On a wintry day at the end of January intrepid Rick Ross brought his old friend Eric out here for the day. Just the three of us painted plates so I felt comfortable working alongside them. Normally I'm a bit shy to paint - potting with others watching is OK but painting requires concentration. Those pieces were finally fired when I filled the kiln with last…
As I headed into my fifth day of having no voice due to a nasty case of pharyngitis I still had stuff to do today. I know, 'drink lots and rest' are the rules. I emptied my bisque kiln on Sunday and then on Monday managed to wax some plates and glaze all but knew I was too tired to get the loading done carefully…
I expect it was the Gallery of BC Ceramics' call for yunomis that got me thinking about making some again. Lots of atmospheric-firing people like to make these Oriental-inpired handle-less cups but I've always felt that if I prefer to drink tea or coffee out of a mug or cup with a handle then I shouldn't mess with another culture. But the form is…
My favourite piece to come out of my two recent glaze firings is the Pileated Woodpecker Jugbird. In early January I posted a photo of his beginnings and here is a photo of him being painted later. He has a wheel-thrown body, head, legs and neck. Those parts are carefully fitted together and I add his jolly crest, a slot for filling and pouring and a handle, and…
Last Fall I took myself for a little walk behind Port Moody's Rec Centre to Noon's Creek. Salmon return from the ocean every year, swimming all the way past Vancouver and many miles inland to the end of Burrard Inlet where they fight their way up Noon's Creek. For a long time now volunteers have enhanced the gravel beds and put in 'ladders' to…