Bonnie Anderson
|
|
Artist Statement
I LIVE IN A PART of the world that many say is paradise. Here in
BC's tranquil Okanagan Valley, I run the Potters Addict Ceramic
Art Centre where I feel inspired to work on my own creations. I
have been a potter and teacher since 1986, and enjoy sharing my
love and passion for clay with others. My school is open all year
round. In addition to teaching three levels of handbuilding, raku
technology, stoneware, smokefire, pottery wheel and glaze technologies,
I organize special workshops where professional potters from all
over BC come and demonstrate different techniques.
Although running a school is hectic, I still manage to find enough
time to work on my own creations. I try to stay away from traditional
styles of ceramics, and enjoy creating funky raku products.
Picasso has been a great source of inspiration for me, and a lot
of my art pieces reflect his work. I have produced several popular
Picasso-inspired raku lamps and wall hangings of naked ladies. My
raku mini blowfish, with a special blend of glazes, has also been
well received.
Here is a small sample of Bonnie Anderson's work. If you are interested
in purchasing Bonnie's artwork please contact the Art Ark. We can
send you further images.
 |
Assorted
Raku Quail
Large 4 inch tall, Small 2.5 inch tall |
 |
Assorted
Raku Angels
Large 15 inch tall |
 |
Assorted
Raku Blowfish
4 x 6 x 5 inch |
 |
Assorted
Raku Fish Vases
8 inch tall |
 |
Assorted
Raku Cow Vases
10 inch tall |
 |
Raku
Leaf Bowl
7 inch diameter |
 |
|
Raku
Leaf Bowl
8 inch diameter |
Raku
Leaf Bowl
6 inch diameter |
 |
|
Fish
A
Assorted Collection
|
Fish
B
Assorted Collection |
|
|
|
|
Blow
Fish Assorted
|
|
|
Link to Bonnie Anderson's Website HERE
What is Raku?
After a piece of pottery has been made it is allowed to dry. This
drying process takes from one to three weeks depending on the size
of the work. When the work is completely dry it is called green
ware. The green ware is coated in selected areas with a special
slip called terra sigillata. Three coats of terra sigillata are
applied to the green ware. The pots are then polished to a high
sheen between each coat using a rounded stone or a soft cloth. The
pottery is then fired in the kiln to a temperature of 1700 degrees
Fahrenheit. This makes the clay hard enough to handle without breaking.
The clay is glazed with a low fire glaze and then fired in a red-hot
kiln, to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. As soon as the glaze has melted,
a process that you watch, the pottery is removed from the hot kiln
with long tongs. When the red-hot pottery comes into contact with
the air, cooling takes place and instantly the glaze crackles. Still
red-hot, the pottery is placed into a container that has been filled
with a combustible material such as straw, newspaper, sawdust, leaves,
etc. As soon as the hot pottery touches the combustible material
a fire starts in the container. A lid is placed on top of the container
snuffing out the fire and creating carbon (smoke) thus reducing
the oxygen in the container. This process is called reduction. The
pottery is left in the oxygen free atmosphere for about twenty minutes.
The smoky atmosphere helps develop the beautiful luster that we
see on finished clay pieces. Carbon enters into the crackle where
a clear glaze has been applied, this is called carbon trap. Smoke
also attacks the raw clay where terra sigillata has been applied
and leaves the clay with a beautiful black shiny surface. After
twenty minutes in the reduction container, the piece is placed in
water for quenching. This cools the pottery and stops all chemical
reactions. If the piece survives all these processes, the result
will be a delicate, brittle, porous vessel with a beautiful lustrous
or crackled glaze, and shiny black surface that can only be obtained
through the process of what we call Raku.
 |
|
Lady
Vase C
13 inches high
$150
|
Lady
Vase E
10 inches high
$75 |
|
|
 |
Lady
Vase D
10 inches high
$105
|
Lady
Vase F
10 inches high
$125 |
 |
 |
 |
Female
Sand Figures
Assorted Collection
|
Plate
with three figures
11 inches round
$90 |
Small
Bowl
8 inches round
$49 |
|
|
