You can still sign up for a pottery class! Time is running out. Call tomorrow!!!

Beginning Ceramics on the Wheel ~

Learn wheel-throwing techniques including wedging, centering, pulling, trimming, and finishing. Explore handle making and surface decoration. Tools can be purchased at Pat Catan's Craft Center for about $10 dollars. *Class fee includes clay, slab roller, wheels, glazes and firings of several pieces.*
Session One6 Mondays September 15th - October 20th 6:30-8:30 p.m.Instructor: Gina DeSantisMember: $133 Non-member: $148 Registration
Session Two6 Mondays October 27th - December 1st 6:30-8:30 p.m. Instructor: Gina DeSantisMember: $133 Non-member: $148 Registration Deadline: October 20th

Advanced Ceramics~Investigate the functional form's evolution throughout ceramic history. Designed for intermediate to advanced potters. Experiment with shaping, decorating and altering simple and functional forms. The class will explore both slab work and wheel throwing techniques.*Class fee includes clay, slab roller, wheels, glazes and firings of several pieces***Students who wish to obtain one graduate credit hour through Ashland University are required to create no less than 10 pieces, each exploring different shapes and decorative techniques, provide a 1-3 paragraph artist statement that will be presented during the final critique of the assignment, and keep a sketchbook of thoughts and ideas leading to their final project.10 Tuesdays September 16th - November 18th 6:30-8:30 p.m.Instructor: Gina DeSantisMember: $170 Non-member: $189

Contact Information ~ email: arthouseinc@aol.com

phone: 216.398.8556

http://www.arthouseinc.org/

Have you signed up yet?

Here is my complete list of classes for the fall session at Art House. Its not on the website yet so visit http://ginadesantisceramics.com/classes.php

Contact Stephanie our lovely new Program Coordinator at 216.398.8556 to sign up. The only thing I love more than making pottery is teaching how to make it. We have a lot of fun and great resources at Art House. Don't be afraid, its fun! When in life are you permitted to get messy?!?!?

Etsy :: Treasury List

Etsy :: Treasury List

yeah i'm in a list!

here is my current list of etsy favorites. or as it should be called, things you should buy me. the problem with etsy is that i find too much to buy and don't sell enough to support my habit. please be my enabler and buy some of my stuff too. check out the amazing artists below. enjoy.

OPERATION CLEAN UP MY MESSY STUDIO!!! PART 27.

Today only on etsy. Get an extra 20% off all sale and seconds sale items. Convo me and I will adjust the price or purchase and I can refund you via paypal. Good today only...Saturday Sept 6th!!!

I have another month long sale going on as well. Check it out...

pot by lucie rie.

it has occurred to me that i adore two artists who hated to speak about their work. lucie rie, above. and georgia o'keefe. to quote georgia, "To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

"To be an artist is to believe in life." - Moore, Henry

http://ginadesantisceramics.com/classes.php

Fall classes at Art House. My ceramics courses include beginning and intermediate/advanced wheel throwing. The advanced class is offered for 1 graduate credit hour through Ashland University.

I am also teaching a lamp making workshop. Contact 216.398.8556 to sign up today! My classes fill quickly so call soon.

SALE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3OTH! Purchase 2 or more items and your shipping is only $5! Includes sale items. Convo me before purchase to receive discount.

For wholesale clients I have specials as well. Please email me at artzy_grl@yahoo.com

Also check out the interiordesignteam that I am part of on etsy. http://team.etsy.com/profilest/interiordesign.shtml

There are some great pieces for your home. Please visit one of our blogs:

http://interiordesignteam.blogspot.com/

http://designstyleguide.blogspot.com/

Ceramics Classes in Cleveland This Fall!!!!

I have 4 classes at Art House this fall. The info is below. Its not on the Art House site yet. Contact 216.398.8556 to sign up or visit http://www.arthouseinc.org. Please note all classes run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The fees include all of your glazes, firings and 1 25lb bag of clay!

Beginning Ceramics
6 Mondays- Sept 15-Oct 20th or Oct 27-Dec 1st.
$148 non-member. $133 member.
Learn basic wheel throwing techniques including wedging, centering, pulling, trimming and finishing. Explore handle making and surface decoration.

Advanced Ceramics
10 Tuesdays Sept 16-Nov 18th
Non-member $189. Member $170.
This class is designed for intermediate to advanced potters. We will explore advanced wheel throwing and decorative techniques through surface design and glazing. Students can also explore hand building methods.
***This class is also offered for one graduate credit hour through Ashland University. Ideal for art teachers!

Ceramic Lamp Making Workshop
4 Thursdays Oct 30-Nov 20th
The first 2 evenings will consist of hand building a stoneware lamp. On the 3rd class we will glaze. We will assemble the lamps on the 4th class.
This is a great class to learn basic ceramic hand building skills or to build upon existing skills. Perfect time of year to make a gift as well!

I hope to see you at one of my classes. I hope to start teaching PMC courses soon too. As always I will keep you posted.

in the studio at night.

cooler weather means a much better studio temperature. i just finished some larger pieces for upcoming shows and i have some new tray with dip bowl sets. i have not made trays in quite some time. after my thesis i was tray-ed out. i made so many i didn't go back to them until what is now 2 yrs later. they are stamped with textile stamps coupled with thrown bowls. hopefully i get them done soon for upcoming shows both local and out of lovely ohio.

a few things...
an open studio date has been set. mark your calendars for friday, october 17th. more details soon. it appears my studio neighbors want to welcome you as well so once everything is in order i will post info on this site and http://www.ginadesantisceramics.com/.

i still have a promotion until the end of august on etsy. its odd that no one ever takes advantage to these things. if you buy one item you get the 2nd for $5!!! shipping still applies and of course the second item must be of equal or lesser value. if you live in the cleveland area and want to pick up anything you see online at my studio or one of my shows drop me a line. i can waive the shipping costs for you!

lastly i have 2 shows to announce for the fall and winter. i will be at the tremont art festival (w/mike zellers, ruth sholtis-furyes, and ann mcneill) and in sept and brecksville heartfelt holiday (w/ruth and ann) in nov. again i will post more details asap.

have a great week!

new cleveland art magazine

pink eye magazine is now out. it is created by leigh ring (a former ceramics student!) and ian p.e. their website http://www.pinkeyemag.com has more info as well. its nice to have a full color mag covering cleveland's art scene...for free!

leigh has a graphic design co. visit her site at http://www.ringartdesign.com for more info.

AUGUST PROMOTION!

Purchase any item on etsy, get the 2nd item for $5.

Please note 2nd item must be of equal or lesser value and shipping charges still apply.

Convo or email me before purchase so that I can reserve and adjust the price accordingly.

Good through Aug. 31st.

some images from chicago. we went to the art institute. i had time to check out the permanent collection in great detail. i loved this decanter set. amazing. i should also mention i love renaissance, northern european and impressionist painting. i often felt out of place at grad school because i did not know hip and trendy current painters nor was i obsessed with modern art. i am attracted to good design and skill. sorry hipster art students.

look its becca and i reflected in the bean. soon after we hopped on a trolley to navy pier then went to an italian restaurant that just opened (that i can't remember the name of). but when i do i will post it. delicious. ate my weight in foccacia bread. clearly.
we also stumbled across the gold coast art festival. great show...not a lot of potters...not sure why. i am the proud owner of 2 new snappy necklaces. yeah art.

i am hoping to begin classes and some artsy crafty diy parties in my studio very soon. please email me at artzy_grl@yahoo.com with "art class" in the title so you don't end up in spam! i will send out an email when i am all organized.

these classes will be in addition to my courses i teach at art house (http://www.arthouseinc.org/). they begin mid sept and include beginning wheel throwing on monday nights and intermediate/advanced wheel throwing on tues nights. both classes run from 6:30-8:30. in addition the advanced class is offered for one-credit hour at ashland university. its perfect for art teachers looking to expand studio skills.

p.s. i'm still planning that open studio. promise!

art show etiquette

while i can only speak for myself i think that their are some rules of pricing when it comes to artwork. a mug at an art show is more expensive than a mug at crate and barrel for a reason - it was constructed by american hands not foreign machines. that being said artists can price as they see fit. my price points consider materials and time plus the amount of kiln firings a piece may require. i have a high count of repeat buyers i love dearly, many of which have become friends. artists can therefore give price breaks where they see fit.
that being said if you are going to talk me down in price here are some rules to adhere by. first do not tell me my work is "not worth" a certain price. this is arbitrary and insulting. i sell work nationwide and make a lot more money out of ohio that in with higher price points.
also do not tell me the quality of a piece is not good. if it was not it would not be on my table. i won't sell anything i won't buy myself.
do not tell me you are in business and i should be more willing to come down in prices because that keeps customers. if an artist undervalues their work then others will too.
finally do not come up to my booth and tell me it looks like i haven't sold anything since yesterday as if i'm desperate for a sale. i bring more work than i can fit on a table. so when i sell something i fill the empty space.
i work in retail and i am a merchandiser. i understand how to deal with customers, customer service, and product placement. however art shows are not retail stores. and they are certainly not major corporate retail chains. you are buying a bowl. a bowl that is a bowl but that is also art. if you want deals hit the road to ikea.

i come down in price frequently. this is usually proceeded by kindness, compliments and respectfulness of the hardwork behind the creation of an art piece.

new work to be seen at the first ever summer edition of the bazaar bizarre. free admission tonight from 4-6 so stop by !

new work to see at the bazaar bizarre at the ingenuity festival. this is the first ever summer edition of the show. from 4-6 on friday admission is free to the festival. stop by to check out some great artwork, etc from local artists. i'm offering some sales due to admission costs. mugs are usually $25...they will be on sale for $20 or 4/$75 as well as sales on noodle dishes and my older line of jewelry.

shown is my a little something from my new line...no sales but nevertheless the good deals.

Summer 2008 edition of the Cleveland Bazaar Bizarre at this year's Ingenuity Festival. Here is a map...look near all go signs to find the artists...http://ingenuitycleveland.com/

Hopefully someone in Cleveland will show us some love via press....anyone?