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New Work
Spring brings lots of new work to Handscapes. Here are some wonderful new items!
Judith Neugebauer
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All About Clay
There are many different types of clay, so this little article isn't really "all about clay". It is actually a very simplified primer on the basic clay types.
Porcelain is a very fine textured white clay composed primarily of kaolin. We think of fine or delicate china when we hear the word "porcelain". It is fired at very high temperatures and is a very strong clay body because it is composed of small, dense clay molecules. The Newman pottery shown above in "new work" is porcelain. Many contemporary potters enjoy working in porcelain.
Stoneware is a type of clay most often associated with functional pottery. It is also fired at high temperatures and contains kaolin as well as other types of clay. It has a coarser texture than porcelain. Both stoneware and porcelain are quite dense and will always hold water.
Low Fired Clay such as earthenware is fired at much lower temperatures than porcelain and stoneware. It is generally porous, and is used in techniques like Raku and pit firing (such as the Whalen pots featured at right). Many of these techniques are highly valued for their random and artistic results.
All these different clay types help contribute to the wonderful diversity we see in handcrafted pottery. |
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Furry Friends Scooterbug
Beaufort is a sailing port.... we meet lots of interesting characters who sail in and out of our little town. Scooterbug is one of those characters. He is a very friendly cat who visited all of the local businesses on a regular basis. He loved to curl up in the jewelry cases under the warmth of the lights. Scooterbug has moved on, perhaps to South Africa, but his memory remains. | |
Happy Spring! The azaleas are in bloom and the weather is beautiful! The Beaufort Music Festival takes place this weekend and Mother's Day is fast approaching, so we hope to give you some good ideas!
We will be profiling two husband/wife artist teams in this month's issue. We will also show you some of the exciting new work we have recently received in the gallery. Enjoy! |
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Beth and Richard Bosman
Affordable Classics
 Beth and Richard Bosman are a husband and wife team who have been making affordably classic jewelry for over 30 years.
Richard was an engineer and Beth was a teacher when Beth began making jewelry and selling "Beads and Brownies" on Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. The little jewelry venture became so successful that Beth and Richard left their "day" jobs and began making and selling jewelry full time. Beginning with art shows in Massachusetts, the design team continued to grow, relocating to Florida in 1995, where they continue to make their wonderful jewelry.
Beth and Richard's designs are timeless and classic, with impeccable craftsmanship. They work primarily in argentium sterling silver (a silver alloy that resists tarnish), 14k gold-filled, and 14k gold. They combine the metals with semi-precious stones in a wide variety of styles that appeal to all ages and tastes.
Richard is a graduate of Boston University and has apprenticed with Robert Hogan at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has also completed courses offered by Rio Grande. He brings an engineer's sensibility to many of their designs. Beth graduated from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in education and received her MED from Boston University. They have won many awards, including having a design selected by the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian.
See more of Beth and Richard's Designs by clicking on
or click on any photo of their work.
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Jim and Susan Whalen
Pit Fired Pottery
 Jim and Susan Whalen are a husband and wife team who maintain a full time studio in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Through their pottery the Whalens explore the primitive and mysterious act of creativity, returning to the basic elements of fire, earth, water and air. The Process:
"Using patterns, we organize the random and chaotic  pit-firing markings to achieve a strong unity of form and surface. The patterns are created by wax resist and the crystallization of salt and soda on the surface and are intended to evoke images of an evolving planet. These patterns are sometimes mathematical, sometimes emotional, but always drawn from within. Our vessels are made from a natural, unrefined yellow clay. This clay, plus our unique firing process are responsible for the earthy and distinctive coloration of our pots. The colors allude to age.
Each piece is wheel-thrown, burnished and then coated with terra sigillata. After bisque firing, the patterns are created with a resist and the vessel is fired in a raku kiln to 1400� F; they are then placed red-hot in sawdust where the actual pit firing takes place. The larger pieces are fired individually; the smaller pieces are fired in groups of two or three. The sawdust, size of the pots, composition of the resist and weather conditions all play an important part in the final surface image. With so many variables at work, each pot achieves a uniqueness that is impossible to duplicate.
 After firing, the pots are wet sanded to remove any residue, allowed to dry and then coated with a natural tung oil varnish to protect the surface and enhance the coloration. The pots are bisque fired as high as possible for durability, but low enough to maintain the smooth surface and survive the thermal shock of pit firing. Therefore, the clay is still porous and not meant to hold water."
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Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them.
Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964)
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We hope you have enjoyed our May newsletter and look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
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Alison, Jill, Kate, Linda, Sharon, Ann, and Betty
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