Thursday 22 January 2009

Thursday

This is one of my shallow dishes, a tribute to my hero Michael Cardew. The little yellow plate in the back ground was made by Elijah Comfort at Michael Cardew's Winchcombe Pottery in the 1930's. I've told this tale before, but here it is again because it's relevant.



Elijah refused to decorate his pots and so his pieces were always decorated by either Michael Cardew or my old friend, the late great, Sid Tustin. I showed the little yellow plate to Sid once and another I have that was decorated by Cardew. The decoration on the Cardew one had much more of a flow to it than Sid's. Putting the two pots side by side, Sid said to me 'Ah, Michael always could lick me with a comb!' - Well, me too I'm sorry to say!

Elijah's great, great grandson, my good friend Blogger Matt Grimmitt has an exhibition of his great slipware in amongst the historical pottery collection of Worcester Museum. Try and get along if you get a chance. Here's the info:

7th Jan - 9th March 2009 - Solo Show
Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.
Forgate Street,
Worcester
WR1 1DT
01905 25372



It's been another long day for me today, but a good one, with Marky Mark joining me again for the evening session. Amongst other things, I managed to get three of more of these baluster jugs made, blasted with the gas burner, handled, blasted, then slipped.

Now to try and dry them and bisc fire them succesfully in time for next week's firing. I like these ones. Every shape has its own challenges - this one, how to make the pots so that they're not too heavy at the waist, but robust enough so that they don't start to whip during throwing as they're narrow footed, but tall and slender. It means getting to the shape as quickly as possible, without messing about too much and tiring the clay. The necks are thrown seperately, then added and rethrown on the toughened pot - itself a tricky process, but the more I make, the 'easier' it becomes. Practice. It went well today so I'm feeling happy. The pots I made last Saturday were so important, not because they were particularly great, but because they ensured that I would have a full kiln load of pots ready. Now that anxiety has been extinguished, I'm enjoying my potting much more - typical, I've got to stop making tomorrow and get on with organising other things, glaze etc, timber etc.

New pots soon woooooooohoooooooooooooo, got no pots, got no money, can't wait!

Happy Friday all

8 comments:

Ron said...

Looks good Doug. Glad you're feeling happy about having enough pots.

ang design said...

you da man! so excellent to have a full kiln, yeh for that.. nice work doug..

Dan Finnegan said...

We are fellow travelers in the pursuit of Cardew's combing. The neccessary confidence and sure handed-ness is elusive. I continue to admire those jugs.

Brad Lail said...

That is a sweet dish!! A gret post as well.

Paul Jessop said...

Stop making such nice pots !
I read your very kind comments on my blog that made me feel good about things, then I came on here saw that Dish and thought " well you don't want to know what I thought". needless to say it's back to the drawing board for me.

You Damm fine potter You!!

Jude said...

Yes, brilliant post. Makes a difference when you enjoy what you're doing, and it shows.Well done.

Hannah said...

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Hannah said...

he drives you mad doesn't he Paul, that dish is just , oooooh i can't even think of good enough words