Studio day.

Another day in the studio.  I managed to through two large flat bottom vessels/bowls  They went okay, but not perfect so will need to throw another couple to make sure the size and shape are correct.

Here is one of them

I also mangered to draw into the smaller vessels, using inspiration from my queue drawing.

I have cut into the clay and plan to use underglaze to colour and glaze with a transparent glaze.

Here is a video of the unfired piece. 

Jerwood and Hastings storytelling festival

'Currently sitting in the cafe if the jerwood gallery.  It is a extremely windy and damp day and I have come with storybeard to Hastings for the storytelling festival.  Due to the high winds we have been unable to put the yurt up but have space in the marque, instead.

I have taken myself away from the hussle  and bustle of the event and sort refuge in the Jerwood Gallery on the Stade, what can be better than wandering around looking at art followed by tea and cake.  

Jerwood have a collection of work by winners of previous jerwood painting prize.  Interesting to see the variety of work through a period of years,  as well a collection on on loan from which included work from Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson.

While in the cafe, It would have been good to do some sketching out the window of the fishing boats, but did not have the right seat, and it was far to windy to sketch outdoors, so here is my still life instead.  

In the studio yesterday I did some throwing and managed to successful throw 3 vessels ready for surface experimentation, using my drawings as inspiration.  Future research and thought is need for these ideas but it is a starting point.  Also making some leaf tiles before all the trees completely defoliate ready for winter. 

Here is picture of the 3 vessels I made yesterday,  I have the two large ones still to throw out of the set of 5. 

After this weeks episode of the throw down, next challenge to set, myself is a coiled basin although may change the purpose slight, and make it a bird bath.   Also need to make 9 decorated tiles in 90 mins.  Will have start a separate blog with the outcomes of these challenges.  Obviously will need to spread these over a linger period as I just don't have the time that the contestants have.

Until next time.....

Great British pottery throw down

Watched the first episode this week and thought it was excellent.   Quite compelling viewing as you warm to the contestants and judges instantly.   The format is well thought out and I enjoyed the challenges, so much so I have decide to set the challenges for my self.   Perhaps not quite in the timeframe they have, but it would still be interesting to see the results .

So this week/month I need to make:-

5 bowls that stack inside one another.

Throw off the hump.  Have done this before but no that good at it.

Experiment with different handles buy using the pulling method.

I will post images of my final pieces later his month.

August, September, October

Where did the summer go.  It has been 3 months since I last posted on my blog.   Sorry It has taken me so long to write anything for ages.  The main reason is a struggle to motivate oneself,  September and October are always difficult months due to personal reasons and therefore I haven't been getting into the studio at all.   

However , now making a concerted effort and finally made my nieces piggy bank.  This is a work in progress, but has potential to make a nice gift for Christmas open house selling.  Will make a few different ones and see how they come out.  

I have some exciting new work I want to make, which include throwing some straight sided bowls, and drawing  / painting on these using my observational drawings.  Look forward to developing this work and exploring its for and direction.  Also have plans to continue my bird chatter work, but start using white clay.  I will have to rethink the decoration for the birds it will be exciting to experiment with different medium.

On apersonal note, after successfully designing my tiles for our hearth at home I have decided to make some for the fire surround, and watch this space to see how this designed progress for these.