I’ve added 2 photos from Land Artist Chris Mackenzie to my blog of Jan 10th, and a little more on the 2D art currently on display at Port Moody Art Centre.

Yesterday it was time to open my latest glaze kiln and retrieve some ordered pieces – the 8 jugbirds for Crafthouse YVR, a flicker and sugar pots and a wild Green, Blue-Billed Bird Teapot. Other pieces will wait here for the April ArtWalk.

Customers who have enjoyed a blue-billed green jugbird since last year’s ArtWalk commissioned me to design a matching bird teapot. I really like the combination of colours so was happy to draw and make one. We’ll see whether he’s big enough for their needs – I think that when he’s filled with tea he’s heavy enough. Luckily the odd bill/spout has produced a good pour!

Here is a little photo essay on the process of his manufacture. I threw the body first, then its lid and then a cylinder which I later cut up to form the spout/bill.

Assembling the pieces and then adding a handle/tail, eyes and a ‘crest’ on the lid is totally absorbing and satisfying. I leave the completed piece under soft plastic to even out the moisture for a day. I then paint it with my coloured slips before allowing it to dry slowly.

A final step before the bisque firing is the application of terra sigillata (very fine red clay slip) to give the base and lid ‘seat’ a pleasing finish.

After the bisque firing all the work is dipped in a clear glaze and fired again to Cone 04, an earthenware temperature which melts the glaze to a bright glossy food-safe coating.