The remaining space in my kiln was filled with the jugbirds I managed to get finished in February. I’ve already posted a photo of a new Rooster when he was leather hard and freshly painted with underglaze and terra sigillata. Now I was looking forward to seeing how he’d look after the glaze firing. I’m pleased with his comb and wattle and glaring eyes! And I think, as I’ve done in just a few Roosters before, that terra sigillata is a nice rufous colour to resemble a common Cockerel from my Dorset childhood.
There’s a larger Puffin which I plan to donate to the North West Ceramic Foundations’ Silent Auction in early May. They want images right away for a catalogue. The once-every-three-years fundraising event is always such a fun get-together for fans of all things ceramic in BC.
This afternoon I’ve carefully packed up and mailed the Pileated Woodpecker and the Eagle to an admirer of my birds, in Washington state. He plans for them to be Wedding gifts.
The others will join a few more I have here from the last firing, and fly in to Granville Island where Circle Craft Co-op have been badgering me for more. I have brought home a couple from the Gallery of BC Ceramics, along with several mugs and some plates so for once I have some stock here. I shall miss the friendship and support of the Ceramics Gallery but I am lucky to be on the roster of Circle Craft artisans so will still be able to tell would-be customers where they can find my work. Perhaps I’ll ask CC if I may bring in my jolly yunomis too.
Finally I have photos of just three newspaper-resisted slab plates, made with my red clay in my Raiders’ moulds. These dessert plates are intended for the Oven and Kiln dinner, and will be taken home by participants after their meal.
Now that I’m slightly caught up on work I needed to do I plan to check the consistency of my grey stoneware clay and enjoy myself throwing, assembling and spraying (with slips) some new pieces for TriCity Potters’ scheduled soda firing in early April. There isn’t much time! And the Raiders are hoping to have a plate-painting day during March too – so I must whip up more plates and platters for their use. Actually with my bisqued moulds it doesn’t take too long to make them, using my slab roller.
