Owl Farm Studios - Prince Edward County 2009

Owl Farm Studios is a team of extremely talented artists - a potter and a painter. It is my privledge to have them as my first client... they are so gracious, generous and skilled!!

The studio is a 600 sqft. straw bale infill building that will be split into two 'units' - the east side is for the painter, the west for the potter. There is a simple vanity inside, as well as a room for the kiln. The posts and site-laminated beams came from a local sawyer, while the engineered trusses were fabricated from FSC certified sources. The straw came from a local farmer while we had to import in clay from Belleville (as the County is basically one big piece of shale). Many of the details and special elements for the studio will be handmade... including the sinks!

We finished just as the cool air of fall started to descend on us. The building looks absolutely amazing. There aren't any finished pictures of Jon's side yet cause when I took pics during the last week, his side was filled with tools... which doesn't make it look quite complete.

Well, Janna and Jon painted the interiors and even painted the exterior when we were hit with unseasonably warm weather this past February 2010. So basically, the studio is done! Just some landscaping is needed but that will come with time. The studio is a fully functional pottery studio and painting and framing studio. John is a professional picture framer so if you need work done, do give him a shout!

We hope to start the main house (which will blow your mind!!) in the spring of 2010.

For more information about the potter, Janna Burford, and The Infamous Jon Hiscock, please visit:

Janna Burford Pottery

Jon Hiscock - An Artist
 

The unbroken ground.
ICF foundations.
Framing ready for bales.  		 
 
Bale raising work party. THANK YOU everyone who came out to help!
Janna in the slip pit, dipping bales before placing them.

Bales going in.
  
 
Bales complete!
Inside the cool, hairy studio.
First coat of plaster already done!		  
 


The pocket doors - recycled from old buildings/barns. Pocket doors are efficient uses of space as they do not take up extra room with their swing - they just slide into the wall! And they are not very hard to frame for either. Highly recommend them.
Our beautiful barn board ceiling. We have 'chinked' between the boards with a lime-cement mix similar to what is used between logs in a log home.
The windows with final plaster above.		  
 
The building close to finished stages - cedar gables, pine soffits, finish plaster.
The entrance. Top peice is found drift wood from Wellington Beach; side trim are peices left over from split rail fence on property. The sconces were made by Janna. The background behind the sconces will be the colour of the building.		 Cedar deck at front entrance.  
 
Janna's entrance looking at Jon's door.
Jon's sink. Janna made the sink; counter made from a chunk of wood we found with the barn board.
Washroom sink. Janna also made this sink and the counter is made from concrete imbedded with stones we had sifted from the clay we used for our plasters. 		 
 
Janna's west wall complete.
Her south wall.
Janna's sink on the east wall.		  
 
Janna's display shelf for her finished ceramics. Made from old barn girders and live-edge barn board.
The truth window. Donated by Rob P.
The washroom with unfinished medicine cabinet which will be finished with a glass back (to see through to the kiln room where there is a window) and 'popcorn' glass in the window pane.		  
 
Painted and Pretty!
The silicate dispersion paint used on the plaster allows the walls to still 'breathe' while adding much needed protection against driving rains.
Inside Janna's pottery studio.		  
         
 

A special thanx to Bob and Angie, whose invaluable help and caustic humour is much appreciated and sought after the world over...
 
         
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