mel jacobson on sat 29 jan 11
like owning a kiln, a small studio furnace is based on
FUEL AVAILABLE/VENTING AVAILABLE.
i would not haul kerosene
i would use what comes to the space, or install it.
permanent and safe.
it is like spending money on a chain saw, a truck,
a log splitter, storage for wood and the bill comes to
45,000 bucks. but, you save on your gas bill. sure.
if wood is available in your back yard, free...use it.
a studio is a lifetime investment.
you make it tight, well insulated, have good
venting and stacking.
it is your home.
good air
good light
good venting.
great sound system.
i have electricity coming from the pole to my studio.
no extension cords. full power.
i have gas to my studio. full power.
now i can make pots.
24/7/365.
air conditioning was my first concern. as a teacher
i was off summers, so. had to work every day of the summer.
97F and humid kills a potter. so. no a/c in the house, but
a/c in the studio. i installed a small used a/c unit through the wall.
permanent. on low it takes out the humidity and keeps the studio at
about 78F. the pots liked it too. i am on my third a/c unit. now have
a very efficient unit.
i have an overhead gas furnace like you would see in a service
garage. out of the way. and of course in the winter, my pots dry
fast and perfectly. it pays me to have this ability.
i have a back room unheated. clay/glaze materials and my big
electric and gas kiln. a solid door keeps the fumes away from me.
i turn on a small electric heater an hour before i load the kiln in really
cold weather. takes the deep chill off. i wear `batter's gloves`, a wool
cap and an old polar fleece jacket. the job gets done fine. no suffering.
i walk five feet from my pots to the big kiln.
i make enough pots and sell enough pots to have a classy studio.
i earn it. it has always been that way. i earn it. the old fashioned way=
.
i decided years back that when i got to be 65 i would never have to suffer
in a studio. i am now 76 and my studio has served me well since 1968
when i built it. i have had it paid off for many years, as was my home.
it is a very joyful small business. i deduct everything i can from my
taxes. i pay my taxes with a schedule for a small home business.
it works well.
the city of minnetonka added a special addendum to a bill that forbids
garage sales and home sales over four times a year. they call it
the mel bill. `he can have art sales just fine...it is classy.`
that made me blush a bit...but, glad they did it. it also shows respect
for artists and fine craftspeople that work from their home studios in this
western minneapolis community. i wonder how they got to understand that?
could it be my work in the community? could be.
you sell pots to earn money to continue your work.
you work to educate people in craft and art. if you do
not earn any money, then do you expect the society to pay for
your home, studio and art work? i do not believe that.
my craft work is a personal choice. it is up to me to make it work,
sustain myself and be accountable to the craft. i sleep very well.
i work hard and love my land, my home and my studio. (like my dog too.)
and the family is content and lasting. it is a life that makes many
of my friends envious. but, it is all about choice. half way measures
are always half way. then you live a quarter of a life. (simple math.)
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
alternate: melpots7575@gmail.com
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