THE TORONTO APARTMENT POTTER

I live in Toronto and like all major cities finding space to do the things you love can be challenging and so you have to come up with creative ways to get things done.

The same rules apply to your home as in the studio. The most important is to have a clean environment to work and also live. So the most important rules are No Clay down the sink and No clay dust around. Which makes clean up time a pain sometimes but you have to cause you don't want to get sick from all that clay dust in your lungs :)

Studio set up:
I live in a small studio apartment and my "craft room" is a tiny pantry closet.
From Michaels Craft and the Dollar store I bought containers. And from The Box Boys (or free from example supermarkets) I bought boxes. Containers and boxes to pack away everything Clay, Glaze, Paint, Yarn, Beads and magazines. All the things you use in your work. In my craft room I have a desk and a bookshelf for working on.

I have a Shimpo Table Top wheel stored under my desk (covered by containers and boxes) that when I am ready for it I can take it, sit it right on my table and its ready to go. When I am done. It is cleaned like new and pack away again under my desk.

Artist Resume

Yolande Brown-Conran

Artist Statement

I grew up in Jamaica where creativity and nature is a lifestyle. Moving to Canada I still have this connection a love for nature and I express that connection and love through Clay. I did my first pottery class here in Canada and feel head over heals for the media. I channelled my love for plants into clay by creating decorative pots  and vases the plants can call home. I decorate with bright underglazes and detailed painting  and make the shapes of my vases and pots with interesting unique twists for the viewer to feel excited and enjoy looking at the beauty of the pot as well as the wonderful plant inside. My inspiration also comes from living in a small studio apartment and working in a small studio space I create happy tiny decorative homes for our plants to be displayed.


Summary of Education 

2012 - 2015 Toronto School Board Pottery Classes
                  Central Technical - With Renata Podluck
                  Danforth Technical - With Kate Leech and Shaun Kelly
2015 - 2016 Studio Classes
                  The Potters Studio - With Shayne Snaiderman
                  Woodlawn Pottery Studio - Shane Weaver

Summary of Memberships
2016 - 2017 Toronto Potters Association - Executive Member - Treasurer
2016 - 2017 Studio Membership at Luc Sculpture - Member Potter

Location where I Produce my Work 
2016 Studio Membership at Luc Sculpture
Work From Home

Location of my Work For Viewing And Purchase
My Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/yolybearbeads
     ♥ My Etsy shop is my main store. All my finished pieces can be purchased here.
     ♥ My shop unique as not only does it have finished pieces ready to ship. It also displays items that i am working on showing as " Under construction" where you can browse though pictures of the item as it is being created. 
    ♥ My shop also has a direct link to me so click on contact and lets talk. I am a chatter box :)

My Blog: http://yolybearz.blogspot.com/
   ♥ This is my Dear Diary and my Artist Journal. Everything I find interesting is here. Its all about me.
   ♥ The First thing displayed are My Collection of pieces in my Etsy shop. Clicking on an item takes you directly to my etsy shop where you can purchase it or even browse some more goodies.
   ♥ 
My Tophatter Auctions: http://tophatter.com/users/25875
   ♥ For the thrill of the Auction Block and great deals I will post items here that can be bid on or purchased directly.
   ♥ It also has links to my Etsy Shop, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

My Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/yolybearz/
   ♥ View my collection of pieces with links to my shop, my ideas and loves.
   ♥ Also posted are updates and happenings

My Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/Yolybeartreasures
   ♥ View my collection of pieces with links to my shop by clicking Shop,
   ♥ Get Updates on my work and a schedule of events.
   ♥ Coupons deals and contests can be found here as well.

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/yolybearz
   ♥ Updates Updates Updates: Items in my collection, Events, Progress of Pieces.
My Periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/yolybearz
 ♥ See me live and come have a chat. I display my pieces and if i have something working on you can keep me company while i create.


Summary of Contests


Summary of Shows

Summary of Exhibitions
2017 Queen Street Art Crawl- Entering

EXPERIMENT #1

Experiment #1

Aim : To Colour slip for various glazing techniques.

Materials: from Tuckers Pottery Supplies

Pill Tube containers
Slip (650 clay mixed with water)
Various Coloured Stains ( 2000 to 2050 series)

Process:

Mix 15g Slip : 10% stain 

Mix 15g Slip : 15% stain

Mix 15g Slip : 20% stain

This side of the picture below the butterfly (carved) then slip inlayed with 15% powder stain:slip ratio

 Observation : 

Coloring slip with underglaze did not work as  the colour came out a muddy pale colour. I need a bright vibrant colour.

This is Greenware. ...it's in the kiln now ... let's see how it turns out.

Bisque: The color is so faint.... maybe yellow wasn't a great colour to use as a test since my clay is white ...lol .... blue for the next one

Conclusion:

1. Tried to color slip with underglaze. ...that sooo did not work. ... the colour came out a muddy pale colour .... that's no good

2.the colour yellow is not the best colour to test with on your white background clay.  Not much contrast. 

FAILS

This post is living .... i will add this all the time here 

Here are some of the projects that I have started or am working on that just have not gone the way I wanted. I'm currently thinking about these and how I can make them work :) wish me luck.

Little foggie dish

1. Work on form

2. Work on glazing to make colors pop

2. Colour slip for various glazing techniques. 

Tried to color slip with underglaze. ...that sooo did not work. ... the colour came out a muddy pale colour .... that's no good >▪<

Now experimenting with stains.... will let you know how that turns out ....this one below the butterfly (carved) then slip inlayed with 15% powder stain:slip ratio

This is Greenware. ...it's in the kiln now ... let's see how it turns out.