Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Tuesday
Still making and force drying, a dicey game if ever there was one. I know pretty much how far I can push this clay when giving it a little encouragement with a gas burner.
I couldn't sleep last night because of thinking about how I was going to decorate the harvest jugs today. In the end I got up, took all the relevant books from the bookshelf, studied them hard and worked out my version.
Before I start to decorate, I like to loosen-up by drawing on a piece of board, sponged over with thin slip.
My decoration is generally fairly uncomplicated, but I felt that the original harvest jugs were always quite fancy, so mine needed to be too. Well, that's about as fancy as I get. I think they'll work OK, time will tell, but at present, I'm pleased with them.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Monday
Mark was a star and kneaded up loads of clay for me today. I really need to get my pugmill up and running, although it's much cheaper getting Mark to do it! It was a huge help and enabled me to get on with getting a couple more harvest jugs made and some large baluster jugs too.
I also slipped and decorated some of the pots I made last week.
It's been a bit frustrating because the car's off the road at the moment after having failed its MOT. I really need it for collecting wood. It's with our mechanic at present, so hopefully it'll be ready by the end of the week.
Making, decorating, force-drying tomorrow.
I also slipped and decorated some of the pots I made last week.
It's been a bit frustrating because the car's off the road at the moment after having failed its MOT. I really need it for collecting wood. It's with our mechanic at present, so hopefully it'll be ready by the end of the week.
Making, decorating, force-drying tomorrow.
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Strawbs
We took a walk to our local strawberry farm today. It's been a busy time for them, they supply a lot of their juicy red fruits to Wimbledon. Here's my younger boy Joe in mid pick, nothing to do with pottery, but I liked the picture.
Marky Mark's taken the week off work so will be helping me in the workshop for the next few days. He's going to knead up my clay so that I can get the last of my bigger pots made tomorrow. It may be a little hopeful to think they'll be ready in time, bearing in mind that they'll need to be in the full flame of the kiln this time next week, oh well, I can but try.
I've a student, Tom, coming later in the week so there'll be plenty of hands on deck when it comes to packing and firing.
Have a good week everybody.
Marky Mark's taken the week off work so will be helping me in the workshop for the next few days. He's going to knead up my clay so that I can get the last of my bigger pots made tomorrow. It may be a little hopeful to think they'll be ready in time, bearing in mind that they'll need to be in the full flame of the kiln this time next week, oh well, I can but try.
I've a student, Tom, coming later in the week so there'll be plenty of hands on deck when it comes to packing and firing.
Have a good week everybody.
Friday, 4 July 2008
A must for anyone interested in wood firing
Nic Collins' Kiln Building Course
The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as master potters. It is designed to give you comprehensive knowledge of Anagama kiln building, stacking and firing.
It's held at Nic's workshop on the outskirts of Moretonhampstead which is situated in the heart of the stunningly beautiful Dartmoor National Park.
A week packed with excellent information, good company and superb lunches. To round off the course, you even get a party featuring The Love Daddies!
Places are strictly limited so be sure to book early. For more info, or to have a look at Nic's wonderful pots, click here
A pair of big jugs
Andrew decorated his pots this morning, he's made some really nice ones. He headed back off up east at lunchtime. It's been good having him down, I hope he'll come again some time. I hope that kiln is useful to him too, I'll be watching his blog to see how he gets on.
I made these two big Harvest Jugs today. They're based on the old North Devon slipware ones as shown in the book below. I look like I'm slightly mad. There's a Harvest Jug event coming up later in the summer, so these are for that, I'll tell more another night.
Dog tired this evening so this is brief again, had to put my head down in the workshop for an hour or so this afternoon. I'll be working all weekend, the bisc firing's scheduled for next weekend so there's going to be a bit of force drying going on - still a lot of pots to make before then, so need to get the big ones done tomorrow and Sunday.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Off to the pub
More tankards decorated.
Made some big jugs
Andrew giving it some wellie on the kick wheel, pity he's forgotten his spare jeans! Off to the pub tonight for a couple of pints.
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
A real quicky
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Michael Kline superstar
My blogging chum Michael Kline has just had a beautiful firing in Bakersville, North Carolina. I've lifted the following text from his blog because he explains so eloquently the way that I think any woodfirer feels when opening a kiln, certainly I can relate to his words. Nothing is ever what you expect it to be, it takes a while to grow into the new pots. Michael, I think your pots are amazing.
It's never what you think it will be, expectation is beauty and the beast. To have expectation or imagine what a glaze will look like or how it might become after a certain trial of fire is an acquired skill when glazing a pot, yet when the pot is revealed after the burn, the expectation can overwhelm and destroy the seeing of the true pot. I always joke that the pots get better every day they are out of the kiln, at least in my eyes. For someone seeing the pots for the first time, the pots are "free of imagination" in that person's eyes. I hope that makes sense. This concept will always intrigue me, although today it is a real bitch. Tomorrow the viewing will be better, I'll take another look and I will begin to see the pots.
What all this means is that I spent most of the afternoon kicking myself and replaying the firing in my head trying in some way to explain to myself why the pots looked the way they did. I could make a list and lay out some theories but as I have written about before, my creative involvement is over now, and that's the bitch. The pot's will be fine, and I will be fine. Acceptance is required now and that which isn't acceptable will be my motivation for change in the next group of pots.
I am reminded that "the kiln is the teacher".
It's never what you think it will be, expectation is beauty and the beast. To have expectation or imagine what a glaze will look like or how it might become after a certain trial of fire is an acquired skill when glazing a pot, yet when the pot is revealed after the burn, the expectation can overwhelm and destroy the seeing of the true pot. I always joke that the pots get better every day they are out of the kiln, at least in my eyes. For someone seeing the pots for the first time, the pots are "free of imagination" in that person's eyes. I hope that makes sense. This concept will always intrigue me, although today it is a real bitch. Tomorrow the viewing will be better, I'll take another look and I will begin to see the pots.
What all this means is that I spent most of the afternoon kicking myself and replaying the firing in my head trying in some way to explain to myself why the pots looked the way they did. I could make a list and lay out some theories but as I have written about before, my creative involvement is over now, and that's the bitch. The pot's will be fine, and I will be fine. Acceptance is required now and that which isn't acceptable will be my motivation for change in the next group of pots.
I am reminded that "the kiln is the teacher".
Tankards
Got back into the swing of things today with a load of earthy tankards. I like making these because they can be thrown quite loosely and wobbly. Lots of handles and decorating tomorrow.
The bird table's been a frenzy of greenfinches, they're beautiful.
Monday, 30 June 2008
And that, was that
That was a fantastic weekend. It seems to take ages for Rufford to come around, then it's all over for another year.
I sold so many pots that I'm going to have a mad panic to get another lot made and fired before Hatfield at the start of August. What a positive predicament, I can cope with that!
Based on my own experience as a pottery collector, if you see a pot you want, you have to have it because it provokes such an emotional response within your heart, I hope my work does that for people, certainly I occasionally get told it does and that's what it's all about for me. Perhaps that's why pots are still selling in spite of the gloominess over the current financial climate. As somebody, somewhere, once said, 'never regret your extravagances, because you'll always regret your economies.'
Based upon that premise (and using it to justify my actions to Hil), I bought a few pots myself, I'll post some pictures of them later.
Thank you to everyone who stopped for a chat and/or bought my pots, I met some great people. The joy of these fairs is meeting up with old friends and making some new ones too.
In the picture is Stephen Dee who runs the website studiopottery.co.uk Stephen wants to expand the international aspect of the site so I promised him I'd put a link on to let all you potters around the world know about it. It's becoming quite an expansive directory, check it out.
My parents have just headed home after being here for the weekend looking after the boys. I'll see them next in a few weeks time at their Golden Wedding celebrations. I wish we lived closer.
Here's a picture of Hannah holding Ron's mug. I always like to take it 'on tour' with me and to spread the word about his great slipware round the UK.
Blogger Andrew came along. He'll be visiting us down in Devon this week to make some pots at Hollyford and to pick up an old gas kiln I have, I'm looking forward to that.
Today's a day for catching up on the laundry etc. and for drawing up a making list ready for the next couple of frantic weeks, during which I've a lot of pots to make, plus a new woodshed and a 'showroom' to build. Such a bore that I glued so many pots to the shelf in the last firing, I'd have been ahead of the game - oh well, onwards and upwards. Muddy pots on here tomorrow night, happy Monday all.
I sold so many pots that I'm going to have a mad panic to get another lot made and fired before Hatfield at the start of August. What a positive predicament, I can cope with that!
Based on my own experience as a pottery collector, if you see a pot you want, you have to have it because it provokes such an emotional response within your heart, I hope my work does that for people, certainly I occasionally get told it does and that's what it's all about for me. Perhaps that's why pots are still selling in spite of the gloominess over the current financial climate. As somebody, somewhere, once said, 'never regret your extravagances, because you'll always regret your economies.'
Based upon that premise (and using it to justify my actions to Hil), I bought a few pots myself, I'll post some pictures of them later.
Thank you to everyone who stopped for a chat and/or bought my pots, I met some great people. The joy of these fairs is meeting up with old friends and making some new ones too.
In the picture is Stephen Dee who runs the website studiopottery.co.uk Stephen wants to expand the international aspect of the site so I promised him I'd put a link on to let all you potters around the world know about it. It's becoming quite an expansive directory, check it out.
My parents have just headed home after being here for the weekend looking after the boys. I'll see them next in a few weeks time at their Golden Wedding celebrations. I wish we lived closer.
Here's a picture of Hannah holding Ron's mug. I always like to take it 'on tour' with me and to spread the word about his great slipware round the UK.
Blogger Andrew came along. He'll be visiting us down in Devon this week to make some pots at Hollyford and to pick up an old gas kiln I have, I'm looking forward to that.
Today's a day for catching up on the laundry etc. and for drawing up a making list ready for the next couple of frantic weeks, during which I've a lot of pots to make, plus a new woodshed and a 'showroom' to build. Such a bore that I glued so many pots to the shelf in the last firing, I'd have been ahead of the game - oh well, onwards and upwards. Muddy pots on here tomorrow night, happy Monday all.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Rufford here we come
Been making replacements for last week's lost pots, including this puzzle jug.
Off to Rufford tomorrow, that's going to take hours, everywhere seems a long way from Devon, sometimes a good thing, sometimes a bad thing. I'm really looking forward to it, in spite of the losses, I got some of my best ever work from that last firing. I'm also looking forward to catching up with Paul Young and Hannah amongst other potting buddies.
We can't leave until after Hil's finished school at three thirty so it'll be late when we get there. We're going to be staying with a friend from college days who lives just down the road. Camping's fun at these events, but a warm, comfortable bed and shower has got to be good for a man of my years.
Jessica, finished her work experience today. I've really enjoyed having her around and I'm proud of what she's managed to achieve this week. She's experimented with all the slips, made tiles, tried loads of different techniques of making marks and today made her first pots on the wheel. She'll come back during the firirngs next month to see her work through the whole process. I hope she's found my chaotic approach to ceramics a useful experience.
My parents are here to look after the boys for the weekend so got to fly. Hope to meet some of you at Rufford, bye for now, have groovy weekends all. If you wanna see some outta sight slipware, click here
Off to Rufford tomorrow, that's going to take hours, everywhere seems a long way from Devon, sometimes a good thing, sometimes a bad thing. I'm really looking forward to it, in spite of the losses, I got some of my best ever work from that last firing. I'm also looking forward to catching up with Paul Young and Hannah amongst other potting buddies.
We can't leave until after Hil's finished school at three thirty so it'll be late when we get there. We're going to be staying with a friend from college days who lives just down the road. Camping's fun at these events, but a warm, comfortable bed and shower has got to be good for a man of my years.
Jessica, finished her work experience today. I've really enjoyed having her around and I'm proud of what she's managed to achieve this week. She's experimented with all the slips, made tiles, tried loads of different techniques of making marks and today made her first pots on the wheel. She'll come back during the firirngs next month to see her work through the whole process. I hope she's found my chaotic approach to ceramics a useful experience.
My parents are here to look after the boys for the weekend so got to fly. Hope to meet some of you at Rufford, bye for now, have groovy weekends all. If you wanna see some outta sight slipware, click here
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Diggin' dirt
I had a visit from my friend Heather Cutler, a painter who lives in the village. I really like Heather's work a lot - well she puts my pots in her paintings, so I'm bound to like them.
Jessica was with me again today so the three of us went across to the woods to collect clay. We found loads of the rich orange stuff that fires up terracotta, we'll make some pots from it tomorrow.
Off to the pub with Hil and the boys for a swift pint, smashing, just the ticket!
Jessica was with me again today so the three of us went across to the woods to collect clay. We found loads of the rich orange stuff that fires up terracotta, we'll make some pots from it tomorrow.
Off to the pub with Hil and the boys for a swift pint, smashing, just the ticket!
Monday, 23 June 2008
Vote for the Leach Pottery Restoration Project
Vote for the Leach Pottery Restoration Project
The Leach Pottery Restoration Project has been nominated for a National Lottery Award and is competing against nine other projects for the title of Best Heritage Project. This means they could be in with a chance of winning £2,000.
They'd like every potter to vote for them. You can vote by visiting www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards and go to Best Heritage Project Category.
Alternatively you can vote by phone on 0845 3864439.
The deadline is 4th July.
Cheers all!
Thanks to everyone for your lovely comments, I greatly value your kind support.
Jessica, my work experience girl and I have been sipping tea from brown mugs today. No need to wash up for weeks, a fresh mug every day! I think it was Mick Casson who said 'brown's a colour too you know'.
Got back into the swing with a couple of new puzzle jugs, I'll work hard and soon catch up.
Even though a lot of those pots didn't make it, I know the decoration was much more confidently executed and I learned a lot about mark-making and composition while I was making them, so the next lot will be better for that experience. As long as I don't turn them brown and glue them to the shelves, I'll have some good ones for Hatfield.
I've still got loads of pots I'm proud of to take to Earth and Fire this weekend, so in spite of yesterday's rubbish, I'm a happy man. There would be stoneware potters who'd be proud of a tenmoku glaze like the one I just achieved and I managed to do it two hundred degrees lower, that can't be bad.
Jessica, my work experience girl and I have been sipping tea from brown mugs today. No need to wash up for weeks, a fresh mug every day! I think it was Mick Casson who said 'brown's a colour too you know'.
Got back into the swing with a couple of new puzzle jugs, I'll work hard and soon catch up.
Even though a lot of those pots didn't make it, I know the decoration was much more confidently executed and I learned a lot about mark-making and composition while I was making them, so the next lot will be better for that experience. As long as I don't turn them brown and glue them to the shelves, I'll have some good ones for Hatfield.
I've still got loads of pots I'm proud of to take to Earth and Fire this weekend, so in spite of yesterday's rubbish, I'm a happy man. There would be stoneware potters who'd be proud of a tenmoku glaze like the one I just achieved and I managed to do it two hundred degrees lower, that can't be bad.
Sunday, 22 June 2008
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