Art by Fuzzy

Pottery, Photography, Design - Brandon "Fuzzy" Schwartz

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Looking Ahead to 2014

I guess it’s the time to look back on the previous year and make some goals for the year ahead.

Cup Show entries

Cup Show entries

2013

Highlights

  • My website has finally reached a state with which I’m happy. The blog is cranking along pretty well. Even some of the galleries are finished.
  • New and exciting directions for my pottery including decals and new glazes.
  • 1st wood firing experience.
  • 1st attempt demonstrating and selling at a festival.
  • Accepted into my first juried show.
  • Put together my first ceramics camp/class.
  • Attended a fantastic pottery workshop.
  • Made some connections: met some local potters and I’ve started to connect to others through social media.
  • Got to hep with a stop at the Michiana Pottery Tour.
  • Successfully defended my fantasy football title.
  • Was part of the winning team in the first WNP staff dodgeball extravaganza.
  • Purchased a slab roller for the clay studio.
textured cup

textured cup

Lowlights

  • My primary sales outlet left town.
  • I still can’t grow a beard.
  • My teams: more disappointment than success?

So, looking back, it was a pretty fantastic year. I hope to ride this wave  into 2014 and beyond. So let’s take a look at what I hope to accomplish in the next year:

2014

Top Priorities

Things that I want to get done before 2015 rolls around.

  • Etsy! My top goal is to set up shop and start getting my work “out there” for everyone to see.
  • Find at least one store in the physical world to sell my wares.
  • Apply to at least 3 exhibitions/festivals/shows this year.
  • Offer another class for the staff at WNP.
  • Make my own stamps.
  • Continue to shoot a handful of family or senior portraits with my wife.
  • Make more connections and increase my social media presence. If you’d like to connect:
    • Facebook (243) and Facebook Page (70)
    • Google+ (63) and Google+ Page (4)
    • Twitter (59) (not a high frequency user)
    • Pinterest (33)
    • Instagram (62)
    • LinkedIn (17 connections)
  • Make sets of pots, start defining a standard shape for mugs, cups and bowls.
  • Write some great, original content for my other site.
  • Continue to test new glazes and perfect the application of the glazes that I have now.

Lower Priority Goals

The “it would be cool to do this” category. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll try next year.

  • Try some color decals.
  • Learn some PHP or Javascript.
  • Start an email newsletter.
  • Upgrade one of our cameras and at least one of our lenses.
  • Get a screened in porch for the back of our house.
  • Improve my Adobe Illustrator skills.

I’m sure there are some other things that I’m forgetting. But that should keep me busy for a good part of 2014. Now I just need to lay out my plans to accomplish each goal. Perhaps in another post?

Anyway, I wish everyone out there the best that 2014 has to offer. Thanks for reading.

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