Last October I received an interesting request. Would I consider making a Toucan Jugbird? A concert pianist from Texas, Anton Nel, had had an encounter with a toucan while attending a music festival in Colombia. He will be staying with his Vancouver friend this week jurying a piano competition and it was hoped that I’d make one for a surprise presentation.

I was distracted from earthenware while working towards the salt firing last December but once we were back from Mexico it suddenly was time to design and make said toucan. I checked online and found that their colours vary so I tried to make mine as close as possible to the one these guys had seen in Colombia.

The iPad drawing was sent to Ric, who commissioned it, so that he’d have an idea of its planned shape.

Then when the painters were here I was putting the previously thrown sections together. A few days later I painted him with black slip and turquoise slip for the feet/pedestal. (Good grief, the feet are the same colour as those of the blue-footed Booby!) The bold colours of the bill and chest were painted with underglazes. What a good thing I’d bought neon green and bright yellow for the raiders.

The firing that we opened yesterday contained mainly the plates, including mine, but also this toucan. My plate then, is of a Pileated Woodpecker.

So today, in spite of a horrendous cold I’m battling, I took the plates and toucan into Vancouver. The idea was to attend BC Potters’ Guild AGM this evening but I didn’t want to inflict my germs on anybody else. I’m very sorry to have missed the meeting.

Now I’m anxious to know how Anton enjoys his surprise Toucan Jugbird, and whether he can safely take it back to Texas.

Thank you Alan, for taking all the photos (except Colombia & the iPad) in these 6 most recent blogs. The light box is working well for documenting our work.