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Wood fired treasures

August 26, 2018Wood FiredDavid

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otterpottery

74 Johnson Avenue
Markerville, Alberta -
Phone 403-638-5177
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
Here is an enlargement of the white over black gla Here is an enlargement of the white over black glazing from a butter dish I posted. For those of you that always look for faces, this is going to keep you busy. Enlarge it for extra fun! Saturday December 15th, 10 am to 8 pm, several local artists work will be available alongside my pottery at Otter Pottery. We have been at several #christmasmarkets in the #Sundre area this year. We have plenty more pots that weren’t shown. #market #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #arts #Christmas
This is a bit of an aside - This is Mental Health This is a bit of an aside - This is Mental Health Awareness Month. Don’t be fooled by the “health awareness” words. It is just a nice glossing over of the words “mental illness”. The illness of today that you “dare not speak its name”. The aside is over! I really like this sculpture. The turtle is the handle for the lid of the pot. When you look in the pot you should expect to see the “Turtles all the way down”. The saying holds that the world is supported by a chain of increasingly large turtles. Beneath each turtle is yet another: it is "turtles all the way down" that are supporting our planet as it travels through space. I love to hear about the stories and myths we have about humankind. Coincidently, the book that has this title is a powerful tale of the pain of mental illness.
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
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
This is the last of 3 plaques inspired by the work This is the last of 3 plaques inspired by the work of Tom Thomson, one of the Group of Seven. The final plaque has the tribute to Thomson's trees in the foreground. The hill in the back ground resembles (in a small way) the Sleeping Giant. It is a peninsula near Thunder Bay jutting into Lake Superior. From some vantage points the profile looks like a sleeping giant. There is much lore associated with this. Most of Thomson work was done far away in the Georgian Bay area. Often my plaques are a mish mash of memorable places grouped together. I hope there are still places in the world that look like these.
You can cover any color glaze body with a slip (cl You can cover any color glaze body with a slip (clay mixed with water so that it is a slurry) of a different color. Here I have used white and black stained porcelain slip over the tan clay body. It makes it silky smooth and your glazes pop. 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
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
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
It is important to experiment and try something ne It is important to experiment and try something new. Here are two slab-built mugs using the Nerikomi technique. I added a bit of brown clay into my regular clay and mixed them up together. Not too much or you lose the color separation. Using a very fine wire I took the equivalent of a small, very thin layer of skin off the mound of mixed clay. I put several thin clay pieces on the surface of a freshly made mug and used a brayer roller to get them to attach. Very delicate work! Next time, I’ll use brightly colored clays. Join the two colors together in an organized way and make a repeating pattern! 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 #slabbuilding It is important to experiment and try something new. Here are two slab-built mugs using the Nerikomi technique. I added a bit of brown clay into my regular clay and mixed them up together. Not too much or you lose the color separation. Using a very fine wire I took the equivalent of a small, very thin layer of skin off the mound of mixed clay. I put several thin clay pieces on the surface of a freshly made mug and used a brayer roller to get them to attach. Very delicate work! Next time, I’ll use brightly colored clays. Join the two colors together in an organized way and make a repeating pattern! 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 #slabbuilding
These are some pots made from the riverside clay I These are some pots made from the riverside clay I had to kayak to get. The clay had very few foreign particles in it. I plopped it on the wheel and I could throw it as is. It was easy to throw these vases. I had to pick out very few small rocks or twigs. Somethings I left in the clay to give it more character once fired. It was fun to throw with so many unknowns and the final results were great. Unfortunately, the #potteryclasses here in #Sundre does not use this type of clay for instruction. Pottery classes start next week. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #earthenware #terracotta #canadaday #lessons #art
I have several pieces of pottery that I have accum I have several pieces of pottery that I have accumulate that are to be Raku fired. I’m waiting for a good day of weather and some experienced help to be available at the same time. Here is a plate I did in my last firing. Fantastic results. The crack adds more interest in the viewing. The #potteryclasses here in #Sundre still have room for students. Everyone is welcome. Sundre #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #Raku
Unfortunately, the #potteryclasses here in #Sundre Unfortunately, the #potteryclasses here in #Sundre does not demonstrate barrel firing. This example of a barrel fired urn has been enhanced by wrapping steel wool around the pot, adding salt (ice melt) and poppy seeds. Another wrapping of aluminium foil holds these additions against the clay. During firing, these ingredients smoked or fumed, and that stained the clay. After the firing, the charred bits and residue were wiped off the pot. There is no glaze on barrel fired work. This technique doesn’t get hot enough to melt a glaze. They are permanently stained. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #barrelfiredpottery
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
Keep your butter fresh, covered and on the table a Keep your butter fresh, covered and on the table at room temperature. Three different styles and sizes of keepers are made. The Butter Dome (as shown), French Butter Dish, and a Butter Block that can be made to hold up to a full pound of butter. We 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
The November #potteryclasses in #Sundre are starti The November #potteryclasses in #Sundre are starting to book up. For information and to enroll go to http://www.otterpottery.com/pottery-classes/ . To commemorate the long life and companionship of a favorite horse, a piece of pottery was to be used. I was brought some hair from the horse's tail and we decorated a few pots. What a beautiful reminder. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #horsehairpottery #lessons #art #horse #remembrance
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
I have been a rafting guide for many years. A very I have been a rafting guide for many years. A very sharp contrast to working with clay and offering #potteryclasses in #Sundre. I had noticed a large terracotta deposit on the south side of the river that I wanted to investigate. I had to leave my truck on the north shore and a helper (Jaze) and I loaded up 3 inflatable kayaks. One had about 8 pails and a shovel, Jaze paddled one and finally myself in my own kayak. It was easy to get across the river with a rope towing the nearly empty kayak and we soon got to the clay deposit. We filled all the 5-gallon pails with this wet, sticky clay, about 1100 lbs. Loading the empty kayak and trying to head off to the other shore took a lot of pushing and pulling. It was heavy, but we made it and here is a pot fired from that clay. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #clay
This is a vase I made several years ago. It was in This is a vase I made several years ago. It was initially glazed with an ash glaze on a brown clay. You can see the brown rivulets stopping at the base. The whole vase looked that brown color, pretty boring. Comparing it to my recent work, I was getting embarrassed looking at it. I have liked the response of how the Nuka glaze has been working out, so I applied some glaze and re-fired the vase. It was worth it. The brown clay is highlighted by the bright whites and blue of the new glaze. Now you see the older brown glaze as an echo of the Nuka glaze. 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 #ashglaze
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
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