Mary Fox Pottery

06/15/2024

Arrived at my new home for the next 3 days 😊 my sister will be joining me soon and then my niece and her family are going to arrive and be in the cabin next door for two days. Our yearly getaway begins… I’m going to squeeze in a bit of writing before everyone gets here. The thing with writing a book is that once you get to a certain stage it takes over your brain and all you really want to do is work on it. At least, that’s how it is for me. I’m looking forward to spending most of Monday writing in blissful quiet to the sound of the ducks on the lake ❤️

06/14/2024

Came across this review of my book, My Life As a Potter, which, of course, was very nice to read. As I work on my next book I’m torn by trying to squeeze as much into the book as I can and yet cover each area as fully as possible. Maybe the answer lies in not trying to squeeze everything in but rather to look at these books as a series with each one picking up where the last one ended. Hmmm, it’s not like I’m going to run out of things to share with you all as there seems to be no end to the explorations I undertake. Definitely worth considering, but for now it’s back to trying to write an inspiring and freeing book on approaching glazing with new eyes. … If you haven’t read my first book yet, what are you waiting for? Enjoy a good read and give back at the same time, it’s a good thing! ❤️🦊🐕🐩 Harbour Publishing

06/13/2024

I’ve been working on my book so haven’t been showing you many pots lately but I unloaded another of my test firings today and took this beauty out. It truly is amazing how much I am discovering while I’m exploring the new techniques that I will be sharing with you in the book. My first book explained how I developed both my crawl and lithium glazed work, if you haven’t read it yet it is a great lead up to this next book which also will be a fundraiser for the Mary Fox Legacy Project Society. Enjoy a good read and give back at the same time, it’s a good thing. ❤️🦊

06/11/2024

Fun night cooking up a storm, was put on noodle duty brought a nice bottle of wine… and I was head cook 😁🦊

06/09/2024

https://www.maryfoxpottery.ca/blog/

Vancouver Island Ceramic Artist

06/07/2024

06/05/2024

The CCBC needs our help, please donate if you can. Amongst the myriad of things the council has on the go they still found time to travel to Ladysmith to meet with the Legacy Project and guide us through the steps involved in setting up our Endowment and Apprenticeship fund. They continue to support the project and we are most appreciative, let’s help them now and help our crafts sector thrive. ❤️🦊

Craft is an integral part of Canadian culture, blending tradition, innovation, and identity. Now, more than ever, craftspeople urgently need your support. The Craft Council of BC is launching a crucial initiative to raise $97,000 by September 1st, 2024, to sustain workshops, fund training programs, and empower craftspeople. The council has faced significant funding cuts and deficits due to the impact of the pandemic.

How You Can Help:
1. Donate: Every dollar counts and directly supports Canadian craftspeople.
2. Spread the Word: Share this message to amplify impact.
3. Get Involved: Join our community to stay updated on initiatives and events.

Donate Now: https://craftcouncilbc.ca/join-the-cause-donate-now/

Your generosity and support keep our craft community thriving. Thank you for taking action today.

06/02/2024

I worked on my website yesterday and in between all the things I couldn’t figure out, I posted this saggar piece from the last firing. I have a new website and it’s taking me a bit to get things just so. I’m going to have another learning curve coming my way as I am having a check out added to the site. You will still need to email me through the site to buy the pottery /artwork, but you will be able to buy a signed copy of my book, cards and tee shirts soon from the site. Seems there is always something that needs working on around here, who’s fault is that?😜 today is Sunday though and I’m taking the girls on a beach adventure, hope the rain holds off a bit longer. ❤️🦊🐩🐕

05/31/2024

My next book received its name last night. Now to turn my attention to the cover shot, oh and writing the rest of it ✍️😁. EXPLORING GLAZES:
Unique approaches
to low firing reduction
and oxidation

05/30/2024

Feeling pretty good, brainless, but good. I finished draft 1 of the first section of the book I’m working on and sent it off to the designer and my editor. Now to vedge out and watch mindless tv. My head is totally in bookland. ✍️🤸🤸🤸

05/29/2024

Had a great birthday weekend with family and new friends on the . Truly a memorable weekend ❤️… I even managed a little alone time to read through what I’ve written so far for the new book, it’s got me back in book mode. It’s so exciting when you finally get to the point where you can start to see the book more as a whole other than sections. Looking forward to working on it again today. ✍️🦊

05/23/2024

I’m off for 3 days holiday tomorrow….can’t wait! in Uculete. Breakfast and dinner are included, me thinks the food is going to be good 😁🦊 the apprentice Sabrina Sachiko Ceramics. will be running the pottery 😁

05/22/2024

I’ve posted a new video on my YouTube channel! This time on the process involved in making my sculptures! Enjoy 😊 and remember, all royalties from my book “My Life as a Potter” go towards the Mary Fox Legacy Project, helping the young potters of tomorrow! It’s a good thing 🦊❤️🐕🐩 https://youtu.be/crOKtaizppE?si=hW13tTJrF2TQQIKb

05/22/2024

Two of my favourites are heading off to join a few more of my pieces at a collectors home in Ontario. I’m, of course, happy for the sales as the art sales are what help to fund the apprenticeship program I run here. But it’s more than that for me, my collector is a senior with not much room to add more pieces to her art collection, still she treats herself to the very best of my work. I find this very touching, she is surrounding herself with beauty while supporting the potters of tomorrow through her purchases. I enjoy all the people that come to visit the pottery but I take extra pleasure in the seniors that come in. Often they are escorted by a younger family member and you can see this is a special outing for them. The other day a woman brought her mom up from Victoria, it was heart warming to hear their chat as she hadn’t made a trip up to the pottery in years and was clearly loving every moment of her visit. Then, also a few days ago, there was a gentleman in his 90’s that comes in with his daughter, he doesn’t need pots but he takes his time and picks out a special piece of tableware to leave with. There are so many aspects of my job that I love but spending time with the seniors that come in is top of my list. ❤️🦊

05/21/2024

This sculpture has been a long time in the making, here I am last July after finishing stage one. Today I was photographing her, so pleased with how the whole piece has come together. The base is a rusty wheel I found at the beach here in town while walking the 🐩🐕 girls. As soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect and scurried off to round up my neighbor Stu. Off we went to the beach armed with a wheelbarrow to get my latest prize. Now, many months later I get to see my sculpture completed. 😊❤️🦊 Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre

05/19/2024

So sorry to learn of one of the Legacy Projects supporters passing. I will miss David’s visits greatly. Here is a post I did a few years back about him.
Remembering David ❤️

Last week a gentleman that visits my gallery each time he’s up island popped in for a quick visit to say hi and look at what’s been coming out of the kiln lately. I admit to having a soft spot for him, he exudes kindness and I imagine I light up every time I come around the corner from the creation room to the gallery and see him there. His favourite glaze is the matte blue and he heads straight for that display to pick something out. This time as he was choosing a mug he mentioned that he would really like a small one but I didn’t seem to have any in his glaze. These days, people seem to want quite large mugs but there is always some that come looking for a small one so I usually have a couple of those tucked away that I can pull out to show them. However, my small mug collection is down to 3 and none were in his glaze. As I wrapped his mug I told him that next time he visited I would have a couple of small mugs made especially with him in mind for him to choose from. Ahhh, the smile on his face as he said, “really?” Yes, I replied, it will be my pleasure and told him I would start on them after he left as I had some time and hadn’t decided what to make yet that day. Here they are, all under 4” with a jug to show you the glaze he so loves. Beauty in the everyday, pleasing others, what can be better? The world around us can be challenging these days but we can choose to surround ourselves with things and people that bring forth the joy and pleasures in life and that is a good thing, a very good thing indeed. ❤️🦊🐕🐩

05/19/2024

Such beautiful reduction, it’s inspiring me. 😊 63cm L

05/17/2024

Black Hole, the last in my Climate Change series is sandblasted and ready for me to find or fashion a mount for it. Many Thanks to my fab glass team Lisa Samphire ❤️❤️❤️🦊

05/17/2024

The kiln is loaded and firing...crammed full of all sorts of work. Experiments from Sarah Wilson Pottery as well as my own, and then there is the sculpture. It was a challenging piece to create, glaze and figure out how to position it in the kiln as it needs to lean up against something. But now she’s in and fingers are crossed for a good firing. There will be lots to show you in the next few days. :) Thanks for the help and to for filming us. ❤️🦊

05/17/2024

The kiln is loaded and firing...crammed full of all sorts of work. Experiments from Sarah Wilson Pottery as well as my own, and then there is the sculpture. It was a challenging piece to create, glaze and figure out how to position it in the kiln as it needs to lean up against something. But now she's in and fingers are crossed for a good firing. There will be lots to show you in the next few days. :) Thanks for the help Sabrina Sachiko Ceramics, Sarah Wilson Pottery and to Steel Cut Media for filming us.

05/14/2024

Spring flowers ❤️❤️❤️❤️

05/13/2024

Lost track of how many firings this piece went through 🔥 it’s definitely sporting the ‘relic’ look now ❤️🦊

05/10/2024

Twin bowls, both finished with the same ingredients with the exception of a final layer of —— in the flower of todays bowl. Number of firings, 3 at cone 04. I’ve got lots more experiments coming along as I continue down my latest rabbit trail. When I eventually get another writing retreat I’ll be able to get a lot done on the book, can’t wait. In the meantime I keep experimenting and documenting the process. Next week I’ll be working on getting another of my low fire reduction loads ready to fire. The loading and unload of the firing will be recorded by my film crew as we start work on a documentary about the Legacy Project and the goings on here. Life is definitely full! But it’s a good full… Today is our AGM for the Legacy Project society and I have lots to fill them in on, stay tuned 😜❤️🦊

05/09/2024

Sometimes I even impress myself 🤣 These 2 bowls, I keep looking at them, marvelling at how, to me, they stand above so many others. What is it? A moment when the throwing gods are with me? I photographed them in the leatherhard stage so I would have a memory of them undressed, now the challenge will be how to dress them so that the beauty of their form stands out above all else. ❤️🦊

12/20/2023

Yesterday was intense! Two sculptures that I made in the summer finally got glazed and fired 🤞quite the balancing act going on with the cascading tidal pools sculpture. I have a rock ready to mount it in if she is done with after this firing. If I think it will enhance, I have another layer of glaze in mind which will mean one more firing. Having apprentice assist with the glazing was a huge help, she’s gotten rather good at this stuff 😊. Now we wait. Wondering what those cylinders are on the left? We got some sculpture clay that was contaminated with what is likely, lime and so we used what was left to make saggars. Nothing gets wasted here! sculptures ❤️🦊🐩🐕🦗