end of summer garden

The days are getting shorter, the sun lower in the sky, crickets are doing what it is they do and the pumpkins are getting fat. These glorious days are wonderful in the garden, it is impossible to drag myself in to the studio. Here are some bits of my vegetable garden.

Hockinson, Washington workshop

I have recently retuned from giving a workshop, with Russell Ford, in Hockinson, Washington[ near Portland, Oregon] on handbuilding, glazing with local ingredients and firing 4 different methods. It was great fun . All of the participants were enthusiastic with very differing skill sets. We worked way more than we had thought we would to get it all in, but had a ball. The results were interesting, we worked with different river slips, feldspar and ash in layers. There is already talk of next year so if you are interested speak up. There is free nearby camping and the site is gorgeous. Here are some of my surfaces. The primitive fired ware is mounted on stands made by Russell, he can do anything faster than you can ask him to do it. I will be giving another primitive firing workshop at my studio in Val David August 6-10, any one interested, now is the time to register. Go to my email robinhutchinson@hotmail.com

Basketry workshop results

This spring the potters in Val David asked basketry artist Nathalie Levasseur to give us a workshop in incorporating basketry elements to our pots. She graciously accepted and put together some projects to give us some skills in what to her is second nature. Let's just say the learning curve was a steep one! We struggled, cursed and then started to get the hang of it. I was very happy with the results. Then I tried it on my own, not fun. I realize that this is not the way I work, so I adapted, using wire and found bits to create something else. These are now on exhibit at 1001POTS in Val David and at Galerie ESPACE KAO, also in Val David.

I will be giving , along with Russell Ford, a workshop near Portland, Oregon, for the west coasters. We will be exploring glazes made from local ingredients ie river mud, volcanic ash, etc. and a variety of firing techniques, pit, raku, gas. It should be lots of fun, end of June, contact me on my email

studio open house, students' work exhibition

Sunday, April 29 we will be opening the studio for visits to see the new renovations and to check out the recent students work. We finished a series of classes this week with 2 firings, one at high fire and one barrel fire. Everyone did great work and was happy with the outcome. Gita and Lana have been doing really interesting work this winter and have lots of pots to show. As well, Gita will have her terrific, organic skin products for sale and  Leslie will be doing Tarot card readings. We look forward to seeing you 11-4.

renovated studio

Well, renovations are over, at least for the moment. It seems I am always looking at what we need to fix or tweak or add on. But for the time being, and I hope for quite a while things will stay as is. I am very happy with the increased space. We have room to move around easier and there is space for 2 more students. The kiln sheds are the same, work space is enlarged, Liam worked miracles by finding tricks to use every nook and cranny. We can now work without being on top of each other. Thank you to Liam, my patient family and everyone in the studio who put up with the disruption.

spring renovations

Well the season has abruptly changed from the interior quiet of winter to an explosively warm week to coincide with breaking down of an interior wall to expand the studio. Fortunately the weather was warm enough to leave windows and doors open while Liam , the genius builder, rearranged spaces, made doorways become walls, and walls disappear. The studio has doubled work space and we will lost the cramped feeling. The chaos of renovations is disruptive but exciting too. The next post will show the results.