Looking at Bottoms

I'm told you can spot a potter when you see them look at the bottom of a pot first - and it is a bit of an obsession. Playing with how to sign, how to trim, and if to glaze, all creates a different aesthetic, but for my money it's hard to beat a footed and glazed bottom, unless perhaps it is a bare-footed high fire reduction bottom. Life's decisions.

These cone 6 oxidation mugs just came out of the little electric kiln at home. Don't forget to check out the bottoms.

-Brendan

Owl mugs

I recently tried out making owl mugs, a variant on face mugs, since I like owls so much lately. I think most of them are pretty cute ;)

Owls

They made it!

Visitors

We have had many visitors to our studio this summer. Family members enjoyed trying pottery, many for the first time. A few of the creations appear below, others missed getting their pictures taken.

Ines' dish

Sam and Chris'

Peter's first attempt

Owls

Two owls that I made come out of the kiln later tonight! I hope they turn out! Here they are before being fired.

Mad Cat

Our cat Ava has found a use for one of my big pots that cracked - a playroom.

The pot is too unstable for the regular high-fire, but I might try to sagger fire it in a fire pit. Unless the cat gets too attached...

Fusion aftermath

You can find Deb Schwartzkopf's work at www.debspottery.com and Fong Choo's work at www.fongchoo.com

Great potters, and a great conference.

More Fusion

Here's a few of Deb's workshop pieces. Her blending of hand building and throwing make some funky forms - lots of ideas to play with.

Fong Fusion

Some non-functional teapots made today at fusion by visiting artist Fong Choo.

Fusion

We are all ready for Fusion! I am so excited!
~Emily

New Sign

We made a sign for our pottery today!

Thinking Big

These are a few sectional pots I've been working on at the college. Unfortunately the one I cut holes in started to collapse as I left, but I left it with a plastic belt to hold the weight, so we'll see how it looks in the morning.

If they survive this stage, they get some lug handles next week.

Spring Sales

The Sarnia Lambton Potters' Guild Sale was a success at DeGroot's last weekend. Thanks to all who came by!

                                                                       Emily's table

                                                                  Brendan's table


The next sale we are hoping to be in is in a couple of weeks at Grace United Church in Sarnia. Hope to see you there!

Favourite Bowl

This is my favourite bowl I have made so far. I sold it to another potter at the SLPG sale last weekend. It is always a great compliment when a potter buys your work.

Handle Bends and Spouts

I've been working on my teapot forms. These are a few I have been working on over the last weeks - will the spouts still dribble? I like to think it gets better every time.

The slip-work on the outside is Steven Hill inspired - since attending his workshop in February, I have been playing with many of the techniques he taught; the feet dimples are also a homage to Mr. Hill.

Below is one of the finished pots - the glaze didn't do exactly what I expected, but that's the nature of the beast.

Em and I both have out tables set up at the SLPG sale at Degroot's. If you are a Sarnia local, stop by and see us.

Brendan

Brand-new pieces just out of the kiln today!

My plate and wine cups came out great! The blue glaze is working well now.


This is the end of the Chronology. The photographic record of our pottery will continue, but we will try to keep it up as we go, so all future posts will be about new pots. Enjoy!
~Emily

Steven Hill workshop

Beautiful pieces Brendan threw at the Steven Hill workshop.

Brendan at a Steven Hill workshop

Now we are almost up to present day!

Fall sale

Movember mug

Our cat is very helpful in the studio...

At Art in the Park

Brendan always wants to make bigger pots!

Bowls

I love the colours that came out on this slump bowl and berry bowl!

Slump bowl

This is hand-built. This is pretty much the only form I hand-build (at least on a regular basis).

My mugs!

I still have 3 of these mugs because I liked them too much to sell. The faces really grow on me - some I don't want to part with!

Some of Brendan's teapots

More of my pots

This is a picture taken as a sample of my work at the time. I still make many of these forms, although, hopefully they are somewhat improved. The chopstick bowl is one of my favourites in terms of glaze. I believe another Sarnia Lambton Potters' Guild member bought this one - a great compliment!

Teapots

This is one of my favourite pictures. Three of Brendan's "prototype" teapots, waiting for firing.

Our Studio

Brendan, working in our studio - still under construction!

The beginning of face mugs!

Brendan's mugs

These mugs were made quite a while ago, but I still like them! (Often as more time passes, I like things less...so it is nice to continue liking things!)

Our first sale

More of my early pots

and one of my first attempts at hand-building (although I still don't do much of it)

More early work

I really should make more butter dishes!

My early attempts at a flower pot and a vase

A couple of Brendan's early mugs

One of my first mugs