Class of 2013
This was my first wheel throwing workshop of 2013,
I must say we had a great time. All three from different walks of life, one housewife, other a Journalist and the third an youngster experimenting with things the world can offer her.
The common thread was a desire to learn, make their hands dirty and ENJOY.
The challenge for them now is how long they carry this affair with clay.
All the best from me.

going forward

While going through some of my old work, I realised that a lot has changed,without my being aware of it. My glazes have evolved,designing concepts are different,the size of the work is also affected.More and more experiments with shapes sizes and glazes are a constant factor in my work.
But this does not necessarily mean that the work is getting better and better. Not always.
I think the process of progress anywhere is like going forward and backward. As long as your forward steps are more,[or bigger] you are actually going forward, otherwise its like dancing on the spot.
So the important thing is to check things intermittently to see where one has reached.Periodic pauses may be the solution to better assessment and decisions on where our next step should take us.

Open house and happiness

 the open house idea was borne as a result of the fact that Ceramics or studio pottery is not really a known area for most of us Indians.In order to create interest in ceramic creations,I felt I have to start at the base, creating awareness...this would then create interest and curiosity will take it a step further.
What better way I could do this but to get people to my studio, explain to them the process, let them see the final product,[fruit of labour] , and also give them opportunity to touch and work with clay.Age was no bar,actually there was NO BAR.
So, open invitation went to all and OH...
had almost 200 people visiting me in 3 days!!1
That was way beyond my expectation.
The plan is to continue this every month ,once , and go on and on and on...
You can see how happy the visitors are, how engrossed and how creative.
None of them had done any clay work before but they created masterpieces.
Any one with any other IDEA???

Happy Day!!!

Oh, I must share this with you, today for the first time I could make 11" platters on the wheel, using BATS!!!!!


Should have taken photos, will surly post them tomorrow.

So, whats so great about it??

You may ask.

Well, throwing platters may not be so difficult, but you cannot lift them off the wheel after making them,as thay would certainly be in a different shape by the time you try to lift them. SO you have to use flat round shape wooden pieces, called BATS, and first center them on the wheel. this is done by putting clay on the wheel to which the bats will sort of stick. you need to Center the bats, and then throw the platter on the bat.

So, when you are done, lift the bat and put the next one for the next platter.

AND SO ON

Sounds easy?? try it,

Well I am happy with this achievement of throwing 7 nos 11" platters in about 2 hrs.

Now I can make Dinner sets and thats exactly what I will be doing next, just wait till I get there....

CELEBRATION AND SHOPPING

Hi EVERYONE,

                     EXHIBITION cum SALE
                                  OF
                    House Plants and Studio Ceramics
                                   BY
                      Shalan Dere
                                   At
                     Cymroza Art Gallery,
                                   ON
                     24th, 25th, and 26th December.
                     Time: 10am to 8pm

    Come and get some EXCLUSIVE GIFTS,
    All are cordially invited,
   
    Yes I will be at the venue,which is near the US embassy at breach candy, all 3 days. There will be potted plants in my ceramic pots, all homegrown by me on my terrace .Of course there will be my ceramics too, all beautiful gifts like platters, bowls, mirrors, candle covers,and some furniture too.
Take your pick and gift your loved ones an exclusive piece,or a GIFT THAT GROWS!!!
Lets greet the new year and make it big!!

weekend gate away

Invite for Open House
Unique weekend plan
for
Potters and Others
You are invited to an open house at
Potters Place
the garden studio of Shalan dere,a studio potter,
to
PLAY WITH CLAY
enjoy the garden, the ambiance,destress yourself,
forget you are in the maddenning city of Mumbai
dabble in clay,make whatever you want,
Shalan will be around too so you can get to know all about pottery /ceramics
and
JUST CHILL
all this at no cost unless you want to fire your creation!!!
SO,
what are you waiting for??
17th, 18th and 19th
11am to 6 pm
LETS HAVE FUN
call 9773095005

Regularly to repeat on evey second tuesday of the month

Hi Everyone

Resolution at the last month of the year, BLOG REGULARLY!!!!
OK, wonder where I should start as I have travelled a lot in last six months and have loads of stories to tell. May be I should start with today and then go back 6 months,covering present and past simultaneously.
last whole week is been cleaning, reorganising the studio, and a lot has been achieved. Shifted the kiln in the extreme right corner,and VOW, so much space!!
It will be fun to work with so much more space. Also I can host a larger group in "OPEN HOUSE"

Yes, there is an open house at my garden studio,potters place, on the 17th,18th and 19th of December,any time between 10.30am to 6 pm.All of you, potters and others are welcome to enjoy the ambiance,play with clay, create,try the wheel.... .......no cost,JUST COME.
Like the Idea?? then come over,lets have fun and forget the mundane  day to day routine.

Now the past,in the month of July we had a family get together at Lake Tahoe, everything around us was like a picture postcard. the shades of blue,green and their combinations you see with pure emerald!!! Its beyond words!!
We did have a great time,
more to come soon,see you at the open house.

Kala Ghoda Festival

Potters market at the festival was real fun.Lots of potteres, lots of people and lots of interaction!!!
To top it all sale was good too.
This time there were potteres from Delhi, Banglore[sumanth] , Bhopal [Sonia] and Baroda. and more.... It was nice to meet all of them and see their work.
Everyone was in great spirit and I am sure next year will be much bigger and better.

For me my students were great help,Geetu, Anjana, Shilpa, Priya, Ashlesha, Yojana,Ketki, all of them were very helpful,so nice to have them around.

A few things have happened since the last time  I wrote,
I went for Madhavi's solo show opening.What a show!!! The size and concept of her sculptural work was overwhelming,Very good work,tremendous energy and beatiful results.It was worth spending time there, meeting some old friends,good.
Then yesterday was opening of Voyage V at art 7 soul,worli,which is a charity show for cancer aid,a beatiful collecton of paintings by many of the great artists. ceramics was also included and honestly it felt good to see one of my work,a coilbuilt large pot,surrounded by such art.

                 Now,BUDDING ARTISTS AT WORK

The first hand pottery workshop of this year concluded on Sunday with everyone completing the glazing of their pots and murals.All the students have done very well, and hope they will be happy with the glaze results.

the class of 2010

Classes for the year started on the 9th as planned. Its nice to see lot of people wanting to learn pottery.Those who come with this desire certainly have the artist in them,buried somewhere till they start off. Each of them has so much potential,all that is required is ... follow the passion,accept the hard work and enjoy the journey.

Today was a special day for me and my students,Kamana's Birthday!!1
So WE HAD A CAKE AND ATE IT TOO!!!!!

The latest,with slip trailing decoration

Last few days have been busy but good,did some tableware and decorated them with slip,using the trailing technique.It was fun.Think I will do a complete series with mugs,glasses,bowls,lidded jars, cassaroles,may be  some platters too
Think its a good idea??

welcome 2010

So, here is wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year!!!
WHY DO WE ALWAYS TEND TO PUT THESE TWO WORDS TOGETHER???
AS IF TO SAY THAT THESE TWO EXISTING TOGETHER IS A RATHER UNUSUAL PROPOSAL!
WHATS YOR TAKE ON THIS?
i am rather curious to know

Here I am Trying hard to get some story from my email a?c to the blog,...select all ...ctrl c..ctrl v..But no use,its not moving from mail to the blog??
Well, I am in the learning process and will surely get there one day and then you will read the story of a BIG POT

STORY OF A POT [GOSHT EKA MADKYACHI]

I love to make really BIG pots, they are handbuilt,coil by coil, and take min of 8 to 10 days to get it all nice and pretty. Its a lot of effort and patience.
Its the challenge that I love and that makes the hard work all its worth.
So when I got an enquiry to make 25" by 25" pot,I went all out for it.
The shape was explained to me and enough time was available to take on the project.
Merrily I started building it coil by coil, checking and working on the shape, size, contours....
This method takes time as you have to go up in small bits,not all at a time, you get to say 6 inches and let it dry to hold the shape but wet enough to take the next layer of coil. So the progress is slow. Judgement comes with practice and few disasters.
took me over two weeks to finish the piece.

Then the client wanted a bit of a change,very tricky and better not done, I was sceptical,but had to give in.[hindsight its a mistake and lesson learnt hard way]
We bisque fired the pot on complete drying[almost 12 days],it was sleepless night for me before we opened the kiln,WOW,The pot came out fine,I thought it was great and I was wrong in expecting some disaster in firing.
So next step, I glazed it and we reloaded it in the kiln.
I asked the Kiln God for safety of the pot but there was still some funny feeling inside me.
we took a very slow firing, did not open the kiln till it cooled completely,and then....
Can You See What Happened???
This Is the real test of a potter
To be able to take such a disaster ,accept it ,analyse it and try to learn from it. Or else you cannot go on. Its the most heartbreaking thing to see your creation turning into pieces,it takes a long time to get over such shocks,but I think the survivor's instinct in us that makes us go on,
The challenge really is this and not in creation!!!!!

What was today lik?Well,did some exploration for so called sleeperwood,Have some ideas to use it with ceramics,need some change!!
Also going over the pictures of last trip,think i should share some with you all.

Yesterday was good,met suguna after a long time and discussed things to creat for her new house,quite a handful, but it would be fun making those large pots for her.
all I did was to go through the stocks of bisque,need to work on glazing,hope to get started today.
Sanjay,wonderful blog,I need to post more photos,may be tonight

Hi Everybody,
Finally I have a blog!!!
Do you know where I got the inspiration from? Well, I watched the film Julia and Julie,really loved the movie,and here am I writting ...
has anyone seen this movie?? I think I loved it for the way it is done,very natural presentation of the story,good humer,good acting,and best of all its about COOKING!!!
no wonder I was taken by it.
Its really fun writing your own thought,never thought it would be,so be ready to hear more from me.................