Jay Jasper's Blog, page 78

Grieving Sky Father

NB. THis blog post was
Originally Posted in April 2019

Once in awhile I deviate from my lighthearted and cheery blog posts to share a little slice of my soul. This is one of those times, but not to fear, there are also pretty pictures.

Before we get to the goods, let’s start out with some bling, my latest raku pottery vase creation ‘Sky Father‘. On an aesthetic level this vase’s name pays tribute to the sky as we see it in it’s blues, and the larger sky we share with the universe with galaxy like effect on the bottom third of the vase.

Click here to see more images of this vase here.

That’s the official rationale for the piece.

But sometimes secrets lie within the soul of an artwork. A little piece of the artist’s heart. Isn’t that what those who buy art pay for?

This vase is also named in memory of my own father, who I unfortunately never really knew.

He might have been as far away as the stars for me.

A myth in my life, a secret to uncover.

A love unknown.

How do I grieve someone who the world tells me should be of great importance in my life, but I never knew? How do I reconcile the passing of hope, of knowing what might has well been a mythical figure in my life, a faint outline?

I look up at the stars and enjoy the light that you can see of a star passed. How do I let go of the hope and longing for something that I can never touch?

I replace it with beauty in my life.

I use that energy to create beauty around me. Like this vase, and in the lives of the people around me.

This one is for you Sky Father.

Thank you for reminding me of my own mortality and that time is limited.

I am going to make sure that those around me know they are loved and appreciated and bring as much love and beauty into this world as I can.

It badly needs it.

Maybe you were just the father I needed.

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” – Vincent Van Gogh

Midnight under the arbour at The Alchemist’s StudioThe prolific works of Vincent van Gogh have captured the imagination of the world for over a century.

In the aftermath of the 23 December 1888 breakdown that resulted in the self-mutilation of his left ear,[8][9] Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausolelunatic asylum on 8 May 1889.[10][11] Housed in a former monastery, Saint-Paul-de-Mausole catered to the wealthy and was less than half full when Van Gogh arrived,[12] allowing him to occupy not only a second-story bedroom but also a ground-floor room for use as a painting studio.[13]

Van Gogh’s work is displayed in leading museums throughout the world and his work continues to influence art today.

Which is what happened for me, here Starry Night – $62
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When I removed this piece from the kiln, it immediately made me think of van Gogh’s master work ‘Starry Night’. In this piece I also see a far flung galaxy of stars!

What do you think of our raku pottery vase ‘Starry Night’?

Does it make you think of van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’? Or do you see some far flung galaxy? Or do you see something completely different?

Do the stars inspire you to dream, like Van Gogh? They sure do for me!

Let me know in the comments below!

You can check out more of our raku pottery vases (and their stories) here! If you would like your very own raku pottery vase, you can sign up for our newsletter, because we will be choosing a lucky subscriber for a pottery gift basket that includes one, which you can see here!

Her Mother-in-Law Is Pregnant AGAIN & She’s Tired Of The Pressure To Keep Up!

‘Nereus & Doris‘ focuses on the virtuous power couple of the sea, known for their fertility and general good nature. If you know anything about Greek mythology, which is a lot like reality television, this could only mean one thing.

They would be replaced. Nereus & Doris – $150
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Nereus, son of Gaia, was an honest man, known for never lying. But there was something fishy about him, and I don’t just mean his scales and tail. Maybe it was his shapeshifting ways, or his prophetic visions.

Doris was the daughter of Oceanus, and was known for the fertility of the oceans and her womb, for it is not every goddess who has the strength and tenacity to birth more than 50 children. There is even a cove named after her in Antarctica. Unfortunately her mother in law Gaia was always at her to have more children.

Nereus – $38
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Doris – $ 124
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While it’s true that this couple had over 50 children together

It was never enough for Nereus, who was a bit of a momma’s boy. Add to that his ability to never lie, and we have a real problem.

Outwardly, no one even realized to ask if there was anything wrong with this watery super couple, which is a good thing, or Nereus would have to tell the truth. But behind the scenes, the tell tale signs of problems were almost there from the start.

Doris was pretty happy to end up with Nereus. She wasn’t wet behind the ears when it came to god like status, and she seized the chance to marry up-and-comer Nereus, who would eventually replace her own father as god of the sea.

She hadn’t anticipated the impact of her new mother in law who also happened to be her grandmother. In almost an instant her grandma Gaia had gone from a largely absentee grandma how sent the occasional birthday card to a mother in law who only cared about one thing: Doris making more babies.

At first Doris took this in stride, and maintained her composure

But eventually after birthing 50 children she had enough. She decided to talk to her honest husband, who could not lie.

Nereus, who took after his mother, wanted more children. As the god of the sea he felt the need to constantly have more children, and poor Doris was left to care for all her children.

Doris knew that in order for their love to continue and for her to have a break from labour pains that something needed to change. She not only resisted the pressure of mother-in-law Gaia to have more children, but she prepared her daughter Amphitrite to take over for her.

Doris then set her up with another up-and-comer in the ocean, Poseidon, who would eventually become the new god and king of the sea, thereby freeing herself from the chains of constant labour.

But unlike other dethroned old gods, Nereus was able to fade into obscurity with Doris, where they lie deep below the murky depths.

This was finally Doris’ Day. Doris – $ 124
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You can check out more of our raku pottery vases (and their stories) here! If you would like your very own raku pottery vase, you can sign up for our newsletter, because we will be choosing a lucky subscriber for a pottery gift basket that includes one, which you can see here!

These 4 Things Want To Be In Your Home

As the weekend gets started, why not treat yourself to some free pottery! It’s super easy! Can I live at your house?Bring everything above home for the insanely, ridiculously, much-less-than-the cost-of-a-cup-of-coffee-a-day-thank-you-very-much-sally-struthers low low price of$0in none instalments!All you need to do is

Subscribe to our newsletter and you could win a pottery gift basket that includes the following items below. As an added bonus, we will add another item once we hit 500 subscribers (we are currently at 420!) with the draw to be held at the end of the year. And more and more after that too!

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Do You Remember Looking At The Clouds As A Child, And All The Things You Would See?

Let’s go back to your early years – or maybe not so long ago.

When was the last time you looked up at the clouds and unleashed your imagination? My doing so inspired both the name and story for this raku vase!

The Nephelai – $118
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Raku pottery vase ‘The Nephelai‘ tells the tale of these offspring of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys, who at first glance you may not see, but they definitely have a seat at the table. The water table that is!

They also don’t like Tori Amos very much. Look up at the sky some time and you may see, hopefully only a few, clouds.

Or so you think!

What you might be seeing are the white billowing robes of the mostly transparent, but beautiful Nephelai.

The Nephelai were the nymphs of the sky, and if you’ve ever forgotten your umbrella and then got wet on a rainy day, it’s their fault. For these nymphs were far more than just a pretty face.

They would spend their days collecting water in their cloudy pitchers, carrying them to the heavens. When all the pitchers were full, they would pour them from the heavens and nourish the earth with the water.

Talk about being prepared for a rainy day! Watch out Tori Amos! The next time you are bouncing off clouds you might hit one of the Nephelai and spill their jug.Maybe it’s Tori Amos’ fault when it rains?What did you think of this raku pottery vase, ‘The Nephelai’ and it’s story? And what was the last thing your imagination let you see in the clouds?

You can check out more of our raku pottery vases (and their stories) here! If you would like your very own raku pottery vase, you can sign up for our newsletter, because we will be choosing a lucky subscriber for a pottery gift basket that includes one, which you can see here!

Healing Together

Life does not stop during these strange times

Though the perspective is surely changing. With the world shifting each day, I am able to see more clearly those things which are truly important to living the life I want.

I am taking this time to reflect on the kind of life best lived for me (don’t worry, pottery is of course in there) and personally, helping with healing is part of that best-lived-life.

In 2019

I was contemplating how I might integrate my own healing into my artistic process and how I might involve and possibly help others with their healing. After contemplating this for sometime, I came up with the concept for ‘The Healing Vase’.

My concept is to allow the process of raku and the flames of the reduction process to act as a healing tonic for grief and pain, for myself, for our world, and for all who to choose to participate in this process collectively.

The Healing VaseI would like to extend an invitation to you

Join the Healing Vase project for 2021.

I would love your participation in healing together. I welcome you to

Visit the project page and add your Wishes for Healing for the current year.

Thank you and I hope you are keeping safe and well in this time of increased difficulty.

Namaste,

The Alchemist

Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates and announcements related to this project.

🤜 Thursday Throwdown June 2021 🤛

Welcome to this Month’s Battle Of The Vases!

It’s vase-to-vase combat like you have never seen before!

How it works: We share two vases and YOU vote which is your favourite! The winner will then move on to the next round to face another competitor!

Last time, Father of the Sea and Elysium battled to the death! Your vote has determined that

the fields of flowers of elysium are to remain in hell! Elysium– $128
Shipping Included in Canada and US
The Series so far Gorgeous Vases of No Contact Wrestling Vase Name

Gossip Girl
Phoenix Reborn
Pillar of Atlas
Evangeline
Ogopogo
Iris En Ciel
Original Twin
Kermit The Vase
Haring’s Dance
White Walker
Sobek’s Tears
Mount Olympus
Argus
Draupnir
Grandmother
Old Soul
Make It Work
Hope Rising In Springtime
The Eye Of Horus
The Eye of Balor
Electra
Mother of Dragons
Father of the Sea
Madame Pele’s Flow
Elysium

Wins/Losses

0/1
3/2
0/1
5/0
0/2
0/1
0/1
1/1
0/1
1/2
1/1
4/1
0/1
0/1
0/1
1/1
0/1
1/1
4/1
0/1
0/1
1/1
3/0
0/1
0/1

With the Sea still winning, perhaps Flora’s Spring celebration can put father back in the water!

Let’s Find out! Flora’s Hope – $120
Shipping included in Canada and US
Flora’s Hope, celebrates a very special Roman goddess.

Flora was not only the goddess of flowers and spring, but she was also the goddess of youth and her initiates really knew how to throw a great party.

Speaking of great parties . . .

Mark your calendars because Floralia is fast approaching. Flora’s festival was traditionally held between April 28th and May 3rd and typically included drinking, flower costumes, plays, mimes, and ended in a hunt and feast!

This festival celebrated the renewal of life, which is something I hope we will all be celebrating soon!

Father of the Sea – $124
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It’s not an easy childhood, when all the tongues in the known universe are wagging about who your father is. Fortunately for Oceanus, there were only a few beings at that time and some of them didn’t even have tongues.

Just imagine Chaos with a tongue!

However when your mother Gaia is making as many babies as possible, and your ‘father’ is an over worked single dad, something is likely to fall through the cracks.

And it may be you; and that crack may form a mighty river.

If all that was not confusing enough, there where whispers among Oceanus’ parents, that maybe – in one of her more ‘fertile’ moods – his mother Gaia visited her omnigender parent Chaos.

In spite of all this, Oceanus knew enough to keep these whisperings hush hush. He did not want to rock the boat. There was already enough actual Chaos in the family.

15 Æons later . . .

Oceanus often questioned his brother Cronus’ growing power. Rather than fight him, Cronus gave him dominion of the river at the end of the world.

Little did Cronus know that this would be the river from which all water would come. A fact which came in pretty handy when your name has Ocean right in it. He is not Riverus after all…

As you may remember from a previous story, Cronus would eventually depose his father Uranus, and take his throne. This would be short lived, for Uranus’ son would do the same. Then Cronus and his Titan siblings asked Uranus to participate in quashing the rebellion of young upstart Zeus.

Phew!

Fortunately, Oceanus and his wife Tethys were busy making babies too – in total about 3,000! Unlike his official father, Oceanus was a good dad. In the end this would save him! For all of his others siblings would lose the war against the new gods of Olympus and rather than fighting, Oceanus spent his time quietly making more babies, new rivers and their river gods, and of course the nymphs.

In the end it was the original river that Oceanus was cast down to that would act as a buffer against Tarturus (hell) where all of his Titan rebel siblings would be imprisoned.

Who will be your victor? Be sure to get your vote by adding it in a comment BELOW! Their fate is now in your hands!We will share the winner (and update from last Time) next month

See even more raku vases.

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On The Wheel Wednesday

Life is not just something to be endured. It is to be lived in joy, in a fullness without limit Ernest Holmeswin your own raku vase (and more!)

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We Didn’t Start The Fire

Pit firing is the first method that humans used to fire pottery almost 30,000 years ago.

It was considered a great milestone in the development of civilization – in part because people were tired of drinking their wine out of wooden buckets.

With such an interesting story behind these pieces, and their ethereal smokey qualities with small splashes of textures and depth, pit-fired pottery makes a welcome gift for someone who likes unique and eclectic one of a kind pieces that are worth beholding. (Perhaps you!)

From now until July 1st you can pick a pit-fired vase up for 10% off!

Check out our selection of pit fired pieces here.

Prices have already been reduced on the page and
include free shipping to the United States and Canada.

$88
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See more pit-fired vases hereLooking forward to sending a pit-fired vase to it’s new home!

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entered to win the Great Pottery Gift Basket!

Mugshot Monday

“Tea brings Time to a crawl, its frantic pace resuming on noticing our empty cups.”

— Terri Guillemets Mug 21 $3 8
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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.

win your own Mug (and more!)

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