A little while ago Maureen and I were parked, getting gas for our car. It was a very cool day, so when a young and extremely beautiful lady got out of her car we had a discussion. Maureen thought the black tights were too tight, and would be too cool. I said they have nothing to do with warmth. She …
I love a magazine called Lucky Peach. It is an honest, mostly insider look at the food industry. In a world of smoke and mirrors, this publication has lots to expose. I read about a food-like product that I had no idea could, would or should exist. It was an expose of something called “Lunchables”. I have been in large …
For some unknown reason, I continue to be a lucky man. On a very hot day this week, this sign was added to the election signs on the roadside right in front of our house. It brought such a breath of fresh air to our village!
Lonsdale is almost perfect. We have mosquitoes, black flies, and the odd deer fly – other than that, it is perfect. This little imperfection is why I built a summer room with windows and screens. I found the table in a tombstone yard, and built the oven a year later in 2004. Maureen and I almost live in this little …
Spring in Lonsdale has been lovely. We had a great group of guests for the Spring Exhibition in May, and my thanks go out to all of you for your support and interest in the new works. It was great to talk with friends, and get caught up after a cold winter. Since then, nature has shown its power. The …
I love it when the stars align. I have some good friends that love good food. They made very good pork sausages with kimchi, which they fermented themselves, and added into the meat mix. Generous people that they are, they shared some with us. Tasty! These friends have most everything they need to survive, including good sausages, so how to …
Hello! We are having our 41st Lonsdale Exhibition of porcelain on May 2nd & 3rd and May 9th & 10th, from 11 to 4pm each day. This year, part of the exhibition is in my new pool hall! As you can see, I don’t have a billiards table yet, but I do have the lights made. They are condo lamps. …
If you live in Ontario, and endured February, you also had to endure a lot of winter complaining. You will not get that from me. Winter for me is a time to get some work done. For the past few weeks, I have been hauling small canvasses over to the house, working up a drawing and then going back to …
In these videos, my technique of sprigging is shown here for the first time. Before watching, let me share what I have learned about sprigging. Chinese potters have used a technique for hundreds of years, but my own European background made me look there for the secrets of sprigging technique. You have to be careful when looking at “factory” ceramics …
I’ve placed two more videos on the site that add to a series of technical videos intended for both students and those interested in learning how I make and decorate bowls. In the video of me trimming a thrown bowl, I mention that if you do not like to trim pots, you should avoid throwing with porcelain. I used to …
Why would someone who has been making pots for nearly 50 years still be making bowls? They are so basic, so simple, and so… well, useful. If you take those three reasons and add that they are truly fun to make, you have my answer. If you were to assume that the first three reasons are easy, you would be …
Don’t hire me to renovate your house. I built a shed attached to my studio 15 years ago, and am just finishing it now. The building is a wall away from my kiln, and I built the place in case I needed or wanted to build another kiln. As it turns out, my old kiln is just fine, and the …
Adding wine into the clay while it is aging is always a good idea. Of course any old vinegar would do just fine, but if you really want to be exotic, follow my example. We have some very good friends, and cooking for them is a privilege. All of them bring wine when they visit, and they spoil us with …
I work seven days a week in my studio from sometime in September right through to May. That is usually enough. Leaving the studio is a very good idea, because after a long stint I get a bit comfortable; a bit lazy and a bit …well, dull. If you value your career, and your dignity, leave. Just walk out and …
I have been asked frequently to explain how Morgan glaze works. Truth be known, I don’t know all that much, except that I like it. I am also asked why I can like a glaze like Morgan, and at the same time like a glaze like my HH celadon. The celadon is following in the traditional steps of Song Chinese …
I was asked a number of times over last weekend (the first weekend of our studio exhibition), why was I so interested in boats. Some of the people asking knew that I was a Canadian prairie dog, so even more questions about lack of water… My answer is pretty simple. I fell in love with the canoe as a teenager …
There are very few benefits to a long winter. For this potter, who gets spring fever easily, one benefit is getting lots of work done. I spent a whack of time working with one of my ship hulls, some Murano glass rods and new digital lights. I also strayed into the mystery land that is my Morgan glaze… I had …
This will be the 40th year we have sent you an invitation to our Lonsdale Studio Exhibition. How did this happen, and what have I been doing? Well, working. And in my spare time working. It has been a blast, and I am not done! Harlan House RCA Visit Harlan’s Facebook page.
I have been making ceramics for almost 50 years. I used to do a lot of weekend workshops all across Canada encouraging potters to use and enjoy porcelain. In almost every workshop I was asked to make one of these large platters, because the method is a little unique, and takes some practice to do it well. I have to …
We moved to Lonsdale, Ontario in 1973 from Calgary, Alberta. I found this little jewel of a village by accident, and have enjoyed it for over 40 years. Moving from a big city to a hamlet would be setback for many, but not for us. From day one, I felt really at home. An old village, and old home, and …