Look it’s a CLOG – def; a clay blog

Great to see the catalog for the 18th Annual SFPN….also stoked to see a fellow Soulgama Potter in there. Nice work Robin!

So I’ve been wanting to create a cool shelf to display pottery for awhile now. More specifically I need a place to put my growing cup/mug collection. I wanted something that complimented the work and also functions well both at home and in a gallery setting. I enlisted the help of a good friend, Mark, and uber-talented wood-worker. He did a great job and I can’t wait to put them to good use. This is rad also because it can be mounted either vertically or horizontally. Here’s the prototype:

Fall is in the air. Besides the applesauce I make every year it also means it’s wood-fire time again. Woot Woot! Here are some recent pots that will be fired-up soon. I tried spraying glaze on the outside of some of the pots that will be further back in the kiln. I’m really curious about the results. Stay tuned!

I was creating an Artist Statement recently which got me thinking about why I do what it is I do. It was fun and rewarding to stop and think for a moment about my process and what I look for. Here’s what I came up with:

“I work in clay because I enjoy the process and the end result. I’m fascinated by the ability of clay to preserve the playfulness of the moment as a vitrified record, which can then be something functional. As a photographer I have always been drawn to the imperfectly perfect. I like grit. I like rough edges. I like movement and blur. I look for the same thing with clay.

I walk that fine line of not enough and too much. I want my pieces to be worked on just enough to preserve the freshness of the moment, yet to be refined enough to be a joy to use everyday.

Currently, I’m exploring making functional pottery using the process of wood-fire as it produces unpredictable results that I find fascinating. I love this process-oriented way to finish my work as it lends a quality of warmth which when combined with good food and company – can’t be beat. However, I’m challenged by the many variables to work with, and not to mention the loss-rate necessitates a healthy un-attachment to individual pieces.

Thanks for reading, Austin
See more: www.austingoodman.com/blog“

Hard to go wrong when you get a letter that says “GOOD NEWS!” One of the pieces I submitted to “Strictly Functional Pottery National” was accepted. I used my old Christmas return address stickers and some wise-guy from the Market House Craft Center put Merry Christmas on the outside of my envelope. Thank you Mickey for encouraging me to submit work. Here’s the mug that made the cut…woot woot!

“Strictly Functional Pottery National: A national juried competition to select 95-100 quality pieces of functional pottery for this exhibition. It has been held annually since 1993, and is open free of charge to the public for one month. It is recognized as one of the top ceramic exhibitions in the country. “

There are some of my favorites from the most recent woodfire! Thanks to all who were involved it was a great experience all around! You can see the difference in clay bodies from the left two cups. The top left is a lighter stoneware while the others are a high-fire stoneware with more red iron oxide.

Designed by yours truly; be the first in your neighborhood to sport your love of wood ash and wadding!