Jay Jasper's Blog, page 56

Transitions

Creating Raku pottery is a process that requires multiple stepsAnd those changes are often times unpredictable, and can even be destructive but With time and experience I have been able to come to a better understanding of the conditions
to create the pieces I have in my mind. Pieces that can stand in their own light, and help spread that light to others $ 124
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“In the space between chaos and shape there was another chance.”

~ Jeanette WintersonA deeper dive into the process of rakuthank you for being a part of my journey and growth as an artist

Losing Myself In The Cracks

“There is a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.”~ Leonard CohenThe cracks in raku glaze (crazing) are one of my favourite things.

I love spending time looking at the details of them and how they expand across a piece, knowing that I have helped them to grow with the choices I made during firing.

I also revel in how I do not control them; in the end I can only encourage them and then what comes is what comes.

letting go of control and allowing the cracks to speak in their own way
brings me peace. slowing down and following the cracks
feels like a meditation I really love the way the cracks bend around the neck area Learn more about the history of sculptural busts here, and why I have chosen the Buddha for my first creation of this sort.

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What do you think? Cracks in Raku Jewelry
Vase of Attraction Buddha Pendant
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Do you enjoy letting go and looking at what can be found in the cracks?

Friendly reminder! If you want to win some free pottery, your time is running out! The Great Pottery Gift Basket will draw at the end of 2021. Find out how to
get your entry in before it’s too late!

Harvesting Light

It’s November! nearing the end of 2021!

And here in the northern hemisphere the days are shorter and the curse of Daylight Savings Time and clocks falling back will soon be upon us. We are in that nether world where the days continue to get shorter and the nights darker.

Some of the harvest before the frost hit Enjoying less mosquitoes around the fireThis is the season where I literally crave light

And what better way to do that than harvesting the light of candles. In the studio I have been hard at work, creating a unique and stylish place to put those candles in my home, and you can bring it to yours too.

Interstellar Candle Holder
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These candle holders have found a place of pride in my home to harvest light in our darkest days. You can check out our growing selection of candleholders here that are available for purchase for your home. If you are looking for a particular colour, you can email us here.

White Candle Holder
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Red Candle Holder and Vases
$120
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What do you think of the candleholders?

And what do you think of
daylight savings time?

Please let us know in the comments below!

You know what else is great?

The Great Pottery Gift Basket!

Help it grow and get your name in to win!

A Deeper Look🏺👀

This is who we are and what we do. We Hope it might resonate with you

win your own raku vase (and more)

– click here to find out how –

Mugshot Monday

“There is no doubt that
life can be a bumpy ride. But so were those roller coasters you loved as a kid. SavoUr the adventure.
Find excitement in the uncertainty and the constant change.Celebrate the bumps!
Bumpy Mug 11
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Even let a touch of fear
add spice to your life –
as you did on that roller coaster.”~ Jonathan Lockwood HuieIf you are not big on roller coasters, try listening to this – Roller Coasters by Tank And The BangasThe ups and downs (and loops!) are what makes roller coasters fun.

do you feel that life is similar?

More mugs can be viewed here.

If you don’t see one for sale in the colour you like,
please contact us and we can work with you directly

or sign up to win a mug (and more) here

Athena’s Trick (or Treat)!

The harrowing tale of a new mother

A (surprise, surprise) vengeful goddess Hera, spooky would be witch midwives, snakes in a cradle, subterfuge, the power of breast feeding and a tale of spilt milk that ends in a beautiful finish. Phew!

Athena’s Trick (or treat!)
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Hera we go again!

Io’s descendant, Alcmene was excited. She was pregnant and about to give birth to a child. But she had a secret that wasn’t kept very well. The father of her child to be was none other than Zeus. He was up to his old philandering ways again, and Hera was none to pleased. As usual.

Mount Olympus has no fury, like a goddess scorned, particularly if that goddess is named Hera.

I bet that wasn’t on the gift registry!

Hera was up to her old tricks again, triggered by yet another mistress of Zeus. What do you get your husband’s mistress for a shower gift? If you’re Hera, first you send over a couple of witches while the child is being born. And if that doesn’t work you put a couple of snakes in the child’s cradle.

But Alcmene was no slouch. She knew of Hera’s reputation and had her servants trick the witches. It was her infant child who took care of the snakes, strangling them in his crib.

Don’t bite the nipple that feeds you, you’ll see stars

Alcmene was very concerned for her child’s safety at this point. The situation felt hopeless, but she knew that her son was destined for greatness. She decided to put her faith in the gods hands and brought her son to the woods for her own safety.

It was in the woods that the baby was found by none other than the goddess Athena. Fortunately she had a plan to protect the baby and maybe knock Hera down a notch for her often outrageous and Godzilla behaviour.

She brought the baby to Mount Olympus and gave him to Hera, but told him he was an orphan who needed nourishment. Not knowing the true identity of our hero, Hera allowed him to suckle from her breast. That is until he bit her nipple.

Of course, this caused a great tantrum from Hera, again. She pushed the baby away and her milk fell across the sky. That’s how the Milky Way was formed! Don’t cry over spilt milk. Just look at it in awe.

Milk. It does the Body Good.

Hera then demanded that Athena take back the child who had attacked her. Still not knowing who the baby really was. Athena fed the child, hoping to gain favour with Zeus and teach her frenemy Hera a lesson. Fortunately for the baby, this further imbued the baby with strength, wisdom and power.

That’s a good thing, because the baby would need all the strength and power he could get, for his name was Hercules, and Hera was just getting started with him.

or Treat! A sweet puppy face Happy Halloween!

This Week At The Studio In Photos

The Alchemist’s Studio now has a tire swing! The Red Pagoda appeared in the mists on the horizon
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The garden has been tilled, kale transplanted and
garlic is in the ground ready for winter. Chairman Meow shared his Halloween Message! A special project is in the works The wood is all stacked and ready to keep The Alchemist’s Studio warm for the winter to come!That’s been the week here.

How’s your week been?

Click here to add your name to our
Great Pottery Gift Basket
and win before the year is out!

💀 Something Wicked This Way Comes! 💀

2nd Witch:
“By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.

[Knocking] Busy at workOpen locks,
Whoever knocks! [Enter Macbeth]Macbeth:
How now, you secret, black,
and midnight hags! What is’t you do?”– William ShakespeareHave an absurdly frightening Halloween!

Click here if you’d like to get a vase of your own for free!

Feline Like It’s Time To Get Spoooooky

Hello, it’s me, your fantastic leader, chairman meow. Guess my costume if you like, but if I do not like your answer you will be sent
to clean my kitty litter for the rest of human time!

Feel my wrath!Halloween is all about cats, so i am gracing you with my presence. Cats are clearly best for everything.You’re Welcome.For a limited time all pit fired vases are 10% off!
$89 (reg $98)
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it is obvious that the Alchemist put me on this vase to honour me, My official studio photo. I am very handsome.because I am incredible and very soft The pie made from this pumpkin will be delicious – and all for me! HAHAHAAH(even when i bite or scratch).i hope your Halloween is truly terrifying, unless you are doing my bidding –
which in that case, I hope your Halloween is Truly terrifying and you keep my food dish full.

More pit-fired vases

WIN a raku vase before the year is out
as part of the Great Pottery Gift Basket!

The Red Pagoda

Our raku pottery vase story this week

Tells the tale of an Asian architectural staple: the pagoda.

In poetry, they have been praised for the spectacular views they afford. The oldest of these structures were built of wood, though most of the survivors of today, are brick or stone. It is without further ado that I unveil our raku vase

‘The Red Pagoda’.

The Red Pagoda
$ 125
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Pagoda’s were places of spiritual significance,

Mostly Buddhist, but sometimes Taoist. It must have been their irresistible ‘chi’ that made them so attractive!

Their origins trace back to India and the ‘stupa’, which was used to house spiritual relics. Their beauty has ensured that these structures eventually spread across most of the Asian continent, where it’s design has been reinterpreted in as many different ways as places it’s been built.

Pagoda’s are almost always built with an odd number of levels

(You’ll see mine has five). There were no floors on the inside of the pagodas, some were even solid structures. But usually there was a staircase to the top, where visitors could make a joyful climb to take in the view of the landscape around them through the windows and viewing spaces on one side of the structure.

With this vase, you can see all 5 levels of the pagoda in one rich, red place.

PAgo-don’t Go before you answer this:

what do you think of my vase interpretation of the pagoda?

And how do you like that red glaze? Fresh from a scrubbingLet me know in the comments below!

You can view all of our raku pottery vases and read more
about their stories and inspirations here.

WIN a raku vase before the year is out
as part of the Great Pottery Gift Basket!