Jonathan Bullock makes medieval style pottery. “It is mainly the glazes -- the bronze colour and jewel tones,” he says, “that give the pieces an aged, antique look. They are not shiny or glossy,” Jonathan adds, explaining that he makes the glazes from scratch using raw minerals – copper and barium and others.

  The hand carving on most of the pieces, including the turned pieces, also adds to the medieval look of his work. Jonathan makes all types of stoneware – he made a 10-piece dinnerware set for singer Sarah Maclaughlin, and Peter Mansbridge has some of his work. He even made a 20 piece set of stoneware pottery for a film series “The Relic Hunter”.

  Jonathan also creates outdoor sculptures – fountains with cats, and flying birds and jumping frogs on poles that go over the garden. He is working on pieces for the garden with spring on its way.

  He’ll be exhibiting at the Cottage Life show this year for the first time, stating that it is a great way to meet many of the local Muskoka cottagers. He often exhibits at the ‘one-of-a-kind’ shows, and in the summer has his work on display at ‘The Artful Garden’ show at the Partridges. He is on the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and serves on the board of directors for the Muskoka Arts and Crafts.

  A graduate of the Ontario College of Art, Jonathan originally intended to take typography. “This was before the time of computers, and I found it too tedious,” he explains. Taking a ceramics course for relief he found he thoroughly enjoyed it, ending up with a “locker full of bowls” at the end of the year, so decided to switch the next year to ceramics.

  Jonathan stayed in Toronto for a couple of years after finishing school, and still has contacts there. Last fall he put on a major show at the Guild Shop in Yorkville last fall, which sold out.

  He is glad to be back in Muskoka, though, (he grew up in Dwight), and be part of the close-knit, active arts community up here. Now he is looking at expanding his retail space at his gallery in Gravenhurst. This is located at 210 First Street. Ph. 705.687.3936, or e-mail jbullock@surenet.net.