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Raku from Phoenix Workshop

March 5, 2018RakuDavid

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otterpottery

74 Johnson Avenue
Markerville, Alberta -
Phone 403-638-5177

Having not worked with porcelain much it was time

Having not worked with porcelain much it was time to make a plate. Porcelain is fickle, so I heard, the plate didn’t develop the dreaded S-Crack. I’ll attribute that to luck. But after throwing this I applied porcelain orange slip and a red slip at random. The red needs some adjustments! Trimming the inside of the plate revealed the color combinations against a bright white. Join us for the next #potteryclasses in #Sundre starting the 3rd week of March or so. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. To be the first to find out the date, leave your name and email address and you will be added to our mailing list. .#Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #porcelain #porcelainslips #wheelthrowing #plates

A nice combination of glazes. To me it suggests th

A nice combination of glazes. To me it suggests the Northern Lights in a starry sky. Not too much and not too little to suggest the lights dancing around the rim. SOMETHING NEW! Join us for the new revamped #Sundre #potteryclasses starting the week of May 27th. I have changed one class to making pottery using molds with one class on the wheel. We have space available for every evening 7 to 10 pm if you would like to come and have some fun creating. Mid-Day classes will be available starting in July. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #wheelthrowing #ceramics #potteryglazes #slipcasting

Try something new again! Over the years I silk scr

Try something new again! Over the years I silk screened the T-shirts for the rafting business. Why not try something new with the old screens? Now this image is on my T-shirts as well as my mugs. You can have one made to order! Join us for #potteryclasses in #Sundre starting the week of March 25st. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #Silkscreening #wheelthrowing #ceramics #potteryglazes #slabwork

Some of the students work from #Sundre #potterycla

Some of the students work from #Sundre #potteryclasses . Anyone interested in a Wednesday evening class? With a minimum of 3 people we can organize one for your group.

Here are more of the mugs that came out of the lat

Here are more of the mugs that came out of the latest kiln firing. What great results!! If you are interested in the pottery classes here in Sundre I have some starting July 1st. Book Early! #Sundre #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #potteryclasses

#potteryclasses in #Sundre are starting up the wee

#potteryclasses in #Sundre are starting up the week of November 5th. To enroll go to http://www.otterpottery.com/pottery-classes/ . This teapot is out of the last wood firing. We reached 2228 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the wood used burnt very hot but gave little of the desired ash deposits. Next time I could blow wood ashes into the fire to amp up the runs. Still a lovely pot. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #woodfiredpottery #lessons #arts #woodfired #teapot

In the last posting, did you notice the wave shape

In the last posting, did you notice the wave shaped shadow cast by the sculpture. Therefore, both of these pieces were also wave shaped. A little something to hang back about and not point out right away. These pieces of wall art are about textures. The leather frames the work. It looks and feels so different from the craggy canyons and hills of the landscapes of these pieces. This is a raku type of clay, but I wanted to fire it in a low temperature barrel fire. They both were placed in a barrel full of wood chips, bark, saw dust, pine cones and roots. The wood was lit to burned in the barrel all night. These two pieces were discovered hidden amongst the ashes and incombustibles.

I have done a lot of primitive firing, specificall

I have done a lot of primitive firing, specifically barrel firing. The technique uses a 45 gallon oil drum with a few holes to let in a bit of air, place a layer of wood, bark, wood chips, pine cones etc, than alternate with a layer of pottery until the barrel is full. The barrel is lit and burns/smolders away for about 24 hours. As the wood burns away, the pottery settles or falls to the bottom of the barrel. There is some breakage and cracking to this method. I have #potteryclasses in Sundre starting the week of July 2nd week. There will also be some classes aimed as a day camp for kids. Book Early! #Sundre #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #potteryclasses #sculpture

This is a clay representation of Bighorn Falls whi

This is a clay representation of Bighorn Falls which is on one of the tributaries of the upper Red Deer River. It is only a short hike up the gorge to see the double falls cascading into a cold pool below. For many years, two dead trees, one upright and one hanging across the river, formed a natural frame for the falls. One spring, the rivers in the area were all very high and the torrent washed the trees away. It is still an inspiring site even though it no longer has the frame. This is a favorite place for many. Several similar pictures of this scene have been published in various media in the area. With the summertime comes plenty of tourists to the mountains. There must be photos of these falls carried back to different countries around the world. With just a bit of a pause in our day, we can all see the beauty of nature around us.

This year Otter pottery of #Sundre has improved th

This year Otter pottery of #Sundre has improved their display booth. You can get a good look at some of my pottery on sale now. There is a special sale date, Dec 15, 10 am to 8 pm. Guest artists work on display too. Some bargains then!! We have gift certificates for Pottery classes starting in January. http://www.potteryclasses.page . #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #arts #Christmas

Reposting due to poor picture quality. Learning to

Reposting due to poor picture quality. Learning to combine glazes takes time. Not too much and not too little. Join us for the #Sundre #potteryclasses starting the week of March 25th. We have space available for every evening 7 to 10 pm if you would like to come and have some fun creating. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #wheelthrowing #ceramics #potteryglazes

We had some good weather and got a raku firing don

We had some good weather and got a raku firing done. It is always exciting to get a very quickly finish pot. Instant gratification. Be ready for unexpected surfaces, colors and of course – lots of fire! For the #potteryclasses in #Sundre I don’t teach raku. You can’t predict the amount of wind here. We have #giftcertificates available for the Pottery classes after #Xmas Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #arts #Christmas #raku

These French butter dishes and garlic keepers fit

These French butter dishes and garlic keepers fit in the fridge for travel and take no room on a small table once you found your destination. Spending summer in the Sundre area? Join us for #Sundre #potteryclasses starting the week of July 9th. For the summer, classes are available afternoons and evenings. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #wheelthrowing #ceramics #exploresundre #camping #resorts

Another view of this bowl. Learning to combine gla

Another view of this bowl. Learning to combine glazes takes time. Not too much and not too little. Join us for the #Sundre #potteryclasses starting the week of March 25th. We have space available for every evening 7 to 10 pm if you would like to come and have some fun creating. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #wheelthrowing #ceramics #potteryglazes

Oops! My hand was too big for the greenware mug an

Oops! My hand was too big for the greenware mug and the wall of the cup broke. Suddenly, they became candle holders. An accident can trigger a new way to think about what to make. Join us for #Sundre #potteryclasses starting the week of July 9th. For the summer classes are available afternoons and evenings. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #wheelthrowing #ceramics

Here is a student`s work from the classes that end

Here is a student`s work from the classes that ended in December. With the vibrant, cranberry glaze highlights on this small serving plate, it stands out and sings. I have changed the date of the upcoming pottery classes to start the week of January 21st. To enroll, have a first, second and third choice of days that you are available. With only 5 students per class it helps if you can be flexible. Join us for #potteryclasses in #Sundre. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #arts #January #mug #plates #trays

I have 2 mugs left over from a recent commission.

I have 2 mugs left over from a recent commission. Wanting travelling mugs, I attached short high handles. These are a pleasure to hold and so comfortable. They can fit in your car’s cup holders too. Join us for #Sundre #potteryclasses starting the week of March 25th. I already have people enrolled for Wednesday evening 7 to 10 pm if you would like to come and have some fun creating. Other days are available. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #wheelthrowing #ceramics

The order that you apply the glazes gives differen

The order that you apply the glazes gives different effects. White over black gives the speckled pattern. Extra interest is added by the random crawling of the black glaze on this butter dish. We will be at several #christmasmarkets in the #Sundre area this year. On November 18th at the Sundre #market. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #arts

A French Butter Dish. Keep your butter nice and cr

A French Butter Dish. Keep your butter nice and creamy all the time while sitting on the table. The butter goes in the bell-shaped top. Put enough water in the base to submerge the rim of the top to make an air tight seal. Makes a great Christmas Gift. I will be at the #Bergen #christmasmarket, 10 kms south of #Sundre on November 24th. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #arts #butterdish

Another piece of pottery with heavy texture but th

Another piece of pottery with heavy texture but this time raku fired. This isn’t a great picture but you get an idea of the effects. The textures form by forcing some clay through an open bag that is a lattice of woven plastic strands. A bag that breathes such as for oranges or onions. The right amount of force on the clay gives a landscape of hills and valleys like the last posting. A glaze with copper as an ingredient is applied and raku fired. You get a the shiny copper and greenish finish depending on how much oxygen is available when fired. The reduction happens mostly in the valleys. There is less oxygen available here giving a shiny surface. The high points have plenty of oxygen available and become green. Imagine walking through this magic landscape. All the valleys are shiny gold and the mountain peaks around you are green. A life of gold surrounded by the green of nature.

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