Posted on August 06, 2016 by Nigel Hayes
| 0 comments
Darrel Hancock was born in Port Alberni and lived there for four years before moving to the mainland.
Darrel went on to graduate from the Vancouver School of Art, majoring in ceramics, and has been making functional pottery ever since.
He says “ All my pottery is Handmade Functional Stoneware thrown on a potter's wheel and fired in an electric kiln. It is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. Art and Function come together to make pottery that is designed to be used every day”
“My mugs come in a variety of sizes and shapes and also a variety of colour combinations. I make all of my pottery in a number of glazes and I will continue to do so, this way my customers can add to their collection now and in the future.
Darrel said everyday he wakes up happy knowing he’s going to be throwing clay, and the act itself is very therapeutic. "If I'm feeling anxious or frustrated or whatever, I just sit down and throw 100 mugs and just that meditative repetitiveness of the action is a calming experience.”
He hopes people who purchase his pottery get from it what he puts into it. "I speak to a number of people who say they start off their morning with a cup of coffee in one of my mugs and they look forward to that every morning, and I think that's great, that's why I'm doing it,” he said.
You can see more of Darrel’s beautiful functional pottery at https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/pottery/darrel-hancock
Posted in
bowls,
butter dishes,
Canadian Gifts,
french butter dishes,
gifts,
goblets,
hand made pottery,
honey pots,
local crafts,
mugs,
oak bay,
pate dishes,
pottery,
tea pots
Posted on July 13, 2016 by Nigel Hayes
| 0 comments
The founding president of the SVIPG (South Vancouver Island Potters’ Guild) Eric Roberts is known for his selection of award winning teapots.
After a 10-year retirement from professional ceramics, he and wife June resumed creative pottery in 2012 in Victoria, B.C. and are enjoying a renaissance with exciting new glazes and styles.
The former 4-kiln studio is reduced to one electric kiln but the excitement of opening a kiln is still there especially the teapots (both practical and whimsical).
He can be found almost daily at his favourite location — behind his wheel in the beautiful city of Victoria on Vancouver Island.
You can find much more of Eric's beautiful and functional pottery at Side Street Studio, Oak Bay, Victoria, BC or on line at https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/
Posted in
annaiversaries,
bird feeders,
casseroles,
coffee mugs,
gifts,
local crafts,
local pottery,
oak bay,
shop local,
tea pots,
victoria bc
Posted on July 29, 2015 by Sue Hayes
| 0 comments
New! Blue Mountain Range. A lovely new Pottey range from Libby Wray of Victoria B.C.featuring a sweep of blue mountains against a soft palette of green and copper colours that will suit most decors.
Continue Reading →
Posted in
butter dishes,
casseroles,
ceramics,
french butter dishes,
libby wray,
local crafts,
oak bay,
pottery,
shop local,
side street studio,
tea pots,
yarn bowls
Posted on July 29, 2015 by Sue Hayes
| 0 comments
Jack Olive grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario. After obtaining a degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from Mooorhead State College in Minnesota he spent 3 years working as a biochemist at the University Of Oregan Medical School. But a strong creative gene began to override a love of pure science and so Jack returned to Moorhead to work on a degree in ceramics and graphics.
In 1971 Jack moved to Vancouver to become a founding member and director of the Vancouver Clayworks Society; a 12 member cooperative ceramics studio.
In this hugely creative atmosphere Jack worked with other members of the group to develop methods of applying graphic images i.e. photography, drawing and painting to clay. His style of work ranges from abstract geometric to wildlife painting and drawing. Currently Jacks pottery images include Pears, Salmon, Orcas, Ravens, Apples and Crows. These images are incorporated into a large range of functional pottery items from Jugs to Mugs , Casseroles , Bowls, Plates, Tea Pots, Pitchers and more...
Jack has recently explored the techniques and possibilities of Raku. This example uses “naked Raku” techniques, which result in a pot that is white with a black line image. A dry pot is covered with terra sigliata (liquid clay), fired once to bisque temperature, and then covered with a high-fire clay slip and a low fire glaze, through which he etches the design.
The Raku firing process requires a special Raku kiln that is fueled by propane and reaches temperatures of about 1800°F (about 982°C).
The piece is then fired to Raku temperatures, and placed into the smoking chamber. When the piece is cooled, he peels off the slip and glaze to reveal the black line on the white background. The resulting pots have a lighter, more textured quality than his traditional stoneware.
In order to complete the firing process, the Raku pottery must remain in the kiln for approximately 30 minutes. The Raku pottery is removed from the kiln using specially designed Raku tongs.
While the Raku pottery piece is still hot and glowing, it is placed inside a metal can full of combustible materials. The heat emitted from the Raku pottery causes these materials to catch on fire. After the materials inside the metal can catch on fire, a lid is placed over the can and the Raku pottery is sealed inside.
The Raku pottery is capable of withstanding these high temperatures and the fire within the can because it is made from a special type of clay that is capable of withstanding thermal shock.
Jack now lives and works in Gibsons on the beautiful B.C. Sunshine Coast but you can see lots of Jack’s magnificent creative work – both Raku and Stoneware at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/pottery/jack-olive-pottery
Posted in
bowls,
Canadian Gifts,
casseroles,
cream & sugar set,
dishes,
jack olive pottery,
jugs,
local crafts,
mugs,
oak bay,
plates,
pottery,
raku,
salad bowls,
shaving skuttle,
shop local,
tea pots,
wedding gifts
