Pot of the Month | Enjoy 20% off!

Starting this February 13th, 2018 I will be adding a "Pot of the Month" every month. Enjoy 20% off as supplies last with coupon code: POTOFTHEMONTH at checkout.  If you sign up below you will receive information regarding a new raku pottery piece each month before it is uploaded to my website or posted on social media. 

FEBRUARY'S RAKU POT

Raku Glaze

Raku Pottery Glaze: Blue Moon

Glaze fired to 1900F.

RAKU POTTERY GLAZE RECIPE

Silica                             30%
Frit 3134                        20%
Nepheline Syenite        15%     
Lithium Carbonate.       15%
EPK Kaolin                     10%
Strontium Carbonate    10%
Tin Oxide                        7%
Copper Carbonate         4%
Bentonite                         1%

 

 

 

This is a stable blue and red glaze.  1/2% Epsom Salts can be substituted for Bentonite.  This glaze produces some incredible raku pottery and is one that I developed several years ago.  This picture is the results of the raku glaze fired to 1900F. It remains a staple in my studio.  See more of my work by visiting my raku pottery store.  To learn more about my process, visit my raku firing page.

New Events, Press & News

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands: 70th A N N I V E R S A R Y   July   21 – 23  & October   20 – 22, 2017

Friday through Saturday, 10:00 to 6:00 pm + Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00pm
US Cellular Center, 87 Haywood Street | Downtown Asheville, NC
General Admission, $8.00 and Children under 12 free

Please note that our Fairs are moving from 4 days to 3 days, and we look forward to welcoming you on Friday.

New Commissioned Piece & Sunrise at Biltmore Lake

I just completed this beautiful commissioned piece for Carroll and Susie Heyward.  I'm installing it next week at their mountain home in Cataloochee, NC.  Title:  "Cataloochee Dawn"

 
Cataloochee Dawn

Cataloochee Dawn

 

This other piece below was purchased yesterday at Ariel.  Terry Boyer wanted to buy one of my tile pieces for her husband, Dave, for Christmas.  Of course that made my day to say the least!  I hung it for them recently at their Biltmore Lake home.  Title:  "Sunrise at Biltmore Lake"  

Sunrise at Biltmore Lake

Sunrise at Biltmore Lake

Press & News

Upcoming Shows in 2017!

Upcoming Events in 2017


February 18 - April 30, 2017

Upcoming solo show at the Joel Gallery at The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands, NC, I will also be teaching a workshop there June 26-30, 2017. 

January 24 - February 3, 2017
Exhibition at the at the Ocean Reef Art League in Key Largo, FL

February 9, 10 & 11
Workshop at the Ocean Reef Art League in Key Largo, FL

April 14 - May 20, 2017.
3 person show at the Wilkes art Center, in North Wilkesboro, NC. 

 

New Press, Press & News

Write up from Venice Clay Artists

"Gazing at the free form patterns and natural colours of a raku pottery finish is like looking at the colourful atmosphere of a mysterious world. Steven Forbes deSoule raku pieces are no exception and present exotic vistas that invite wonderful intrigue. He introduces more green and blue hues, in addition to the typical earthy reds and orange raku colours, in the reduction process to enhance the colour diversity. He uses the raku standard of a steel rubbish bin for a reduction chamber, which I always view as a fantastic irony, relative to the glorious outcomes from raku firing.
Steven Forbes deSoule has been a successful raku pottery artist for over 37 years, creating unique, hand made vessels and sculptures, while finding endless ways to manipulate the oxygen, gases and glazes during the raku reduction technique, to achieve a myriad of attractive outcomes. His intricate firing process and use of his own glazes and underglazes, with multiple firings, leads to ‘one of a kind pieces’ displaying beautiful enriched colours and textures. “The one constant with my work throughout the years has been transformation. I find it fun and challenging to try new things, and I especially enjoy developing new glazes. I started firing exclusively using the raku process in 1982 and found the element of serendipity and surprise to be invigorating.”"

http://www.veniceclayartists.com/steven-forbes-desoule-raku-with-lush-hues/

Fall Fairs

Fall Studio Tour

Sat – Sun | October 29-30th

I've been busy getting ready for the Fall Weaverville Art Safari and I hope you can join me and see some of my latest work!  

"The Weaverville Art Safari is one of the original studio tours in the Asheville Area. It is a self guided free event where studios open their doors for an exclusive look at the artistic process, featuring artists who specialize in handmade pottery, glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry, furniture, painting, drawing, fiber art, wood art and more. The nature of the event allows guests to explore the artist community at their own pace." - www.weavervilleartsafari.com

 
 

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands

Thurs – Sun | October 20-23rd

Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 to 6:00 pm + Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00pm
US Cellular Center, 87 Haywood Street | Downtown Asheville, NC
General Admission, $8.00 and Children under 12 free

I'll also be at the Southern Highland Craft Guild, hope to see you there!

"In its 69th year, the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands returns to downtown Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center for a production of innovation and beauty. Filling both the concourse and arena levels of the venue, craftspeople who are masters in their media will be exhibiting. The variety of craft that will be on display ranges from contemporary to traditional in works of clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, natural materials, paper, leather, mixed media, and jewelry. After a curation process of two juries, over 150 makers from the Southern Highland Craft Guild will carry on the legacy of these Fairs." - http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/shops-and-fairs/craft-fair-of-the-southern-highlands/

Ballard Diamond

2,250.00

38"W x 38"H

New Commission

I wanted to share a commissioned raku wall piece I did recently for Cathy and John Doolos. I think it fits nicely behind another vessel I did for them awhile back..  

This intricate wall piece was created piece by piece using the raku process with my proprietary glazes.  To learn more about how my work is done, please visit my raku firing page and please contact me if you would like more information regarding commissions.  You can shop for my my available raku pottery here.  

Raku Pottery at the NC Pottery Center - March 12 - July 2, 2016.

Happy to be exhibiting some of my latest raku pottery at this event.  The upcoming invitational exhibition at the NC Pottery Center, entitled Flower Power: Pottery & Plants will be held at the NC Pottery Center, located at 233 East Avenue, Seagrove, NC 27341.  Please join us for the Opening Reception on Saturday, March 12, 2016 from 12:00—2:00 p.m. The reception is open to the public and free of charge.

From Their Website... 

"Within the context of this show, the term Flower Power is not a reference to the movement or ideology of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Here, Flower Power is a visual appreciation of the visceral and aesthetic power of pottery and plants. Individually, pottery, flowers, and plants have the power to affect our thoughts and feelings. When combined, that power is sometimes intensified, perhaps because of the symbiotic relationship between earth and nature. "

Below are the raku pieces that I'll be exhibiting!

Hope to see you there!

New Commissioned Piece Completed!

Happy to have completed a beautiful raku wall piece commissioned for Marcy Walker of Johnson City, TN.  She saw my work at the Art Safari and I am very happy to have made the perfect piece for her.  

Please see more of my raku wall pieces here.  If you're interested in learning more about commissioned raku pottery pieces, please feel free to contact me.  

Here is a comment from Marcy.. 

"What a great experience. . .to meet the artist, talk about what I wanted and then to have it completed!  I love the piece that I commissioned with Steve.  It is just what I envisioned.  Steve was so easy to work with, kept me updated as he worked on the piece and then not only delivered it, but hung it up as well!  While it has only been up for a week. . .everyone who hascome over and seen it, loves it!"

Commissioned Raku Wall
Commissioned Piece

Raku Pottery Workshop February 16-18, 2016

The Ocean Reef Art League - Key Largo, Florida

For more information or to sign up please contact:  Sherri Harris- artleago@bellsouth.net or call 305-367-2359

Art League workshops are some of the most fascinating, pleasurably challenging and engaging classes offered here at Ocean Reef.Try something totally new, expand on the skills you already have or just sign up with friends and create something amazing together. Our class sizes are small, our instructors are nationally renowned. Surprise yourself and have fun doing it.

 
 

 

About the Art League

The Art League at Ocean Reef was founded in 1976 dedicated to the advancement of the cultural climate for creative arts in the Ocean Reef community. The Art League began in a small trailer on Barracuda Lane and evolved to the current building on Anchor Drive in 1986. The need to expand and renew the facility came about when membership grew to over 600 strong. The new building opened its doors to the Ocean Reef Community on November 3, 2008.

The Art League promotes a sense of community for Ocean Reef by offering a wide variety of classes, workshops, lectures, trips and art exhibits. We have offerings for those who have no previous art experience and for those who are working at an advanced level. Many of our members began their art experience in one-day workshops and now take advanced level classes.

 

WNC Design Guide

Welcome to the WNC Design Guide, your source for handcrafted fine craft and art for elegant mountain living.

Whether you have just purchased a home in the mountains, are building your dream home or just re-envisioning a current space, we hope this design guide will be a trusted resource for you as you select quality, local artists to fullfill your vision of a beautiful home here in Western North Carolina.

As a curated group of artists, our work spans everything from handcrafted furniture to paintings, from functional craft to fine art. Every artist in our collective thrives on the collaborative process as we work with clients to create unique works of art for both residential and/or commercial spaces.

Again, we hope you enjoy this collection and encourage you to share it with your friends. You can also access this entire catalog online at www.WNCDesignGuide.com.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

WNC Design Guide: Steven Forbes-deSoule