a trip down memory lane

i was going through an old thumb drive and i found some old pictures that i thought i would share.

fall 2001.
this is the first wood kiln i ever built/fired. it was a modified olson fastfire and a piece of crap. that is myself on the right and good good friend and potter doug fudge on the left. this picture was staged, it was actually too hot to just sit where we were so we had to rush in to take the photo and try to look casual-with welding gear on.

summer 2005
this is my old salt kiln at my previous studio. i was in this studio when all the energy prices started skyrocketing. when i moved in it cost about $70 to fire this kiln, when i left 3 and a half years later it was close to $250. this is why i now fire with wood.

spring 2005
pots drying in the sun.

winter 2004
this was my previous studio, the only other personal studio that i've had since college. the studio space was close to 1000 sq. ft. the building in all was 1500 sq ft. with double that in outdoor space behind the building. i lived and worked in this building all for $380/month. the landlord was an old fellow who had not raised the rent since the early eighties. the deal was if anything went wrong with the building you had to take care of it yourself. he passed away after about three years and his greedy son took over and and was going to nearly triple the rent when my lease was up. i decided to buy a house and some land and hightailed it outta there.

winter 2004
i worked throwing production dinnerware right towards the end of college, i hated it but it was a great learning tool.


rimmed bowl, 18", 2005. i used to use this indigenous texas clay called blackjack clay. it was a great clay but it was smooth as porcelain and hard to get pieces with height. i like me a little grit. if i ever go back to mixing my own clay i will probably use this as a base, great stuff.

another deep bowl, 20 x 6", 2005.

this piece is from my very first firing of my first personal kiln, march 2005.

lidded jar, 19" tall.

this piece was from my last semester of college(2003). i belive it to be one of the best pots i have ever made. the kiln blessed this one for sure. i never sold it and keep it in the middle of our dining room table when not in use. sometimes i set other pieces next to it to see if they measure up. six years and i still can't stop admiring the surface.