getting down to it

okay, so it's not really winter anymore...spring around the corner, daffodils in full bloom, blossoms snowing down in the wind, the peas and broad beans peeking up...
so its time wake up from my mentlal hibernation and get down to it, making of a more productive sort, or a more regular routine. this week was mugs, egg cups, juice cups, tumblers, and platters!
here's shots from the afternoon...

BEFORE (platters off the hump molds, with rims finished):

DURING (stencils chosen and placed around, not yet attached):

AFTER (slip poured over stencils, then slip trailing, sgraffito, text, etc...and stencils pulled off)

hoping to load the platters and everything else in the kiln tomorrow!

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!

process process process

have been spending A LOT of time in the studio lately, at all hours of the day...trying to keep on top of the seasonal inventory and ready for upcoming show...
here's a few process shots:

small dippers, from stencil, to slip, to leatherhard with the stencil off...

beginning a moose mug, stencil on clay

white slip over top and green slip trailing

more slip trailing

leatherhard and stencil off... will try to remember to photo the finished glazed mug....

Notes from Red Deer, and onto the Filberg Festival!

I have just returned from Red Deer, Alberta, and a fun week teaching at the Red Deer College Series Summer Art School! Had a fabulous group of people ready to play with slip all week. Lots of laughing and lots of learning. Also enjoyed hanging out with the other instructors from various parts of North America. There was quite a BC contingent there this week! If you are in Alberta, or a reasonable travel distance, this is a great place to go to try anything from traditional drawing/painting, to hot glass, metal, printmaking, etc... the studios are truly great spaces to be.
here are a few shots from the week:

...a student working on a gorgeous monoprint - her first one! going whole hog right out of the gate.

...a golf plate with some slip trailing and dotting.

...birds eye view of part of the table at the back of the room that was filled with finished pieces (bon dry and leatherhard)

...an assortment of student pieces showing various techniques.

...another assortment.

....some tumblers and vase that i made as examples. one of the exercises i gave was to work on a series with some kind of visual narrative or continuity. these were inspired by the jackrabbits hopping about red deer campus!

...jackrabbit!

...fun sculpture in the hallways outside the ceramics studio.

...a shot of the yellow fields out the window as we drove back to Calgary airport.



...and coming right up is the Filberg Festival, where you can find me at the Dirty Girl Clayworks booth all weekend - July 31-Aug 3. Come by, say hi, and check out some of the latest things from the kiln!

a touch of whimsy

just a few playful pieces… these quick snaps are a little blurry, something's up with my camera, but you get the idea…

fresh from the kiln

some more new work, including the finished cloud bowls. quite pleased with them. is confirming, however, that i need to set up a spray booth somewhere in the studio, or something portable to use outside. not only is it good for large pieces, deep pieces, but also gives nice even coverage of the raised slip trailing lines (which when dipping, i usually go back over with a glaze dipped brush).

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.

hot off the presses

fresh, warm from the kiln. wouldn't it be lovely if they also smelled like fresh bread...?
some new works for spring.
bringing back slip trailing and raised dots
working in more simple line drawing.
feeling pretty good about it, a little nervous. funny how simple things can feel risky.