wintery wares

here's a few things just out of the kiln with a wintery theme...tiny sneak peek at what will be at the Owl this weekend...

here's the mug from previous process post, finished:

another moose mug: white slip trailing on white slip...even though there's no snow here, well there is thick frost some mornings....

a wee white slip platter: who doesn't love bicycling in the winter?! and red berries, green leaves...seasonal hints:

caribou platter: hawthorny leaves, more red berries...

not to worry not everything is ungulates and bicycles (well okay i made LOTS of bicycles of various styles)...bears, herons, salmon, crows, foxes, hummingbirds, rubber boots, umbrellas, trees, etc...
and some new new things with my new new bike cranks and cogs stencils!

adventures in sgraffito

well, as much as i should be making mugs to restock after a fabulous xmas season… i am working on some large platters in WHITE!! clay. my dad asked if i would like to put some pieces into a photo show he is having at the gage gallery in february…so i said why not? and then i said what am i thinking? my work doesn't really mesh with his… and so after much pondering i thought to try some sgraffito pieces based on his photos. and so that's what i have ben working on and here are some process shots

this one is in process...

this one is finsihed and bone dry, ready for the bisque

this one is my finished test piece. you can see i was testing some colour on the bottom with a wash. still pondering whether to finish with colour on all pieces, or keep black and white, or some of each.....

west coast winter

just rainy, west coast wintery thoughts….

going round

I have been really getting into making plates.
it's not that i don't make plates, i just don't usually make that many.
for years i have made small platters that are square, rectangular, and oval using hump moods. i like them, i like hand building and i think they are very sweet. but, i think, because of their shape, often people wonder what they are for. in my mind they are for serving food, but of course what something is used for is up to the user, and i know many of them are serving as soap dishes…
in any case is have started making more plates on the wheel.
regular, round plates.
and then sets of plates.
dinner plate, side plate.
and then large platters with deep feet and holes for hanging on the wall. i had the idea to do a show of large commemorative bicycle platters. maybe that will come to pass, maybe not, but i am hooked on the round plates and platters these days.
and no one asks me what they are for…
here are some snapshots:

photo shoot

here's some images from a recent photo shoot…really should take a photo of my set-up. i always enjoy seeing how folks set up their photo boxes etc…. mine's made of pvc, duct tape and sheets of opaque corplast, with photo paper back drop. i made it so it can be easily disassembled, stack flat, and it's cheap! i do have a little nylon pop out photo box for quick shots too. i don't have anywhere to leave a photo box set-up, so i don't end up taking photos as often as i would like or should.

i must say, one of things i find challenging about taking pictures of my pots is they tend to look different all the way around, or front/back. so with a little help from my fabulous father, Francis Sullivan, a few of these show two views

new and upcoming

it's been awhile since i participated in any kind of winter seasonal craft show. this year i'm stepping up and out at Craft Cartel. bands, beer, food, and lots of greta local handmade. the first bunch of folks through the door get a swag bag & here's the ornaments i made for said bags....if you come & come early you might find one of these rare items in your possession (made os paper clay, light & strong!):

here is a quick shot of a new favourite. have really been slip trailing alot lately and loving it, although it is more work for glazing. and so playing with hand writing...

and here a cake platter i made after that class at MISSA. so slightly wavy lines of the bottom rim of the platter. i am quite happy with it, except a little cloudiness in the glazing. i hope to make more of these, soon. the clouds are another current favourite image floating through my work.