Some technical notes on my pottery

Most of my work is wheel thrown, slip decorated and carved; though occasionally I make slab plates and bowls. The clay used is a Cone 6-7 stoneware which fires to a light tan. The slips are made from local clays and Alberta slip clay, prepared to the consistency of heavy cream and brushed onto leather hard forms. Once the slip dries the carving fun begins. Leaves of all shapes swirl around the pots, curving lines divide the pots into geometric sections. Dots, stripes and cross hatchings fill the space around the leaves until the surface of the pot begins to resemble printed fabric.

After bisque firing, the pots are dipped into one of three glazes, all of which allow the slip colours to bleed through. The glaze firing reaches 1220°C over eleven hours, is soaked for 45 minutes then cooled over a 24 hour period. I use an electric kiln. With an electric kiln one is able to reproduce a certain result and one is less likely to burn down yet another kiln shed.

A glaze is used only after it has been acid tested and problems such as pinholing are corrected. Toxic ingredients, such as lead, chrome or barium, are never used in glazes because my work is functional and must be safe when in contact with food.