Like geese, we have returned!

Hi friends,


It has been terribly too long since I last posted here. However like geese we flew out this spring, and now returning this fall. We weren't gone, just busy!


To catch everyone up. This spring we announced that we would be traveling around the US bringing the new CAG Master Judging Certification classes to a city near you. And we did just that. We started in Boise Idaho in May. What a fun group we had there. They were the first group to experience the "field trip", and didn't know quite what to expect. But after we were done, they loved it! A funny thing happened on the way to Boise, (heard that opener before I bet). The road that goes from Burns Oregon to the Idaho border, is long, desolate, and no cell service in most places. As we came across this little bridge over a creek a fully loaded semi with beautiful oak hardwood 1x4's lost control, spun on its slide and slid between the bridge abutments. Totally blocking traffic. (So that you know the driver was miraculously unhurt) To go around it you would have travel nearly 200 miles out of the way. Local ranchers and farmers began stopping on either side of the wreck. Suddenly they organized. The new leader in the group said he wasn't willing to wait 6 - 8 hours to get the mess cleared.
About 20 people approached the wreck and started tossing the lumber off the sides into the creek and the ground. In less than 30 minutes they had the truck completely unloaded. Then they hooked about 3 or 4 big old V10 Dodges and Ford Pickups on either side and started winching this huge semi out of the way. It was wild. Finally a large fertilizer truck had an even bigger winch and soon a narrow path was cleared for one way traffic to pass on the bridge and we were on our way. Later we heard it was over 12 hours before the tow truck came and got the truck out of there.


So why am I sharing this incredibly long story that has nothing to do with ceramics? For one, this is a blog, I get to ramble on. But seriously the quickly organized efforts, got a seemingly impossible task done, and there were results. In our industry we can sit around and wait for the tow truck that will make it like it used to be, (which is not the direction it should go) or we can respond and take action and create a way of sustainability in our industry and businesses. The industry is getting stronger, every day. Are you a part of the team that clears the way of the old rubbish? Or are you someone who will just sit on the side and wait for gold coins to come falling from the sky?


Six beautiful, intelligent and challenging ladies took the very first CAG Master Judging seminar that weekend. They are now well on their way to completing their homework and getting ready for their PHASE II class.


From there we would come back home, and get ready for almost 6 weeks on the road. We rented a 30' motor home from Cruise America. You will never realize how many Cruise America motor homes are out there until you visit Yellowstone National park on one of it's most busiest days and you count them into the 100's as you drive through the park. That one extra glass of red wine at dinner when you walk back to the parking lot could be challenging. "Now which one of these is ours?"


Our traveling team consisted of myself (Tommy Lee), my wife Kathy, her mother Eileen (age 80), our grandosn Roland (age 8), his best friend Zack (age 10) and our traveling cat Magic (age ?). All in all, we survived. Many things learned on the trip. Never take a six week week where 5 people and 1 cat have to live in a 200 sq foot space. It gets a little complicated after about 10 days. The intermittent hotel breaks when we would be teaching a seminar, were life savers for the travelers.


Our next stop was Los Angeles, CA (Riverside). When the hotel you end up at is in the "red light" district. It adds a flavor to the location quite its own. But the Riverside story will be in the next blog.

See YOU ALL at CONVERGENCE next summer. (July 17-23, 2011 - CORBAN University)

The weekly "pick-up"

In the late 60's early 70's my aunt owned a ceramic shop in Albany, Oregon (sorry that's not her in the picture, but she has a lot of resemblances). Her shop was opened on Tues, Wed and Thursday, morning noon and night for classes. She was also opened on Saturdays until mid afternoon. This was mostly for people to pick up or drop off firing. But Fridays were very special days, that was her supply days. And so on Saturday mornings my mom and I would travel the 26 miles to her shop from our house to see what treasures she had brought back from her supply adventure. It was like Christmas morning on a weekly basis.

Sometimes her supply runs would take her well over a 100 miles one way just to get a load of greenware. Selling bisque was actually taboo in those days, and not well looked at. She had four routes, one north, one south, one west and one east each month. She drove a monstrous Chevy sedan, with a ton of trunk and back seat space. She would head out early in the morning on any given Friday, traveling to a set destination of shops where she had ordered greenware when she was there the month before. In addition to her order she would peruse the shop and add more chalky treasures to bring back to her shop. She received a 30-40% discount buying as a reseller to the students in her shop. The good thing, gas was about 27 cents a gallon in those days. When she returned she would unload her boxes of shredded newspapers filled with fragile pieces of air dried clay. Each week her students would be able to find something new on the shelves to entice them.

The ceramic industry was very much like a web in those days. You learned where most of the shops were. Some had thousands of molds, while others only had a few hundred. You knew who cast quality greenware, and you knew who didn't. The foundation of this industry has always been cottage based. Today nothing much has really changed, other than it is usually bisque that is picked up and transported or shipped. Now that gas is 15 times as expensive as it was, it is sometimes cheaper to let a commercial delivery service bring it to you, than to drive there yourself. But delivery versus personal pick up cuts out the, added items concept.

In 2010 the industry is redefining itself once again. The web is often times made of virtual fibers, that lead one to another. In a town in the southeast recently ten ceramic shops (not storefronts) discovered that each other existed. Some were in basements, some in outbuildings, some in extra bedrooms of peoples homes. They had different molds they cast, and were excited to share. How odd that we went underground when the industry ebbed in the 90's. Take a look around, listen for clues, explore the Internet (facebook, Yahoo groups, DAC on NING, ebay). You may find your neighbor down the street has a small shop in their home too.

Find and share with other shops, investing with them, is investing in the industry. Go to shows, buy products and most importantly enter in the competitions. Expand the web, expand the industry. Good luck!

The "return" of the community/regional ceramic clubs or groups.

One of the many roles of the CAG in helping to "INVITE" and "EXCITE" people into the ceramic realm is to develop symmetry and relationships among fellow ceramicists. So how do we do this?

1. Creating the CAG as a world wide hub for all things ceramic related. To be a useful communication tool for ceramicists.

2. Publish and distribute journals (magazines) that help inspire creativity through techniques and to help organize your business so that it can attain a sustainable business level.

3. Develop an Ambassador network to bring real people closer to the ceramicists and to let them know about the abundance of opportunities to help them in their art/craft/business.

4. To engage a universal standard of quality and interpretation in judging of ceramic entries by training and certifying ceramic judges.

5. To help local and distinct regional groups of individuals to form clubs or associations and to create annual events (shows/competitions) to help stimulate the industry.

6. To be a conduit between business and organizations creating a "bridging" in the industry while allowing independent thought and leadership to be predominate.

All of these areas have taken on a life of their own in the last 10 months. Only #5 has not really started to gain ground yet, but it is beginning too. Our Fireside Chats and other avenues are encouraging groups of ceramicists to come together and form a totally independent geographically based ceramic club or association. Doing this does not interfere with your association/membership in any other ceramic group. This is different. This is grassroots, its local, its personal and face to face. The mud hens of the 1950's began organizing into first clubs or clatches, then later formalizing that organization into an association. Some of these have lasted over 50 years, but the majority faded away for lack of "vision".

So sign your organization/association/club up with the CAG as an affiliate. It's FREE and we provide an abundance of resources. Or if you don't have one, contact us at let us know so we can help you get started.

"Pay-it-forward" Is it a business concept that works?

It's kind of funny. It's kind of odd. It took me to drive over a thousand miles to learn, or finally recognize that most business people do not grasp a simple concept of "pay it forward". In fact not only "do not" grasp this concept, but possibly "can not" grasp this concept.

So the question comes down to one of "Are you ready to pay it forward?"

The CAG exists for one main purpose, to "INVITE and EXCITE" people about the wonderful art and craft of ceramics.

The CAG has no ties or loyalties to any ceramic businesses. We love them all equally.

The CAG offers it's membership and subscriptions to our magazines for FREE

The CAG does not solicit or accept paid advertising in it's publications

Some business owners go "What?" But it's true. We want to create a sustainable business climate for the ceramic industry. One that stresses quality and creativity in the art form. This should not be so hard to grasp. But then when last month, a Portland, Oregon businessman, up and gave his multi million dollar business to his employees because he wanted to retire, people couldn't understand why. It was simple, none of his kids were interested, and he wanted it to continue on. The employees built the company, and they would have the most passion to continue it.

Those of us investing our time at the CAG have passion for ceramics. If YOU have passion for ceramics we are certain you will be interested to grasping the concept of "pay it forward" in your ceramic business too.

This summer we will be making a cross country tour, credentialing ceramic judges, and meeting with people where they are. When you hear of the meeting coming to your town, join us in our fireside chats! You wont regret it.

Losing face in "Social Media Networks" . . . could it be you?

Yesterday I was sadly disturbed by an e-mail from an industry friend/colleague David Vernon owner of Pampered Palette http://www.pamperedpalette.com/ and CAG Ambassador to the Decorative Painters Groups. www.iamthecag.com/cagambassadors.html

David awoke to the startling discovery that his facebook accounts had . . . disappeared. With close to 2,000 friends they were there when he went to bed, and gone when he woke up.

So what happened? Facebook has a set of protocols, of which most people who get their account terminated would never dream of violating on purpose. These were found on a site about getting disabled, but not an official facebook site. They indicated that perceived "spamming" is the number one reason. Spamming takes on a lot of odd characteristics. For example inviting too many people to join. Is there a set number? No, one group may invite 10,000 a day and have over a million members, while another may invite 25 people a day have maybe 200 friends, and they get shut down for over inviting (spamming). So bottom line . . . spam can be construed as about anything.

It doesn't appear that there is anything you can do to safeguard yourself, short of not connecting to facebook at all. . . and that would defeat the whole purpose of social media networking.

What to do . . . If you get shut down immediately contact facebook (by e-mail of course) and be persistent in follow up. This does not mean every five minutes like the little kid in the back seat saying, "Are we there yet?" But a daily e-mail requesting reason and verification would be logical.

In the mean time here is a simple way to monitor who you have as friends, and keep a database in case you have to reopen your group page.

Open your page: click on edit friends, click on friends (this creates an alphabetical list where you can delete or edit friends), start at top left corner of list, hold down (l) mouse button and drag to last person on list (all icons and names should now be highlighted), right click and hit copy on pop up menu, paste list into a word document, and save on your computer.

Depending on your computer savvy you can build a database or other resource tool of your friends. You will need to visit each friend to get an e-mail address if they provide one. But you can at least go back into facebook in the case of a lost site and re invite from their name.

Facebook is an awesome way for groups of ceramicists and artists to stay connected, share ideas, and make new friendships.

This blog is not to scare you away from facebook, but rather to educate you on being prepared. Facebook is a free resource, and we should be thankful for it. We would probably have less than 10% of the activity that facebook generated if people had to pay for it, because they wouldn't. It's sad when friends like David Vernon lose their site, but let it be an eye opener for the rest of us to be prepared. Yesterday the CAG completely backed up its info on facebook. It took a while, but now we are prepared.

OK, enough business talk, now get out your brushes, paints, and bisque and try some decorative painting techniques. Want some ideas, visit David Vernon at his blog at http://www.pamperedpaletteonline.blogspot.com/ . Besure to join his blog while you're there.

Understanding Concept Marketing - Ceramics

If you want to maximize your selling potential, either in finished goods or supplies (ie greenware, bisque, paint, add-ons), you must stay on top of the concepts in the "immediate" trends. Over the next several months anything and everything "Alice" will be hot.

Just look at the calling points:

It's a Tim Burton production - HOT

Johnny Depp stars in it - HOT

It's emoish-trippy - HOT

It's RETRO-trendy - HOT

This is not really the same Carrol story we grew up, it is, but in a different turn.

Study the imagery, the colors the design concepts, then bring hem forward. Have a shop window offering a special "Alice" night for ceramics. Have lots of inch worms, dressed rabbits, and mushrooms. The 'shroom will be HOT baby. If you do finished goods, style them and be the first on Etsy or e-bay or whom ever you like to deal with.

Think about the possibilities. Combine Arnells's mushroom molds like the sq tile plaques with BI (Bisque Imports large letters to create wall hangings that say "Alice" or "The Mad Hatter" or "Tweedle Dee' or whatever. The phrase "I'm Late" can take on new meanings.

Tone it down a notch and do classic "Alice" stuff too. Dressed dapper bunnies, tea sets, girls in dresses. And the original Cheshire cat is adorable, not so much the one in this new version (scary).

Some of you will read this, and expand your horizons, and fatten your pocket book in profits. Others will say, "It wont work for me", just like you said when Pirates came out, or Twilight or Harry Potter. Yet still shops had sell out ceramic nights because they capitalized on a current concept. Don't overstock, it may only last less than a month, but be creative! Good luck, let us know your stories of conquest and defeat in this matter.

"Is your cell phone turned on?"

I am sure most of you have seen the news about the German alternate skater who had his chance at moving up to actually compete in an Olympic event, but missed the call, literally. It seems as though he turned off his cell phone, and could not be reached in time.

Sports and the Olympics can teach us many principles that we can apply to our own businesses, yes even ceramic businesses. This example is very resonate of some of the issues that exist with ceramic shops that are not producing results. The business has become unreachable.

Sadly in my journeys I have often come into a town and found a little ceramic shop. Its' hours proudly posted on the door, but no one was there. If there is a neighboring business I will go in and ask them if they know where the owner is, or if they have a number to reach them. The response is usually the same. "They come and go, no pattern really, and have no idea how to get a hold of them." It's one thing when an emergency comes up and you have to leave your shop. But post a current sign in the window indicating when you will return. Are you in a real business? Or are you just in a pastime?

Here are some painful examples that hurt the overall ceramic industry:

• NEGLECTED or FORGOTTEN WEB Pages - We receive countless e-mails each week asking "Do you know what happened to . . .?" They searched the web for ceramics, pulled up a site, had great stuff on it, stuff they wanted to buy, but the e-mails were defunct, or no response at all. As an industry we need to rid the Internet of dead sites. Collectively it becomes our front page, we need it to be fresh.


• YELLOW PAGE LISTINGS, that are disconnected - Ma Bell is not the only one who puts out a phone book, in case you hadn't noticed. But there are many times when a listing is made, and then the business shuts down, but they leave your ad as a courtesy, year after year. In part it's a scheme to bill you for a service not used. You need to look, and if you have shut your business down, or know of someone who has, make sure the listings are gone in the next publishing.


• STOREFRONTS that become STORAGE ROOMS - In the last 20 years there have been a lot of traditional shops who have passed onto the original owner's children. The people owned the brick and mortar and it's full of stuff. But the kids don't know the first thing about running a ceramic business. It doesn't produce the revenue they thought it would. They've tried to sell it, but to no avail. So it sits there looking like a ceramic shop, but acting more like a historic tourist attraction that's only open on fifth Tuesday's from 2 to 4 in the afternoon, unless Oprah has an interesting guest. Hours are posted, but no ones home.

Simply read the postings in the CAG facebook group, "I would love to paint ceramics, but where can I find bisque or greenware?" Shops that are proactive are doing very well right now. Someone is trying to call you to buy something from you, "Is your cell phone turned on?"

Check out the upcoming issue of BLUEPRINT - The Business Journal of the Ceramic Artist Guild for more ideas on how you can get the call. (release date March 10, 2010)

Money - Naughty or Nice?

Sorry it has been 2 weeks since we last posted to the BLOG. We got really busy on some other projects here, and it got neglected, no excuses, just matter of fact.

So if this is a ceramic BLOG why is it about money? Because it is money that drives a part of the industry, but it is also money that dives a part of the industry into blind numbness.

The ceramic industry is what is known as a "Cottage Industry" made up mostly of small business people, most of them not even registered or licensed to do business, because at their level they don't need to be. Some people desire to draw a living out of their ceramic pursuits (I guess they never heard of the league of starving artists). Some want to grow and expand a business with employees and inventory and such. Most simply hope to make enough to cover the cost of their own addiction (that addiction being ceramics). And a few simply do it because it is their passion, and really don't care to make money out of it.

For the CAG it is all about passion of the art of ceramics. We are NOT a charity or a not-for-profit corporation. We are not a bunch of people thinking they should do something, but never acting on their thoughts. WE ARE a group or a league of people who share a passion for art. Everyone is a volunteer here. We want the most people to get the most out of ceramics, and so we are determined to do what we do for FREE. No gimmicks, no hidden agendas, no tricks, just a simple love for ceramics.

We are not saying that you should not endeavor to make a profit. Or if you do you are not showing your passion. this is our path, and it is different than yours. i had the fortunate opportunity when i was a young man as a manager in a major retail firm (FRED MEYER) to work directly with at times the owner and founder of the company, Mr Fred G Meyer himself. I will never forget one day sitting in the corporate office with a group of other managers and execs with Mr. Meyer. he reminded us all that profit was not a dirty word. in fact any intelligent consumer would not expect you to run your business without making a profit, it would be nonsense. But he also said "Do not take advantage of your customers, they allow you to stay in business."

One of the many purposes of the CAG is to help give you insight to building a sustainable business in ceramics that will last for years to come. We are sustainable through your support of what we do. We wish you well. And if someone says to you the CAG can't offer their services for FREE. Say "Oh, really? OK I'll take my chances and you wait and see." They wont listen to you anyway, and in the meantime your business and desire will surely grow!

FINAL NOTE: Did you see what the man did with his business in Portland, Oregon . . . he gave it away. Love those kind of stories.

Football and Lladro - PASS IT ON!

So today is SUPERBOWL SUNDAY! No other TV event captures the American audience on a grander scale than this battle of the turf. I've always thought it was funny how some stores will run special ads for "Super Bowl Widows", when surveys tell us an equal to higher percentage of women watch the game as do men. So have a great time today experiencing the game and the party that goes with it. Be safe and use good judgement in driving!

On a ceramic note, isn't this a delightful Lladro piece? The design seems so gentle, yet as it expands towards you it seems to say I'm grown up now and ready for the game. Lladro choice of somewhat muted colors has always lended itself to their sculpture. Unfortunately being able to paint this ceramic would mean you had found an illegal piece of bisque as it is copyrighted, and there are no ceramic hobbyist molds available. But there is a lot to be learned when we study artistic style, and then apply that style to pieces we get get. Wouldn't it be fun for Lladro to come teach a seminar for ceramicists.

When an artist goes from rags to riches to rags again. . .

What a beautiful contemporary headquarters this company called ENESCO has. So a few questions to you as ceramicists. . .

1. Do you know what ENESCO does?

2. Do you know what artists ENESCO has represented?

3. Do you understand the concept rags to riches to rags again?

OK, enough quizzing. As a artist/craftsman your greatest dream might be to have your designs in stores across the globe. A very noble aspiration. In toady's marketplace it is almost impossible for you to be able to pull something that off on your own. Unless of course you just won the POWERBALL lottery for like 100 million dollars. But let's say your Sam Butcher in 1989 a company comes along and spins your humble world of artistic rendering into a multi-million dollar industry, literally overnight. In case you don't know Sam Butcher is the artist responsible for Precious Moments.

In our upcoming issue of BLUEPRINT Volume2 Issue 2 March 15th, 2010. We will be talking with the marketing people at ENESCO and have some special interviews with some of the past artists who went from Saturday market vendors, to world wide celebrities with the aid of ENESCO. But what happened next? Join us and learn how this "tidal wave" process of fame can help or hinder the long term relationships developed by the artist/crafter.

Join us for coffee . . . and clay?

Probably a few too many of us start, continue and finish our day with some type of coffee. From the purists who proclaim "Give me Folgers or give me death!" to the double skinny, vanilla, very blond, steamed, shaken not stirred with mint whipped cream on top, we all love our java.

Surprisingly as most believe that the caffeine in coffee causes the jitters , headaches and spastic interruptions, it really has a vastly different effect for most. In fact oddly enough (I have tried this and it works) giving your children a small cup of coffee helps them relax and get through the day. In fact some people have been able to totally avoid giving their children medication to deal with mild ADHD and ADD with a morning coffee.

For me it's like comfort food. Coffee time is a special time for me and my wife to just sit back and discuss life and what's going on. Sort of a "life managers meeting" component every morning before the day kicks off.

Our April issue of CERAKANVAS focuses on home life, entertaining, and the importance of that cup of coffee every day (or 2, or 3 or . . .) If you have some favorite entertaining pieces you would like to see in this issue let us know, we would be glad to consider them.

Also our guest host (these are those fun faux celebrities who help bring you each issue) is a wonderful sassy young woman named Betty Barrista, that's her on the cover of the magazine. Is she real . . . that's up to you to decide. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as you have the past ones! Now where's my keys so I can head off to Starbucks!

GENERATION LINK - Computers are a way of life

The year is 2010, and it's safe to say computers are a focal point in everything we do. Yet still there are far too many people who are not "linked" via the Internet yet. Fortunately there are great programs out there working to help make computers truly user friendly. You should visit a site called http://www.seniornet.org . There are two types of computer training-tutoring programs that are being generated. One is where other seniors act as coaches to help grasp the computer and many of the fantastic applications it can have. The next is where high school age students will work one on one with a senior to learn more about the operation of computers.

The CAG is looking at ways to help stimulate projects like Generation Link and get more computers connected with more people. From online magazines (soon to be basically the only way to get magazines) like CERAKANVAS, INTO Ceramics, and BLUEPRINT people can pull up techniques, locate products, learn great business tips and so forth. On-line seminars, that you can access through on-demand programming when you want to. Often these are called webinars, but the future holds lots to see and explore.

We are committed to INVITE and EXCITE people about ceramics. We hope you will join us in that commitment.

Follow the trend . . . for profit and fun

Three decades ago a cute little brother and sister act captured the heart of much of America. We knew them as Donny and Marie, a part of the vast Osmond entertainment empire. We know they still do occasional specials and talk shows, Donny has hosted a game show and they have had a great run on "Dancing With the Stars" But did you know that Marie has a love for ceramics?

Marie Osmond has a line of porcelain dolls she sponsors as well as a line of fanciful dinnerware and gift ware. As you can see from the picture they are very graphics based, with bold colors and simplistic design patterns. More importantly they are selling very well in boutiques and gift stores around the country. If you are selling on Etsy or e-bay or wherever, or you participate in local art/craft venues have you capitalized on the massive advertising dollars someone like "Marie" spends on promoting their products. I'm not advocating "copy-cat" stuff, but rather expanding what they offer with different pieces in a similar style. Don't try to under-sell as your catch. Rather up-sell with wonderfully creative pieces that are complimentary in style. As savvy merchants and artists it is important to keep an eye on the trends. It doesn't matter what we like, it's what the consumer wants. And if we get really lucky the consumer will want what we like.

Today is MLK day, how have you connected?

Today is MLK (Martin Luther King) day in the US. He was a powerful influence in human freedoms in America, and so has been honored by this country. the piece pictured here is a beautiful ceramic bust of King.

There are a few other MLK ceramics also available, and there is a wonderful variety of African-American Heritage pieces. Did you know that February is also African-American Heritage month? Issac Hathaway is the most prominent African-American ceramicist. We have put together a wonderful section in the upcoming CERAKANVAS about African-American Heritage from a ceramicists point of view.

Have you let your community know what you have to offer in honor of these events in your shop?

A Business Tool from Ceramic Architects - BLUEPRINT

Some of you may recognize the man in this picture, he is very famous. He is not a ceramicist, even though he did consult on the design of several world renowned ceramic pieces. He is not an author, even though there have been many books written about him. He is not an actor, though his designs have appeared in some of Hollywood's greats. He is an architect. His name is Frank Lloyd Wright. He is without question one of the worlds most known architects. His buildings were powerful and their design spoke volumes. But he wasn't content in just designing the brick and mortar (B&M) structures. He made sure the stained glass windows, worked with the design. That the furniture and art (including ceramics) flowed with the house. Not only in ergonomics but also in aesthetics. Today BLUEPRINT got off the ground as a magazine on it's own. The way we design and build our ceramic business is critical to its success, and more importantly it's sustainability. We like to think that the articles and stories we bring you in BLUEPRINT are like a bunch of Frank Lloyd Wrights bringing you the plan, the blueprint, for your businesses success. We hope you enjoy our new magazine and we would love to hear from you about what you think. Have a great day!http://www.ceramicartistguild.com/blueprint.html

Learning to be "artistic"

The most incredible masterpiece ever created, is the human brain. As I studied for my Masters in Counseling at George Fox University I was called to study many things about the human brain. How I wish today I could visually monitor the brain activity in a ceramicist when they are creating something new. But you don't need trippy modern medical science to show you what's going on. Simply look at their face, watch the expressions as they create. As soon as they are into the rhythm of painting they become absorbed. Watch for the tongue to slowly slip out the corner of their mouth. It's almost like it's a tail that helps them stay balanced. Art is a great tool for relaxation and to relieve stress. True that some people stress about doing a "good job" on their soon to be new masterpiece. A good teacher will remind them to take ownership of their piece, to let it be an extension of you. The danger comes when someone is simply letting down to complete a task, and the art becomes a chore instead of a choice. Encourage your students to be creative, encourage them to do the best they can, and encourage them to take the next piece to the next level whatever that may be!

Special Note: Competitions are great places to learn how to improve yourself and how others feel about your work. Make sure the competition is judged by trained judges who know how to minimize personal likes and dislikes (it's impossible to eliminate these) and are focused on workmanship and creativity. Both the CAG and the AFAA have current judging programs that offer certification. There are other past programs that have also produced quality judges. Just because someone has done ceramics for a few years or even a few decades, does not make them competent judges.

What did you get from the Queen today?

Name dropping, sounds rather unpleasant or perhaps even vindictive. But what if you could say " Oh yes, The Queen Mother herself was quite delighted with the ceramic I made for her" Now I'm not talking about just saying something that isn't fact based. What if you could say the the Queen of England, or The President of the United States, or the Pope, or some famous celebrity like Stephen King, Michael Jackson, Johnny Depp or Oprah Winfrey had one of your ceramics in their home or office? It becomes a real "wow" moment. Now if you think you just paint up a stylin' yard gnome, throw him in a box and mail him off to Buckingham Palace or Obama care of the Oval Office at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, guess again. There is an extensive amount of protocol and procedure that must be followed prior to the gift being accepted. But it is not impossible. The big question, "Are you good enough?" The question begs two answers. The first from you. . . Do you think you are good enough? The second is from a few serious ceramic art critics . . . Do they think you are good enough?

Most of you reading this will NEVER even attempt to go beyond the first question. But if you do, be prepared for a new level of acceptance of you as an artist. There is the possibility that you will have your gift rejected. But if it is accepted imagine having a card in your portfolio like the one located at http://www.ibuss.com/imdesign/html/queen.html . Now when you go there, poke around. This belongs to the site of Igor Mintch, master sculptor, mold maker and ceramicist. Igor is a wonderful artist, and his story is very impressive.

Igor's story goes beyond just receiving a thank you for his sculpture he presented to the Queen of England, The President of the United States and the Pope. His is a story of survival and commitment to his love of the ceramic art. I hope you will drop Igor a line after you read it. He has some wonderful pieces and his mold line will definitely help you produce bisque that will sell in your shop.

You can also see his delightful Country Chess Set featured in the "Down on the Farm" edition of CERAKANVAS on Feb 1. 2010.

These boots were made for walking . . .

If you were to go to mapquest.com and pull up a 50 mile diameter map, with your shop being the very center point. From that point attache a string equal to 25 miles in scale on the map. Now draw a circle. Inside of this circle is all places within a 25 mile distance, any direction from your shop.

Now go buy yourself a pretty pair of turquoise boots and start walking. OK, so you don't have to buy new boots (though that would be fun) and you can drive instead of walk, though walking is healthier. Begin looking for other shops that offer ceramics. You will need to look around as many are in backrooms and basements with no outside signing to speak of. Most do not have phone numbers in the local phone books or signs on the street advertising their shop. But none the less, they are out there.

Mount your map on a piece of cardboard. Now create a legend (that's cartography lingo for guide). You might use red pins for other ceramic shops, blue pins for other ceramic teachers, yellow pins for places that sell brushes you can use on ceramics, green pins for places that sell paints you can use on ceramics, and so on. Resources are not always where you think they might be. Knowing what is available local is always a good thing.

When you venture out take a stack of business cards ( you can find them free on the Internet almost anytime) and some flyer's or brochures about your business. As you visit them collect their business card and make note of what they offer that you can use in your business. If its something you don't stock, and don't plan too, tell them you will be referring your customers to them when they need "such and such" as you do not carry it. This whole action of visiting and sharing will go a long way in developing relationships. Your competition is not your enemy, they are part of why you stay in business.

So step out, and make the first move.

Be on the "EDGE", and move ahead

You might be wondering why there is a picture of the cover of Good Housekeeping in this blog entry. So let's play detective:

It's the first cover of 2010

It's one of Americas most respected women's magazines

But here's the real reason . . . the cover is color coded in Turquoise - The PANTONE color of 2010.

Some people who seem to know far more than the rest of us, say sure CAG, yadah, yadah, yadah. . . . no one cares about colors or themes of the year. No one cares about SMART marketing or what words like sustainability mean. You prefer to say "We just want to make a ton of money again in ceramics."

So that being the case, Good Housekeeping and over 75% of the other popular newsstand magazines are just in rare coincidence that they are using Turquoise as a theme color for their 2010 first issue as well.

If we visited your shop tomorrow, would it scream 2010 we are here and ready to serve our customers. If you have a storefront and someone is walking down the sidewalk, do they feel you are a the place for them to stop in for 2010? Are you more concerned about blowing some left over Christmas bisque, or enticing them to come in and create a "LOVE MACHINE" of ceramics for their sweetheart? If you have a web page does it scream, "I'm the one for your needs in 2010!"

Good Housekeeping didn't just play into this cover design by happen chance. And the flow throughout the inside follows the 2010 color schemes. So now you say OK we get it, why so much emphasis on color? Ceramics is a color based art/craft form. Color means something in this industry. The proper use of color is vital to a quality piece.

the ceramic studio that will build a sustainable business in 2010, will have to be learning how to bust out of the box of tradition, and conform to the brilliance of creativity. Let us know if your shop is in the box or bustin' out!