, which gives the delicate areas a little more support. Using a fresh blade also makes cutting go much more smoothly. I typically layer a number of sheets beneath the original image so I get multiples each time I cut since these are quite time consuming!

Here you see the finished stencils - I just use our scrap paper from the recycle bin. I have noticed that different papers respond differently to moisture. Some separate, which makes it difficult to peel up the stencil after wetting (you'll see an example of this in a later image)...

I'm going to stencil some juice cups with the car stencil above. This stencil was cut using the same method as the oil rig.

I have now applied the stencil and am ready for the top slip coat. Before placing the stencil, I painted an area of the cup with black underglaze (I use amaco velvet underglaze) and then position the dry stencil. To wet the paper, I spray it using a spray bottle with a fine mist. It is important to remove any air bubbles and to check the edges to make sure they have adhered well to the surface. Timing is key here. You don't want to see wet areas on the surface of the cup, but you also don't want the stencil to become dry (otherwise it will begin to release from the piece). I tend to apply my underglaze, put the stencil right on and wet it, pat with a sponge to remove excess water and then immediately apply my overcoat.

Here you see the white slip applied over the stencil. I use a deflocculated slip and apply it with a brush. I remove the stencil as soon as the surface of the slip loses it's sheen - they tend to stick less that way. Some people leave them until the paper begins to dry and pull away from the surface, but I'm not that patient!

The result after peeling off the stencil.

And the finished pair of cups! If you look at the cup on the right, you can see where the stencil didn't come off very cleanly. As long as the top coat of white slip is removed, this paper residue should just burn off in the firing...

I'm currently trying to find a material that I could resue rather than these single use paper stencils. It is such a drain on my time to have to cut these for each piece I make, but I really like the way they look. I need something that will stick to the surface but not break down with water. Any ideas??

Moving In!

2009-01-04T17:27:00.004-05:00

I finally got to start moving into my new studio space today - yippie! I still don't think that I've fully absorbed the fact that I have a studio yet, but the more I moved things around and got settled, the more giddy I became. One of the things I'm most excited about? I will no longer have to schlep tools and pots back and forth between home and studio. What a treat that will be! I've attached some pictures of my progress in the space, now it looks like it needs some pots!

Before...

...and after!

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-01T19:06:00.005-05:00

The passing of another year always comes as such a surprise to me - it was just summer like last week, how could it already be January?!? But, 2009 is only one day in and already off to a good start. I've posted pictures of my new studio space at the Northern Clay Center (still full of the previous occupants work). I'm hoping to start moving in tomorrow and to start working with clay on Monday. The thought of being part of a group of people doing such great clay work is thrilling and scary all rolled into one. I've certainly got a lot of things to explore from the glaze chemistry class and am anxious to get things moving again after nearly a month away from the studio. I'll be sure to post images as I put my own stamp on this little space and get things rolling again. One of my *many* resolutions this year is to try to post on this blog at least once a week - here's to week one of 2009!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful first day of 2009 - I am looking forward to all of the wonderful pots I'm sure I will see on the plethora of blogs out there.
Happy New Year!

Blech...

2008-12-07T20:34:00.003-05:00

Well, it happened - I finally glazed some pots. And, well, there were some good things and some bad. I'll start with the good: we were having some trouble with the Deb's Clear blistering, but that didn't seem to happen with this round of work (yea!). I applied the glaze considerably thinner than we had before, so I'm thinking application may have been the culprit. Secondly, the Deb's with copper (6%) and Iron (3%) gave a lovely warm green that I used on the the tractor bowl. I think that glaze is definitely a keeper. I also really like the Amber (which is the G-76 Amber) and will continue to use that glaze as well...

Now onto the not so great results. First off, and I should have tested these ages ago, the underglazes were far more vibrant and flat than I had anticipated. They give the pots (the whale bowl in particular) a paint-by-number feel that I am not particularly keen on. On the other hand, now I know what to expect and I can adjust my usage of these underglazes accordingly (and maybe nix them, in fact!). I've also realized that the slip base is far too white for my taste, but I think that is easy enough to fix with the adddition of a little colorant.

On the bright side, I now have a good deal of information about how these glazes worked and what I need to change. I'm still in pursuit of a runny clear that I can add colorants to that will bleed outside of my drawings. I think I should play with inlaying some glaze into my drawings as well - it would be great if the illustrations themselves could blur and bleed a bit.

Okay, that's it for now. Given that my class is over and I don't move into my new studio space until January, my posts may be a little few and far between this month. It'll be good to get back in the studio and start on my next phase of clay research!

December already??

2008-12-02T22:57:00.003-05:00

It's hard to believe that 2009 is now less than one month away, but exciting to be heading toward the fresh start of a new year. There will certainly be a lot of excitement to kick off January as I move into my new private studio space at Northern Clay Center(!!). I just found out shortly before Thanksgiving that there was a small spot available, and could be mine if I wanted. I've spent some time thinking seriously about my career in clay and trying to develop a good budget covering all of my expenses. I've certainly been using a different part of my brain these past few weeks...

The glaze calc class ends this Thursday, I'm hoping to get in some pots so that I have at least a few finished pieces to show for the last two months of work. I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as the firing is out.

I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day!!

Bowls!

2008-11-20T11:49:00.004-05:00

It's official - bowls are an entirely different beast when it comes to decoration. Give me a convex cup or a slightly concave plate and I'm good to go, but a deep bowl??!! Using my paper stencils was definitely a challenge inside these bowls - they really wanted to buckle and distort as I wet them. I'm also not as thrilled with the farm field texture on the exterior of these pots - I feel like they need something else on the outside. Creating that pattern is so meditative for me, I'd love to come up with some others that I feel are as effective. The farm field works so well because it ties into both my thoughts on food and consumption and the whole idea of energy as ethanol. I've been racking my brain for another pattern that can say as much as simply, but nothing has struck yet... any ideas for me??

All in all, I feel like these were a good first go, but I need to resolve the exterior on the next round. I'm hoping I can get these through in time to take them home to my mom for the holidays - I've owed her some bowls for ages now.

Juice Cups

2008-11-20T11:37:00.004-05:00

I've decided that it's time to move on from the plates and try hand building and decorating some new forms. Plates lend themselves pretty naturally to the way I'm working right now, but it would be wonderful to have a broader body of hand built forms to pull from. The cups below were my first go so I kept them pretty simple. I'm not in love with the proportions, but it was fun to break up the form and try out some of the ideas I've been playing with in the round. I think today will be spent playing with cutting paper templates - I'd like to have a cup form with a bit more of an hourglass figure - these feel a little like soup cans! I wouldn't be surprised if I end up back on the wheel at some point, there are some shapes that are just so much easier to kick out on a wheel than by hand. And with all the time I'm spending decorating, anywhere I can cut down on labor is valuable... Next up - bowls!

Hurrah!!

2008-11-16T21:19:00.006-05:00

I just got some very exciting news... I am now part of a permanent collection! I had work accepted into the It's Only Clay exhibition earlier this year and in addition to being a new member of the BSU Margaret Hallow Collection I also won 1st place in the exhibit!! So exciting... For more info on the show check out this web page.

Below you'll see an image of the two pieces that were in the show, the espresso trio was what got all the attention. This was the very last piece that I completed before we left Pittsburgh, it's good to know that I'm heading in a direction that people respond to. I wonder how my new work will be received - I suppose I need to actually glaze some of them to find out. I just got some more test results out of the kiln, I'm hoping to sort through them all tomorrow and make some decisions about how to move forward - only two classes left...

More for Testin'

2008-11-11T00:19:00.002-05:00

Here are a few more baby test plates to try out some of the myriad glazes that I'm accumulating in the studio. I should take some photos of my test tiles, I keep meaning to do that... Tomorrow!
I would write more, but I'm pooped. Been up since 5:30 - it's time for B-E-D.
More soon.

Finally!

2008-11-04T08:51:00.003-05:00

It's voting day! I'm heading out to the polls after a few days of canvassing for the Obama campaign... keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out for the Democrats this year. We've certainly got a beautiful day for voting.

I've gotten a number of tiles out of the test kiln and some promising new directions to pursue. At some point I'll try to take some photos of the tiles and post them online...

Back to Food

2008-10-26T22:08:00.004-04:00

So I'm pretty excited about this next plate. I've been back to reading Michael Pollen and thinking about food production, oil and pollution. One of the components of that food/oil chain is in the pesticides used on crops. Hence the crop dusting imagery on this salad plate (which I was planning to pair with the grain truck plate). I'm hoping that I can fire this guy on an angle with some runny glaze that will look like pesticide spraying from the plane... we'll see if I can pull it off. I have this vision of place settings where the pieces all relate and touch on different aspects of food, food production, oil and energy. I'm still working out where these ideas are going but I feel like I've made some real progress in this past month (which is a relief after such an extended break this year!). Now that I've finished decorating the last round of plates I made, I think it's time to work in some new shapes. I'd like to develop some bowls and cups to go along with the plates, but I'm anticipating those could prove more challenging than the flat, canvas-like surface a plate provides. Maybe some wider and shallower bowls would do the trick. The cups are a little harder to envision - looks like I need to head back to my sketchbook.

I had a few minutes today to look at the huge box of test tiles - I can't wait to get them all spread out to really examine what's going on. Mel just passed along two more recipes for me to try that I think Ayumi uses on her work - she definitely gets that runny color I'm looking for.

Hopefully I'll have some winners in this group of test glazes and we can start moving forward with some actual plate-glazing! I have a feeling there is a lot more testing in my future though...

New and Improved...

2008-10-24T20:13:00.002-04:00

I remade the housing salad plate today and I think I like it better than the first version. Practice makes perfect, right?? I had intended to have one remaining house with lights on in the first plate, but I got distracted and painted it black. I think that little change really improves the overall impression of this piece and makes it tell more of a story than the first one did.

I'm also working on a partner to the grain truck plate, I'll hopefully post that one tomorrow.

Truck!!

2008-10-23T18:41:00.003-04:00

Next up... back to trucks. This is a grain carrier, and was a PAIN to make a stencil of! But... I think the time and energy spent cutting these stencils are worth the outcome. I decided that there was plenty going on with the truck and all it needed was a little glimpse of the red clay with the sun up on the right. Again, it will be a different story to see these glazed, but I'm excited about what's happening in the raw state. I have plans for a side plate with a crop dusting plane...

Okay, I'm off to class!

Boo...

2008-10-22T16:52:00.004-04:00

So I was doing my usual pottery schlep today - the photo below demonstrates why it can be a pain to haul delicate things around. I had three of these plates with me, two of which were un-decorated. Of course the one that broke was nearly complete... You gotta love ceramics!! At least I know I can make another one and hopefully improve upon the design.

My glaze class at NCC is really kicking into high gear. I have over 80 test tiles waiting to be fired (phew!) and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something (anything!!) turns out. I've got a number of colorant tests going into this kiln as well as some more base glaze tiles. I think I'm narrowing in on something that will work, but I've still got some crazing issues to sort out. Scott suggested revisiting the glaze I was tinkering with at PCA which I realize should have been done at the very beginning... But, it's mixed now and hopefully will yeild some helpful results.

Hopefully I'll post some pictures of whole plates at some point soon...

Housing Continued

2008-10-13T15:35:00.004-04:00

Here is another variation on the housing theme... whoo-boy are these time consuming! I'm liking the results here in the raw state, but I can't wait to see some of them glazed. I'm hoping that the white underglaze on the the white slip will be a bit more subtle than it is now, and that the drawings pop on the white background. The suv on this plate is so exciting for me right now (I love paper resist!!), but having some finished pots will help me see how to move forward - at this point I have no idea what will work out and what won't.

suburbia plate

suburbia plate (back)

Housing Plate

2008-10-10T23:56:00.005-04:00

I know that it's on the minds of everyone these days, but I can't seem to take my thoughts off of our faltering economy and plummeting housing market. My "housing bubble" plate below is a continuation of my politically-themed work and an exploration of our current crisis. I'd love to turn these into a dinner set, but I'm torn as to how the decoration between the pieces should relate. I feel like if all of the components were this detailed, the dinner table would feel cluttered and busy! I think I need to work on ways to balance the detailed with the more simple, but I just love filling up all of the space...

We managed to load a glaze kiln in the glaze chemistry class I'm taking at NCC. I've got about 25 clear bases in the kiln. I can't WAIT to see the results so that I can start playing with some color. I'm thinking that the white block with the vulture and the area with the oil rig on the plate below will get a colored transparent glaze and the rest of the piece will be clear. I also need to start playing with coloring the slip - I think it could really warm up these pots a bit if I had a less stark white slip base. Yea experiements!

Next Round

2008-10-06T22:30:00.003-04:00

To continue on my camera-happy phone adventure, here is a look at my latest plate. These past two plates are pretty directly from my sketchbook (see this post), and I need to devote some sketchbook time to developing some new image combinations. I'm building up a healthy collection of imagery for stencils and line drawings, so I should have plenty of inspiration. I have yet to use a number of the drawings - I'm pretty excited about the powerlines I recently drew. And with the current state of affairs in the world there is certainly plenty to talk and think about. I've been pondering a series of "presidential cups" with the faces of all the US presidents. And the cows, I've got to get back to the cows!! Lots to work on... I'll get back with some follow-up posts as soon as some of these plates are glaze fired.

The plate ready for bisque...

A close up of the farm field texture with slip slightly sanded away.

Detail of the off shore oil rig stencil

My sister is my hero!

2008-10-05T18:15:00.005-04:00

So I've been moaning and groaning about not having a camera to document my new work in progress for my blog. I realized while working the other afternoon that I DO in fact have a camera and it's almost always with me. My phone! I was momentarily elated until I realized I had no way to get the photos from the camera to my blog... boo. Enter my brilliant, techno-savvy sister who talked me through how to e-mail the photos to myself. yea! Now I can keep everyone updated on my progress and not worry about bringing a camera along to the studio... Here is a peek at some of my latest low fire work.

The start of a "history of energy" plate

A finished version...

Another variation on the same theme (I think I like the trees better in this one, but the whale better in the first...)

Oil and commodity cookie plates

I'd still like to figure out a "real" camera at some point soon, but for now, this is a fantastic solution. Back to blogging regularly!! Thanks, Maddie

And so it begins...

2008-09-22T21:18:00.004-04:00

My class at Northern Clay finally started last week! Hurray! I've been in the studio a fair bit taking advantage of the open work times. I'm ready to be learning more about glazes, that's for sure... For some reason, I've had the urge to handbuild rather than work on the wheel this past week, so I've embraced the feeling and am building away. It's funny to think that as a college student I *thought* I had no interest in handbuilding. I still love the wheel, don't get me wrong, but I'm enjoying the looseness of working by hand. Although, I spent the weekend between the two World Ceramics: Transforming Women's Traditions exhibits and I can't believe the skill of some of those women handbuilders. While I completely appreciate (and am in awe of) the possibiltiy for handbuilding to be this exact, for me it encourages a more organic and relaxed approach. We'll see how long it is before I'm pulling my hair out because I just can't get something round... I'm currently working on a series of small plates to test out some ideas with underglazes and paper resist. Still no camera yet, but I'll post pictures as soon as I have a way to take some! For now you'll have to settle for one of the exquisit (handbulit!) pieces from the NCC women in clay exhibition:

Writing Continued...

2008-09-14T22:09:00.011-04:00

To continue on my writing theme, Mel loaned me an excellent book called Writing the Artist Statement. I burned through the first section and have just come up against my first timed writing assignment... I'm looking forward to working through these exercises and the process of thinking carefully about what I create and why - who knows what will surface!

And a little non-ceramic related side note: Aaron teaches his first Intro to Microeconomics course at Carleton today - go Aaron, go!!

Thoughts on Writing

2008-09-12T13:59:00.004-04:00

One of the many long-term benefits I can see to keeping a regular blog is the frequent opportunity to practice writing. I spend a great deal of time expressing myself visually but I know written words can play a powerful role for me, my peers and my customers, if used effectively. I immediately think of my artist statement (which I sorely need to update), but also the world of magazine articles. I'm slowly developing an understanding that success in the arts hinges largely on promotion - an article is a great way to explain to the community what inspires you, where you've come from and where you're going.

I found a thoughtful post (and blog in general called Two For Joy) focused on choosing and using words. I certainly rely on a safe cache of language and could benefit from critically thinking about how I express myself verbally. I think in the end taking time and care in writing (and making it a regular habit) will solidify my ideas about my work and help to spur new directions.

New Camera?

2008-09-12T11:59:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago my trusty cannon point and shoot digital camera finally decided to die. I've had it for five years now, so I knew the end was coming, but I was hoping it could hang in there for a little longer... Over the past few weeks Aaron and I have tried to flesh out exactly what we want to use our camera for, and how we would improve on our last one. Given that I purchased an ez cube earlier this year, I certainly want to be taking digital images of my work. I'm hearing more and more about how shooting in raw format is helpful for digital slides, and I'd also like a decent macro feature. On the fun side of things, we're both suckers for the video function, and would love playing with a bigger zoom. So, after some poking around and reading lots of reviews, we're down to two cameras: the Cannon Powershot S5 IS and the Olympus SP-560. I'm leaning toward the Olympus, given the ability of that model to shoot in raw format (and that out-of-control 18x zoom!), but the Cannon has a larger sensor size and faster shutter speed. Hmmm.... hard to decide! I think we just need to find a store where we can go try them both out and see what we like up close and personal.

And when it comes to actually getting good shots of my work, I've found a few great sources of information recently. One being Fresh Plums by John Glick and the other a post on a blog I read called the Mudpot. Both have some good info and a few book suggestions which I will definitely have to check out as I have more work to photograph!

Clay Weekend

2008-09-07T21:04:00.004-04:00

I spent a good portion of my weekend up at the Northern Clay Center checking out all of the amazing potters on display for the annual American Pottery Festival. The quality of the work was just spectacular. The thing I love about going to ceramic shows is that not only do you get to see work that you've often only seen in slides or on the internet, but you get to pick it up and touch it! Such fun... I also caught a glimpse of some of my new favorite pottery stars - Naomi Cleary and Liz Zlot Summerfeld. This morning I took a short (but info-packed) workshop with Gail Kendal, which gave me some great insights into working with low fire clay.

I'm all signed up to take a class with Margaret Bohls at NCC this coming fall -- I can't wait for it to get started so I can get back into the studio and start making pots. The topic is just what I need, too - low fire glaze chemistry. Yea! Hopefully I can clear up some of my pesky glazing problems and get to a place where I have a few glazes I enjoy using and understand well. I am looking forward to the day when I can think clearly about how I am going to glaze a pot before I even begin to throw...

New Home

2008-09-06T20:01:00.007-04:00

I have neglected this poor blog for far too long now. It's time to get myself back in the habit of updating regularly. Although, even with my sporadic posting habits, it's still an excellent reminder of change and growth. I'm amazed by how easy it is to forget where we start from - this is an ideal place to collect and document ideas, progress and new directions. So even though I've been away for seven months now (geez!) I'm going to jump back into the blogging world as I enter into a new chapter of my ceramic work and my life.

A big part of my blogging absence has to do with Aaron and my relocation from Pittsburgh to Minneapolis. It's scary to say this, but the last time I touched clay was back in March, right before NCECA (double geez!). In all honesty, it's been great to have an extensive break - I think I'm a person who needs time to digest and regroup/recharge away from my medium. But, I'm to the point now where I am itching to get my hands back into clay. Since I still don't quite have a studio lined up, I've been working to coalesce some of the ideas I've been mulling over surrounding food and energy in my sketchbook. Realizing these ideas in clay will probably be an entirely different story all together...

I went down to Carleton (my alma mater) with Aaron last week for the first time since I graduated in 2001. It was amazing to be back on campus and exciting to realize that I will be able to visit on a more regular basis than every seven years! On the way down we stopped to snap some photos of cornfields for me to use in my work. I'd like to get a few good shots of soy and wheat as well so I can work on some commodity themed pots....

While we were in Northfield we also hit up the Steam and Engine show, where we saw our good friend Anne Sawyer sing AND I got to get my fill of tractor pictures. Some of these will definitely be finding their way into my work...

Patience...

2008-02-17T23:50:00.002-05:00

It's crazy to look back and see that I dipped my toe into the low fire waters last June. I would never have guessed that it's been eight months now! It's taken awhile, but I feel like some things are sinking in and some concrete ideas are taking shape (see the set of tumblers below). Exciting!

What's for Dinner? (view 1)
What's for Dinner? (view 2)

What's for Dinner? (view 3)

What is Art?

2008-01-16T14:35:00.001-05:00

Here's your answer - hee hee!

Pancake Fun

2008-01-05T12:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this isn't exactly ceramic related, but, man, it is funny! Yea pancake olympics!!

Long Time, No See

2007-11-04T15:39:00.001-05:00

I always seem to have such good intentions about keeping up regularly on blogging, and then somehow three months slip by and I haven't posted a thing. Man. A quick ceramic update... I took a class on mosaic and have been happily making zillions of little tiles for my table project. The class is now a few weeks over and my table is still in pieces, but it will get there. Eventually. I've also been working on a new prototype for another slipcasting project, making plates as test pieces for the low fire kiln, and working on a platter project for my Dad. Lots to think about and keep me busy -- not even considering all of the NCECA madness! I hope to at some point start getting some images up here, it would be great to document all that is going on with my many clay adventures.

Revisiting Wood

2007-08-07T19:33:00.000-04:00

It's been three years since I last participated in a wood firing and I've only been a part of two. This past weekend I had the chance to put work in a kiln built last year by Jim Dugan. It's a beauty of a kiln and in a spectacular location in Aurora, West Virginia. I'm still recovering from the strange sleeping patterns I had last week and getting anxious to see the results of all that hard work!

We had some exciting moments during the firing -- some a little TOO exciting... the roof of Megan's beautiful kiln shed caught on fire while we were firing. Everyone handled it beautifully, but we did seem to lose some of our momentum after that. Still seemed to be a great firing though -- most parts of the kiln got to temperature. We will unload this Sunday, I'll post some images as soon as I get them back.

Long Overdue

2007-07-30T17:42:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe that my last post was nearly three weeks ago... Since my last post, I got that first prototype low fire piece done. I'm pretty excited about it, but nervous about glazing. Martina gave me a number of glazes this weekend, so we'll see what I can pull off. Here's a view prior to glazing....

Time for a Change: Part 2

2007-07-10T12:17:00.001-04:00

In addition to my previous thoughts about slip casting, I'm now thinking about ways for me to draw some of the nagging ideas from "The Omnivore's Dilemma" into my work. I've been sketching a lot of corn lately (and painting it, too) and I have some drawings down of cows, corn and oil. I think it's the oil that really makes theses ideas political -- cows and corn could just be good ol' Midwest culture... but add oil into that mix and you've got a whole different ballgame.

All of this has me thinking I'd better start drawing and painting on my pots. I have spent some time looking into china paint, but from what I've found it's not food safe. So, I'm now thinking some sort of majolica decoration could do the trick. Some drawing through the slip, some bright colors on top, maybe some sprigs and stamps too....

I've got some low fire red clay and I think the next step is to start testing. I've got a slip recipe to apply leatherhard -- hopefully then I could put colored and clear glazes over the top of the slip. I think I'll go mix up some slip right now and start making those tests!

Missed Opportunity

2007-07-03T11:04:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it... I was just looking around at some of my favorite potter's work and discovered that Bernadette Curran just gave a workshop this PAST weekend here in Pittsburgh. And to make matters worse, I was even free that day. Oh well, so it goes. Perhaps I'll catch her at her workshop in NJ in August -- I'm on the waiting list...

Time for a Change

2007-07-01T23:55:00.000-04:00

So, I've just been browsing one of my favorite blogs (one black bird) and I think I'm finally ready to jump into a new technique: slipcasting. I don't remember when I first heard about this process, but I first saw it this past March at NCECA. It was like a magican pulling a rabbit out of his hat. I've been meaning to delve into this technique since I saw it in Louisville, but now the book is on the way. I often feel so frustrated by how long my pieces take to develop and as a result I am timid about decoration. With slipcasting, I think I'll be able to be more free with the surface knowing I can make more. And, I really think it would be good for me to work in a series... I'm impatient, what can I say -- I get frustrated when I think about how long it takes to sit down and make one of my pots. Discouraged, even. But, I love putting things together these days, that's what really gets me going. So I need to get to that point faster, and I think slipcasting could be my knight in shinging armor!

2007-06-30T22:17:00.001-04:00

I made a few changes to my website today -- got some stuff up from my two weeks at Anderson Ranch. It was a fabulous trip, I only wish I could have stayed out there longer. I got a lightbox up and running, a background and a tripod, so I'm taking my own images. It's great to have the ability to shoot right at home, now I just need to get the camera dialed in...

2007-05-17T22:41:00.000-04:00

So my website is finally up and available online. Pretty exiting. Check it out at www.kipokrongly.com. It was a lot of work to get it going, but I think it will be pretty easy to update now that the framework is in place. The next step is to get a place I can easily take my own digital images, then I'd be all set to update regularly...

2007-05-08T15:12:00.000-04:00

I'm working to learn more about the kiln at PCA and how to best reduce for carbon trapping. I always thought that starting reduction at 08 was the way to go, but I've come across a number of recommendations for reducton beginning at 012. I found a particularly interesting firing schedule at David Buemee's blog. Definitely worth a try...

Group slides/statement

2007-04-29T19:07:00.000-04:00

I strive to capture moments of expression and an eagerness to be used in my utilitarian ceramic work. I envision each piece moments from waking, frozen just before stirring to life and carrying out its intended function. Teapots and mugs tilt in anticipation of pouring or receiving and pitchers reach to deliver their contents, pursuing a sense of generosity and openness. It is the range of interactions a functional pot has, from a precious display to a daily necessity that draws me into my studio. I continually search for ways to merge unique form with practical function, creating work that is a pleasure to touch, see and to use.

My influences often come from things that play a role in my own daily rituals. The defined edges of the radiator in my living room, a sleek band of sliver running through my cell phone, the yellow rusting bridges of my Pittsburgh home and the expressive faucet on my bathroom sink all inspire my work in clay. I blend aspects of everyday routine with human expression to produce objects that we not only use, but also can interact with and visually enjoy.

It is primarily through form that I articulate my interest in animated pots. I employ added coils to emphasize joints, attachments and edges, defining and highlighting those areas that appeal to me. I use these details, along with symmetrical altering, to heighten the human gesture of each piece as well as indicate and inform decorative space. Glaze serves to emphasize detail, accentuate underlying structural decisions and aid in creating a sense of soft touchability.

2007-03-18T15:23:00.000-04:00

This is my first post with a link!
Here's a link to aaron's blog.
While I'm at it, check out where I work.

2007-03-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

I finally started a blog! This will serve as a place to jot down ideas as I go figure out where I want to go with my clay. The first thing that came to mind was graduate school and here are some I'm interested in researching:

-UAF
Instructors
-James Brashear (MFA Louisiana State 1990)
Length of program: 3 years

-SMU
Instructors
-James W. Sullivan (MFA California State)
-Peter Beasecker (MFA Alfred)
Length of program: 2 years

-WVU
Instructors
-Bob Anderson (MFA Alfred)
-Joe Zeller
Length of program: 3 years

-Kent State
Instructors
-Kirk Mangus

-Nebraska-Lincoln
Instructors
-Eddie Dominguez
-Gail Kendall
-Peter Pinnell
Length of program: 3 years

-Penn State
Instructors
-Chris Staley
-Liz Quackenbush
Length of program:

-University Of Colorado, Boulder
Instructors
-Scott Chamberlin (MFA Alfred)
-Kim Dickey (MFA Alfred)
-Jeanne Quinn (MFA Washington University)
Length of Program:

-RISD
Instructors-Laurence Bush (MFA, Alfred)
- (MFA, Alfred)
-Linda Sormin (MFA, Alfred)
Length of Program:

Carbondale
-LSU
-Edwardsville
-Edinboro
Ohio University
Ohio State University
University of Minnesota
Utah State
University of Nebraska
Alfred
Kent State

Back burner
Louisiana State University
Indiana University, Bloomington
Southen Illinois University, Carbondale and Edwardsville
SUNY, New Paltz
University of Florida Gainesville
West Virginia U
Southern Methodist U
Fort Collins
University of Colorado, Boulder
RISD
Cranbrook
RIT
MSU
University of Montana, Missoula
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Syracuse University
Bowling Green
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
San Diego State
University of Washington
U Mass Dartmouth
VCU
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design