There's always more to learn when you toy with atmospheric firing. People ask how it went and the answer is 'well 80%', often. That's good. Overall the colours looked encouraging when we opened the kiln door but my batch seems rather brown. I shall refer to my notes and make suggestions to myself to try a different flashing slip, or apply less etc. Every time…
Once again I had the chance to join fellow potters in a firing of the Vault Kiln at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Hoping that having my name on their waiting list would earn me a chance, I had thrown some experimental pieces back in November. Lucky me, I was invited to bring my two cubic feet of ware for this firing. The pots are…
TriCity Potters invited Pat Schendel to be our guest for last week's January meeting. We had an excellent turn-out for Pat's interesting talk about her work with Crystalline glazes. Some of Pat's fans came all the way from Richmond for her presentation. I think folks were very happy to get together again after the holidays. Fearful snow caused the closing of the Arts Centre, and…
Today's blog will be an homage to two artists who are important in my life: Paul Mathieu and Eric Metcalfe. Paul recently sent me an email with a link to his digital Ceramics History publication, "The Art of the Future" so that I can include it in a blog. It's long but it is a well-researched reference for students which he put together during the years…
The guest speaker for TriCity Potters' November meeting was Vancouver Ceramist Mitra Mahmoodi. We were treated to a delightful and well-planned presentation, with a biographical slide show, followed by a demonstration of her process. Mitra had brought along several finished pieces as well as leather-hard forms to show how she makes each one. Mitra Mahmoodi is a full-time ceramic artist based in Vancouver, whose work…