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…
Suddenly I'm busy, busy! It's amazing what deadlines will encourage. The airport wants their order right now and as many jugbirds as I have on hand. On Tuesday I had 10 completed but unpainted. On Wednesday the first of two 'Painting Raids' took place, when 3 of a planned 8 artists painted my oval plates for a Western Front fund-raiser in March. That evening…
It's been good to get back to routine this week. The rain's been pouring down and when it's dry it's cold so there are no distractions outside. I can just see the tips of Spring bulbs poking up and there's a lot of yard clean-up to do. I've been photographing the super variety of birds at our feeders. In the studio I needed to start…
After I'd had a day or two to make notes on the salt firing I chose some pieces to deliver to my Granville Island galleries. The interim manager at the Gallery of BC Ceramics, Laura Carey, seemed pleased with the new work but she also showed me how much she likes my miniature Pileated Woodpecker jug bird! Assistant Carita Ho is always happy with…
I've put together a Picasa album of photos of salty pots. These are my best pieces from the Venema/Dobie/McMillan firing in Abbotsford last week. Take a look at the album and tell me which you like best! I'm not sure I'm ready to let them go yet but the Granville Island galleries want some now. https://picasaweb.google.com/112208740085943894765/GillSPotsFromSaltFiringDec2012?feat=email