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Wood fired treasures

August 26, 2018Wood FiredDavid
A handmade ceramic vase with a wide mouth, featuring earthy tones of beige, brown, and hints of green glaze, set against a white background.
A handmade ceramic vase with a wide mouth, featuring earthy tones of beige, brown, and hints of green glaze, set against a white background.

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otterpottery

74 Johnson Avenue
Markerville, Alberta -
Phone 403-638-5177
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
Pottery classes are just about finished for the ye Pottery classes are just about finished for the year. After many years of making pottery and giving lessons, I have my own teaching method. Everyone got to make a cup or bowl on their first night trying the wheel. Some made several vases. It is wonderful to see everyone so happy and excited about the success of their first go at the wheel. 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 #2019
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
Wall art has always been of interest to me. There Wall art has always been of interest to me. There are so many different shapes and sizes and depths that can be used, I`m sure painters are jealous. Different pottery making and firing techniques can be used to compliment the work as well as suggest and reinforce ideas. This naked raku style of firing the work, enhances and suggests the rings of growth of a tree in the passing of time. #Sundre #potterycourses #Olds #Bowden #Didsbury #Innisfail #Pottery #Sculpture
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
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 lantern is slab built. The graduation in the This lantern is slab built. The graduation in the sizes of circles suggests hay bales in fields stretching off into the rolling distance. A candle at night reveals light chasing itself around the surface. Join us for the #Sundre #potteryclasses starting in mid-May. Space for creative fun is available every evening, 7 to 10 pm. Visit http://www.potteryclasses.page for details. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #art #wheelthrowing #ceramics #potteryglazes #extruder #clay #sculpture #lantern
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
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
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
This is a barrel fired disk I made several years a This is a barrel fired disk I made several years ago. Of all the work I have done, this is my very most favorite piece. Unfortunately, the #potteryclasses here in #Sundre do not demonstrate barrel firing. One of the most popular designs is of the classic ying and yang. The opposite dark and light of the same shapes that are intertwined. The inference of a duality in nature and mankind. That is too simple of a symbol. This disk has a pattern of 3 interlocking similar shapes. One who is aware sees that there are more than the standard 2 conditions. This piece resonates the most with me. It is made of clay as we all were at one time and we will be again. Even more so, the disk is cracked and being held together. Sometimes we are well connected and other times we are grasping at the fragments to keep them together. Not all the fragments are there but lost in the ashes of the firing. In barrel firing the wood that is added as fuel supports the layers of pottery. As the wood burns away, the support is lost, and the pottery settles down to the bottom of the barrel. Or, the wooden support can suddenly give, and the piece falls through space to land on the ashes at the base. Whether, the clay broke because of heat shear or the impact with other pots in the fall – one never knows. Afterwards, I couldn’t find all the pieces in the ashes and coals. Pottery classes are available all summer. There is a one day, two day or a 6 week course available. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #barrelfiring #pitfiring #rakuclay #Sundre #lessons #art #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
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
The year’s final 6-week #potteryclasses in #Sund The year’s final 6-week #potteryclasses in #Sundre are starting up the week of November 5th. For information and to enroll go to http://www.otterpottery.com/pottery-classes/ . This teapot is out of last week’s wood firing. We reached 2228 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the wood used burnt very hot but gave little of the desired ash deposits. A combination of woods will be used next time. Still a lovely pot. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #woodfiredpottery #lessons #arts #woodfired #teapot
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
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
#potteryclasses in #Sundre start the 2nd week of # #potteryclasses in #Sundre start the 2nd week of #September. Enroll now! This lidded pot has been barrel fired. Additions of low melting or fuming materials were added for the firing which permanently stained the clay. There is no glaze on barrel fired work because of the low temperatures achieved. #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #sundreclayart #ceramica #raku #lessons #barrelfiredpottery #handthrown
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
For pet memorials, a ceramic coaster with your pet For pet memorials, a ceramic coaster with your pet’s paw imprint can be made for resting on the table or placing on a wall. Also, a picture of a paw print can be added to the side of an urn or memorial vase. #Sundre #potteryclasses #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #handbuiltpottery #lessons #arts #slabbuiltpottery #urn #memorial
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