Helen Jean Taylor is a treasure, especially as far as the Ceramics Dept. of the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge is concerned. On a recent Sunday, the community center offered a workshop where interested potters could learn Taylor’s celebrated approach to glazing. An expert in the complexities of glaze formulation and their reactions/inter-reactions under the tremendous heat of Cone-10 firing (2350ºF), Taylor demonstrated the potential of the glazing process with different artistic goals in mind.

The primary instruction tool featured 20 sets of different glazing techniques sampled onto various clay types on both vertical and flat surfaces documented in a companion guide, designed by La Crescenta architect and ceramicist Ines Chessum. Taylor also set aside time to demonstrate her unique approach to glazing, the “painting with chemistry” that is her trademark.

Not surprisingly, the three-hour workshop was filled to capacity. Workshop participants were in awe, but also curious and inspired to begin incorporating this new information into their own glazing practices.

Taylor’s unique and distinguished work will be available at the upcoming ceramics sale at CCLCF on Dec. 12-14. Additional glazing workshops with Jean Taylor are also being scheduled.

The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge is located at 4469 Chevy Chase Dr. For more information, call (818) 790-4353.

Contributed by
Allison Goodman

  Allison Goodman