Five Vancouver area artists trundled out to Port Moody on Tuesday for the first ‘Raid’ since August. It seems I had enough bisque-fired platters and plates prepared for this group, and there were lots of underglaze colours ready.

Pierre Coupey drove here from West Vancouver and Mina Totino, Kate Metten, Eric Metcalfe and Tamara Mills came from Vancouver. As conversation flowed each person settled right into their work. It’s so interesting to see how very different their processes are. I should have left a couple of plates leather hard for Pierre as he wants to work with sgraffito and wax resist so I must remember that for his next visit. But the group are generally pleased to have stronger bisqued ware to paint on.

Eric brought a couple of plates that he’d worked on at home, and selected a slightly bigger one for the day’s work.

As usual the lunch contributions were splendid. Eric had spent much of the previous day preparing a big batch of ‘Canadienne’ split pea and ham soup, which was delicious. Mina produced a home-made polenta and served it with a rich mushroom sauce, and our Winter meal was completed with baguettes, dolmathes, cheeses and pate. Pierre sent a photo of the spread.

Tamara had baked a sweet loaf which included delicious halva so we had some slices of that with our afternoon tea! What a great tradition we seem to have started. Raids have been happening for about eight years now.

I took a photo of the day’s plate paintings. Now, on Friday, I have glazed them all and filled my kiln for a glaze firing. Top priority is the tiles from Semiahmoo potters and the nine jugbirds of mine so not all the Raiders work is in this firing. But, never fear, all will be fired asap and I’ll post photos of the finished pieces.