Elegant, yet playful pottery for everyday use
My friends Hotel X just jammed out again at Legend Brewing Co. on the south side of Richmond, VA. I took pics and they turned out extra special. Let me know what you think.
I love the blur that to me, depicts motion and fits perfectly into the jazz ideal. Also, I tried to darken the pics as there was tons of light streaming in the room.
I’m having a great time working on designs inspired by my recent trips to the National Gallery in DC and the VMFA, here in Richmond. Mostly, abstract work have been coming out of my head, but some new motifs are out that are based on realism.
Each kiln load spurs me on to create new designs. I feed of small areas where brush strokes and stamped color collide and promise new material for the next piece.
As the holidays are approaching I have created a new series of snow person mugs where I really got into the background abstraction, trying to represent a landscape. It felt to me that I was creating slipware which I am inspired by as I enjoy the different historical representations and designs.
Also, I have made more Gnome pieces. I think they represent the Christmas spirit well and I like the childhood memories they bring back when I paint them.
Yes! I got into a 2 month sale over in Norfolk, VA called the Pop-Shop by Jo-Louise. It starts in November 2nd and runs til the end of December. I have around 100pcs there of all shapes and sizes.
Come on down if you are interested in hand made crafts. It isn’t just pottery, but all sorts of local art. The prices and types very greatly, so it is a good place for everyone to look into.
The Pop-Shop is open:
Pop-Shop by Jo Louise!
10846 Warwick Shopping Center
Newport News, VA 23601
Tuesday-Saturday, 11-6, thru Dec.30
Feel free to drop by and see all the different crafts. If a great deal sells in November I will be restocking in early December!
I was lucky enough to go to the RVA Folk Festival this past weekend. I was so psyched to see all the different musicians and hear what their traditions and cultures had to offer.
My favorite was the Go-Go band Bella Donna from Washington, D.C. They not only sounded great, but had the stage presents to get the whole tent rocking. What a performance on Saturday night.
The whole weekend was awesome and I hope to have gotten some information from the Army Jazz Band to get some pictures of my Grandfather. More on that if anything materializes.
Well, is it really my last harvest? No, but it is close. It is supposed to get to thirty eight degrees tonight, so the garden is about done for the year. I had some good results with tomatoes and tomatillos and they tasted great too. I also had some chilli peppers come up and here are just a few of them. I should have another round before long. In the pic are cherry tomatoes, trinidad scorpion chillies, a ghost chilli and one tomatillo.
PS- My dog ate all of my tomatoes and my tomatillo, but didn’t eat the peppers. Smart dog!
My father is a big Nationals baseball fan and he has gotten me interested in professional baseball. Over the past few years he has gotten me to go to several games with him. It is a great avenue for the 2 of us to connect, so I’m all for it.
He landed 2 tickets for game 1 and game 2 of the playoffs and invited me to go with him. I was super excited. Here is a pic of us at game 2 which is the one they won. Yeah.
Both games were difficult for me to watch as game 1 was scoreless and game 2 they didn’t win until the 8th inning which is very frustrating, but it is great they pulled it off.
I had to stop making work as I cut my finger at work last week. It is amazing how a small injury can be so annoying and inconvenient. I didn’t get any stitches, but the doc said I shouldn’t get it wet which limits my pottery making. Also, I type an x every time I want to type a c. Needless to say, that is quite annoying.
I should be up and running (potting) next week. I hope…
-Matt
Well, back to the drawing board.
On the good side, I was introduced to some great people that are interested in helping me create a pottery, so I’m very psyched that happened.
I will continue to make earthenware pottery and show them in and around Virginia. I will also continue to make my wood fired textural pottery and show it internationally.
Thank you all that helped promote and pledged to fund my Kickstarter. It was humbling and motivating to see so many people I don’t know interested in my pottery. Creating a studio/retail space is not over. This is just the beginning…
My Instagram account- hardwickhandmade has a giveaway until 8/21 when the winner will be announced of this brightly colored mug. Read and follow the directions on the image above to win. It is food and dishwasher safe. 13oz and ready for your favorite beverage.
Free shipping is offered in the continental US.
Link to my Instagram page is on my home page at the bottom.
Good Luck.
Thanks you so much for going to Kickstarter .com and pledging thousands of dollars for a new studio/retail space for a year. I really appreciate it and with more of the same I should be able to have a pottery up and running in no time. Without you this wouldn’t be possible. Thanks again.
-Matt
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1637025497/hardwick-handmade-pottery