Thursday, December 18, 2008

Hawt guys: potters who blog



Ron



Doug


Matt




You realize at some point that you aren't the only guy who is
a) a potter
b) a blogger
c) posts frequently
d) a nice guy
e) stone cold, GQ handsome

They are out there, but where, eh? Most of my readership here is female, and chicks dig potters, that is a fact. Thanks to pottery I met my supermodel wife.

Backtrack. In December of 1989 I was finishing grad school to become a special education teacher and messing around in my spare time at the university's open studios. University of Illinois has 2 of exactly the kind of open studios I now teach in at Cornell. The woman who would one day be my wife ran one of the studios plus the student gallery. She ran an exhibit in December of 1989 and that is when I first met her. I delivered my teaset and pitcher and couldn't even look her in the eye she was so pretty. I gradually took on more teaching responsibilities in her studio, and almost 3 years later, as I have said, in 1992 we started to date and we got married December 24, 1992.

But here's the point: people do meet over clay. As an old married guy, I see it happen amongst the young students in the Cornell studio. BUT, there are about 3 young single guys to 80 young single women.
That was how it was for me in college too, and that was why I majored in ceramics, no brainer eh? Hang out where the women are hanging out.

But that's not my point here. I just happened to notice the other day that these 3 new pottery pals of mine make wicked cool work and are nice guys and I am certain this post embarrasses them. BUT, check out these guys and their work through their blogs. I have NOT found many blogs with guys who are potters.

Matt is a young fellow in England who is friends with Doug---and these guys are real old fashioned potters (I use electric kiln and wheel and am pushing non-tradional forms) with wood firings, digging clay up out of the woods. Gorgeous stuff and fascinating guys. Their US buddy Ron lives in North Carolina and uses old techinques to make the cutest and funniest illustrated pots.

Finally, of course, is my pal Crafters of Khnum, but he has a semi-private blog and I will respect that.

Tis a shame we are not all in the same village, but at least there is this online forum.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll have fun looking at these blogs later tonight, Gary.

Big snow storm coming!!! YAY! I might not have to go to work tomorrow! 6-12 inches they're predicting here! Woo Hoo!

Gary's third pottery blog said...

snow=blech

doug Fitch said...

Ha ha, cheers Gary. It's true, Ron is grey I am purple and Matt is taller than his front door.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

we are a very interesting bunch, believe me...

Ron said...

Good morning Gary (it looks as if you've been up much longer than me though). Thanks for the kind works. It's great meeting folks here in the blogosphere. The internet is a fantastic thing. I love coming here to see what you've been up to each day (and see a new header). By the way your optimism and fun spirit is certainly infectious. Maybe I'll get up to visit someday (after all the snow melts) My pal Jen Mecca who lives in SC, grew up in Ithaca and speaks fondly of her childhood there.

Ron said...

oops, that's supposed to say, kind 'words'

Gary's third pottery blog said...

I speak fondly of Ithaca too: from June to August!!!!!! ;^)
I should mention, ladies, none of these gents is single....

Lynda said...

Oh, good... more fun for me!

Jay said...

The chicks do love the pottery guys. That's why I'm considering taking up pottery.

And hanging out where the girls are seems like such an obvious idea now. I don't know why it wasn't so obvious back in high school or college. Drama club, yoga classes ... it all seems so simple now. hhaa ;-)

Nancy L.K. Boyce said...

Nothing better than beefcake, that can make me a coffee mug!

Gary's third pottery blog said...

Jay, never too late to take those classes buddy.....

Matt Grimmitt said...

It's true that door is 6ft and if you take Doug anywhere there is UV lighting he goes inviseble! Haven't met Ron in real life yet but always pressumed it was normal that folks in NC were grey! Are we weird then? Next you'll be saying potters in NY don't keep herds of little animals in their studios to use on their pots!
Nice one Gary, I can't say enough good things about you, your blog and your pots! Cheers for the dose of happiness everyday. :)

Gary's third pottery blog said...

(sort of like Alice in Wonderland, eh Matt?)

doug Fitch said...

absolutely

Unknown said...

And what fun, to find yourself tumbling down that rabbit hole in such very fun, and superbly talented company!

Miss Heather said...

It's TRUE! Girls LOVE POTTERS! And they should do a GQ issue with all you guys (with you on the cover, of course). !!

Anonymous said...

Oh goody - MEN - Where is Celeste???

Yeah, yeah - I know, I've got Jimbo, but hey, I can look, can't I??? LOL!

Anonymous said...

I'm here, kate, stewing over the fact that I had to scroll through the comments to find out they're all single. Gary can be so mean sometimes.

Anonymous said...

My Uncle David is a potter, but not a blogger, at least not that I know of. He invented the Motion Mug many years ago. Remember that? It had a wide base and a narrow mouth with non-slip stuff on the bottom so you could put it on your dashboard. Before cupholders and travel mugs came about.

Brad Lail said...

Thanks for encouraging me. I am now aware that I am capable of a supermodel wife.

Jason, as himself said...

It's a lot like going into elementary education! I've been surrounded by women since the minute my career began.