Nan Rothwell Pottery

Pottery classes are finished for 2009, and I’m clearing up the classroom for this weekend’s Studio Tour, sponsored by the Artisans Center of Virginia.  Mine will be one of fifteen open studios in the area, with a total of thirty crafters showing work.  Joining me here will be fiber artist Meredith Bennett, who will show her weaving, braids and felted work.  We’ll also have an exhibit of student work and some of my students will be on hand to demonstrate throwing and handbuilding.  Basic Necessities and Chirios Pizza of Nellysford will help provide refreshments.  There’s more about the Tour on the ACV Tour Page.

To see details on the rest of my fall show lineup, go to the Current Schedule page.

Got some nice news last week that a set of my pots got accepted into the Potters Council “Fill-adelphia” Show that will take place at A Show of Hands Gallery during NCECA 2010 in Philadelphia.  Below is a photo of the set — they are cone ten stoneware, glazed in Shaner Red, with wax resist leaf patterns and then an overspray of two glazes (Blue Ash and Ken’s Black).  The show will be up March 19-April 30, 2010.

To see the other work accepted in the show, go to this Potters Council Announcement.

Here are three photos I took for Saturday’s Kiln Opening.   I posted these photos in the kiln shed, next to the kiln in which I had replaced a few of the fired pots.  The rest of the work was on tables nearby.  The exercise gave people a good sense of the process of salt firing.  An altogether enjoyable weekend, helped by lovely weather and friendly visitors!

I am trying something new — a Kiln Opening.  It won’t be a true Kiln Opening, in the sense that we will all stand around and see the work emerge for the first time from the kiln.  Instead, I will have already taken out the pots, cleaned and priced them, and then returned them to the spots where they stood during the firing.

Salt glazed pots require grinding and cleaning.  Plus, I need to look at them for a while before I am willing to send them out into the world — to record glaze results, test them for heat resistance, and most importantly, to see what they look like!  So this will be as close to a true Kiln Opening as I can manage.  The pots won’t be still warm from firing, but the brownies and coffee will be.  Please come by if you’re in the area!

Woodfired teapot by Nan Rothwell

We just finished a great weekend workshop on Altering Thrown Forms.  Talented folks making lots of fun & interesting work.  The weather cooperated, the food was good.  All in all, a fine time.  Now I am looking for a couple more people to reach a quorum for the Teapot workshop coming up on August 22-23.  This workshop will be geared to working potters and serious students who want to spend two days focused on teapots.  We’ll experiment with different lids, handles, and textures on thrown teapots.  Please help me spread the word!