It’s been a while since the Raiders were here but we finally coordinated last Friday to get together. I managed to make enough plates for the group after I got back from England so we organized a Christmas Raid. Six artists made their way out to Port Moody. Eric, Mina, Renée, Monique and Rebecca drove out and first-time visitor Philippe Raphanel took the skytrain to Lougheed Town Centre and I picked him up. (In something over a year from now the skytrain will reach as far as Port Moody, hooray!)

Everybody brought generous helpings of food for a festive lunch and the painting and conversation continued all afternoon. Alan took some photos of the work going on and I’ve selected just a few to remind the painters of their busy day.

I’m happy to report that Philippe was given a ride back to Vancouver afterwards! He worked carefully on four plates and will be back again in the new year to finish them.

I took a photo of the drying plates after they’d all left and I know the finished work will be rather impressive! They’ll be bisqued and glazed over the next week and I’ll post photos of the finished plates then.

Alan and I do enjoy having these Vancouver folks come out here occasionally and I’m happy to have them experience working on non-flat clay surfaces. Usually I am continuing with my own work while they’re here but this time I had decided that it was really too late to begin new work and try to complete it before Christmas. Come January and I’ll be back at work. Already there’s another Raid planned and there’ll be a small group here to paint special tiles too. I shall be making jugbirds again then.