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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
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
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 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
Just like white over black gives a speckled patter Just like white over black gives a speckled pattern, white over green gives a similar pattern. On a closer look the pattern of dots is fewer, irregular and less defined. This Butter Dome 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
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
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
Learning to combine glazes takes time. This time w Learning to combine glazes takes time. This time with a sponge. 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
I have several mugs ready for the upcoming Father’ I have several mugs ready for the upcoming Father’s Day gift giving. Of course, every dad deserves a great handmade mug and there are plenty to choose from. You can find one that fit’s his size of hand, is his favorite color or the right size for his preferred beverage. Even a different size of handle can turn a mug into his favorite mug. The perfect gift that just fits him. #Sundre #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #potteryclasses #sculpture
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.
Klohe is here at the #potteryclasses in Sundre. Sh Klohe is here at the #potteryclasses in Sundre. She has had a busy week and will be well rested for next weeks classes.
My first try at making a dozen mugs to specificati My first try at making a dozen mugs to specification. I hope the customer likes them. I could barely get my hand in them!
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
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
When people start to learn pottery, you start simp When people start to learn pottery, you start simple then progress to more difficult. Pinch pots come first, then slab building, coil assembling and then on the wheel. Working on a wheel uses a lot of the techniques you started with. The #potteryclasses I offer here in Sundre, start with pinch pots. It is a good place to start to see when you squeeze clay, how you do it affects the direction it moves. While people are struggling with making a vase I work along with them to show how to not end up with a bowl. I connected two demonstration pinch vases quickly and created this ogre’s head. People discover that pinching clay in a controlled way is not at a kindergarten level – but maybe a grade 5!! I have pottery classes here in Sundre starting July 1st. 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
The #Sundre #potteryclasses will be starting the w The #Sundre #potteryclasses will be starting the week of September 10th. Everyone is welcome. Limited seats available - book now! Sundre #Olds #Didsbury #Carstairs #Innisfail #Bowden #Reddeer #Calgary #pottery #handmade #sundreclayart #ceramica #raku #lessons #art #rakufired
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
Working for most of the last 35 years as a white-w Working for most of the last 35 years as a white-water rafting guide, I enjoy trying to find different ways of representing water. This piece of sculpture was created with a wave in mind and by dividing it in two a river was formed. I fired the pieces separately using the naked raku style which gave it the appearance of the surface of ripples in water. #Sundre #potterycourses #Olds #Bowden #Didsbury #Innisfail #Pottery #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
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.
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