Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Thank You For Your Patience.


I have had numerous emails and comments regarding my lack of posting since May. I first want to apologize and let you know there are many reasons. Not to fear though if you have enjoyed The Cornwallville Pottery. There is a new light and I will be posting soon on all the details so please stay in touch and keep checking back.


It has been a truly changing year and I hope to get back into the ceramic swing sooner then late. Happy Holidays to all of you and it means so much to me that you have all kept in touch and your interest in my work and creativity still exists. Happy New Year and we will start a new then.


Todd

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Sounds At The Studio, Early Spring


I know I still have not posted in a while but have been a busy bee still in the gardens and not down in the studio as I should be!

Here is a quick posting of some new tunes I have been working to when I am in the studio.



There will be lots of new posts on the way.....Check back soon!



Wednesday, April 14, 2010

New Vernal Work

I apologize for not posting lately. Spring is in full swing here in Cornwallville and all the gardens need to be weeded, edged and tended to.

If you didn't know, I am a garden designer and plant geek as well as a ceramic artist and have been working with and designing plants for about ten years now.

I have been toying with the idea of creating a garden blog to compliment this one as my passion for ceramics and plants are just as equal.

I will debut the Cornwallville Garden blog soon so keep posted.


For now please enjoy these images of some recent work with vernal colors that I glazed at my good friend and mentor Carla Horowitz's studio Indigo Earth in Livingston, New Jersey.

This work was created and glazed for the Pop-Up Garden Shop, that was held last month. I glazed my bowls, planters and garden stones in rich blues, mossy greens, pussy willow gray, and faux oribe.



I hope you can feel the birth of spring in these pots saturated in rich but soft colors. I'm sure that there will definitely be more to come!

Happy Spring to you All!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Pop-Up Garden Shop Wrap Up


It turned out to be a great weekend at the Kincaid road stand two weekends ago! The Pop-Up Garden Shop was a hit, and most people thought it would be a permanent fixture there. Sadly though it was one weekend.


It was the one weekend only and the weather was a bit brisk. The sun made it out on Saturday, and by Sunday it was overcast and you could see your breath in the air.

That didn't stop some of my friends, family, and passer by's from coming out and supporting the Historical Society of Boonton Township and myself.

It was so great to see everyone and see their response to my work. I can't thank you all enough for making the trip out to Oscar's home.


People really responded to the newer pieces such as my clay buckets, garden toadstools, stoneware planters, and of course the concrete leaves.

Less so of my new "garden stones" which I was so pleased with. So I guess it's back to the ole potters wheel to redesign that one.

All in all I sold almost everything that I brought which felt amazing.


It was a truly great experience for me as I have not had a solo show of my work in such a long time. It gave me a renewed confidence and new inspiration for the pottery in Cornwallville.

Ill keep you posted with new upcoming changes and improvements this year.


It was a bit bittersweet though at the end of the sale on Sunday afternoon. As I packed all my things and looked back at the little empty road stand, I had grown to love. I thought "what will be next?"
and then I recalled the title of the show The Pop-Up Garden Shop.

So keep a look out for the road stand for you'll never know when the next shop will "Pop-Up"

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Milk Glass Collection Connection


Stephen just gave me this beautiful book on the history of milk glass, and it has re-sparked my love and inspiration that my collection has given me.
Before I ever even touched porcelain, I was collecting milk glass. Yes you have all seen this glassware strewn through your grandmother's house or piled on tables at garage sales, and that's where I first discovered it as well.

I remember one day in my early 20's rummaging through a dusty salvation army for vintage clothing, when I looked over at the large store front windows filled with milk glass with the sunlight passing through the pieces.
Their translucence amazed me and I was hooked.

I snatched up several pieces for no more that a dollar each, and the collection was born. I brought them home and used them often, filling them with flowers and my personal favorite, placing votives inside and watching them at night with their flickering glow illuminating the room.

Later on in my ceramic career I discovered porcelain, and though I heard of its translucent quality and saw images in books, I never experienced in person.

I was determined to make work that would really be translucent.
So I began working with the buttery clay body throwing it as thin as possible. Stretching my ability and the porcelain until, I thought it would be at that right thinness to let light pass through.

I wanted "milk glass porcelain", and I believe from my time working with the material, I have achieved it.



It has a warmer glow than milk glass, reminding me of pure bright sunshine. While milk glass looks to me of a overcast calm blue winter light.
They both cast beautiful light so well that it melts me every time I see it.


So If you never experienced the special translucence of either I suggest you pick up a piece of milk glass at a thrift store, or even better one of my pots and hold it in the light.

I am sure you will melt, just like I do.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Studio Shots: Early March


Studio Shots is another new series in which I'll post some photos of what I have been working on in the studio. There typically won't be any story, just some quick shots of my new work.

I am hoping with this new series to spark interest, creativity and open up a dialogue.

In this case, the photos here are of new projects I have been working on for the Pop-Up Garden Shop. I hope you enjoy them and let me know what you think.

Monday, March 1, 2010

The Pop-Up Garden Shop


I am pleased to announce the first of two events that I have created and that will be hosted at The Oscar Kincaid Home of History.

I came up with the Pop -Up Garden Shop and the Kincaid Fine Craft & Art Show during last fall when my mother and close friends where hosting the Pop The Cork. A wine tasting and benefit for the Historical Society of Boonton Township.

I helped out by cleaning and displaying the little roadstand that used to be a dairy and ice cream shop and later a farm stand.
As I was setting the mums and ferns around, I thought that it would make a great little garden shop, and so the idea was born.

The Pop-Up Garden Shop will take place on Saturday and Sunday, March 27th and 28th from 9a.m. to 4p.m.. At the Oscar Kincaid Home of History, on Powerville Rd., in Boonton Township, NJ.

I will have my pottery, planters, ceramic birds, garden soaps, and concrete leaves for sale.

There will also be a huge selection of cold hardy flowers, vegetables, potted bulbs and flowering branches.

In addition I will be giving garden consultations representing Mrs. Erb's fine gardens and there will be an amazing exhibit of botanical watercolor paintings by award winning artist Marge Varetoni.

A portion of all the proceeds will benefit restoring The Oscar Kincaid Home of History.


The Kincaid Fine Craft & Art Show will take place in mid September.

I'm holding a call for entries for that event, so If you are interested in participating please feel free to contact me.

Hope to see you there, rain or shine!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Our Fantastic Mr. Farmhouse

Last week our home and the pottery was featured on the wonderful website Apartment Therapy.

Our good friend and neighbor Aubyn connected us with Geoff Bentz from A.T., who put out the great little article with a catchy title on their site.


Please feel free to check out the link below for a full tour inside our home and a peak at the outdoor elements.


I want to give a big thank you to Aubyn, Geoff, and everyone who left such beautiful and welcoming comments on the article.

It was such a great experience to share with all of you!



We are truly looking forward to more journeys like this in the future...

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/house-tour-stephen-and-todds-fantastic-mr-farmhouse-108233

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Inspiration: Vintage Illustrated Children's Books


This is a new series in which I will share some of the things that inspire me from time to time. These inspirations can either be the light on a wall, a shrub in bloom, or in this case the duotone illustrations from children's books from the 1960's.


Some of the Inspiration will make it into a body of work or be expressed on a specific piece. Some might just be put on the back burner in my mind waiting for the day when it could come out in some way or form.



In this case I found these books on the street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn while taking and evening stroll. I crouched down closer to look at them and opened one up to find these beautiful drawings with amazing swaths of color.


I now have these books down in my studio, and have been looking at them often. I think the color is really inspiring me, since there is now a real lack of it outside at this time of year.



We'll just have to wait and see how these illustrations may or may not show up in some form in my work.






Friday, February 5, 2010

Sounds At The Studio, Mid Winter


Now with the studio complete I have been getting back to work, creating sculptures and pottery for an upcoming show (the details to be announced soon) and playing some amazing music.


These are some of the tunes I have been listening to as the snow falls and my hands are molding clay. I know this mix sounds a bit dark, but that's the mood down in the basement studio in mid winter.


I hope you enjoy!