Making Bowls – Part I Throwing off the Hump – Technical Demonstrations

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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 …

Fun ahead.

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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 …

Wine and Clay

Haut Clay

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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 …

Summer

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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 …

When the “lines” are good…

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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 …

Video – Harlan at The Throwing Wheel

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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 …

Process and Beauty in One Pull

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I have wanted to do this forever. Anyone that has thrown a cup or bowl off the hump, on a potter’s wheel knows the lovely mark of a piece of twisted thread that appears on the bottom of the piece as you cut it off.…it is process and beauty all at once. I tried to get this “mark” on the …

Blue Celadon

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If you want to find out more about Blue Celadon glazes…including how to produce a thick, unctuous, wonderful juicy Jun glaze, please investigate the Blue Celadon technical page on my website. Harlan House RCA Visit Harlan’s Facebook page.

Flashed Harlan House Celadon glaze on soup bowl

HH Celadon

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For those students, teachers and potters who have an interest in what I have been doing for the last 45 years, I have added another technical page that provides information regarding my HH Celadon Glaze. Please have a look at the HH Celadon glaze technical page if you are interested in the evolution and formulae for this signature glaze. Harlan …