Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Side Street Studio Blog
Side Street Studio Blog
Pottery with a touch of Jazz
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Potter & Jazz Musician John Robertson writes:
“As a self supporting professional potter and since graduating from art school in 1976, my partner Harriet and I moved to Cobble Hill and established our studio; Cobble Hill Pottery in 1988. We have enjoyed our life of carrying on a time honored traditional handcraft with a huge scope for personal creative experimentation and fun!”
“During my career I have followed my passion through the clay world, working in earthenware, reduction stoneware, and raku and primitive firings. This current body of work consists of high fired, reduction stoneware, glazed in a palette of personally formulated glazes perfected during my years of experimentation. I enjoy utilizing brushes I construct consisting of various animal hair glued and wired to bamboo, to apply combinations of oxides and under glazes to enrich and enliven the glazed surfaces.”
“My work is mainly thrown on the wheel, altered and trimmed while damp, then bisque fired once dry. Some of my regular production items are made by flattening clay with a slab roller and then formed over a plaster or Styrofoam hump mold; while damp they can be decorated with stamps I have carved from wood or plaster. After the initial bisque firing the foot of each piece is coated in glaze-resistant emulsion and then dipped into the liquid glaze. At this point the oxide brush work, scraffito, glaze-on-glaze, wax- resist brushwork, or other decoration is done. The downdraft propane kiln is then carefully loaded, taking all of its idiosyncratic hot and cold spots (where only certain glaze combinations will reach temperature) into account”.
“An overnight warming is started to lessen the occasion for pots cracking and then a 12 hour firing to reach maximum temperature of 2350 degrees F., the kiln is then quick cooled to 1800* to achieve the desired glaze effects. The kiln needs at least 24 hours to cool before it is opened, the pots removed, the bottoms sanded to ensure furniture friendly texture and carried to the showroom. From there each piece of pottery will set out into the world.”
“When time allows I also work in other mediums, painting, mixed media wall pieces, assemblages with wood and metal. These are a creative outlet as well as fun. The other passion in my creative life is as a jazz musician playing the string bass with different jazz bands in the Cowichan Valley and Victoria area”…
You can find more of John’s beautiful and functional work at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=80499
Pottery with a touch of Jazz
Share
Potter & Jazz Musician John Robertson writes:
“As a self supporting professional potter and since graduating from art school in 1976, my partner Harriet and I moved to Cobble Hill and established our studio; Cobble Hill Pottery in 1988. We have enjoyed our life of carrying on a time honored traditional handcraft with a huge scope for personal creative experimentation and fun!”
“During my career I have followed my passion through the clay world, working in earthenware, reduction stoneware, and raku and primitive firings. This current body of work consists of high fired, reduction stoneware, glazed in a palette of personally formulated glazes perfected during my years of experimentation. I enjoy utilizing brushes I construct consisting of various animal hair glued and wired to bamboo, to apply combinations of oxides and under glazes to enrich and enliven the glazed surfaces.”
“My work is mainly thrown on the wheel, altered and trimmed while damp, then bisque fired once dry. Some of my regular production items are made by flattening clay with a slab roller and then formed over a plaster or Styrofoam hump mold; while damp they can be decorated with stamps I have carved from wood or plaster. After the initial bisque firing the foot of each piece is coated in glaze-resistant emulsion and then dipped into the liquid glaze. At this point the oxide brush work, scraffito, glaze-on-glaze, wax- resist brushwork, or other decoration is done. The downdraft propane kiln is then carefully loaded, taking all of its idiosyncratic hot and cold spots (where only certain glaze combinations will reach temperature) into account”.
“An overnight warming is started to lessen the occasion for pots cracking and then a 12 hour firing to reach maximum temperature of 2350 degrees F., the kiln is then quick cooled to 1800* to achieve the desired glaze effects. The kiln needs at least 24 hours to cool before it is opened, the pots removed, the bottoms sanded to ensure furniture friendly texture and carried to the showroom. From there each piece of pottery will set out into the world.”
“When time allows I also work in other mediums, painting, mixed media wall pieces, assemblages with wood and metal. These are a creative outlet as well as fun. The other passion in my creative life is as a jazz musician playing the string bass with different jazz bands in the Cowichan Valley and Victoria area”…
You can find more of John’s beautiful and functional work at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=80499
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Jewellery For Romance
AURORA – Jewellery for Romance by Sheila Smedley
It’s no secret. I’d be the first to admit that I am and always have been a consummate, hopeless romantic. My past eight years as a jewellery designer has afforded me many an opportunity to design jewellery for a host of clients and occasions. Creating that perfect pair of earrings or one ethereal necklace or bracelet to compliment a dream-come-true outfit is a welcome challenge and artistically satisfying.
Little wonder then, that with a number of signature jewellery collections already established, the time has come to launch one distinctive collection dedicated to weddings and occasions of glamour. AURORA is classic elegance for life’s most memorable moments.
More than just a jewelley collection, AURORA is a service offering personal attention to those accessory details that can transform ‘special’ into ‘breathtaking’.
More than just a jewelley collection, AURORA is a service offering personal attention to those accessory details that can transform ‘special’ into ‘breathtaking’.
AURORA is a collection of distinctive designs, ranging from the most delicate pair of earrings to a statement necklace or bracelet festooned with pearls and crystals. Since every customer arrives with their own set of specifications, my designs are as much ready-to-wear as they are guidelines for the client. Each design can be regarded as a starting point from which together we can create incomparable jewellery. When purchased for special occasions, jewellery really shouldn’t be an after-thought; picked up impulsively just because it matches the colour of the dress. However, with this in mind, I do pride myself on offering a service that is both prompt and completely customized. Last minute orders are seldom a problem.
Although based on classic materials such as freshwater pearls and incomparable Swarovski crystals, there is an entire world of fabulous beads, gemstones and tiny treasures that can be incorporated into my designs. I love presenting and exploring all the possibilities: from classic romance to casual elegance.
Another important element of this collection, as in fact with all my creations, is price. I do not believe that beautiful jewellery need be excessively expensive. Brides, especially, are often working within a budget. When an entire set of wedding jewellery and matching bridesmaid’s pieces are called for, you can be assured that choosing the AURORA collection will not break the bank. The cost of your jewellery will usually be welcomingly affordable.
Although based on classic materials such as freshwater pearls and incomparable Swarovski crystals, there is an entire world of fabulous beads, gemstones and tiny treasures that can be incorporated into my designs. I love presenting and exploring all the possibilities: from classic romance to casual elegance.
Another important element of this collection, as in fact with all my creations, is price. I do not believe that beautiful jewellery need be excessively expensive. Brides, especially, are often working within a budget. When an entire set of wedding jewellery and matching bridesmaid’s pieces are called for, you can be assured that choosing the AURORA collection will not break the bank. The cost of your jewellery will usually be welcomingly affordable.
I believe that AURORA is destined to be that ‘crown jewel’ amongst all the collections of my jewellery studio. I hope that AURORA speaks to that little ‘hopeless romantic’ in all of us. See more of Sheila Smedleys romantic AURORA jewellery at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/catalog/jewellery-wedding-jewellery-c-6_185.html
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