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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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Here is a flat, wide dish from a #raku firing. Han Here is a flat, wide dish from a #raku firing. Hangs on the wall or sits on the table. Fantastic results. The #Sundre #potteryclasses still have room for students. Everyone is welcome. Sundre #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #Raku
This piece was formed by using very little clay ex This piece was formed by using very little clay extruded through a plastic web bag. A new shape was formed as the clay dried and curled the edges. This piece was covered with steel wool, salts, poppy seeds and copper carbonate. It was then wrapped in aluminium foil and barrel fired where the fumes were contained in the foil and stained the clay. So many people say it looks like a fish skin. For me, it is a favourite piece due to the variations of the surface.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
There are so many things you can do with ceramics. There are so many things you can do with ceramics. Most people think making pottery and end there. You can make Teapots and ashtrays, or you can use it on leading surfaces of the space shuttle to withstand the high heat of friction as it goes through the earth’s atmosphere. Hopefully I don't disappoint. But for now, I have settled on adding sculpture to the tableware that is made. It is always created with an idea in mind which can change along the way. I hope you find the meaning on you own or move on to getting your own message that you can use daily.
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
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
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
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
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