From the beginning of my career as a ceramist, I investigated different throwing techniques, working mostly with stoneware clay fired to cone 10 (2380° F, 1304° C). I also experimented with glazes and glaze combinations to come up with unique designs.
In 1980 we moved to High River, AB, where we found a property with a large garage that I converted into a new, studio and built two gas-fired kilns, I began to try tricky copper red glazes, which require careful reduction of oxygen entering the kiln’s atmosphere during various phases of the firing. Eventually, for brighter glaze colours, especially the reds, I turned to a white porcelaneous clay, or sometimes a full porcelain, for most of my utilitarian work.
I gradually developed several repeatable designs that became popular: the ‘mountain scene’ design (rather laborious to apply); the ‘red flower’ design, using brushed copper red glazes, a similar, but larger red flower ‘hibiscus’ design, and others. Those many pieces paid the mortgage and left me some time to do sculpture and other non-utilitarian work.
lidded pot, small, 1987, stoneware, 15 cm high, plum glaze with white glaze pour, ∆10
corked jug, 1983, mixed stoneware, thrown, cut to reveal marbling, 23 cm high, thin white glaze, ∆10
vase, with waist and lugs, 1985, porcelain, 23 cm high, rutile blue glaze, ∆10
popcorn bowl, 1996, stoneware, 32 cm diameter, trailed lettering design on white glaze, ∆10
casserole, 1982, thrown stoneware, 35 cm wide, rutile flowers on bamboo glaze, ∆10
quiche, 1987, stoneware, 26 cm diameter, brushed flower design on white glaze, ∆10
bison pitcher, 1987, stoneware, 25 cm h, sprigged bison, shino glaze, ∆10
animal goblets, 1987, thrown stoneware, 18 cm h, mould-pressed images, shino glaze ∆10
jar with lid, 1980, stoneware, 30 cm h, brushed orange flower design on white glaze, ∆10
jar with lid, 1980, stoneware, 32 cm h, blue flower design on white glaze, ∆10
jar with lid, 1984, stoneware, 33 cm h, shino glaze, ∆10
jar with lid, tall, 1984, stoneware, 38 cm h, shino glaze, ∆10
tea set, ‘mountain scene’ design, teapot, creamer and sugar, 1996, tea pot 16 cm high, stoneware, glaze and stain, ∆10
tray, ‘mountain scene’ design, 1990s, stoneware, 34 cm diameter, brushed glazes on white glaze, ∆10
pitcher, stoneware, 24 cm high, ‘mountain scene’ design, 1986, ∆10
goblets, stoneware, 1993, 18 cm high, ‘mountain scene’ design, ∆10
jugs, two, 1995, stoneware, 27 cm high, rutile blue glaze with copper red spray, ∆10
tray, blossom design, stoneware, 33 cm diameter, 2000, speckled blue glaze with brushed design, ∆10
salad bowl set, stoneware, lg. bowl 26 cm diameter, white glaze with ‘red flower’ brushed copper red design, ∆10
tray, ‘hibiscus’ design, 1995, 35 cm diameter, stoneware, copper red brushed on white glaze, ∆10
canister, hibiscus design, 1983, stoneware, 39 cm high, copper red brushed on white glaze, ∆10
bottle vase, 1983, porcelain, 29 cm h ‘sang de boeuf’ copper red glaze, ∆10
pair of goblets, trailed slip design, porcelain, 18 cm high, 1982, copper red glaze, ∆10
vases, extruded and carved, 1980s, porcelain, 30 cm high, copper red glaze, ∆10. (❋ – one only)
low bottle vase, 1986, porcelain, 29 cm diameter, copper red glaze, ∆10
low wide vase, porcelain, 1982, 26 cm diameter, copper red glaze with rutile blue glaze poured over, ∆10
