Featured Mud Colony Blogger - Sadhana Peterson !!

MC; What do you love the most about being apotter/ceramist/clayworker?

SP;  It soothes my soul …total therapy even when –

·       The pressure is on to get things done for adeadline.

·        Thearthritic hands are throbbing

·       The hard long hours end in disaster

I love it,there is just something about clay that makes me relax

MC   ; What inspires you ?

SP:  Nature, LIFE!….Many things

My work is often lop sided to reflect the imperfections of life . 
Although there is an off centre or lop sided aspect to each piece I make, there is an overall balance 

i.e. it will not fall over, I try to find a satisfyingly balanced imbalance . My general life philosophy is about accepting the lumps and bumps of life and dealing with them whole heartedly. The bumps are the hall marks of the individual. So my pots are about my lumpy and bumpy life

MC: Tell us about the processes involved inproducing your work ?

SP: I hand build and throw and sometimes combine the two.

Sustainability in life is important to me so I like to dig clay,

collect grasses and weave on my pots.

MC: Describe your studio

SP: My studio has two sides a textile room and a pottery room.

I also use a veranda with work tables and shelves that I have assigned  a section to paper making equipment like moulds and deckles and a Hollander beater, a section for dyeing equipment like hot plates, saucepans ,pressure cooker and ties -and a section for glazing.

Sadhana's studio....

Glaze area..

Outside area....

Paper making equipment...

Throwing corner...

Textile Sewing room...

MC:How do you market and sell your work?

SP: I mostly have exhibitions rather than shops and markets as my work is time consuming and I don’t seem to get enough time to make the stock for weekly or monthly selling.

My siblings are all artists.

We have a major exhibition every few years and have done so for the past 16 years.

I also exhibit in the occasional group show.

MC: How did you find Mud Colony?And  what impact ,( if any), has it had on your

blogging?

SP:I discovered the  website through the Australian Ceramic Associationemail list after a post  on it and I followed the links to the Mud Colony….I think that is what happened….I may have been web surfing …not sure !

It has changed my blogging in a huge way!

Having never had any response to my blog posts prior to joining The Mud Colony I feel like I am now a part of a ceramic community.It gives me incentive to document what I have done each week and spurs my workon .YAY 

MC: Are there any  clay blogs that you ALWAYS look at ,and why?

SP: Only just started this blogging thing! Not very good at it yet as you can see.

But enjoy all at the Mud Colony. That is quite a few for starters.

  MC: What would be YOUR advice to someone justbeginning their practice?

SP:Just do it , just enjoy, don’t think too much or worry about the outcomes to start with.

Look at books, go to exhibitions and work out what turns you on.

If you love what you do- then you will do it well.

Once you know what kind of work you want to make,

find out how those works were made, try it ,and make lots.

The best way to discover is to DO !

Then find a class that is in tune with what you want to make.

Make, make, make, make and throw back and recycle and make again

Only keep the ones you are REALLY happy with.

  My first teacher was Margaret Tuckson  and it is all the little things that she taught me as a 15 year old that are firmly implanted in how I work now.

How to knead and recycle clay and just to keep making and absorbing how different cultures have worked in clay. Keep learning and moving on!

Sadhana Peterson is a regular contributor to Mud Colony..read her blog 'Sadhana's Mixed Bag' 

check out her Facebook page 'Sadhana Peterson Mixed Media Artist'  and  have a look at her website !!

Featured Mud Colony Blogger-Linda Fahey !

MC; What do you love the most about being apotter/ceramist/clayworker?  
LF: I think what I love best is the feeling thatthere is always more to learn, always more to create and it keeps the synapsesfiring !

 MC: What inspires you ? 
LF: So many things. Have a look at my Pinterest Boards - I've trained formally inIllustration/Design/even some small technical drawing and I have a thing for all things history .  I have a wide range of interests.

 MC: Tell us about the processes involved inproducing your work ?  
LF:Of course, I seemed to have created the mostlabor intensive time consuming process(leave it to me).  I'm a hand builder/sculptor andillustrator.  So, my work is step heavy.  As you may be able to tell, my work could bedescribed as Wabi Sabi.  I work towardsthe asymmetrical landscape where things being slightly off, highlighting thehandmade aspect is something I strive for. I like it in others work, I like it in my own

 MC:Describe your studio..
LF: It's everywhere - like a big purse.  It's taken over my house.  I have a kiln room in thegarage/shelves/dipping glazes.  I have astudio/shed in the backyard overlooking the ocean where I do all my wet work -and sometimes I use my dining room table to sit and draw.  

MC: How do you market  and sell your work? 

LF: I have an Etsy shop, I have a few stores inNorthern California, I use Facebook as a marketing tool, I cherry pick 6 or soshows to do each year.  There are someexciting things in motion and spring will launch my work into a broader retailspectrum. 

MC: How did you find Mud Colony?And  what impact ,( if any), has it had on yourblogging?  

LF: I believe my blog buddy Linda Starr was what ledme to the Mud Colony blog and it was some time ago.  Took me a while to figure it out - I am now on board.

 MC: Are there any clay blogs that you ALWAYS look at ,and why?  

 LF: I have a robust list of clay sites - I don't check them all everyday.  My main squeeze's are FetishGhostSecret Studio and Jesse Lu's Mudbucket, & Carol's Musing about Mud.

 MC: Best piece ofadvice you have been given about your practice.

 LF:;I'm very fortunate to have access to some amazing artists in the Bay Area, many have become friends . I seek out their critique andget feedback.  Mostly what I hear is"you're on the right track, keep working it" 

 

MC:What would be YOURadvice to someone just beginning their practice?

 LF:Do whatever it takes to keep searching for yourown voice.  Be influenced, but don't staytoo long in someone else's idea - work the influence, change it, alter it tofit who you are and your own signature style. Find that and you are well on your way.  

Linda Fahey is a regular contributor to the Mud Colony Blog......

with her blog -'We swim with the fishes' , here's her her beautiful website,

 

Featured Mud Colony Blogger-Marian Williams !!

MC;  What do you love the most about being a potter/ceramist/clayworker?

MW:  I LOVE my hands in clay – the rich, sensuous sensation that relaxes my soul!

MC: What inspires you ? 

MW:Other potters, glorious glazes, colour!!! I’m a huge fan of vibrant colour- especially rich blues, reds, greens.  Food also inspires me.  I want to eat it, serve it, present it on gloriously glazed, beautiful pieces of art.  

MC: Tell us about the processes involved in producing your work ?  

MW:  I’m a cone 10 gas reduction potter, so my process to the point of firing is like any other potter-get some clay, make some pots, bisque fire (electrically), wax, glaze, then….the magic begins.  I have always longed to be able to fire cone 10 reduction, but only in the past year and a half, have I had access to my own gas kiln.  This means that I can fire when I want, and how I want, reduce when I want, unload when I want-HUGE advantage!!!!  I’m just now in the process of getting my glazing and work back to the quality and consistency that I had when firing electric, but the joy of the magic of gas reduction is worth the struggle!

 MC:Describe your studio

MW: My studio is in the old workshop area of the former Tree Tops Eco Center (Griffith Furniture) outside of Murwillumbah.  I have the splendid fortune to have tons of work space, a barn, outside areas, and a nice little compact area to call “my studio”.  It’s basically heaven.  Video of my work day and studio is HERE

MC: How do you market  and sell your work? 

MW: At present, I have only sold my work through the gallery at Tweed Arts Unlimited at Banora Point, NSW.

MC: How did you find Mud Colony?And  what impact ,( if any), has it had on your

blogging?  

MW: I’m a blogger, facebooker, stalker of the net, so don’t remember the exact moment.  But it was through one of these social networking sites that I connected with Adriana…and the rest is history!

  I have connected with potters around the world, some that are very famous and that I adore, because I have mentioned them in a blog post and of course, let them know and asked their permission.  I have yet to have anyone turn me down!  In response, many have continued to correspond with me, invited me to their studios, and given expert advice.  That is in addition to the daily kudos and inspiration received and given by other potters and folks that read my blog.  It connects me to the pottery world in a way that could not be done otherwise. I look forward to meeting my blogging acquaintenances in person, but if I never do, that is ok too!

MC: Are there any  clay blogs that you ALWAYS look at ,and why?  

MW: Yes, and because they are sooooo good, well written, inspirational! 

All of Mud Colony – because is it all on one page, updated weekly, people that are passionate about pottery and blogging, etc.

 Dick Lehman - http://dicklehman.wordpress.com/ - eloquent, fab work, iconic

 A Fine Mess – Lori Watts http://finemessblog.blogspot.com.au - dependable, consistent, funny, good info

 MC: What would be YOUR advice to someone just beginning their practice?

MW:ENJOY your work!  Don’t stress and be free to explore!  It is art, a passion, and if it becomes your livelihood, then treat it like a business and act like a business person.  Be professional, get involved with every clay group that you can, blog, follow blogs, search the internet, connect on social media, go to any workshop that you can, work consistently and HARD!  You will get there!  That is what I’m doing now!  I will get there!

Marian Willams contributes to Mud Colony regularly ..read her blog  'A Love Affair with Clay'

or check out her Facebook page !!