April Gates
Developing Surfaces with April Gates
Presented in collaboration with the North Bay Potters’ Guildâââ
Participants joined ceramic artist April Gates for an inspiring two-day workshop in Callander, Ontario, presented in collaboration with the North Bay Potters’ Guild. Held in September 2025, the workshop focused on developing rich and layered ceramic surfaces through resist and print techniques.
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Over the weekend, artists explored ways to bring imagery, depth, and texture to clay surfaces while gaining hands-on experience with stamps, underglazes, and resists. They discovered how clay type and colour impacted surface design, learned to layer underglazes and resists to create depth, and designed and carved custom stamps for printing. The group also explored a variety of printing mediums—including potter’s pads, underglaze pencils, and inks—and gained practical tips for multi-firing techniques.
Thank you to Spectrum Glazes Inc. and Tucker's Pottery Supplies Inc. for generously supporting this workshop.
April Gates
April Gates is a celebrated ceramic artist and the creative force behind Blackbird Pottery, based in Loring, Ontario. With over two decades of experience working in clay, April is known for her richly layered surfaces, narrative imagery, and distinctive use of printmaking techniques on functional and decorative forms. Her work blends storytelling with surface exploration, using a variety of techniques including resist, carving, stamping, and multiple firings to create pieces that are both visually compelling and deeply personal. April has exhibited across Canada and taught workshops throughout Ontario, inspiring potters of all levels with her generous teaching style and deep knowledge of ceramic surface design.
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When she’s not in the studio, April is a passionate arts advocate and active member of the Ontario craft community.
