Artist of the day: Smiling Cow Studio, Adrienne Gradauer and Zack Quin

by Carole Epp | Apr 16, 2009 | Uncategorized

Today’s artists are brought to you from good old Saskatchewan! Zack and Adrienne (together known as Smiling Cow Studio) have set up studio in Maple Creek and though our province is small I have yet to meet them in person, just online, but someday…someday…hopefully soon!
The above tumblers are Zack’s and below is a tea set by Adrienne.
In their words: “We make tableware and other functional pots from porcelain and stoneware. Adrienne focuses on traditional forms, and Zach focuses on contemporary forms. The clay we use comes from the Cypress Hills, which is about a two hour drive from the town of Maple Creek. Some of this we process ourselves, and the rest is processed by Plainsman Clay in Medicine Hat.”

I think there is a really interesting dynamic between their styles, they work really well together but are nicely unique to each maker. Check out their blog and website for more info, oh and don’t forget their shop too!

Artist of the day: Andrew Walford

by Carole Epp | Apr 15, 2009 | Uncategorized

I received no text to share with you from today’s artist of the day, so i’ve borrowed the following from his website:
“Andrew Walford lives in Kwazulu Natal with his wife Leanda and four children in the rolling peace of the Shongweni hills, halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Indigenous bush surrounds his mountain studio and working alongside Gumede, his Zulu handyman, Andrew draws much inspiration for his decoration from the many trees and birds there. Andrew Walford is one of the few potters who digs his own stoneware clay and meticulously prepares it to his own high standard. Working in the Japanese tradition with thick chun glazes sifted by hand from wood ash, colours of rich resonant tenmokus, fatty whites and shades of celadon, he then decorates the pots with specially imported Japanese brushes. The kiln which he designed and built himself is fired about eight times a year with paraffin oil to a temperature of 1380 degrees Celsius. It takes 18 hours to fire and 3 days to cool.” I’m not sure which I’m more jealous of – Andrew’s beautiful spirited brushwork or the exquisite landscape that is the backdrop to his life. Thanks for sharing!

Artist of the day: Steve Grimmer

by Carole Epp | Apr 14, 2009 | Uncategorized

I promised you more about Steve Grimmer and his work when I posted about the “Steve Show” a few weeks back, and i’m sure you all went and saw it, right? I wish I could have.

Steve’s been teaching and making pots at University of Manitoba since 2005. As he says: “It’s a great job in a nice, if under-appreciated, part of Canada. Lately, my work has focused on one particular form, that of a dome on a square or octagonal base, and one or two glazes. I’m inspired by the sacred architecture of the Middle East, and by the exchange the ceramic artists there had with their counterparts in China.”

Definitely find the time to check out his blog. The medium bowl with the rosetta on the base and on the interior is the stuff dreams are made of, well mine at least… absolutely gorgeous, trust me…go have a look. And while you’re there have a peek at the link to the U of M clay club blog “Quartz Inverters” for some great technical info.

Artist of the day: Amy Hankins

by Carole Epp | Apr 13, 2009 | Uncategorized

Lovely woodfired pots from the Oregon coast:

Todays pics are from artist Amy Hankins who spends half of her year in up in Alaska and half on the Oregon coast. A beautiful mix if you ask me.

In her words: I’ve just finished participating in my first wood firing at the Astoria Dragon Kiln, a traditional Anagama built in 1983 in Astoria, Oregon. I am very much drawn to the wood fire aesthetic, the look, the feel, the community to fire. During this process I’ve realized that I have been on the wrong path! So, I guess when this happens you just change your shoes for the new path and see what lies ahead!
(we’ve all been there Amy!)

I do mostly live in Alaska but spend the winters here on the Oregon coast for the Dungeness crab fishery that our boat participates in. The great thing about coming here for the winter is that yes, I eat a lot of crab but I have to opportunity to continue my ceramics education at the local Community College, something we don’t have nearby in Alaska.

The pictures above are a cup from this last firing with a shino glaze on the inside and a ground local clay ongobe on the outside, I’m showing three pictures of the same cup. The second is a lidded jar, shino glaze, thrown as one piece and then split at leather hard stage. And these below are new additions:

Thanks Amy!