The crystals that adorn the porcelain pottery created by Rod and Denyse Simair seem to exist effortlessly, bursting forth from the delicately-glazed plates and vases.
But the process for creating those crystals was anything but effortless.
Producing crystals on porcelain, called crystalline, is an exacting process that took the Simairs over a year to develop.
Even now, after nearly nine years of working with crystalline, the married couple still sets aside 70 per cent of their work because the crystals haven’t formed as desired.
“Every piece we create is a learning process for the next one. If it doesn’t work out, we think of what we’ll change for next time,” Denyse said.
“And it’s still such a thrill when you open the kiln and things have worked properly.”
The 20 pieces created by the Simairs on display at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre until March 31 represents a good year’s work, said Rod.
The couple owns a studio and gallery near Prince Albert.
Read more about the Simairs' crystalline pottery in the Sat., Feb. 13 edition of the Times-Herald.
