Tuesday 21 October 2008

Decorating jugs

Been decorating today. I enjoyed attacking these pots with my rubber comb. I'm happiest when I'm making big jugs and decorating in a more bold and abstract fashion, runny slip and lines that don't join up - I've had fun with these. When working through very wet slip, you get one chance and it either works, or it doesn't, there's no middle ground.



Blogger Matt called this morning and we chatted about what I like to call the 'potter's privilege' - that is, the opportunity to be able to see and enjoy the pot at the many stages of its production. Thre's so much more to making pots than just looking at the finished item.



I love the look of a freshly slipped pot, fluid and glistening in the light. As the slip dries, it flattens, briefly shows the runs and dribbles that will give the surface its variation and character, before finally drying flat, not revealing its surprises again until the glaze has brought the pot's surface back to life.



These will change a great deal after firing, but at the moment I'm pleased with them, I think they fulfil my intention of making something decorative, but not too pretty.

8 comments:

ang design said...

it makes my morning seeing fresh pots....yumm...v cool doug

doug Fitch said...

Gawd bless yer Ang x

Gary's third pottery blog said...

my favorite part? the leather hard pot and fiddling with it, adding handles and so forth, and making it a POT

klineola said...

[droooooling] gawd, these make me want to drop my tool belt and grab some clay. you said it, the potters privilege to see the pots in their multi-various states of being. It's also the blog readers pleasure to be a fly on your wall! Thanks.

Ron said...

I love wet slip.

Paul Jessop said...

Nicely put Mr Fitch. a potters privilage indeed.!!!!

Unknown said...

Those look fantastic, one of my favorite shapes!

I love pots the most when they are leather hard..as soon as they dry or get fired I've lost interest and start to make more.A gorgeous glaze can hold my attention for a while..but then it's time to let go and get on with it.

Unknown said...

"The Potter's Privilege" -what a great way to put the experience of the creation of a pot -anticipation is such a big part of the process. My favourite part of being a potter is the sight of ware boards full of freshly thrown pots -the serene shapes with their just dried skins give me joy.