Oh my how things can change is such a short time. I feel that I've been through a real huge process of exploration as an artist. I kept calling it a mid-life-crisis thing and criticizing but now I realize that this process is really necessary to being a complete artist - one that grows and doesn't just please the regular customers or satisfy what is expected of them but those that are fresh. Now I do worry that I seem unfocused but what's interesting is that these wonderful ladies, deep in thought perched upon rocks I found in a local mountain river have come out of it all. I strayed from the figurative salt and peppers that I'd been known for for years to sculptural mugs to simple message mugs (from a commission piece at the holidays) to come full circle back to my signature figurative work. I'm finally leaving the functionality behind in these pieces - something my customers and fans have begged me for for years - and created a simple sculpture that brings pleasure by sitting upon a shelf . . . I'm proud of myself for leaving my comfort zone and love that I seem to have come back to my original style of work. I plan to create masses of work of simply what moves me with no intent upon "what will sell" and create w/ integrity that is true to my existence. I plan to give these women a voice and an identity so that the viewer/ buyer is really inviting a person of sorts into their home. 

Thanks for following me on my artist journey. 

I always strive to be real - creating intuitively so that some fundamental energy that is within me into a tangible form. I think that we all have a common thread running through us and that this is one of the purest ways of tapping into that force. 

until next time,

j

what do I want to be when I grow up?

So my newest work really resembles that of a production potter - which I've vowed for 20+ years that I am not and will never be!!! Those of you that know me know that where I gain my most enriching act with clay is when I'm altering after the work on the wheel. This past year has brought more and more work that is less altered and more "pottery" in the traditional sense. Don't get me wrong - it's been fun to explore making consistent forms on the wheel  . . .. nice exercise - but doesn't suit my style and really who I am - I'm not regular, decisive, consistent, careful, and all the rest that goes w/ production potter's mentality - I know - i've been both. Long ago, I made pottery and it choked me out and made me take a break - I can't measure and use calipers. .. . when I started the sculpture that began on the wheel I felt free and able to do as I please.
So here it is: I'm growing into the woman and artist that I am. I'm diverse and complicated and I think I'll keep it that way. So who knows what you'll see from me next - I've been making really tall cake plates for my step-father (really only father I know) 80th birthday celebration so maybe you'll see more of those or more of my figurative work or lots more simple chalk board mugs - who knows!!!

So You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks!!

So as you see in the photos, I've been working in more of a production potter style than I'm used to - been busting pots out by the dozen trying to achieve uniformity . . . Of course mine will be so heavily altered in the end that perfect is not necessary but it's been fun trying. But I did start to have terrible back pain and couldn't figure out what was causing it so on a whim I decided to raise my wheel up and throw standing up. I thought it would be hard to adjust to but it really hasn't been. I'm loving it!!! I feel so productive right now that it's just flowing out of me!
Standing to throw combined with my new glazing method, I'm really starting to bust my work out. I hope to hit etsy hard and become more aggressive on there and have real results - we'll see if all goes as planned. I'm giving it my all from now through the holidays and just seeing what I can accomplish. Keep your fingers crossed as I spread my wings : )
More to come later!

Breaking Rules is Fun

So those of you that know me know that I've always been a rule follower and a pleaser . . . but it's strange how art or creative outlets have always been an area where I stray from what I'm "supposed" to do and do whatever I want.
Clay people would die if they knew how I worked. I don't do many of the things that are typical good practice and it seems to be working out just fine doing it how I am. Of course I learned the proper ways but one thing I've always loved about clay (vs sewing for instance where you seem to have to follow a pattern, iron, pin . . . not my strong points - very sloppy worker - and fast too) is that it's so forgiving.
I work right out of the bag without weighing or wedging. I tack things on way after I should. I use old clay scraps right off the wheel . . . Sure, there's occasional cracking or even explosions but the style in which I work suits me and it's worth it to sacrifice a few for the greater good.
I have been so ultra productive now that the kids are back in school - it's like I've been chomping at the bit to get my hands dirty again and now that I can, I'm on fire!
The new work coming out of my studio is some of the best I've ever made if you ask me.
After a disappointing teaching interview falling through for this year, I've decided to make more than a teacher's salary this calendar year and I really believe that I can between etsy, woolworth and shows.
Going to think positively and see what happens. Hold on tight because here I go!!!

What People Want

I've been enrolled in a mug and bowl class at ABtech to get continuing ed classes to keep my citification up. I love this teacher Becca Floyd. She's funny and flexible and strict at the same time . . . anyway, so I've been making a bunch of mugs. I brought some home to complete the handles because I was too hungry to stay and do them in class. When I uncovered them to let them dry, my kids were like, "Mom, did you make these? They are great!" (I tried to include a photo of all of the mugs together but couldn't figure out how to get the photo from my phone to this new computer to this blog) They sounded like they were shock. As though after almost 25 years of working at the wheel I couldn't make a mug. It was a sweet compliment but it was very telling to me how the world thinks. I'm sure I could bust out tons of mugs (this dozen I'm referring to took no time one morning in class) and actually sell more and even make more money than Kung Fu Clay does right now. I'm simply not called to do them. I'm here for something else and I can't resist it even when I try. It's a hard place to be. So, do I want to appeal to the masses or make what I'm passionate about. For now, at the advice of the wonderful Becca Floyd, I will explore face mugs to bring something different to the table. Hopefully I will figure this phone/photo thing out so I can give updates of all the work in progress.

What a wonderful day! Honestly, I needed wonderful day and I got one. I didn't get a ton done in my studio - probably let my mugs get too dry for handles but started off on a field trip with Jake's class and then did a little dress shopping (yes, you heard me right - dresses) for myself at the Dillards out at the Biltmore Sq Mall (my mom has been telling me to hit this place for years and I kept not getting there but the field trip was right next door at the health adventure so I decided to take a few moments for myself. I never do things like this and I totally scored on several super cute and super cheap dresses. I then met mom for a quick lunch and then mailed my first package to the UK. We'll see if it arrives safely and how long it takes. Very exciting. I then took the kids to Hot Springs to soak in a tub (Wednesdays locals get $10 off!!!!) It was simply gorgeous weather and we laughed and had so much fun - really felt like we were bonding. There as been so much negative energy in this house that getting out and being silly is just what the doctor ordered!! So it's late but I think I'm going to peel myself off this computer and make a few guys before bed to make up for my lost time and then off to sleep.

Well, I've been in quite a slump lately! I've been mixing up my diet to eat more primal with less grains and yet still feed my family things they will eat so I'm totally lost in the grocery store. I've moved into a new, larger wall at http://www.woolworthwalk.com/ so I'm designing the wall, shelves, jewelry . . . The last time I was there, I had the kids with me and got them a hot coca and tried to set to work but wound up dropping something that broke all over the floor while people were eating and found out I have to re-configure my lighting which is basically saying I have to start over : ( And, I'm trying to get back on etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/kungfuclay?ref=si_shop and have a real presence there and increase my sales . . . Not to mention teaching art again at FBRAhttp://www.fbriveracademy.org/connect-with-fbra/ and being a good mamma . . . Everything together seems to left me quite paralyzed which what to do next and even where to put my work or even how to get my hands dirty in the studio again. Last night Riley began throwing up at my bedside around 1:00AM and proceeded to continue to have a violent retching sessions all night long. I started throwing up this morning. I think it's fast and furious and we're coming out of it but it is simply the last thing that I need when I'm already running in so many directions. I hope to feel better and go to my class at ABtech tomorrow morning and teach Friday and start next week fresh and ready to take on the world. I need focus, focus, focus. Any advice on how to find it?

Focus

I finished a most exciting new "product" today! In November I was in a little show at Vance Elementary School and my neighbor at the show was this adorable, amazing woman with terrariums. As it turns out she designs weddings from the flowers to the table settings . . . She encouraged me to turn my soap dishes into ring barer dishes that could then be used for soap dishes later. She said, "Feed a ribbon through the holes, add a little moss" Anyway, I just unloaded some dishes that I planned for that very purpose today and went to the florist and bought some moss, pussy willow and thistle and made some faux porcelain rings and I Love You charms and the whole combination is so thrilling! While I love fresh new ideas and diversifying my line of work so I can appeal to a winder market and such, I do feel that I'm spreading out too thin. I looked at my new Woolworth Walk Wall and it was chaotic and not as cohesive as I'd like. I used to be known as the "oh yeah, you're the salt and pepper lady" but now it doesn't look that way. Please help me understand how to find focus when ideas keep coming? Not just creative clay and other art ideas but food truck and other ventures appeal to me. It's so hard to keep driving at the same mission. Luckily Kung Fu Clay has stuck for a long enough period and I simply love creating the guys or I may have left it long ago to sew diapers or serve green waffles from a truck . . . Anyone else this way? Am I crazy? Lovin' life right now, simply scattered and while it's thrilling, it's also a wild ride.

So it's been a while since I've I've posted on my blog. That's all about to change. This summer a woman came into my life, Lee Wolfe of http://www.etsy.com/people/OneClayBead, she saw me at a Big Crafty and struck up a conversation with me about my work. She had seen my work before and had even bought a wine stopper. She asked me if I was on etsy and when I replied that I did try listing some things a couple of years ago and although they all sold, I found the photographing and listing process to be too time consuming and needed inventory for my galleries. Lee said that I reminded her of herself 20 years ago making clay and selling wholesale and when she finally put more effort into listing on etsy, her business took off. She had me over to her house and refreshed my memory on how to function on etsy and make treasuries . . . I have been slowly pulling out of several galleries and photographing some pieces to list on etsy. Because I have two small children, I'm being patient with myself but now that the holiday rush has come and gone, that's all about to change. Lookout world, Jen Goff and Kung Fu Clay is about to hit it big time and stop half-way doing things. I'm going to do what a friend of mine did: she told herself to spend three months putting time and effort into etsy and see what it got her and it helped give her a great holiday season this year (Sumner at http://spotteddogasheville.blogspot.com/) I'm working from a new computer so no photos to include now but will start trying to post more regularly and am certain to have photos coming.

I simply love this butter dish that found a home at my sister's at Christmas. As the snow melts and the kids go back to school I plan to take charge on more butter dishes, some light fixtures and MANY wine inspired inventory. I used to make goblets in the early 90s and simply stopped. I plan to make some more stemware and some stem-less wine glasses as well. I'll post images as work is produced. I simply can't wait to get started - can't wait!!!

What's funny is I had been forming ideas for wine inspired work to partner with my stoppers and then received an invitation for a wine expo in DC a few days ago. I'm interested in trying it but it's a long way away and fear that people will not mesh with my style . . . I may take the plunge and see it as a chance/excuse for the kids to visit the museums again - Cary will have them to himself but we can all gather in the hotel pool in the evenings and enjoy some VA local wine : )

Age - not that it matters

Not to put negative energy out there because if you know me - you know how often I rave about my lucky, fortunate life - but I guess I need to rant about everyone thinking I'm a child and treating me as such. It happens all the time in my general, everyday life and I just take it and should see it as flattery but when it happens about clay - I just get angry. A woman came into the studio during the stroll and instructed me to "be careful with that mold" when I was working with some moldy paper clay that I got at Penland. I explained that I love moldy clay and it's so much more forgiving and smeary . . .and it hadn't bothered me yet. I could tell that she assumed that I was in my mid-late 20s and had probably been doing clay 5 years and just didn't know what I was doing. I realized that I found clay 22 years ago in a major way at Haywood community College and then continued to get a bfa w/ concentration in ceramics from a WONDERFUL Japanese instructor that always raved about moldy clay. Anyway, it was a minor exchange, it just kind of defines how people perceive me and my work in clay.

Although it was fun and exciting to be a part of an amazing group of artist in the Pink Dog I also found it made me feel very vulnerable having people come through my personal space and pick things up and judge them - different from a table at a show like the big crafty.

Guess this is the beginning of becoming more legit.

Bear with me as I adjust to this new place in my life/career.

Stroll!

So I had my first stroll today and although I started off with high financial expectations, I wound up really putting them aside and just having some fun and enjoying my new, inviting space! I'm left feeling happy and content! Although the financial commitment scares me as we go into the slow months, I really believe that the increase in productivity and positive energy is going to be the proof in the pudding. I felt so lucky to have good friends help me pull this whole thing together - not sure how I'd be surviving without everyone's support. Going to bed early so I'm bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow.

Anyone know how to pull photos from my phone onto my blog? I'd love to insert some photos from today here and not sure how.

I've done it! I reset my password and am back in business! I have had so much to post lately and no way to do it except facebook but would like to do this too!

Kung Fu Clay is lucky enough to share a space with a bunch of other amazing artists at the Pink Dog Creative at 342 Depot Street in the RAD! Please some see me Fri 6:30-8:00 or Sat and Sun from 10:00-6:00. I've not yet been there two weeks but have pulled enough work together to participate in the stroll.

I've made some cool owls, elves and more of the same . . . plus TWO chess sets!

Can't wait to see everyone and start to become a an artist that produces from somewhere other than a tiny closet in my house!!!

Ok, so it's official - I'm going to be a vendor at The Big Crafty at Pack Place on December 6th! While I'm very excited, I know that I must crank the work out this month (starting with next to no inventory) and have gotten some tight chest, headache thing. I should be in the studio right now while the kids are in school but I just need to drink some ginger tea and chill in front of the computer a while. I'm certain I can shake this and get movin' soon. 

I made a couple of wonderful salt and peppers yesterday. I put facial hair on the guys and they look great! I love meeting all these crazy characters as they come to life in my studio. I never know what I'm going to wind up with when I start - I just begin and see how things wind up. 

That's all for now so don't forget to mark your calendars for the Big Crafty and make sure to come down and do your holiday shopping there! 

Here is a photo of the tiny bud vase discovery. It's not a great photo but is shows the concept. I've just ordered a little light photo box thing that will hopefully improve my photography. It's all trial and error - right?

I realized after my last post that I didn't really give much of a background in how this whole business came to be. I used to teach art in the classroom but now as the mother of two small children I've found a way to work out of a tiny studio in my house. My kids love clay too - who doesn't? My son, Jake named the business around the time that Kung Fu Panda came out in theaters and after days of tossing out options for names, he said, "Oh I know, how about Kung Fu Clay?" and after saying it a few times, I liked the way it sounded. He's so proud of having such a part in naming the business. He also willing offers tons of advice for building my product line. He is clever and has good taste so much of what you see, he's helped me in one way or another come to that end result. You wouldn't believe some of his creations. He's a budding ceramist too. My daughter is younger and is very tactile, she mostly likes adding vinegar and squishing things in her hands. She's very inspiring too because she's so explorative with the clay that she tests limits that most of us are too afraid to try and I wind up finding out that clay is even more forgiving than I thought. Both could work at the wheel for hours. I love working at the wheel. I call it my cheap therapy. Each salt and pepper shaker and many of the other pieces begin on the wheel and then are amended into little people with personalities. I hate saying bye to each one when they sell but also am thrilled to add conversation and joy to someone's table. There are certainly no two alike so you know that the one you own is the only one like it on the planet and that is certainly part of the Kung Fu power behind the work.

Hello All, 

After a very long relationship with clay in one form or another, I've finally found a comfortable niche that involves the wheel and lots of amending that results in a sculptural feel. I've been working in porcelain and making figurative salt and pepper shakers and several other funky, yet functional porcelain ware for the contemporary home. 

Those of you that know me well realize what a big step this is for me! I was actually encouraged by a friend and fellow artist (Sumner with Spotted Dog Farm) to set up a blog and I've actually done it with very little assistance. As updates on my website rely on my husband, I hope that this can be a spot where I can post new photos of my work and write about exciting breakthroughs (which I had one just a couple of weeks ago while making some commissioned business card holders and I discovered the beauty of including a tiny bud vase in many of my configurations). I'll get better at uploading photos and such and will include images to reference what I've written as time goes by.

If you're curious about seeing more of my work or interested in shopping for holiday gifts, I have several options for purchasing my work. After experimenting with etsy, I found that until I get better at taking photos and listing items (one of my new-years-resolutions for 2010!) I'd better get into some galleries in order to get this business going. I'm currently in downtown Asheville at  Atelier 24 Lexington and Woolworth Walk Galleries and Miya Gallery in Weaverville. They are wonderful spots for art enthusiasts and feature hundreds of local artists and certainly worth browsing through and checking out all of the amazing work being produced in this area.

Keep checking back for updates! 

Thanks,

Jennifer