The pottery market (keramisto) was wonderful: great weather, really nice pots, lovely people.

 On saturday I didn’t get to see al lot….. very busy with the administration for people buying stuff using their bankcard. Just walked around with my father for a while, he bought me a nice windlight by a Belgian potter Frans Gregoor At a pottery supply store, also at the market, i bought some stuff for my mural i have to make and some books.

After the market we went for a swim in te pond… it was a hot hot day that ended with a nice party and lots of wine

The second day was even busier but luckily it was not as hot. I walked around and bought some really nice things one is a box decorated with slibs and luster made by Martine Leveque (see top picture for an idea of the colors). It’s really nice inside and even bottom are decorated as well and a cup/candleholder (depending on what side is up) by Enno Jäkel.

I also bought some small cups and stuff. Also I bought two postcards boxes to support the wife and children of Levas Bekeras a lithounian potter who died of a brain tumor last year at the age of 45.

I’ve been silent becoz i have been busy … i started my new classes two weeks ago and the teacher is great. I’m really excited about it

On the other hand our study group ( we were all in Gouda at the SBB together) got together for the first time since graduation in june… we now have an assignment: a mural object… I’ve made some sketches and stuff and now i’m going to make some testtiles…..

This weekend i’m off or the pottery market keramisto in Milsbeek helping out as a volunteer…. it’s lovely there I’m really looking forward to it…

Last weekend I followed a masterclass Japanese throwing. It was great fun. the teacher Shozo Michikawa told us whatever we wanted to know which, i was told,  is unusual for a japanese potter.

Yesterday evening Margreet and Henk (another student and het husband, i know them from a workshop in France last year) and myself took Shozo to diner…. we had great fun…. and got a lot of tips on where to go in japan for pottery.

I subscribed for pottery classes at the IKO in Hoogstraten (Belgium).  It’s a part time art education, i have a good feeling about it…. my teacher will be Monic Radino

A more elaborate story will follow but  for no just a short recap

On the way to cordes sur ciel I visisted La Borne, a pottery village in the middle of France not too far from Orleans.

A must for any pottery lover who is in the neighbourhood…. worth a longer stay next time

 some slibcasted bowls as the first week was spend making molds and casting wih Eva koj

Later we visited a potter and got some of his porcelain to throw… needed to get used to it in the begining but it went ok in the end….

at the and of the week we did  raku firing… with rawglazed porcelain things… and some raku clay ones

The second week was dedicated to throwing as Joop Crompvoets and Frank were giving the “stage”

I finally got the bottom of my bowls to be like a wanted to and found a way of throwing without straining  some muscles in my hand… learned a lot.

At the end of the week we did a wood kiln with salt firing also with raw glazed stuff

the two small bowls are mine

The last week we just

•     — hung around,
  
•     — visited some nice spots,
  
•     — ate good food,
  
•     — relaxed,
  
•     — read,
  
•     — swimmed,
  
•     — shopped,
  
•     — explored,
  
•     — visited some potters,
  
•     — made new friends,
  
•     — ….

 Sunny France here I come I’m off for a 3 week holiday in France. 2 weeks will be spent at Frank’s i’ll be taking pottery classes there and the last week we’ll just hang out go sightseeing,…..

Yesterday Belgian actor Senne Rouffaer died….. as a kid I loved  the television show Kapitein Zeppos as my father did before me and brother years later…

I read it on teletext this morning after coming how rom a party/concert…  by amongst others 2many DJ’s

After working very hard to get my diploma i kinda relaxed a bit…. but now i need to get going again, there are different things I plan on doing:

1. testing ash glazes
   
2. making ceramic pencils crayons etc
   
3. some tests with porcelain
   
4. defining a new project to work on during the summer

but it’s so hot i don’t really have any inspiration…. not for making pottery that is….

Last week i wen to a nice exhibition in the Tiendschuur in Tegelen called naked clay… very nice work….

This weekend I was supposed to go on a workshop by a Korean artist… but it got cancelled

About a month ago I got my diploma from SBB in Gouda (Netherlands). I only took the “handforming” exam so know i’m pondering wether to do the throwing one next year or to take on some other course…. I’ve got some options:

1. Throwing @ Gouda
   
2. art academy @ arendonk
   
3. art academy @ hoogstraten
   
4. just do different workshops
   
5. try and find a place in a pottery
   
6. combination of the above

I’ll make up my mind during my holiday in France

some of my exam piece:

building -**-vase-**-organic form

I’m back… kind of… still feeling a bit unsecure about posting again… lot has been going on in my private live… i messed up big time… tpuid me but now i’m back on track… almost… so i feel like blogging again…..

I decided to make this blog a kind of  process book for my pottery where i write about projects i’m working on, glaze experiments, workshops and courses, interesting websites,….