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Category Archives: Barrel Fired

A Primitive Type of Firing

April 15, 2018Barrel FiredDavid

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otterpottery

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

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
Every artist goes through different stages of work Every artist goes through different stages of work they produce throughout their lives. With many different firing techniques there is a lot to learn until you find the work that speaks to you and for you. At each stage I thought this is going to be my signature type of work. And then, some ideas start to incubate, and you find some restrictions to the pottery making you are immersed in. Immersed is a good word to describe what it is like to suddenly feel driven to explore new boundaries of clay. This weeks theme is clay work for your walls.
The #potteryclasses in Sundre have shown me that a The #potteryclasses in Sundre have shown me that all people have a creative side. Clay is perfect for taking risks with your ideas, but you have to be ready to give yourself a chance. Like everything, you gain some skills with the basics before you can go out on your own to explore your own ideas. Such is the case with this gorgeous platter. Throw the design rules out so that you make something that is completely your own and beautiful.
A set of 3 nesting bowls with the Northern Lights A set of 3 nesting bowls with the Northern Lights and a starry sky. A panoramic view of the lights dancing around the rim. There will be #Sundre #potteryclasses starting the week of May 27th. I have changed one class to making pottery using molds with one class on the wheel. Still 6 lessons. 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
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
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
This is a project I have worked on a long time and This is a project I have worked on a long time and now it is hanging on the wall. The challenge was to make a landscape from clay coils. The glazing can be a single layer or a combination to use the resulting interaction. The #Sundre #potteryclasses are starting at the beginning of September. Reserve your space now! Everyone is welcome. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #sundreclayart #coilbuilding #ceramica #claybuilding
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
When spraying glazes, the color graduations give t When spraying glazes, the color graduations give the plate a soft look. Also, some affects are caused by the layering of glazes. When green glaze is applied first and then a white glaze applied over top, you get the large green specks. Applying the reverse gives a different result. For the fall #potteryclasses here in #Sundre, you should book now. Pottery classes are available all summer. There is a one day, two day and a 6 week course available. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #lessons #art.
Try something new again! Add a bit of brown clay u Try something new again! Add a bit of brown clay up against some regular clay and only let them mix when you are throwing them. The clay was formed into a cylinder about 6 cm by 25 cm long with a strip of about 20% brown clay on the long axis. Cut up the cylinder and form balls of clay with little mixing of the clays. When I threw this vase, it was wonky and made popping sounds as it found missed air pockets. Once the pockets were gone it was easy to keep it centered. Each piece made was so different and interesting. Join us for #potteryclasses in #Sundre starting the week of January 21st. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #Nerikomi #wheelthrowing
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
A Butter Dish that resembles a house. Too cute! I A Butter Dish that resembles a house. Too cute! I am taking bookings for pottery classes starting in January. Makes a great Christmas Gift! Go to http://www.potteryclasses.page for more information. #Bergen #christmasmarket, 10 kms south of #Sundre on November 24th. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #arts #butterdish
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
Here in Alberta, agriculture is an important part Here in Alberta, agriculture is an important part of our economy. As the seasons change, the fields are worked with ploughs, harrows and fertilizing vehicles. The long flowing lines of tracks break up the flat fields and reveal the contours of the land. The textured surface on the cylinder gives long fluid lines for your eyes to flow over. The variable raku glaze moves details forward or back. It is more sculpture than pottery. Join us for #potteryclasses in #Sundre. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #arts #Christmas #raku #newyears #farming #sculpture
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
With the #potteryclasses here in Sundre being 6 we With the #potteryclasses here in Sundre being 6 weeks in length, undoubtly Klohe will help you with your work creations. She is an excellent gauge of the size of the pottery being made. She often tests many pieces. Nothing worse than a bowl that is too small. She will coach you along with your work.
#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
Remember, #potteryclasses in #Sundre. This lidded Remember, #potteryclasses in #Sundre. This lidded pot has been heated in a special dedicated kiln. Once the black glaze develops, a salt is placed in the kiln and it vaporizes. Everything in the kiln is then covered with a thin film of material. This effect is the same as gasoline on water. The thin film reflects light from the surface and the base of the film. The interference of the reflected light waves creates the color patterns as the film varies in thickness. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #sundreclayart #ceramica #raku #lessons #handthrown
A slab built pitcher. I love how it is leaning int A slab built pitcher. I love how it is leaning into the wind and the glaze is running back like rain on the car window. Another project at the #Sundre #potteryclasses. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #handbuiltpottey #lessons #arts
Here are some more mugs that came out of yesterday Here are some more mugs that came out of yesterday’s kiln. Most of them are experiments. That could be the combination of glazes, the thickness of the glaze or the order of layering of the glaze. The amount of glaze put on the rim was varied as well to give a different length of white run. 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
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