Watching and learning these past months. I've been 4 days a week cookin fine southern food for some friends at their restaurant " The Urban Spoon" for supplemental money. I might be hittin a wall with the shows. I've always loved cookin so it was a moderate to difficult transition pullin a little bit of my time away from the clay. I've been so full time with my work in the studio prepping for this show or sending off this wholesale that I never have had the opportunity to concentrate on a true body of work. Shufflin my time between the restaurant and the studio has really made me look and evaluate my work, even more so then when I was submerged in it 6 -7 days a week. Although my fall is packed full and somehow I've managed to get out some strong pieces that have been evolving for the past year. The pressure of makin money at your the expense of your craft, carreer can definetley stifle your growth if you let it. I'm not gonna lie....the side job has freed up some time for me to focus on some exhibitions that I've been wanting to do as well as dive into giving as many workshops as I can. It will hopefully allow me to cherry pick a couple key shows through the year to stay in the circuit. I will be at the atlanta arts festival http://www.atlantaartsfestival.com/ sept.18-19,TACA fall festival in Nashville sept.24-26, I will host my "Bold Pots" workshop at the applachian center for arts in Norris TN Oct 2-3, Pink Palace Craft Fair in Memphis, TN Oct7-10 Give a workshop at Eppletreepottery in Chattanooga,TNhttp://www.eppletreepottery.com/ I will have a show at Columbia State Community College the month of Nov. in the gallery www.columbiastate.edu/pryor-gallery Ilook forward to the wnc potters festival Nov.6 in dillsboro NC. http://www.wncpotteryfestival.com/ I turned down the By Hand artisian guild show in cleveland Ohio because we got into hopefully a really cool show. The festival of the masters at disney world. Nov12-13. We havent accepted the invitation but thought it would be a fun family trip with the boy and all. I will be submitting special pieces to some exhibitions as well and if I have enough pots I will have a studio/home sale in dec. I also have been asked to give a weekend workshop at the appalachian center for craft in smithville Tn May 21-22 2011. Pretty excited about that. I will be posting this schedule and updates on my website events page http://www.shadowpottery.com/ Alot going on and not enough sleep or time in the day. During this busy fall I will stay on at the restaurant to keep the paycheck comin with hopefully some good show/workshop money to stack on top of it. My little boy Rocket has started to walk. It's on now. His beginner walk reminds me of clyde the arangitang with clint eastwoods any which way but loose. Alot of times I can't see one step in front of me with all thats going on but I got a great family worth workin my ass off for.

I've been working and playing in the studio with ideas this summer. Trying to balance out the pottery with the more sculptural, or just trying to blend the two. Being taught from potters and being a potter for awhile now and thinking like an artist has been a difficult blend as well. I can't seem to shake the idea of making nothing round. But the public likes round cause its a comfortable shape. The wheel now has become a means to get a shape or an idea rather than a production tool. It's funny to think it plays no more of a role than the rib or tool i use on a daily basis. Our fall is quickly filling up with shows and hopefully some workshops in between. I take work to the southern highlands guild object jury in august. I'm excited for the possibilities but we'll see. My son Rocket turns 1 year old today. He slept in today till 7;30 which is a rarity due to teething heavily so that was nice. He got his favorite breakfast, strawberries and bananas. That little boy has really changed my oulook on life, pots, everything. I think one of the most awsome gifts of having him is being able to see innocence again. It's helped me see my work differently and my approach to it, my reactions to things, to people. It's humbling and exciting. Our T.V. went out on us last nite. Makes me wonder if I want one for awhile. hmmmmmm. I also think I solved my s craking problem since the new change to the bottom of my cups and mugs. I should be updating my events page on my website soon so stay tuned http://www.shadowpottery.com/

Back home from being an artist on the road

I am finally home with my family. Five consecutive weekends of giving workshops and fine art shows. What a great summer its been already. I visited Mountain View Arkansas and gave one of my "soft pots" workshop at the Arkanasas Craft School. Thank you you to everyone who attended the workshop. I wouldn't be there if it wasnt for you. Terri Van Orman, The director of the school was awsome. When I got to the school she explained to me that I was the first clay workshop at the school. Terri had wrote grants and recived funding for the school and brand new wheels were being opened as I walked in for the first time. To even sweeten the deal I was able to cristen the first wheel ever opened at the school. Pretty cool! I really had some talented students attend. David and Becki Dahlstedt attended who are very accomplished potters and artists. They opened there home to the class sat nite for a party. Very inspiring couple. The workshop got on the way sat morn and I introduced myself and got right into it. The split jar was demontrated as well as hollow lip bowls, throwuing out a slab vs the slab roller, and last but not least demoing the handle pull and handle placement on the mug. We talked philosophy and life throughout the day. I was persistent in my philosophy of living life full of trials and triumphs makes the pots we are today. Letting it ride when you are making and selling your work. We are already crazy for even attempting to make and sell art we might as well indulge in what we want to make rather than something that "just sells!" "Break the rules" I would mention from time to time and my creedo " NO BLENDING!" Any handle attachment or spout or anything do not blend lines. I was trying to equate this to showing your work in grade school. I wanted them to expose there applications, there score marks. Reveal the inperfections and let them take front stage. Mountain view is about 9 hrs away from here in Chattanooga. The drive was pretty once I got past West Memphis. I left Mon morning and got home to load a kiln. Turned around thurs to drive to Columbus Ohio to attend the columbus art festival. Got a half a day of rain but turned out a good show. I am trying to invest more into my city of Chattanooga but its a slow process. Having to travel so much can be nice but will eventually come to a halt someday. As my baby boy gets bigger I am realizing how short time is and I dont want to miss out. Here are some pics of the Arkansas workshop. I will give one more this summer. Coreclay in Cinncinatti Ohio has invited me and I'm excited to be there. I get a cuople months at home to make new work, pick veggies from the garden and be with my family and friends. My fall is quickly filling up so better get to it. Check out more of Shadow@www.shadowpttery.com Take care

Just got back from Mighty mud studios in Knoxville. This was the third workshop this year and it was a good one. My students were stoked on clay and very responsive to new ideas and my philosophy of lettin it all ride when it comes to creating and selling your work. I demonstrated some of my stacackable items as well as pullin handles. Of course I had to throw a little philosophy in there with the clay and talk about the lifestyle that we potters and clay artists choose to live. "Break the rules" I said. Clay can have so many possibilities if you lend yourself to abstract and out of the box thinking and then apply that to clay. We talked about school vs self taught and the advantages of both as well as doin juried shows and what all that entails. How to deal with those who say" that looks like alot of work" or just how to ignore them all together. I've really grown to love giving workshops and talking with students. I learn so much from their ideas and walks of life. I leave fri morning to give another one at The Arkanasas craft school and I can't wait. Then the following weekend I will be at Colombus art festival in Ohio. Alot of traveling but I love it aside from being away from the family. Theres those who do what they gotta do to make the bills paid and then theres those who make it happen and live doin what they love to do. I'm about right there in the middle. My fall is almost lined up with more wrkshops and shows and I will update on my website soon http://www.shadowpottery.com/ The garden is growing like crazy. My potatoes are almost ready and we're eating greens and spinach practically every nite. What is it with potters and gardening? It's like they're linked together.

Sittin around the house takin care of my sick little boy. He is experincing his first allergy bomb in his nine months on this earth. Although it does suck and even more for him, I think this is the very best for his little immune system. I think thats why my generation and all those after are always sick. We kept our kids in the ac instead of letting them play in ther dirt and get exposed to the first pollen of each year. This will be good for him in the long run. Even though hes got a runny nose and sneeze he still trucks around like nothing phases him. Rocket can crawl now and sees everything in a new light. Everyday he becomes more and more addictive. Hes really a trip to watch and hang out with. We love em like nothin else. 4 bridges art festival was a little slow on sat but sun turned out to be great. What a great show and great people. I had more friends at this show then I have ever been at. We have some really great artists here in chattanooga and a strong a talented clay movement here and ready to bust wide open. If you havent met Stephanie Stueffer or TJ than you really need to. They were the emerging artists at 4 bridges this year and their work is off the hook. Very cool couple. Now local potter Anderson Bailey who is in my old studio over at loose cannons. His work is incredible and soon to explode chattanooga. Over all the show was great. I was glad to be there representing Chattanooga and my work. I will be in Birmingham AL for the Magic City Art Connection April 23-25. I did finally get my tomatoes in the garden. Theres a nice cool shady place where Rocket chews on his toothbrush and shares with sandy the next door neighbors pug. They love each other and their hygiene.

Just got back from giving a workshop at John C Campbell Folkschool. What an awsome place. I got to be there when the new leaves were coming in and the days were'nt as hot as they are gonna be. It wasn't as busy as most months there which was really nice. Mike Lalone, the clay resident invited me up after we chatted while ana took photos of his pots. That was about a year and 1/2 ago. I've since gotten the workshop buzz and have booked with a handfull of craftschools. I still do about 10 shows a year and having the workshop supplement in between I can spend a little more time on our house and hopefully a good garden this year. I met some really great artists and craftsmen/women. The food was great. You get to really hear the quick and interesting stories of peoples lives while you eat. Everybody from everywhere. My students were on fire. They really jumped from where they were at with the clay to ideas that inspired me as well as making a frienship in a weeks time. I would like to give another workshop emphazing the wood kiln and more bold and sculptural pots. The cooking classes are where its at though and I will be taking a class soon enough. You could smell the barbeque wafting through the trees if you passed by. Made me crazy. I've been pushing my thrown and slab built pots as well as the slab handles. My pots primarily consist of slab handles except for my mugs which I prefer for know. My next event is the 4 Bridges art festival here in Chattanooga starting april 17 and 18. For upcoming workshops and shows check out my website www.shadowpottery.com Also had a great ester when I got back with my family and family of good friends. Cooked two hams, mamas homemade mustard mac n cheese, twice baked potatoes and alot of hungry friends. Good beer, good food, good friends,good lord.

We have been enjoying our time together. Being a dad is something else. Especially at this stage of the game. Rocket is cuttin teeth and daddy is going looney sometimes. Ana has been a great mother and gives me the time I need in the studio to prepare for this season. Some ideas have been floatin around the shop. My split vases are still in the works. I have to tape and zip tie them to dry evenly. They have been the most challenging piece so far but I think they'll be nice when they come out. I've also really been refing or changing up my stacked vessels. Surface decoration combined with certain forms have been a huge focus this past couple years. My need to constantly explore handles on certain pieces has been alot of fun. I actually like the fact that the handle is saved for the last because it's the icing on the cake. My favorite application to these pieces. I stand back at the finished greenware and realize that my pots are getting more in depth and architectural, hopefully leaving a permenece impression. I leave to give my "Soft Pots" workshop at John C Campbell folkschool in a couple weeks. This is the begiining to hopefully a full, fun and prosperous spring/summer. You can get all my events(shows/workshops) at my website www.shadowpottery.com I super stoked to be in the 4 bridges art fair in april. It falls on my birthday here where we live, Chattanooga TN. lots of friends and beer will be involved and a diplay of brand new Shadow May pots and sculpture.When the rain finally stops My wife, son and I plan to till the garden and get the veggies growing. I know that our food can be and is so readily available but Rocket will definetley be raised learning how to grow and where it comes from and why. Just good lessons for children that most never get the opportunity to learn or experience. I think a baby waking up. Take care