Priscilla Janes

Canmore, Alberta

Handled Vessels	Vessels

Biography

Priscilla began her art education by specializing in printmaking. After graduating from University of Colorado in Fine Arts, she began working with clay and this has been her chosen medium ever since. She produces one-of-a-kind clay pieces using both electric and sawdust kilns, and balances her work between functional pottery and decorative sawdust work. The natural world is her continuous source of inspiration with vines, leaves and flowers often decorating her work.

Priscilla has been an art educator/instructor since graduating from University, having taught in Calgary with the Enriched Art Program for the Calgary School Board and at the Calgary Art Centres. In Yellowknife, she taught multi-media art classes with the Northern Homecrafters, Kids Unlimited, and pottery classes for children and adults at the Yellowknife Guild of Crafts. She also teaches private pottery lessons in her home studio.

She has been an archaeological draftsperson and illustrator in remote wilderness areas including Sudan, the Mackenzie River Valley and the Thelon Game Sanctuary of the Northwest Territories. Priscilla has a keen interest in botany, especially the wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains. Much of her free time is spent gardening, hiking and cross-country skiing.

“I gain great pleasure in knowing that my pottery is used and enjoyed my people who have made a connection with it.”

An Explanation of Sawdust Firing

Sawdust firing involves subjecting a bisqued piece of clay directly to the elements of fire. The brick ‘fireplace’ kiln is outdoors. Claywork that has been previously burnished is placed in the kiln, unglazed, between layers of sawdust and other combustible organic materials, ranging from pine boughs to compost. The materials in the kiln are lit on fire and allowed to burn completely, leaving only the clay objects in the ashes. As they are unglazed, the pieces depend on the effects of the fire for their surface quality and colour. Sawdust fired pottery is very porous, and water will seep out of the vessel. If you wish to use a vessel for flowers, be sure to use a glass container inside of the vessel.