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!