Micaceous Clay Pottery by Jan Cameron

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     My "bird series" is inspired by my love of amateur bird watching; these pieces are functional pitchers and bowls shaped to resemble birds native to my home in California.  So far, the series includes bitterns, grouse, winter wren, quail, robin, and a parrot.  Although not from California, the parrot is highly valued by Southwest Indian cultures for the colorful feathers used in decoration and ceremony.  In creating the parrot, I strove to capture the mischievous humor of this intelligent bird.  The challenge of building bird vessels is to convey the essence of a particular species, its habits and personality, without loosing sight of vessel functionality, and to produce simple, flowing lines that conform to the will of the clay and that showcase the elegance of this glittering medium.  The addition of yellow and red iron oxides to slipped surfaces helps to highlight the more abstract renderings of bird anatomy.  Yellow is used to color a beak and red the breast of a robin, for example.  When fired with care, these oxides produce subtle but striking results.

                                   Gallery                            

Bittern Pitcher
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

Bittern Pitcher

This pitcher was inspired by the marsh bird.

Price $185.00
SOLD

Mountain Grouse
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

Mountain Grouse

When my husband and I go to pick wild mushrooms, we often will see this little guy running down the road in front of our truck

Price $375.00
 
SOLD

The Sentinel
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

The Sentinel

This is the ever watchful male quail that takes his job very seriously.  I see him perched on the fench post watching while mom and her babies feed under my bird feeder.

$475.00
 
 
SOLD

Winter Wren
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

Winter Wren

This little guy is very illusive.  If you listen very carefully for his call you might get lucky and actually see him skittering around in the bushes.

Price:    $375.00
SOLD

Ying and Yang Wall Plaque
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

Ying and Yang
 
 

This is a very flat surface with a hint of rain drops that fell when it was fired at the base of Mt Lassen.

SOLD
 
Price:  $700.00
Size: 24 inch in dia.
Weight:

Classic Bean Pot
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Classic design bean pot

Price:  $325.00

Size:  8 1/2 h 8 1/2 w

SOLD

Bittern Water Jar
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

 I have attempted to capture the character of this secretive marsh bird. 

 

Size:   9 1/4 h x 7 w
Weight: 31.52 oz
 
SOLD

Bean pot with fluted rim
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

This piece was inspired by the traditional bean pots of the peoples in the Northern Rio Grande.  Foods cooked in clay pots taste fantastic!

Size:  8 1/4 h  x  6 1/4 w
Weight:  24.66 oz
 
4 Quarts 
 
Price:  $400
SOLD

Robin Water Jar
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Photograph by Harvey Spector
This water vessel was inspired by this migratory bird that passes through our region.  They love the nandina berries at my home.  The bushes shake during their feeding frenzies.
Size:  9 1/4 h  x  7 w
Weight:  32.57 oz
 
Price:  $450
SOLD

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Photograph by Harvey Spector
I have tried to capture the personality of this intelligent bird whose feathers were used as decorations by the native peoples of the southwest. 
 
Size:  10 h x 7 w
 
$450.00 
 
SOLD

Large incised cooking pot
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

This piece was inspired by the Apache word that translates to:  "It boils corn"
 

Size:   4 1/2 h  x 12 w

Price:  $400

SOLD

Fluted rim bowl
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

This piece is my interpretation of the open flower of the squash blossom.
 
 

Size:  5 1/4 h x 16 w
Weight:  59.82 oz
Price:  $525
SOLD

Winnowing Bowl
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

This piece is a very thin-walled bowl inspired by a winnowing bowl.  I wanted this piece to be as "light as a feather."

 

 

Size:  3 1/4 h x 14 w

Weight:  28.92 oz

Price:  $425

SOLD

Bean pot wigh dish lid
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Photograph by Harvey Spector

Many people like lids on their cooking vessels.  Here I made the lid a functional dish or ladel by simply turning it upside down. 
 

Size:  9 1/4 h x 8 1/2 w
Weight:  41.38 oz
4 Quarts
 
Price:  $400
SOLD

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Sunflower bowl
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Photograph by Harvey Spector
Size:  3 1/4 h x 10 w
Weight:  30.8 oz
 
Price:  $235
 
SOLD
 

Pelican Bowl
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Pictures by Harvey Spector

I have tried to capture the pelican resting on lakes near my home in Northern California. 
 
 
 
Size:  7 3/4 h x 7 3/4  w
Weight:  33.27 oz
 
SOLD

"Fire Storm" Bowl
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Pictures by Harvey Spector

The "fire clouds" in this bowl and the red mica slip reminds me of the red sunsets we have during a fire storm.
Size:  3 h x 14 1/2 w
Weight:  26.91 oz.
Price:  $425.00
SOLD

Water Snake Bean Pot
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Water Snake Bean Pot

A 2 quart Bean Pot with carved water snake

Price  $175.00
Size:  7 1/4  w 7 1/4 h

Bean pot with wide incised band
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Bean Pot with a wide incised band


Price $475.00

Size:  10 1/2 w x 8 3/4 h








 
 

Bird in Flight
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Bird in Flight

Price:  $400.00

Size:  20" diameter
SOLD

Pre-historic hopi desigh platter
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Pre-historic Hopi Design

Price:  $500.00

Size:  21" diameter

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