Making Clay Fish in a Hurricane, working within a budget.

[@jdaviesVT]

This is just beautiful, Vaughn. I really get the feeling of working quietly indoors while the winds rage outside. Glad you did not get significant damage!

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks Jane, I am winning with Lulu, no hissing today.

[@maggiedaly9001]

Thank for mentioning how much it actually costs in time, tax and expenses apart from all the artistic work, glazing and firing! Not many shoppers realize all the work and expenses incurred in making something by hand. Your fish are amazing and I’m trying to make some myself at my studio as you suggested 😊 greetings from County Kerry, Ireland

[@scottmcguirk4848]

I’m going to make some too. I have wheel production experience but want to try making fish while helping keep friend’s gallery open. The market is mostly beach crowds with a low price cap but likes handmade. Curious if I can make and sell enough for cost of living. So far thinking 3 an hour would come between minimum wage and cost of living.

[@Vsmithpots]

Good luck making them, they get easier and faster as you get in the routine. I made 32 that day.

[@triciac1019]

​@Vsmithpots Wow, that is amazing!

[@betsylindsay8480]

You are a good, patient, organized teacher. Inspiring.

[@jhenniceamorrow5936]

Feels like an excellent time to hibernate in your studio!

[@Mackelsey]

Glad to see you came through relatively unscathed

[@sallyweiner4180]

So beautiful there even in a storm!

[@carolinemiddleton3183]

Throughly enjoyed this video .. listening to your wind in the video while hearing our own Falklands wind outside ❤ xx

[@Vsmithpots]

Are you living in the Falkland Islands, I remember those from the 1980's war?

[@carolinemiddleton3183]

@@Vsmithpots yes I am. The war was in 1982 x

[@frauscharflein3070]

Ich bin mittlerweile ein Fan der Fische 😊 danke für die Demonstration, Grüße aus Deutschland 🤗

[@BrokenArrowPottery]

Love the fish. Great way to spend a stormy day! Even the storms are beautiful in their own way. Glad you got through it with minimal damage.

[@heididerksen8227]

Stunning and yes nothing better during a storm then to do pottery

[@kwlloyd7]

Vaughan, I love to watch you work, and I feel if I ever get to meet you we will be friends! I’m about to step outside (I live in upstate New York, and the leaves are mostly down now) and I keep having to do a double take to assure myself that I’m not stepping out into a hurricane! Thanks for your videos.😊

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks, we lived near New Paltz for 17 years.

[@scottmcguirk4848]

1992 high winds of hurricane Andrew. Last year nature put 2 feet water in house as a 30 year reminder. Electric to kilns just got wired last week. Seeing you work while the power is out is an inspiration.

[@Vsmithpots]

Wow! I hope you don't get that again.

[@mystierichards8252]

After a cat 5 it’s never coming back 🙏ty for sharing your talents with the fish here in we love Florida

[@lindafrank7670]

I was afraid we'd have to all come and help at a mosaic party!! So glad you had minimal damage!!

[@dianemodel5824]

So scary. Glad you are safe.

[@ankesander-meyers3714]

Thank you for sharing your work with us. It is so beautiful. I am a potter myself from Daphne, Alabama.

[@msb4511]

Happy to see all is well and thank you so much for being such an excellent teacher. I am new to all this messy, wonderful madness and I wish I would have started sooner. Sooooo much to do! 😉 Best wishes, from South Florida

[@susanvalleauderby2934]

Another storm - the picture-in-picture was interesting and added to the drama with the wind sounds! Interestingly I had just found the video from a couple of years ago on making chip & dips 4 ways, made just AFTER a big storm! These smaller fish are such a good size, thanks for reminding us of the costs involved in making pottery. Cheers from a still dryish West Coast.

[@Vsmithpots]

I hope you get a wet winter.

[@judyfelkamp562]

Hi Vaughn, I'm writing from New Bern, North Carolina. I love your fish and your whales. They look great! Not to mention as I watched the video, I felt like I was sitting through the hurricane with you! With the wind whistling, I was getting the full effect. Keep those tutorial videos coming. I make pottery also and just love watching your techniques. I'm learning some new ways to do things. Thanks again and I'm glad you faired well through the storm.

[@maurad5378]

Love your work and all your videos! Nova Scotia is beautiful even in a storm. A little scary being on the water. So glad you are safe. Going to try some fish! Thank you!

[@ohioskane363]

You are so generous in sharing your knowledge, and it is greatly appreciated.

[@carolynpollack1083]

Wow! So glad you had minimal damage in the hurricane. You are so creative with everything you do. I don't think people realise how much time and effort goes into the finished piece and your costs to make them. I've started to make some because, as you said in an earlier video shipping them uses up resourses.

[@chrisdawson3859]

Happy to hear you had minimal damage during the hurricane!!!

[@carolynsnyder7043]

I wondered how you were with the storm. Stay safe

[@eloasis467]

exelente!! me encancantan sus pescaditos , amo sus formas y decei de corazon que pase este mal tiempo abrazo

[@garyharvey7001]

We have had several bad storms here in Palestine Texas lately. Most of the damage was large limbs breaking and tree blowing over. It wasn't a tornado just thunderstorms. You are brave, l stayed in doors. And I love your fish! I have enjoyed your videos.

[@Vsmithpots]

I have to think doing craft fairs will be risky business with all the extreme weather.

[@doublybubblysoap9734]

Thank God it wasn't a "bad" hurricane! Glad you all are fine, sorry about the plants.

[@melrussell7830]

I’m glad that your building is good after the storm and hopefully the pigeons are relieved that it has passed 😊 I have bought seed for the birds at great cost for the winter months. I’m going to have to work out my costings, as my sales are rising, which is wonderful but how do I work it all out ?!

[@Vsmithpots]

It is a hard thing to estimate. I try to make about 1K of work each day for 5 days then after expenses and taxes we are left with $400 per day. Of course I do work Saturdays and Sundays most weeks. Some things are very time consuming and others quick to make. Make sure you price things high if they are time consuming so you don't resent selling them and have to make another at a loss. Some things are easy and fast, price these higher than you think, they compensate for other pieces that may be under priced. All in all it is very difficult to price work. If you sell some pieces fast raise the prices. Price low at first to get your work out there and avoid looking desperate if you have to lower prices on things. Good luck.

[@melrussell7830]

@@Vsmithpots thank you so much Vaughan for getting back to me, especially when you answer everyone’s comments, that’s a lot of work in itself! And I hope KZbin treats you well for that. And really good advice, I had a lot of hand painted porcelain that sold to one person where I sell my work and I have suspicions that she sold it in London for more money, as I put it lower, because I just started selling there, so I learnt my lesson on that! 😊

[@Vsmithpots]

We artists seem to get the lowest part of the retail price.@@melrussell7830

[@fanfan8853]

C'est super de partager votre savoir faire 🙏 très instructif et 👏 pour le reportage original , I send you the Sun 🌞 from France

[@Vsmithpots]

Merci.

[@jackiemorrison2661]

Amazing Vaughn..

[@MissMolly75]

Love your fish, very inspiring. Do you have a video where you show how to hang them?

[@bruceengland7488]

Greeting Vaughn, from New Jersey! Fish are awesome! How do you keep them from warping?

[@donnastroud9294]

Storm fish. Yea these storms are not fun. Too many here in florida.

[@m.w.8058]

Vielen Dank!

[@melissataylor5494]

Do you have a website or online store? Might be a great way to sell your fish. Thanks.

[@BurgardPottery]

Love the fish and glad your ok. You might have shown this in another video I missed, I'm wondering how you fire the fish. I would assume flat, and if so do you put anything under them, like sand or grog or....? Thanks

[@Vsmithpots]

Just flat on the shelves, nothing underneath.

[@denisebyrd3555]

I’m in Western North Carolina, day 6 following Helene and the massive flooding. I’m getting anxious hearing that wind. We were spared any massive damage. So I guess some clay therapy is in order.

[@Vsmithpots]

I am happy you were spared the brunt of the storm. We are getting stronger and more frequent storms which is why I am building a new studio up the hill about 40 feet above sea level. The ground does not even freeze here in the winter anymore. This year has been quiet, the storms all seem to go into the Gulf of Mexico, that has to be scary for them.

[@zeebee8932]

Please use Closed Captioning.

[@Vsmithpots]

I just figured out where to click in youtube to do this, thanks for reminding me.

[@zeebee8932]

@@Vsmithpots Oh, Vaughan .... thanks so much for your kindness.

[@laurennunley3759]

So enjoyed your video! You are an awesome teacher. How do you hang your fish?

[@Vsmithpots]

2 small black screws@@laurennunley3759

[@Mangobattie]