'Tis the Season.....

OK....things are hopping now that the holidays are upon us. I have been busy trying to put new pieces in all the galleries, and even planning for 2016! 

In addition, I have opened the online ETSY shop, and have had a great response. (check it out at etsy.com/shop/tobywolter ) If you aren't familiar with ETSY, it is the premier hand-crafted goods market place on the internet with over 1,000,000 shops.( You can find my space under towo17 or via my name if you do a shop or person search)
 There is an incredible amount of info to digest, but think I am off to a good start. :-)

First of all...the new work.  I have become intrigued with making small animal bowls. Specifically, 'Bird Bowls'. They include a hen, parrot, hawk, plus a couple of no-name birdies that seem to come out of nowhere!

 They are simple, hand-built bowls with attached heads, glazed and fired to 2,100 degrees.
It takes me about half the time to make them, so they are only half as expensive as the other 'Spirits in a Bottle'.

And a new fave piece, which I am using for the bowls as well as the traditional spirit/bottles is a messenger hawk.

 They have a lot of serious personality, and along with all the others, look like they could have been made a few hundred years ago!

So in addition to the output, there is a lot of activity with numerous holiday events. Tryon, NC has a Small Business Saturday coming up this Sat. (11/28) And Thompson's Gallery has a great display of my work....
The Christopher Park Gallery (Greenville, SC) has an open house on the following Saturday( I will be one of 3 artists in attendance),
 and La Petite Gallerie (Blufton, SC) is having a Christmas opening this weekend as well.
Drop into any of them if you are in the 'hood!

And last of all, the Tryon Arts & Crafts School had the opening party in the gallery, two days ago....big attendance, and a truly festive setup. Thx TAC!

my pieces in the gallery/shop

So that brings you up to date....will try to post pics of all events and new work.

Hope you are all ready for the holidays!

ETSY link:  http://etsy.com/shop/tobywolter 

Good news!

For a year I have been trying to find the time to set up shop on Etsy. Every time I would build an inventory I needed to send it off to one gallery or another. But I decided, recently, that it was an important advancement for my studio...so I buckled down and got it together! Please visit and let me know what you think....and constructive criticism is welcome.;-)

 here's the link:

http://etsy.com/shop/tobywolter

and don't forget that I am on Instagram, all the time!   http://instagram.com/towo17/

FALL UPDATE:

Sooo sorry........it has been awhile.  But summer is always slow, and I had very little to report. Kept busy sculpting and supplying the galleries, but no exciting news to share! :-)
 
But fall has arrived, and events have picked up, so here is my update:
Things kicked off with the Trayon Arts & Crafts School's current exhibit of '100 Years of Tryon's Arts & Crafts' show. My contribution is '2016...here it comes!'

This was followed by the annual 'Art Trek'.......the opening of 24 artists' studios in the 4 neighboring communities. Turn out for the opening night reception was terrific...the weekend traffic...not as good.
But it was a great motivator for me....I moved the studio to the space next door, which gave me 3x the space and allowed me to finally be able to find everything!

And then, the following weekend, I was fortunate enough to have the North Carolina Folk Art Society pay a visit on their quarterly meeting trip which, this year, was in Tryon. So just before the group had lunch next door, 25 people filled my studio where I gave a brief synopsis of my work and my journey through the art world. ( My first pottery purchase was in 1969!...a large piece by Texas artist Ishmael Soto)

So, all in all, things went from laid back/slow, to hectic!
Thanks for visiting...next entry will show a few new pieces I am working on.

On Marketing.....

I have been fortunate, in the last few years, to build a small network of galleries that sell my sculptures. Two in Tryon, one in Greenville, SC, one in Blufton, SC and the anchor in Savannah, Ga. Along the way I decided that I didn't enjoy tent/festival shows.....(a lot of planning, packing, breakage, and uncertain weather.) but because my production isn't large the galleries absorb all that I am currently producing.
However, I am also learning that along with current gallery expansion comes the learning curve on marketing. And my new fave outlet is Instagram. In the last month I have endeavored to build a home page which clearly & concisely shows current work while slowly building a following from around the world. Unlike Facebook, where I mainly connect with friends, and don't like over dosing them with clay sculptures, Instagram allows anyone who likes your work to follow when they choose.
So if you like Instagram please check out my page under 'Toby Wolter' or 'towo17'.
And as a direct connection, I am back working on an Etsy online store.....and will post when it is up and running.
Thx for checking in!

On Instagram:

And a little more collecting.......

I was on a mission, this weekend, to add to the collection. So I headed to Greenville on Friday, and came home with............a birdhouse! Nothing in the ceramics arena aroused my interest.

So I didn't give up.  Today I headed to Black Mountain, NC for the Black Mountain Art Fair.. There I found Tennessee  artist Tom Frain who makes beautiful functional pieces at very affordable prices. The small bowl, below, is his. And the pieces are so well made. Plus, the glazes are wonderful!

The small mug, on the left, is by Asheville artist Melissa Weiss who digs her own clay in Arkansas and creates such beautiful, organic pieces back in Asheville. I found her work at a super design emporium by the name of Screen Door.

So, I am happy to say, the weekend was a success! ( and I won't get in to last night's Equestrian Ctr. Grand Prix....a totally different story!  :-)

Thanks for checking in....Next time I promise to get back on track and let you know what I am doing with my own clay work....

On Collecting.....

Although I have only been sculpting for 3 years, I have been interested in, and collecting pottery for decades.  It all began in 1969 when I attended a gallery show in San Antonio, Tx. where a potter by the name of Ishmael Soto, who taught at the Univ.of Tx., I believe, was having a one-man show.  I purchased a great piece which I have lovingly lugged around the country for the last 46 years!

In the same year, a trip to Europe and N. Africa with my brother resulted in another great find.  This piece has never been cleaned, and I admire the primitive colors and texture.  Purchased in a small Tunisian shop, it is probably hundreds of years old, and this one, too, remains one of my faves.

But to show a little diversity, I have a couple of Asian/Asian inspired pieces.  The small Chinese bowl is 18^th or 19^th c. Batavia export ware that was popular with Westerners during that period, and exported in large quantities to Europe. (espec. Holland)  I like this piece for its simplicity and perfect execution.

The rice bowl alongside is by an Indiana artist …Larry Spears…who showed, recently, at the Greenville Artisphere. This one appealed because of the clever chopstick holder and beautiful shape.

And lastly I want to show you several  pieces purchase in the last few years, here, in the Carolinas. If you like pottery (or any craft, for that matter) it is hard not to become absorbed with this area.  I could, literally, buy something to add to the collection every day, but have decided that the anticipation is the best part of the hunt!  So I bide my time………guess what?   This weekend is a great one for shows and sales, so here I go again!

 (from the left: cup from Alberta Pottery in Greenville, SC...19th c. Carolina redware....and jar, cup, bowl by Mariana Menge, Akira Satake, and Cat Jarosz...all Asheville, NC potters)

My advice on collecting:  When I buy I usually just follow my instincts which lean to the organic and primitive. Shape and color are important….size isn’t.  I encourage anyone to just jump in and start collecting ….anything. You can even start with thrift shops until you decide what it is you like, and refine your search a little.  And there are great Facebook groups which can help you to identify just about anything! Happy hunting!

Artist Feature: Quirky creations of Toby Wolter

Just did this interview with Jamarcus Gaston on Studio 62 . What a great guy!
(the link below the pics leads you to the video.....)

Artist Feature: Quirky creations of Toby Wolter

Artisphere 2015!

May 8,9,10
Greenville, SC
We're set to go.....please stop by the Christopher Park Gallery if you come!
Great weather/big crowds expected. Easy to find: on the Main Street....right in the middle of the action. (Upstairs gallery)

PREPPING FOR ARTISPHERE

This is the big week for Greenville, SC arts. The 3 day event takes place on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday...May 8,9,10.
I am not 'tenting' it...but will spend a few hours each day at the Christophere Park Gallery. So please stop by if you attend.
Links for more info: artisphere.us and chickenmanart.com

One more load in the kiln, and we are ready to go

Chillin' in G'ville

Hate winter. love Spring, Summer, Fall!
Yesterday was visit Greenville Day. Specifically the Christopher Park Gallery to drop off a few more pieces. The Gallery is my fave folk art gallery around, and any excuse to visit is a good one. 

The weather: perfect. The parks/outdoor restaurants crowded.

The Gallery is gearing up for Artisphere which takes place on May 8,9,10.....I along with several other gallery artists will be there to 'meet and greet' so if you are around, please stop by!
 ( Christopher Park is smack dab in the middle of the action.)
And I will post more info on the fair in the coming days.

My scuptures, plus a couple of new goats.....:-)

Celebrating Earth

I have written, before, about the Tryon Arts & Crafts School. It is a gem of a small school located in Western North Carolina. There are only a few that fall under the tutelage of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild and that makes for an exceptional opportunity if you are interested in learning. Classes are offered in everything from pottery to jewelry making to forging and weaving. Because so many of the locals come from other parts of the country, there is a constant flow of new talent. Membership is very reasonable, and classes generally last for 6 weeks. Weekend workshops allow you to experiment to see just where you want to begin!

So that was a little background info....the school has a small gallery/gift shop, and has a number of shows throughout the year.

Last night was the opening for the 'Celebrating Earth' show and my 'Barnyard Relatives' were a good fit!

So if you are in the area, make a point of visiting TAC!

And coming soon: every year Greenville, SC has an 'Artisphere'. A 3 day event that draws thousands of visitors to view the galleries throughout the city. I will be participating at the Christopher Park Gallery so stop by if you can! ... May 8,9,10.

(More info to come)

GREENVILLE, SC & THE CHRISTOPHER PARK GALLERY

Greenville, SC is an interesting small city. ( pop. 62,000 people ). With more than 100 international companies operating in the greater G'ville area, it makes for a lot more diversity than in many southern communities. And you can walk down Greenville's charming Main Street and hear just about any language spoken!
Which leads me to a description of my newest gallery affiliation.

Just south of the main shopping street lies a small, older part of town which has undergone a rapid revitalization. Quaint shops, restaurants and galleries line the street, and smack dab in the middle is the Christopher Park Gallery (plus a gallery cafe!). This eclectic, colorful, and inviting space is the newest home to my animal sculptures.

I invite you to visit their website to see the wide selection and whimsical personality offered. And this is the first gallery that I work with that enables anyone to buy online.
link: chickenmanart.com

So if you happen to pass by Greenville, it is worth a walk down Main Street....lunch in the gallery cafe, and a perusal of the gallery

READY TO GO!

Another new piece, and a loaded kiln! I think this eagle will be popular....what do you think? I am editing the number of animals down to approx. 6 in each series. This will enable me to build a small inventory and spend a little time developing some new ideas....in the meantime, another load in the kiln fires tomorrow!

LOW COUNTRY TRIP

Had another good trip to Savannah & Blufton to restock the galleries. The ladies who run the Signature Gallery & La Petite Gallerie are the best! Couldn't be nicer or more helpful. And I always look for an excuse to make the journey. ;-)
Work is good. I have had my hands full just keeping the 4 galleries stocked, and I am hoping to find a little time to work on some new and very different ideas. But another gallery is in the works (in Greenville, SC), so I keep sliding the next project back!
In the meantime, Spring has sprung, and I truly love the season!
Until next time......

'NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM'

Did you see the movie? I often wonder if that's what happens when I turn off the studio lights and go upstairs......they do have personalities, and it is amusing to guess how they would interact. ( I know....I'm nuts!)

The new series, Barnyard Relatives, is based on the animals at the Woodstock Animal Sanctuary in upstate NY.  Hard not to love Amelia...the pig in photo# 2!

As with the Endangered series, a portion of the sales goes to foster one or more of their animals.

Kung Hei Fat Choy! (May prosperity be with you)

This is a common Chinese New Year's greeting.....and the holiday began this week.
So, inspired by the event, and encouraged by the weather, I am spending my time sculpting sheep, goats, and rams! ( the symbols for this year's new year)

Sculpted but not fired

Beautiful until it melts!

Valentine's Day ...on the road....

Outdoor Artist's Studio

La Petite Gallery

A fun travel day!  First I headed to Savannah to restock the Signature Gallery with 20 new pieces. Then coffee at Forsyth Park with an old friend......followed by a trip to Blufton, SC ( @ 20 miles north of Savannah).  I have posted pics of Blufton before, on Facebook, but you need to visit to really appreciate this 'under-the-radar', funky little artists' town. I am happy to say that I have a new affiliation with La Petite Gallery which means I have an excuse to visit often! LPG is a brand new co-op gallery shared by 5 very accomplished artists plus a couple of us consignment people. Amazing how cleverly they have managed to display a lot of work in a fairly small but charming space. So if you are headed up or down I-95 schedule an hour or two to make a stop. You'll be happy you did.

Have a Heart

Every year, before Valentine's Day, the Upstairs Art Gallery has a two week show. Between 90 to 100 artists donate a heart which goes up for a silent bid, and the bidding ends on Feb. 14. The beneficiary: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Polk County.
This was the first year that I have participated, and it is really a fun event....an attempt to give back, in a small way, and have fun along the way. And there are some amazing hearts! I have been outbid on one of them, so I have to go back for the closing reception in the hope of snagging one at the last minute. (Sort of like bidding on ebay. ;-) The 3d pic is my contribution entitled 'trunk full of love'.

On A Roll......

Hard to believe, but this is the 3d post within a week! 
Today I delivered the new series to Thompson's Gallery and I decided to post the pics before I forgot......
Thompson's is the best gallery in Tryon, run by a very pretty & energetic Erin Thompson. She combines her love for the outdoors with an eclectic mix of local artists, and the end result is a very inviting space. If you're in the area you should definitely include a stop on your itinerary. ;-)

Barnyard Relatives