Recent Drawings

Hey Everyone,

So, I did a few drawings the past couple days. You'll have to check out my deviantart site to see the other two!! http://the-angel-gabriel.deviantart.com

Ben

Craft Shows, Christmas Break and Drawings

Hello Everyone,

Not a lot to talk about, but here it is.

Craft Shows:

So, all three craft shows I went to were not very good. The show in at the Christian school was impossible to bear, but I made $150, so it wasn't a total loss. The Legion show was boring, but I met some nice people. Only made 125$, which is 1/3rd of what I made last year...so it was a bit disappointing. Then I went to the Moose Lodge show in Ionia and made three fricken dollars....it was awful. Overall, I'm pretty disappointed with the sales for these shows. I was really hoping/depending on them for more. My computer needs to be replaced and that's what I was working on, so I'm a bit bummed out. Hopefully I made a bit of money at the gallery this past month and I still have 3 orders to fill that will bring in about $80. I have another order that has to be filled too that's worth about 45$ but I won't be able to complete it until after christmas when I go back to school early. I need the mason stains and glazes there to do it. So, I would love to get in another craft sale this month and possibly make some extra money, but it's getting pretty close to christmas now, not sure if I'll find another and have time to sign up for it before the deadline. We'll see I guess.

Christmas Break:

One word....boring. I am so out of things to do. I have a couple orders to fill, but that will take a whole hour to do, probably less and I really don't feel like reading my whole break away. So...I've started drawing and I'm trying to plan out my senior show a bit more. I really need to just make lots of pieces for the show and get to work. I have to have around 400 for the show, small and large. So I guess I have a little something to do...just not a lot. I have a really limited supply of clay here, only about 120lbs. if that, so I want to make it last.

Drawings:

Well, since I'm so bored here, I've been drawing and so my surprise, I'm still okay at it! I haven't drawn since almost last spring semester while I was in Figure studies....so it's surprising I still can fairly well without a ton of erasing. I'll post the drawings soon. I seem to have an apocalyptic sense of mind lately, every guy I draw has a gas mask on, the old fashioned kind. I'm diggin' it though, it's kinda cool. I'll have them up in a few days.

Other Stuff:

Well, been in a bit of a bad mood today. It's been strange. Because it's my first holiday season without Mom, I've been kinda bummed out. I keep getting flashes of all these things we used to do and it's not helping me feel any better, that's for sure. Hopefully it will get better though, which I'm sure it will. I think I really need the boyfriend here to help me out. I miss him a lot and he's always so good at calming me down. I can't wait to see him this coming weekend.

Well, that's all for now I believe. Have a good week all and enjoy your holidays!

Ben

Orders, orders, orders....and more Orders!

Hey Everyone,

Lot's of fun stuff going on here this week with exams. Lot's of critiques and a couple exams, then I'm heading home tomorrow morning. I'm really excited to get home, I have lot's of stuff to do.

So...orders, I've gotten over 150$ in orders in the last week, which is insane and they all want them before christmas...of course. So, I know I can do it, it's just going to be hard. I have orders for like 5 mugs, large bowls and pie plates then I have to make all my christmas presents for my family too...it's going to be a crazy break! Then I have to keep working on my senior show! I really think I can do it though, just going to be a little hectic to start off.

I'll be updating constantly with new pictures, keep watching!

Ben

New Glazed Pieces and photos!

Hey Everyone,

I hope you like these new pieces as much as I do!! They look so good!

If you want to see the rest, check out the website! Lot's of detail shots!

http://bcoffmanart.webs.com

Ben

Craft Show in Belding Today

Hey Everyone,

Well, the craft show in Belding, MI went pretty well today. Sales were fair and I got a lot of info for other sales next year, which should be really useful! I'll be so glad to have a good sale venue next year. I'm gonna need it if I'm going to start grad school or not, money is getting harder and harder to come by these days. I'm sure you all know what I mean. Anyway though, here are a couple pictures from the show, just of the setup. You get a sneak peak at my new mugs, they came out pretty awesome! Enjoy.

Ben

Empty Bowls 2011 Results

Hey Everyone,

These are my results and my contribution to the Empty Bowls 2011 Fundraiser to help the Salvation Army of Lenawee County. I hope you like them!

See the results here --> Click Here

Ben

Kiln Load Out Tomorrow and More Going in!

Hey Everyone,

Getting a whole kiln load out tomorrow of bowls for Empty Bowls, I'll put together a slide show for them on youtube then I'm putting in a whole other load of mugs and pieces that I need for shows. Hope you like!

Ben

Christmas Break Coming Soon! 3 Craft Sales Too!

Hey Everybody,

Well, Christmas break is almost here now that we've finished turkey day. I have about two more weeks of classes and then I'm heading out for a month on break. Relaxation won't be part of the deal though, I'll be bringing home about 200lbs of clay (or more) to be working on my senior show through break. I need to catch up from all those sales I'm going to be doing!

Sales:

Well, I'll have three:

Dec. 3rd in Belding, MI

Dec. 10th, in Saranac, MI

Dec. 10th, evening, Ionia, MI

If you're anywhere near, come check it out! Lot's of gifts for sale!

Well, I think that's all for now. Watch for updates, I may have another glazed series to upload.

Ben

Greenware-New Glazed Pieces soon!

Hey Everybody,

Well, here is some pieces that are just getting bisqued. I'll have glazed pieces out soon! Thanks for watching!

Ben

New Sumi/Watercolor Rice Paper Books

Hey Eveyone!

New Book I just made! Rice paper Sumi/Watercolor book, 100pgs, will be for sale soon!

Ben

My First Book

Hey Everyone,

So...I just randomly took up bookbinding because I've always wanted to try it, so here is my first result! I hope you like it! The cover is a vinyl fabric, not hand stamped leather, just FYI. I'm not that good....

Ben

New Glaze Kiln out!

Hey Everyone,

Just unloaded a new glaze kiln today, check out the rest of the new pics at the website! http://bcoffmanart.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11816073

Ben

New Pieces in Process

Hey Everyone,

Well, here are some pieces I have in process, hope you like them! Busy working away!

Ben

Recent Photo shoot with my Boyfriend: Night Stalker

Hey Everyone,

So I did a photo shoot last week with my boyfriend and it came out really well! I'm really happy with it! Here is a little taste of it, but if you want to see all 6 photos, you'll have to go to my deviantart gallery. --> http://the-angel-gabriel.deviantart.com

Ben

The Largest Piece I have ever made

So this is a few pics of me throwing the largest piece I have ever made. It was 4 sections and ended up about 33 inches tall. It was really challenging and a lot of fun to do!!

Ben

Art-A-Licious Photos!

Hello Everyone,

Well, this is what the booth looked like at Art-A-Licious this past weekend. The sale went well and I met a bunch of great people! Thanks for stopping by if you did!

Ben

WIP Greenware for Art-A-Licious

Hello Everyone,

So this is the work in progress for this semester so far. In two weeks I've thrown almost 40 pieces of pottery for Art-A-Licious, my big sale coming up in a couple of weekends. I'm getting really excited for the sale and I really think I'm going to do well this year! I hope you enjoy and if you can stop by, it's on Sept. 16th and 17th in Downtown Adrian, MI. Come stop by the booth and buy something if you like!

Ben

Getting Ready for Art-A-Licious

Hello Everyone,

On September 16th and 17th I will have a booth in Downtown Adrian, MI where I will be selling my pottery. Right now I'm working like a mad-potter to get everything done. So far I'm looking at around 15 bowls, 15 mugs, a couple vases and some lidded jars. I'm going to be working more in the next few days to get more done so I can get everything fired and glazed in time! I hope you can come down and check out the booth, it should be great!

Some new photo's coming up later in the week of all the pottery in stages!

Ben

Tomorrow is last day for wet work at home

Hello Everyone,

Well, tomorrow is it for this summer's pottery. I'm going to put the bats away after tomorrow and get to trimming and drying out all my pieces. I'm going to throw probably over 25lbs of clay tomorrow. I know I would like 5 more candle holders, 3 more large bowls, 5 more reg. bowls, I have to handle the tankards, and I would like 2 more jars with lids if I can manage that out of 25lbs. I think I can, but I won't know till I weigh it all out tomorrow. The rest of the clay is going to school with me, all 200lbs of it. After tomorrow, that's it, no more throwing until school starts, so I'll post pictures once I'm finished tomorrow. It's gonna be tough to get everything done, but I think I can do it. And even if I can't glaze it all, I can do that at school if need be. I'm ready to go baby!

Ben

New Pictures on Website and New Video on Youtube

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that there are a few new pictures up on the website http://bcoffmanart.webs.com , check them out! There are also new pictures up on the Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gabriels-Grove-Studios/285314096983

Also, a new video is up on the youtube page! The newest results of my glaze firing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvaLAmXeRxU

Thanks greatly for watching,

Also, the pictures attached to this post are of my new pieces I threw today and also a new idea I'm working on, Pagan Pottery. Right now I'm doing some small cauldrons for altars or other cauldron needs, or even for decoration for the holiday.

Thanks,

Ben

Back From Vacation-Down to Business

Hey Everyone,

So, I'm officially back from my trip to the Keweenaw Penninsula in Upper Michigan. It was such a great trip and I had a wonderful time, but now I'm back and there is work to be done!

I need to get a lot more ceramics done here in the next week and a half so I have a good amount of pieces to take to Art-A-Licious once I get back to school. I would like to have upwards of 60 pieces, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to swing that, though I'm pretty confident I can swing 40. In that 40 I would like to have about 10 cups, 15 bowls, 5 votive holders, and 10 larger pieces at least. My goal is to make enough money to keep me going at school until my first paycheck, which could be 2 or 3 weeks after I start. I also want to spread my name around too and start a mailing list. I need a client base!

Getting started today!

Ben

Back in Business

Hey Everyone,

Sorry to keep you all waiting. I had my boyfriend up here for the past week and we were celebrating his birthday. On top of that, I got sick and had to go to the doctor, but we're getting it all fixed up. AND! It's been so hot and humid here that it took 2 extra days to dry all my pieces off for a bisque firing, so, I finally have everything that could be, bisqued and I'm going to glaze tonight, and tomorrow night so I can get everything fired. After that is done a new video will go up on youtube and new photos will go up on facebook and the website. I can't wait for you all to see what I've been making!

Ben

New Pottery Pics and Bowl Throwing Video

Hello Everyone,

Well, here are some new photos of pottery in progress and stuff that is finished and waiting to be bisqued, which I will probably be getting to later this weekend once everything has dried off and I can do a full kiln of porcelain. Also, not pictured are 1 more tealight holder and 6 more bowls that I just threw tonight, I'll have them up once I do a whole bisque or when they are done!

Also, new video up on Youtube! Check it out here ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sekwQrMMgQ0&feature=channel_video_title It's me throwing, trimming, and decorating one of my bowls. I hope you enjoy it!

Please check it out!

Ben

Throwing a Tealight Holder Videos!

Throwing a Tealight Holder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bVh7yYkokI

Trimming and Decorating the Tealight Holder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBho19eUI5Y

Hey Everyone,

Got my first vids on Youtube, check them out!!

Ben

New Youtube Account

Hey Everyone,

Gabriel's Grove Studio's now has a youtube account! Please check it out at http://www.youtube.com/user/gabrielsgrovepottery There should be some new vids up in a couple of days! Check back frequently!

Website: http://bcoffmanart.webs.com

Deviantart: http://the-angel-gabriel.deviantart.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gabriels-Grove-Studios/285314096983

Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/gabrielsgrove

Thanks!

Ben

New Pots Thrown Today

Hey Everyone,

Well, because of the new gallery consignment, I'm making a lot more work to get ready to re-stock my shelves. Also, I want to re-stock and stock up my etsy shop. I'm also signing up to have a booth at Art-A-Licious in Adrian, MI, when I go back to school. It's a weekend sale and I want to be ready for it!

I'm going to be decorating them extensively, so be ready for more pictures!!

Ben

Medusa Painting WIP III

Hello Everyone,

Well, here's the third installment of Medusa. Going well so far, got one snake done! Wooh! Should be posting more now that I have my studio set up better and I'm home from vacation.

Size: 11x14

Media: Acrylic on Panel

Time: 8hrs so far!

Ben

Back from Vacation-Exciting News!

Hello Everyone,

Well, I'm back from Ohio and Pennsylvania. I know I've been gone for a week, but a lot has happened.

Exhibitions:

Well, I submitted an entry to Manifest Gallery's "2nd International Painting Annual". I sent in the spray painting of my self portrait stencil with the halo. I really hope I get in, it would be nice to have an Exhibition via Print on my resume. Here's hoping!

Gallery:

Well, a few days ago I was approached by a co-op gallery owner that I know about showing and selling my ceramics in her gallery. It is a sale gallery, so it's not an exhibition, but I'm getting a great contract and I'm going to be in with a fantastic gallery and maybe even make some money while I'm at it, spread my name around, and it's just a wonderful opportunity. I'm really excited to go meet her at the gallery on Saturday, sign some papers and drop off my work. I'm so excited!

Senior Show:

I believe I've finally got my senior show nailed down. I hope I can stick to this one and that it will be a great show! It's going to teach me a lot about painting, that's for sure! I'll drop a journal/blog on it soon explaining it all, I still have to figure it out a bit myself. But it's Greek Mythology inspired if that gives you anything to go on.

Making up Price lists and Figuring out Overhead:

Well...who knew selling things at a gallery could be so complicated. I've been making spreadsheets galore to keep track of all my art spending per medium and total studio overhead. Hopefully I can finally get in the green, since I've been in the red since I started my ceramics studio, but now I've branched out a bit, so hopefully we can get more cash flow.

Suggestion:

I suggest any of you looking to start a career as a fine artist, as a real professional, read "How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself Without Selling Your Soul" by Caroll Michels. It will change your world, just saying. It's the most helpful, practical, and entertaining how-to-be-an-artist book I have ever read. READ IT!

Well, that's it for now I believe, cheers!

Ben

Oh...P.S....came out to my Dad, glad I did it. I feel much better now.

Deviantart: http://www.devianart.com/the-angel-gabriel

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/gabrielsgrove

Website: http://bcoffmanart.webs.com

Exciting news!

Hey Everyone,

Just got an offer today to show my ceramics in a gallery for sale. I can't stress enough how much contacts are worth and keeping them! I'm going to sit down with the gallery coordinator and see what we can figure out. I hope it goes well!

Ben

P.S. In PA for the weekend, so no updates with pictures for a while...sorry.

Medusa Painting WIP II

Hello Everyone,

Well, here is Medusa so far. I'm working the underpainting right now and trying to blend it all together well. Her skin has turned out to be a grey-green color with just the smallest hints of red. I'm trying to build this up like I would an oil painting, make a nice, well blended underpainting then glaze the rest of the painting over it. I have some glazing medium for my acrylics and I also have a gloss varnish that will go over the top of it once I'm all finished. It's going well so far, I figured out all the shadows on photoshop first, then I started painting from my digital painting. I'm pretty happy with it so far, but I can't wait to see it build up!

Size: 11x14

Media: Acrylic on Panel

Time: 7hrs.

Ben