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Fooling Around With Clay and Glazes

This title looks a lot like the titles of a few famous ceramics books.
I do not want to sound pretentious but it describes very well my journey
in the world of ceramics, which seems never-ending.
When I was very young, I did everything to avoid arts lessons but one day
at the age of 25, while doing medical post-graduate studies, I was convinced by a fellow student to take up a ceramics course at « La Boutique d’Argile»( The Clay Shop ) in
Quebec City.He told me it was a way to help financially Julien Cloutier
who was starting his ceramics school at that time, and an unexpensive
one to take some time off (1968).
I was hooked instantly and have always been since.
Not having to sell pots to earn my living I am more interested in making decorative
works than utilitarian wares. Having been involved in medical research for quite many years, I have been conditioned by it and have spent much time in testing clays and glazes.
Hence the title of my statement.
I use waste materials from steel plants located in our area to color many of my glazes and clays. I fire most of my work to cone 9 1/2 in reduction in a 60 cubic foot downdraft gas kiln.
I have also published a book «Substitutions For Raw Ceramics Materials» in 8 languages.
www.flickr.com/photos/potier/20321056/

And 1½ year ago I published a new book, in English and French,"Toxicology Ceramics Glass and Metallurgy :
www.flickr.com/photos/30058682@N00/

Maybe the title of my next book will be «Fooling Around With Clay And Glazes»,
Who knows?



Edouard Bastarache
Dans / In "La Belle Province"