Jay Jasper's Blog, page 90

Pottery Of The People

Ceramics is the oldest form
of technology we have.

After cooking meat, baking clay was the first thing that humans did to chemically alter our environment on purpose. You can’t make rice without cooking it in some kind of vessel, so clay pots go hand in hand with agriculture – our whole evolution is connected to it.

There’s only a short period of history in which people haven’t been connected with pottery. There’s something incredibly grounding about an experience that connects you with the past like that.

– Tallie Maughan

Pit firing is an integral part of who we are as a species.

Pit-fired pieces have been found created by civilizations the world over with a story that goes back 30,000 years.

There is something inherently and deeply human about the process which is why we wanted to bring this proposal to you – our fellow humans.

98a ? – $98
Shipping Included in US and Canada
Our pit-fired vases do not have namesAnd as our co-mo sapiens we would like to request your help in naming them!fellow humanswhat do you think would make a great name/story for this vase – currently known as 98a?

By Jupiter! What Is The Alchemist’s Studio?

If you have a spare minute and change, you can see the video below, or better yet check us out on youtube and subscribe to our channel! I would love to hear your impressions and thoughts on this video!

Thanks for reading, and maybe watching!

And if you enjoy our raku vase stories, we suggest checking out out first book!

“A Potter’s Dream: Myths and Legends” collects stories across cultures and centuries, adapting them to his pottery with wit, love, compassion and joy. “A Potter’s Dream: Myths and Legends” is a decidedly modern take on the traditional topics of pottery, healing, community – and what it means to be human – all interwoven with the magic of raku and stunning pottery.

A Potter’s Dream: Myths and Legends Book – $22
Free Shipping in US and Canada

It makes for a great coffee table book, bedtime reading, bathroom book or gift for the art lover on your shopping list.

Livin’ La Vida Roca!

We are excited to feature our newest sculpture! Bricky Martin
$5000
Shipping included in US and Canada (including Puerto Rico!)
A candid shot on stage and making it happen! Bricky in detailHappy April Fools Day!

if you would prefer a piece that is not a $5000-brick-masquerading-as-a-piece-of-raku-pottery Poseidon’s Adventure
$202
Shipping included in US and Canada

Evangeline
$120
Shipping included in US and Canada
Father Of The Sea
$124
Shipping included in US and Canada
or if you want to win a free raku pottery vase of your own

– click here to find out how –

A Piece Of Our Story – Our First Ever Blog Post (November 9, 2018): Confessions Of A Pot-a-holic

I have a confession to make, and that is that I am a pot-a-holic.  No, I don’t mean cannabis, which has recently been legalized here in the great white north!  I am talking about the art of raku pottery.  No visine required!  I do not think there is anything I do not like about it, except for maybe when the kiln gods are unkind and a pot breaks.

You see, for me, finding my love of raku pottery was like winning the lottery.  It came at a time in my life where I felt I needed to challenge myself artistically, and let me tell you, it has been a challenge!  And there is so much more to learn.  You see with pottery, the learning never stops.  You can always throw taller, wider, faster and thinner.

The whole process of creating a piece, feeling the clay in my hands, the guilty pleasure of the zen moment when I center the clay on the wheel and it glides in my hands, to the flames of the reduction bin, and of course scrubbing off the ash and debris to reveal my final prize.

 

Raku Christmas Tree – Turquoise & Metallic

 

In the early days, there were many disappointments, and many moments where I wanted to walk away from pottery.  I have made MANY ugly pieces of pottery.  I feel like I owe some of my family and friends an apology for all the ugly mugs, vases and other pottery items I gave them as gifts in my first year of throwing. Have hope, Christmas is coming!

The Alchemist

Want to help keep the story going but not sure of a piece you’d like?

See all our pieces here, contact us here with questions, or if you prefer send in a donation of your choice to The Alchemist’s Studio using the button below.

On The Wheel Wednesday

Sometimes we stick our neck out, for things we believe in, for those we love.When we stretch to help others, we often learn and grow. We see things Differently.It is in those moments we can add more love and Beauty to the world, through a simple act of kindness.

Can you remember a time where you learned something from helping someone? Inspire us with your tale in the comments below.

And if you want to win a free raku pottery vase of your own

– click here to find out how –

Born To Be Wise

“It is odd that we have so little relationship with nature, with the insects and the leaping frog and the owl that hoots among the hills calling for its mate. We never seem to have a feeling for all living things on the earth.”
—Jiddu Krishnamurti Turquoise Owl – $75
Shipping Included In US and Canada

Click here to see more owl s

Transitions

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

– Albert EinsteinOne of the More curious times in the creation of raku pottery

Is the change that occurs during a glaze firing. Beforehand, we set up the firing scenario to be in the best possible situation to reach a certain result, but once the kiln and reduction containers are closed

it is up to the fates.

It is with this in mind, that we bring you “Transitions.”

He Was Her World. But His Wife Wouldn’t Stop Having Babies. Here’s What He Did. (Spoiler – It Back-fired)

We previously told the story of the raku pottery vase – ‘Gaia’s Revenge‘ – and a time before the gods, when Gaia had to teach her husband a lesson, which you can read here. But every story has two sides. And today, we hear from the man god behind the Gaia, Uranus.

Tears of Uranus tells the tale of young love, fertility rites gone wrong, a celestial nursery built on chaos, an old God who gave it all up for revenge and proof positive that the first cut was indeed the deepest.

Uranus used to love the feel of Gaia’s cool porcelain-like skin when she’d whisper softly in his ear. It’d always kind of given him a little jolt, and if truth be told he rather liked it. But it was always the same thing. Ace of Base said it better than Uranus could in their sophomoric social commentary doubling as a song. The kind of catchy tune radio stations would over play much to the frustration of all.

Uranus had actually remembered their early courtship with much fondness. In the early days when they were busy creating The Titans together, he looked forward to her nightly visits. As many a new father, he was reluctant. His duties of father of the sky and heavens kept him rather distant which also complicated matters. But those Titans were healthy looking children and he did not mind so much looking after them. But things were about to change.

Tears Of Uranus
$ 188
Shipping Included in the US and Canada

He was literally the sky and heavens and was responsible for regulating all the cosmos. Though Chaos was hiding in that too. When Gaia had arrived for her nightly visit, she was interrupting a beautiful meteor shower he was putting on. She still excited him, but it was time. He had to tell her tonight that he had enough with their twelve Titan children. Could they put a hold on making more little Titans? Could he just focus on his career for awhile?

Gaia was able to decidedly answer him yes! She explained that chaos told her it was bad luck to have thirteen of something. Uranus felt good to know he would have no more children. He was understandably tired after his twelfth, and he also knew there was no way he could resist Gaia. Relationship counselling averted. Which was good, because the only other being they had to go to for help was Chaos, and that would not have ended well.

But you see Gaia had a little secret. She liked to create, and my she was prolific. While it was true that they would have no more Titan children, she was bored of those kind anyways, what she failed to mention was they may have other types of offspring. The kind of offspring that had one hundred arms and fifty heads. And if that were not enough,there were not one but three of them. Then came the Cyclops!

It was nice his offspring had cool names, but the practicality of childcare and all the irregular requirements of their household soon overwhelmed Uranus. He tried to talk to Gaia about all the gloves and hats needed for their children, and one of the Cyclops needed glasses. Can a Cyclops wear a monocle?

Unfortunately Gaia was less than responsive to his pleas. She was out busy creating new accessories for herself, like oceans, and trees and such things. Maybe she was a little caught up with her latest creation at the time, mushrooms, but you didn’t hear that from me.

Uranus had enough. He decided to return all of the children to Gaia. His sky palace just wasn’t big enough, and between changing cosmic diapers and meeting the special needs of his children, he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He had grown to dislike his own children so he sent them back to where they came from – Gaia!

A bunch of giants and cyclops wandering around in what some called Tartarus, but Gaia considered her womb, was painful. She no longer had the time to create and she became angry with her husband. She figured he was just being insecure and felt his power was being threatened. He felt he had no power, that he was a mere shadow of his self, and he was intractable about removing the children from Gaia again, because it meant he would have to care for all of these children, for what might be an eternity. No thanks.

Gaia wasn’t going to tolerate the situation for long. She fashioned a sickle and bribed their son Cronus with Uranus’ power to castrate him. With a slice of the sickle Uranus’ testicles and blood hit the Earth many more children would emerge from his final fertile act. Was their no mercy for poor Uranus?

Indeed not. For it is then that Gaia started her smear campaign against Uranus making him the butt of all jokes. She may have been stuck with all the children, but in the end he got stuck with the crappy end of things.

And for clarity sake, this vase’s name Tears of Uranus
refers to the salty water that comes out of one’s eye.

Not something else.

And if you want to win a free raku pottery vase of your own

– click here to find out how –

Mugshot Monday

“Coffee is a kind of magic you can drink.”

― Catherynne M. Valente Mug 10 $35

Shipping Included in US and Canada

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.

I’d Like To Give You A Free Vase! (Yes, For Real!)

It’s spring time here in Canada and everything is coming up green (well it was until the snow came today, but it will be gone again shortly!)

As I start to plant seed starts for the garden, my mind remembers something else I am trying to grow! Our pottery giveaway! But I can’t do this without your help!

Our ‘Great Pottery Giveaway’ items so far: A Mug for your drinks! A cute little turtle!Pssst! In case you haven’t heard, we’ve decided to do a ‘Great Pottery Giveaway’!

And you can help us increase the prize pool. All you need to do is sign up for our newsletter here! As we gain subscribers we will be adding items to our giveaway basket, and at the end of the year, one of our subscribers will win the gift basket.

I’d like to add one of our signature raku pottery vases to the giveaway. And we are getting really close. All we need is an additional 36 people to sign up to our newsletter.

Why sign up?Automatically be entered into this and other pottery giveawaysAn inside look at what we are up toAdvance notification of sales and special offersA first peak at new workWatch our small little art studio grow and inside tips on how we are doing itYou might be the winner of what I hope is a great pottery haul!

So do not hesitate, sign up today! The odds are better than the lottery, so tell your pottery loving friends and please share!

Thanks for your consideration and I hope you have a wonderful week!

And let me know in the comments what colour of raku pottery vase you would be most interested in us including in this prize package!