At the request of The Commons artisan gallery in Eastport, Maine, I created this series of birch bark vases.   The birch bark designs originated from rubbings of birch trees in our forest.  They were then scanned into the computer and stencils were cut to assist with the glazing process.  Each vase is individually created, glazed and raku fired.  The raku post-firing techniques create the blackened lines and the crackle lines enhance the aged look of the bark.  The colors on the tops represent the seasons – black and white winter, bright spring green, rich summer green and golden autumn.

This photograph was selected by The Potters Council for its 2016 Alternative Firing Calendar.