Colleen Underwood – Potter
Originally published July 20 2011
I’ll bet there were few people who, in the year 2000 would have guessed that local resident Colleen Underwood’s new hobby would one day lead to a thriving little pottery shop here in Cowichan Bay. Especially if you consider that she began learning the Potter’s craft while on assignment with the US Department of Fish and Game in Alaska.
Born in Duncan, Colleen made her way back from Alaska and after much practice, bought the local pottery shop. Many improvements followed. Christened The Mud Room, the shop features all manner of crockery from cups and bowls to vases, teapots and decorative serving platters. Everything on offer is either made in-house, or by artisans who live and work in the area.
Each piece begins as a plain lump of clay, a cup requiring about a pound and a half, while the large vases take three and a half. Once the lump is placed on the bat, the wheel starts turning and Colleen’s skill is brought to bear on the material. It takes a fair amount of force to push the clay, which is about as stiff as new plasticine into the required shape.
First the round lump is forced into a flat, even disc which is then reworked inwards and upwards, while the center is depressed, creating the vase or cup shape. Final finishing is done with whetted hands and a damp strip of cloth. The smaller pieces can be removed from the bat by using a length of nylon fishing line which cuts the piece free. Larger pieces remain on the bat which is removed from the wheel. It’s absolutely imperative that no air bubbles remain in the piece when it’s finished being formed, as they burst during the kilning process, ruining the piece.
Once formed the cups, vases, bowls, teapots and platters have to dry quite a while before glazing is applied. Some of the pieces will feature small distinctly colored appliqués inspired by the ocean life of the area. Salmon, halibut and dungeoness crabs are all popular motifs. Once glazed, the next stop is the kiln.
Colleen’s creations can be had as individual pieces and as complete sets. Located right next to the bakery and overlooking the harbour, the shop draws a lot of visitors in the summer, of course things are a little slower when the winter season starts.
