It's a cold, rainy day in Colorado, so I'm baking to warm up the kitchen. Here's my favorite corn bread recipe:
Ingredients
1 cup Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix*
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ cup honey or agave nectar
1 cup almond milk
2 eggs
¼ cup butter or shortening
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, combine Baking Mix, cornmeal, & baking powder.
In a 2nd bowl mix honey, milk, eggs, butter.
Add wet ingredients to dry, beat for 1 min.
Pour into a greased 8-in square baking pan. Bake for 20 min.
*Can be made with all-purpose white flour – increase baking powder to 4 tablespoons, and know that it won't be as awesome.
--
Do you have any delicious recipes you care to share?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Interview: potter Cindy Gilliland
Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)? 
Cindy Gilliland (Dirt-Kicker Pottery)
Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?
Cindy Gilliland (Dirt-Kicker Pottery)47
Washoe Valley, NV
dirt-kickerpottery.blogspot.com
Where do you work in clay?
Where do you work in clay?
My Studio, Located 50 feet from my house.
Do you have another job?
Do you have another job?
No. Prior to working with Clay, I worked in Escrow for 20 plus years.
Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.
Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.
Choice. Pottery is a choice for me. I could make a more lucrative income working in escrow, but at this point in my life, I chose to make pots.
How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?
How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?
I do whatever needs to be done. If I need to take care of grandkids or run some errands, well... the pottery has to wait. I'm usually in the studio 4 or 5 days a week.
Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?
It is a creative outlet. I makes me happy.
How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?
How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?
I'm very concerned about our environment. My work does not currently reflect my concerns.
What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?
What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?
I turn on Hawaiian Music, open a bad of Laguna Hawaiian Red clay, make me a Mai Tai and pretend I'm making pots in Hawaii :)
Do you create art in other mediums?
Do you create art in other mediums?
I paint with acrylics.
Where do you sell your work?
Where do you sell your work?
Open studio, Etsy, website (to be completed shortly) and word of mouth.
How did you approach those venues about selling your work?
How did you approach those venues about selling your work?
I don't like lugging my work to shows or fairs. I prefer building a contacts list and selling directly from the Studio.
Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?
Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?
When your love for making pottery turned into a job, did it hamper your creativity?
NEW question: If you could change one property of clay, what would it be? (optional question; from potter John Bauman in the second Monday survey)
I like clay just the way it is.
NEW question: If you could change one property of clay, what would it be? (optional question; from potter John Bauman in the second Monday survey)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Interview: Jim Gottuso
For my 100th blog post I give you the weekly interview, today from potter Jim Gottuso in Kentucky. Cheers!
Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?
Jim Gottuso, 51, Louisville, KY, jimgottuso.wordpress.com
Where do you work in clay?
In the back room of my house
Do you have another job?
I have a 4 1/2 year old but no other paying job
Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.
If you mean decisions about what I make then both. If I have a commission then it's by necessity (the necessity being the need for income); if I'm just making stuff, it's what I choose to make. That being said certain things sell better than others so I always make a bit of both.
How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?
Wow... there's not enough time to write it. I have 4 year old and I watch her solo every sat. and sun. (so i don't even attempt to get anything done on the weekends). Weekday mornings I do blogging, email, (any computer tasks, including photoshop, submissions, etc.) for about 1 to 1/2 hours. Then I try to run household errands before noon and go to the studio after lunch (if no errands, get there earlier). Work till about 7 usually but often later. Have dinner with the family and put the little one to bed. Check in on the computer before bed.
Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?
I've always loved clay since first being exposed in undergraduate school. I put it off, starting and running two businesses with my best friend. Although I certainly wanted to do those things (the businesses), a part of me couldn't see how to make ceramics work economically... sometimes I regret not going through the hard times with clay earlier only because I would be so much further along in my progression and experience as a clay person if I had.
How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?
I'm pretty concerned and vacillate on how to deal with my concern. We are very conserving of energy and water as a rule, no AC last summer in KY; don't leave appliances on or lights on when they're not being used. We're vegan (that's probably the biggest thing). I've never owned a new automobile. I do all my shopping within 2 miles from my house so we don't drive much. I fire electric and am very careful about having large densely packed kiln loads and I fire to ^6.
What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?
Go get my daughter and give her a hug and chat for a bit, go find music that I really want to hear, put that on and get back to it.
Do you create art in other mediums?
Not currently; I have over the years done a good amount of sculpture, drawing, woodworking and graphic and web design.
Where do you sell your work?
mostly in galleries currently... about 3 in town and some out of town galleries as well. shows and i'm trying to sell online (hint, hint), i also do an annual craft fair in town.
How did you approach those venues about selling your work?
One recently called me out of the blue, others i either called or visited or sent materials to online.
Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?
No questions in general, although i always want to know what music each individual i come to know listens to and specifically what music they listen to when they're working. always trying to fill in the blanks i guess.
If I could change one characteristic of clay it would be it's bothersome obedience to gravity... antigravitation clay would be dreamy.
Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?
Jim Gottuso, 51, Louisville, KY, jimgottuso.wordpress.com
Where do you work in clay?
In the back room of my house
Do you have another job?
I have a 4 1/2 year old but no other paying job
Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.
If you mean decisions about what I make then both. If I have a commission then it's by necessity (the necessity being the need for income); if I'm just making stuff, it's what I choose to make. That being said certain things sell better than others so I always make a bit of both.
How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?
Wow... there's not enough time to write it. I have 4 year old and I watch her solo every sat. and sun. (so i don't even attempt to get anything done on the weekends). Weekday mornings I do blogging, email, (any computer tasks, including photoshop, submissions, etc.) for about 1 to 1/2 hours. Then I try to run household errands before noon and go to the studio after lunch (if no errands, get there earlier). Work till about 7 usually but often later. Have dinner with the family and put the little one to bed. Check in on the computer before bed.
Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?
I've always loved clay since first being exposed in undergraduate school. I put it off, starting and running two businesses with my best friend. Although I certainly wanted to do those things (the businesses), a part of me couldn't see how to make ceramics work economically... sometimes I regret not going through the hard times with clay earlier only because I would be so much further along in my progression and experience as a clay person if I had.
How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?
I'm pretty concerned and vacillate on how to deal with my concern. We are very conserving of energy and water as a rule, no AC last summer in KY; don't leave appliances on or lights on when they're not being used. We're vegan (that's probably the biggest thing). I've never owned a new automobile. I do all my shopping within 2 miles from my house so we don't drive much. I fire electric and am very careful about having large densely packed kiln loads and I fire to ^6.
What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?
Go get my daughter and give her a hug and chat for a bit, go find music that I really want to hear, put that on and get back to it.
Do you create art in other mediums?
Not currently; I have over the years done a good amount of sculpture, drawing, woodworking and graphic and web design.
Where do you sell your work?
mostly in galleries currently... about 3 in town and some out of town galleries as well. shows and i'm trying to sell online (hint, hint), i also do an annual craft fair in town.
How did you approach those venues about selling your work?
One recently called me out of the blue, others i either called or visited or sent materials to online.
Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?
No questions in general, although i always want to know what music each individual i come to know listens to and specifically what music they listen to when they're working. always trying to fill in the blanks i guess.
If I could change one characteristic of clay it would be it's bothersome obedience to gravity... antigravitation clay would be dreamy.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Interview: Laurie Erdman
Another week, another interview. Click here to see the questions on their own if you want to be in next week.
Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?
Laurie Erdman, 42
Arlington, Virginia
www.claytastic.net
Where do you work in clay?
Primarily at the Art League ceramics studio in Alexandria, but just set up a home studio to work between sessions
Do you have another job?
Yes. I’m a business development professional for an education company. While fulfilling, it keeps me away from the wheel far more than I would like.
Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity?
Both decisions are made by necessity. Pottery started as a creative outlet from a stressful job. It has become a passion and I am now just starting to market my work. I still have to have the day job help pay the household expenses.
How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?
During Art League sessions, I am the studio every Sunday, and increasingly on Saturdays and any other time I can, as I am building up inventory for holiday shows and sales (currently have 4 scheduled). Every morning I spend my tea time at the computer managing my Etsy store, tweeting and blogging. Then it is off to the day job. In the evening, I take pictures of my work and manage my online presence. Of course, with the home studio, I can now start working on pots in the evening.
Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?
I have always been drawn to the tactile nature of clay, whether playing in a mud puddle as a child, or picking up a finished piece in a gallery. It was natural that my creative outlet would flourish once I decided to try ceramics. I was hooked the first time I touched it.
How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?
Very. However, working in a community studio doesn’t give me control over those issues. However, last year our studio moved from cone 8 electric to cone 6 to reduce energy usage. When I get my own kiln, I would be very interested in learning how to single fire (just did it in a soda kiln and was very happy with the results). I do recycle my clay as much as possible.
What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?
Walk away. And often I go eat because there is something about working in clay that makes me forget to eat. Not good to throw with low blood sugar; the results are bad.
Do you create art in other mediums?
I have painted and I love photography, but I do neither on a regular basis. Although I have been thinking about adding photo work for potters as a service.
Where do you sell your work?
Right now I sell mostly online and to friends. I have an Etsy shop and have sold a piece on eBay. I am planning on doing most of sales at the end of the year. I will do a local craft show at my church in December, a local collectors show in November, a charity show sponsored by my employer and finally a home show.
How did you approach those venues about selling your work?
I am a member of the sponsoring organizations for the crafts shows, so its just people I know.
Do you have any questions you want to ask other artists?
For those that have their own studio, how do you manage all the equipment and materials and how many different glazes do you use? As I contemplate my own studio, the investment is overwhelming.
Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?Laurie Erdman, 42
Arlington, Virginia
www.claytastic.net
Where do you work in clay?
Primarily at the Art League ceramics studio in Alexandria, but just set up a home studio to work between sessions
Do you have another job?
Yes. I’m a business development professional for an education company. While fulfilling, it keeps me away from the wheel far more than I would like.
Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity?
Both decisions are made by necessity. Pottery started as a creative outlet from a stressful job. It has become a passion and I am now just starting to market my work. I still have to have the day job help pay the household expenses.
How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?
During Art League sessions, I am the studio every Sunday, and increasingly on Saturdays and any other time I can, as I am building up inventory for holiday shows and sales (currently have 4 scheduled). Every morning I spend my tea time at the computer managing my Etsy store, tweeting and blogging. Then it is off to the day job. In the evening, I take pictures of my work and manage my online presence. Of course, with the home studio, I can now start working on pots in the evening.
Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?
I have always been drawn to the tactile nature of clay, whether playing in a mud puddle as a child, or picking up a finished piece in a gallery. It was natural that my creative outlet would flourish once I decided to try ceramics. I was hooked the first time I touched it.
How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?
Very. However, working in a community studio doesn’t give me control over those issues. However, last year our studio moved from cone 8 electric to cone 6 to reduce energy usage. When I get my own kiln, I would be very interested in learning how to single fire (just did it in a soda kiln and was very happy with the results). I do recycle my clay as much as possible.
What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?
Walk away. And often I go eat because there is something about working in clay that makes me forget to eat. Not good to throw with low blood sugar; the results are bad.
Do you create art in other mediums?
I have painted and I love photography, but I do neither on a regular basis. Although I have been thinking about adding photo work for potters as a service.
Where do you sell your work?
Right now I sell mostly online and to friends. I have an Etsy shop and have sold a piece on eBay. I am planning on doing most of sales at the end of the year. I will do a local craft show at my church in December, a local collectors show in November, a charity show sponsored by my employer and finally a home show.
How did you approach those venues about selling your work?
I am a member of the sponsoring organizations for the crafts shows, so its just people I know.
Do you have any questions you want to ask other artists?
For those that have their own studio, how do you manage all the equipment and materials and how many different glazes do you use? As I contemplate my own studio, the investment is overwhelming.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Interview: Kanika Marshall
This weeks ceramic artist interview comes from Kanika in California. Would you like to be next? See the interview questions here.
Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?
Kanika Marshall
Half a century
Elk Grove, CA
www.kanika.us
Where do you work in clay?
In my studio, an annex in my home
Do you have another job?
Yes
Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.
Solely by choice. The extra money from my art is nice, but not critical. When my kids were young and I became divorced, I needed money from my art in order to pay for after-school day care. Now, the positive acclaim is sometimes more important than money, but not as important as the joy in making the art.
How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?
Day job 8-5, clay is any other time, often up until midnight many nights
Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?
I love the tensile quality of clay. You can make nearly anything from clay. Clay works well with my other addiction: fabric. Clay is awesome with glass, metal, wood, beads, shells, and leather. Clay can be glazed to any color. Clay is a chameleon, like me.
How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?
I am concerned, so I wear a respirator, installed linoleum over my carpet so I won't vacuum up the clay dust anymore, open the windows to ventilate my workspace and purchased a trap for my drain so the clay/glaze reside doesn't go down the drain (altho' I have not yet installed it!). I use lead-free glazes. I keep the garage doors open while I am doing a glaze firing. But there is still a lot more that could be done to make my clay experience safer.
What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?
I never have bad days, except maybe with the potter's wheel! I mainly do slab/tile, coil, and free-form three-dimensional clay work. Non-wheel work is always pleasurable and fruitful. I never run out of things to create, just the time to make them.
Do you create art in other mediums?
Lots of mixed media (fabric, glass, metal, wood, beads, shells, and leather), but clay is the primary medium.
Where do you sell your work?
My studio, website, galleries, art shows, and local stores.
How did you approach those venues about selling your work?
I apply to art shows, keep my website updated, use e-newsletters and Facebook to help market my work, use Vistaprint to print postcards and business cards to hand out everywhere, keep in touch with my customers, and have several portfolios for upscale and lower-grade galleries. I visit galleries several times before approaching the gallery owner with my portfolio.
Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?
Does anyone have a small slab roller for sale in the northern California area (preferably near Sacramento)?
NEW question: If you could change one property of clay, what would it be? (optional question; from potter John Bauman in the second Monday interview)
I work real fast, so sometimes there are explosions (happy little accidents). I would love to remove the possibility of explosions!
Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)?
Kanika MarshallHalf a century
Elk Grove, CA
www.kanika.us
Where do you work in clay?
In my studio, an annex in my home
Do you have another job?
Yes
Are your studio and occupation decisions made by choice or necessity? Please explain.
Solely by choice. The extra money from my art is nice, but not critical. When my kids were young and I became divorced, I needed money from my art in order to pay for after-school day care. Now, the positive acclaim is sometimes more important than money, but not as important as the joy in making the art.
How do you budget your time (in the studio and out - family, errands, etc)?
Day job 8-5, clay is any other time, often up until midnight many nights
Why do you make pots (or sculptures)?
I love the tensile quality of clay. You can make nearly anything from clay. Clay works well with my other addiction: fabric. Clay is awesome with glass, metal, wood, beads, shells, and leather. Clay can be glazed to any color. Clay is a chameleon, like me.
How concerned are you about environmental issues? Does this affect your work?
I am concerned, so I wear a respirator, installed linoleum over my carpet so I won't vacuum up the clay dust anymore, open the windows to ventilate my workspace and purchased a trap for my drain so the clay/glaze reside doesn't go down the drain (altho' I have not yet installed it!). I use lead-free glazes. I keep the garage doors open while I am doing a glaze firing. But there is still a lot more that could be done to make my clay experience safer.
What do you do when you're having a bad day in the studio?
I never have bad days, except maybe with the potter's wheel! I mainly do slab/tile, coil, and free-form three-dimensional clay work. Non-wheel work is always pleasurable and fruitful. I never run out of things to create, just the time to make them.
Do you create art in other mediums?
Lots of mixed media (fabric, glass, metal, wood, beads, shells, and leather), but clay is the primary medium.
Where do you sell your work?
My studio, website, galleries, art shows, and local stores.
How did you approach those venues about selling your work?
I apply to art shows, keep my website updated, use e-newsletters and Facebook to help market my work, use Vistaprint to print postcards and business cards to hand out everywhere, keep in touch with my customers, and have several portfolios for upscale and lower-grade galleries. I visit galleries several times before approaching the gallery owner with my portfolio.
Do you have any questions you want to ask other ceramic artists, or artists in general?
Does anyone have a small slab roller for sale in the northern California area (preferably near Sacramento)?
NEW question: If you could change one property of clay, what would it be? (optional question; from potter John Bauman in the second Monday interview)
I work real fast, so sometimes there are explosions (happy little accidents). I would love to remove the possibility of explosions!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Mini-vacation
4th of July weekend = a vacation at home. It's been a beautiful weekend, complete with indulgences. If you're thinking of visiting Colorado, this is why it's awesome (especially for those who like to eat...):
1. Cherry Creek Arts Festival (Friday afternoon): ART, not craft... there were so many different varieties of painting, sculpting, drawing, printmaking, and clay making to see. Of course I couldn't afford to buy anything, but it was inspiring and beautiful nonetheless. To retreat from the heat of the afternoon we wandered around Room and Board to check out more beautiful things we can't afford - fancy furniture.
2. The Huckleberry (Saturday morning): an amazing restaurant in Louisville with a beautiful ambiance, wonderful service, and the most delicious food and tea I've tasted. They have the BEST vegetarian gravy. If only they could team up with Lucile's Creole Cafe to get their biscuit recipe, you would have the most amazing biscuits and gravy in the world. mmmm...
3. Lucile's Creole Cafe (Sunday morning): an amazing cajun restaurant in Longmont (or Boulder & Ft Collins) with delightfully filling portions of delicious cajun-style food. Their homemade ketchup is the best I've ever had, good on the already flavorful and tasty Hanks Eggs - peppers, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and eggs all scrambled up with spices and topped with avocado... and ketchup. Friggin tasty. Always come home with a plate of leftovers when I get Hanks Eggs, which is almost more delicious than the first time because I'm not growing uncomfortably stuffed after eating half a giant bisquit and a begneit (sort of like a donut, but more delicious).
4. Sweet Action (Sunday evening): this is what Twitter is good for - indy ice cream shops announcing their daily flavors and making us drool. So we make a 1/2 hour drive to get ice cream. Between the two of us we had 5 different flavors; in order of my favorites:
1. Baklava, honey ice cream with real pieces of baklava; 2. Boysenberry cheesecake, with real pieces of cheesecake; 3. After Dinner Mint, mint ice cream with those little pink, green, & yellow mint chips with the teeny white sprinkles on the bottom; 4. Apple Streudel; apple cinnamon ice cream? or something tasty like that; 5. Maple Walnut - took home a pint of this and was disappointed by the lack of flavor. I had some delicious maple ice cream in New Hampshire last summer at an amazing bakery & ice creamery called Umpleby's... I'm sure they have the upper hand being in New Hampshire, but nonetheless, this maple ice cream was lacking some maple flavor. I'm tempted to add my own syrup to it. Maybe I'll continue the indulgences tomorrow morning & make some pancakes topped with ice cream & real maple syrup. That's a good way to start the week, right?
To add to the weekend vacation we checked out the community swimming pool, played a silly game called Luck of the Draw, lounged around doing nothing (i.e. watching a car race), watched a lot of stuff blow up (woo! hooray for America!), and listened to my dad tell stories of him & his friends being retards when they were younger (while repeating lines from The Hangover). Good times. How was your holiday?
1. Cherry Creek Arts Festival (Friday afternoon): ART, not craft... there were so many different varieties of painting, sculpting, drawing, printmaking, and clay making to see. Of course I couldn't afford to buy anything, but it was inspiring and beautiful nonetheless. To retreat from the heat of the afternoon we wandered around Room and Board to check out more beautiful things we can't afford - fancy furniture.
2. The Huckleberry (Saturday morning): an amazing restaurant in Louisville with a beautiful ambiance, wonderful service, and the most delicious food and tea I've tasted. They have the BEST vegetarian gravy. If only they could team up with Lucile's Creole Cafe to get their biscuit recipe, you would have the most amazing biscuits and gravy in the world. mmmm...
3. Lucile's Creole Cafe (Sunday morning): an amazing cajun restaurant in Longmont (or Boulder & Ft Collins) with delightfully filling portions of delicious cajun-style food. Their homemade ketchup is the best I've ever had, good on the already flavorful and tasty Hanks Eggs - peppers, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and eggs all scrambled up with spices and topped with avocado... and ketchup. Friggin tasty. Always come home with a plate of leftovers when I get Hanks Eggs, which is almost more delicious than the first time because I'm not growing uncomfortably stuffed after eating half a giant bisquit and a begneit (sort of like a donut, but more delicious).
4. Sweet Action (Sunday evening): this is what Twitter is good for - indy ice cream shops announcing their daily flavors and making us drool. So we make a 1/2 hour drive to get ice cream. Between the two of us we had 5 different flavors; in order of my favorites:
1. Baklava, honey ice cream with real pieces of baklava; 2. Boysenberry cheesecake, with real pieces of cheesecake; 3. After Dinner Mint, mint ice cream with those little pink, green, & yellow mint chips with the teeny white sprinkles on the bottom; 4. Apple Streudel; apple cinnamon ice cream? or something tasty like that; 5. Maple Walnut - took home a pint of this and was disappointed by the lack of flavor. I had some delicious maple ice cream in New Hampshire last summer at an amazing bakery & ice creamery called Umpleby's... I'm sure they have the upper hand being in New Hampshire, but nonetheless, this maple ice cream was lacking some maple flavor. I'm tempted to add my own syrup to it. Maybe I'll continue the indulgences tomorrow morning & make some pancakes topped with ice cream & real maple syrup. That's a good way to start the week, right?
To add to the weekend vacation we checked out the community swimming pool, played a silly game called Luck of the Draw, lounged around doing nothing (i.e. watching a car race), watched a lot of stuff blow up (woo! hooray for America!), and listened to my dad tell stories of him & his friends being retards when they were younger (while repeating lines from The Hangover). Good times. How was your holiday?
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