Sharon Bussard Grove was born in Lethbridge, Alberta.  Her first experience with clay was ingrained as a child diligently playing in her Grandmothers studio.  Mid life she returned to her passion for clay while residing in Tsawwassen.  In 1994 She became an active member of the pottery community with the Delta Potters Association and began her career as a fulltime potter.  Two thousand and three marked a transition period, after moving to Sooke she spent the following four winters away at school, first at in Ontario at Sheridan College of Art and Design then completing her BFA majoring in Ceramics at Alberta College of Art and Design.  As a ceramic artist she views her practice as a journey, thankfully one that will never stop being a learning process and filled with challenges. 

Her inspiration comes from life, often imbued with the textures, forms and colors of the landscape that surrounds her.  As her body of work has progressed decorative and design elements have become more abstract and ephemeral creating the spiritual essence of an idea, image or feeling.

Bussard Grove’s studio is tucked away in the Sooke hills at the edge of the forest overlooking the Straight of Juan de Fuca.  “How can I not be inspired living and working here”

Sharon’s work has been shown internationally and is a part of the permanent ceramics collection at the ceramic Arts Museum in  Jingdezhen, Sanbao, China.

Blue Hat

I have been a studio potter since graduating from Kootenay School of Art, Nelson, BC in 1976.

My Work combines my love of drawing and painting with my passion for clay work.

My method of hand building using thinly rolled slabs of white earthenware clay, images are carefully drawn and incised, and textures are then rolled and embossed into the wet clay.

Working in short series I use the playful imagery and fabulous textures inspired by art deco and the “Flapper” era to showcase my eccentric imagination.  Each piece is painted with various underglazes and oxides and then fired in an electric kiln several times to develop the rich detail.

Fish Teapot $275.00 CAD

Linda Walton received her post secondary educations in painting and ceramics at the Berkshire college of Art and at Leicester University in England.  She lived and worked in Jamaica before immigrating to British Columbia in the 70s where she taught ceramics, drawing and design in the Fine Arts Department at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.  She moved to Vancouver Island in 2005.

Linda’s work has been exhibited in Chicago, San Francisco and Sydney Australia as well as in several places in Canada.  It is in the hands of both public and private collectors in those countries and in Japan.  She lives in Black Creek, on the Oyster River where she works in ceramics, and multi media.

Born in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, I came to Canada over thirty years ago, meandering my way through various countries with my family before settling in Vancouver.

My first brief exposure to clay a few years ago, turned into passion. Over the years I have tried different firings and techniques, challenging the clay and myself. Exploring form, texture and color are the three elements that excite me about working with clay. My creations include functional, non-functional and sculptural pieces.

My interests in clay are diverse. I love the translucency and the delicacy of porcelain and the robustness of the stoneware. I find playing with texture, and color and the balance between function and aesthetic exciting and challenging. Wheelwork and handbuilding are used to add interest to the forms.  The thrown pieces are at times altered to give it  a dimension. In the forms, my intention is to reach up to heaven and yet remain connected to the earth. .

 My work is often spontaneous, with total surrender to the sensual clay and inner guidance. Often my work is not preconceived, rather, an idea sparks my creativity and whatever emerges from that idea, becomes my artwork. 

 My intention -  In the process of creating art for myself, if my work awakens a memory, healing, emotions, curiosity, mystery or enlivens the mind of the viewer/user, then I will have more than succeeded in my journey of creativity and being of service to mankind.

My work is influenced by my East Indian Islamic heritage, my African roots, my travels, and events and influences of my present environment. I have been greatly influenced by the shapes, textures, and colors from these cultures, although I enjoy exploring other cultures. My passion for knowledge, experimenting, teaching and creating is a permanent urge that motivates me.

The following poem tells the story of my inspiration. 

In your light I learn how to love,

In your beauty, how to make poems,

You dance inside my chest,

Where no one sees you,

But sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.

Rumi.

Pottery

Lyn has been working with clay for over 20 years and uses handbuilt, wheel-thrown and altered form techniques. She makes a wide range of pottery from pendants to bowls and platters to wall art. The common theme in all her pieces is a touch of the coast. She uses stamped and rolled impressions of shells and seaweed and carvings of herons, salmon and dolphins. She combines her glazes to depict colors of the sea, sand and sky. All of her stoneware pottery is oven, microwave and dishwasher safe.

Lyn lives and works out of her home studio in Powell River, B.C. “Living on the coast and being in nature provides me with a wealth of ideas and inspiration. I take these ideas back to my studio and work and play with them.”

Pottery

In the past couple of years Lyn has been drawn to work with the technique of smoke-fired pottery.  “The rich red tones of the clay contrasted with black slip designs are burnished to a natural shine. I love the warmth and beauty of the bare clay with all its subtle impressions and the unpredictable patterns from the fire.”  Smoke-fired pottery is food-safe but because it is fired to a lower temperature it is more fragile and not intended for general use.

Many people and life experiences have contributed to and influenced my work. It is constantly changing as one idea grows into another.

Ellen was born and raised in the small coastal community of Campbell River BC, on Vancouver Island.  She is the daughter of a commercial fisherman and has a long and direct connection with the sea and with nature which inspires her whimsical forms and designs.

Leaf Vase

Wild Elderberry Plate

 Ellen discovered clay in 1984 while enrolled in the Fine Arts Diploma Program at Malapsina College in Nanaimo, BC.  She continued here art education and work in Raku at North island College.

 “My greatest pleasures come from allowing the clay to take me places I would not venture into on my own.  The unpredictable and spontaneous nature of Raku produces  positive feedback which shows no sign of abating”.  Ellen’s work has moved through a number of themes ranging from a fixation with alligators to her current interest in botanical textures and impressions.

 She currently lives and works in Campbell River where she makes Raku pottery and teaches classes in her home studio.  Ellen’s work is held in collections throughout the world and she enjoys an enthusiastic local following.

  The Raku Process….

After a rapid firing of about 30 minutes glowing hot pots are quickly removed from the kiln and placed into metal containers lined with combustible materials (like shredded paper) .  A  lid cuts off the oxygen creating a “reducing” atmosphere.  In this reducing atmosphere, smoke and fire work their magic, making each piece “one of a kind”  

 Handle your Raku with care—after all, it has had a difficult birth!

Raku is not watertight or food safe.  Over time, direct sunlight may affect colours.  Clean with a soft cloth.

Ceramic Chiton

Jacinda Hames

Artist Statement

Over 71% of this earth’s living space is ocean, which is inhabited by plants and animals. Even more importantly, over half of the world’s population lives within 60 miles of a coastline. These largely populated areas have threatened our local ecosystems, causing an increase in marine pollution, habitat destruction and in turn global warming; in particular Canada’s marine habitat and its ability to sustain itself.

Porcelaine Sea Spine $5,900.00 CAD

This body of work is based on a series of photographs that I took while diving and going for walks along the beach of both the East and West Coast of Canada. Along these journeys various local materials such as; sand, rocks and shells were collected. It is these local materials that I use in my artwork. I break down found organic materials and incorporate them into my ceramics. It is also the color, pattern and texture of the Coastline’s of Canada that I portray in these works.

During my education at NSCAD University these experiences were explored and then stylized in many different types of media. But, in the end I have found that clay is the best vehicle for me to express my ideas.

Click here to visit Jacinda’s website.