Kiln Magic

by Eleanor Hendriks

A group of fruit salt shakers with their glaze coats on waiting for the heat that will transform them...
...and how they look 24 hours and 2300 degrees farenheit later...
I just love how the subdued and dusty looking glaze coat becomes bright and jewel-like by the action of the heat. There were a few disappointments in the kiln too -a glaze ran and fused three really nice mugs to the shelf :( but these things sometimes happen in the world of pottery. I'm just glad this didn't happen to the special order mug that I also had in the kiln!

A few of the fruit salt shakers have already been listed in my Etsy shop.

Studio Scenery

by Eleanor Hendriks

Now I don't mean what you will see if you look out my studio windows -that's just all brown mud and slush and will be for a little while yet!

What I mean by studio scenery is the most lovely sight of all...

I just love seeing this... ...turn into this... ...and this... ...or this... I have always loved to look at rows of freshly thrown or finished pots. I wanted to take pictures of rows of pots even before I had a digital camera with the freedom to snap pictures of any old thing without fear of wasting film. I like pictures of pots in progress even better than pictures of the finished pieces. The finished glaze surface interferes with the experience of pure form that is more possible when the clay still has it's soft skin. And I like the feeling of accomplishment that comes from seeing many pleasing objects that I made all together. And perhaps, even after 17 years, there remains the thrill of knowing that I can now do something well that was once HARD!

Does anyone else sometimes treasure the process more than the finished products?

Back in the Saddle

by Eleanor Hendriks

After a hard drive meltdown imposed blogging break, I'm back with some news from StudioÉlan. A new round of classes has started here again -Welcome to Sylvia, Sandy, Sue, Suzanne (yes I am still getting the 's' names mixed up -I may have to make flash cards!) Betty, and Janet. Welcome back to Gayle, Lee Ann and Rochelle. I'm looking forward to a great session -some nice work has already been done by this group -but you'll have to wait to see it!

In the meantime I'll show off some work from the last round of classes and the March Break Camp for Kids.

First the adults....

Making ovals is a challenge to starting potters....

Look at the lovely colouring on this set....
T-pots are always a challenge -and check out the beautiful carved detail...

A set of mugs...

And the outhouse -finished at last! (Rod -if you are reading this -come and pick up your pieces!) And now for the Art Camp! I'm afraid the pictures are a bit scimpy even though the kids did a lot of great work. My hard drive ate the pictures of the mosaic mirrors, the abstract paper cutting, the tin punch lanterns and some of the pottery. So here is just a taste of their efforts...

Just a few of the great stacks of snack bowls -they each made and personalized between five and eight bowls -there were bowls on every horizontal surface for a while....

Gameboards and pieces -including the saddle that I'm back on!...

Castle towers chock full of details and carefully painted... Good job everyone! I'll be back soon with some pots-in-progress photos of the things that I'm working on and an embarassing story about how I improved my berry bowl glazing method by mistake.