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canteen vase
Today I sat in on a workshop given by Nancy Selvin at Heath Ceramics.
I've had the privilege on a number of occasions to hear Nancy speak...I think the first time was back in 1991 when I was an art student at the California College of Arts (and Crafts). But that was not the first time I had set my eyes on her work. No, it was a handful of years before, I think in 1987, when I took my first ceramics course I happened upon a postcard with an image of one of her pieces. It had her trademark delicate markings, loose but with intent. It was obvious to me even then, when I was a complete novice, that this was a person who had a mastery of a medium I did not know much about. I was impressed and inspired by what I saw. I wanted to make work like that. It was a remote dream, it seemed impossible to me, especially when I was churning out heavy bottomed, gloppy glazed ash trays from my pottery class. Early this morning as I drove towards Sausalito across the Golden Gate Bridge, with its familiar cloak of fog wrapped around its towers, , I began to think about my own journey as a ceramist. It hit me what a great influence Nancy has been on me. I never had thought about it in concrete terms like that before. I also realized just how far I had come in my own journey as a ceramic artist. From that very first class i took, fantasizing that maybe, just maybe, someday I would make beautiful work like Nancy. Well not like Nancy, like my own but you know what I mean. I realized that I now give workshops like Nancy at wonderful places like Heath. And then with a little more thought it occurred to me... I have done it! Of course I still have long way to go, and so much to learn, we are really never there, but I have found my own place with this crazy medium.
Best of all I am still in love with it.During the class I decided to tell Nancy the influence she has had on me and to thank her for her dedication to what she does. Seeing women like her, committed to doing what they love and doing it well is really the best kind of example anyone can give. Nancy asked us to introduce ourselves at the beginning of the class.
You know the usual, your name and what you do.
When it was my turn I said;
Hi, my name is Diana Fayt and I am a full time Ceramic Artist. Thank you Nancy!
you were wondering where I have gone, really not far, just holed up in my studio making cups and vases and bowls and then more cups, vases and bowls. I am in full on production mode from now until December. It's been nine hour days, filled with casting, forming, drawing, painting, glazing. My knuckles ache and at the moment my back is not being terribly cooperative . I am trying to keep paced and focused so if my posts are spotty it's only because I am too pooped at the end of the day to type. Though I will try and do my best to keep you all posted as things progress. Oh and one exciting bit of news...some the pieces in this photo will soon be going off to Heath Ceramics for sale in their shop. I couldn't be more thrilled 'cause you all know how much I love Heath.
pin vase available in my shop
Whoa, I hadn't intended to be away so long. Well I did manage to take my own advice and slow down a little. The result...I am enjoying myself and feeling a little less stressed. Taking breaks is important. And you know what, it was all still there waiting for me when I came back.
I wanted to mention that I will be teaching workshop at Heath Ceramics on June 21st & 28th. I absolutely love teaching at Heath. It really is as wonderful there (and so are all the folks who work there) as everyone says it is. If you are interested in more information about the workshop have a look here. Also Heath hosts a series of workshops throughout the summer so check them all out. There are few I'd like to take myself.Also while I was away Jan over at poppytalk hosted a little sneak peak of my home along with a Q & A so if you are feeling a little voyeuristic hop on over and have a peek.
Thanks Jan!
There's more to tell but I don't want to bore you all with it now.
I'll be back soon.
P.S. I just put a whole bunch of new vases (canteens, pin vases and cylinder vases) in my shop.
I think I can stand upright again. My legs ached for a couple of days after the sale from standing in one spot for two days. Sales are great but as many of you know they are exhausting on many levels. The show however was a great success and I couldn't be happier. I had exciting flurries of customers and visitors at my table throughout the weekend and many of my pieces walked away in other people's hands and off to their new homes. Most exciting was selling this piece, the largest item I have ever made. It is going to live in a beautiful home in Napa Valley.
The Association of Clay Glass Artists sales are always a joy to do. The customers are knowledgeable and very interested in ceramics and glass so it a pleasure to talk to people about my work (and be a clay geek) and feel understood.
This weekend I teach my workshop, Printmakers Clay Tiles, at Heath Ceramics . It looks like the class is full but if you are a last minute kind of person I think they may let a few extra folks in so don't be shy about trying to get in if you are interested in taking it. I am looking very forward to the workshop and can't wait to meet some of you readers who I know are taking the class. I have a couple of guest blogs lined up and will get back into the swing of posting them after this weekend. I also have a very special house guest (my sweetie) at the moment so I may be a little distracted for the next couple of weeks. Thank you all for your well wishes for a great sale. They all worked and boy was it nice to come home and read them at the end of my long days at the studio. Thank you, Thank you!!
Hello friends! First off thank you all for all the thoughtful responses to my last post! Though I thought that it might be taboo to talk about money turns out is was not...It seems as if the topic cracked open whole can of worms for a lot of people. It is so very important for all Artists to take themselves and their work seriously. We, after all lay the ground work, for one another. I feel that I set a precedent not only for myself but for those who fallow along side of me and in my footsteps. Charging what we are worth and knowing how to price our work accordingly is tricky...but doable. All the response to the subject got me thinking about pricing and how one might go about it. I realized that though I get a reaction from the public because of my prices (this will never go away and I am very used to it) I am comfortable with where I stand and feel my prices are very fair. Throughout the years I have applied some rules of thumb to pricing my work. I think it might be helpful to some of you out there if I share some of my thoughts about how I go about doing this. I have to think about it a little more before I go into it any further so check back with me, it will be sooner than later I promise. (yikes, did I just make a promise on my blog!?)
I also wanted to let you know that I will be teaching a workshop in July ( It was originally set for May 26th but was changed because of the Memorial Day holiday). It is at the fabulous Heath Ceramics Factory in Sausalito, California. It was a blast last time I taught it and I am so looking forward to teaching it again. I hope to see some of you there!
Large deep bowl 10.5" x 10.5" x 5" Ivory with red poppy and straw interior $295
I was wondering today why the phone hasn't been ringing and why I haven't heard back from retailers and the such who were wanting to place orders with me and then the ah-hah light went off in my brain...it's tax time! When I worked in restaurants, April was always a painfully slow month, even in the very popular place I worked in. Coming back from my vacation, ready to go, I was not anticipating this lull but I am going to take the time to try and I am only saying "try' to get clip on things and get some pieces made that aren't earmarked for orders (Susan, I am working on your order too). My dream and goal is to have some back stock on my shelves so that I can accommodate those last minute, I need it now, orders. Now wouldn't that be nice!?
In these slow times, when it seems as if I have more time than I need (that is just a feeling not really a reality) my mind starts to go wild with all the I can do this and I can do that thoughts that really are just mind clutter and not very productive. I really have plenty to do or other things I could be getting done like, uhhh... doing my own taxes. Though I am feeling a growth spurt coming on and just may tackle some paintings again. I like doing them even if painting and drawing on a flat hard surface feels very foreign to me. I know it may seem strange, because of all the drawing and painting that I do on my ceramics, but I have a hard time drawing on a flat piece of paper. Don't know why but it often just stops me up. I feel hemmed in by the edges of the paper. Weird, I know.
On another note I do have some news. I am happy to announce that I will be teaching a one day workshop at Heath Ceramics on May 26th. You can find out all the information about the workshop by clicking here. The class size is limited so if you are interested in taking it I recommend registering for it soon. The name of the workshop is Printmakers Clay Tiles.
As for the bowl above it features one of my very favorite motifs...the ever enigmatic poppy. She is for sale though I know everyone is sending off their extra pennies to the tax man but just in case you are getting a fat return you just might want to treat yourself. It is a large bowl 10.5" x 10.5 "x 5" . The outside is ivory with a red poppy and the inside is lovely golden orange color. The cost is $295. Please email me at diana@dianafayt.com if you are interested in having her for your own.
One last thing... My friend and fellow potter Whitney wrote an excellent post on Artists (mainly potters) getting (or in this case not getting) credit for their work that is featured in publications. I urge you to read it and the comments. Thanks Whitney!
canteen vase
