My firings use a gas kiln, in reduction, and such firings can always be a little unpredictable. I’ve become used to the subtle changes that occur from firing to firing and from shelf to shelf depending on the glaze mix, the temperature differences, the amount of reduction, the weather and even the whims of the kiln …
Warm Chocolate I’ve been working on some new clay and glaze combinations lately, inspired by woodland walks (my previous post has more on this). My latest firing included pieces using these tones, one of which is a rather chocolatey colour clay combined with a milky speckled glaze. This combination seems to work particularly well. I took …
My latest firing included porcelain pieces glazed in the new green colours that I’ve been focusing on, along with the dark, almost black clay vessels that I make. The glaze has a small amount of iron oxide added to give it the green tint. A larger amount of iron is added to the same glaze for …
Over the last few months, along with other things, I’ve been working on developing a new range of teabowls which will feature various complementary glazes. There’s something very special about the teabowl, with it’s handle-less form, that seems to make you engage with the vessel, and its contents, more intensely. It’s a simple concept but can be …
Some test pieces from my latest firing My latest firing included a mix of pieces heading for galleries and forthcoming shows. It also included some tests to try out different clay body mixes and surface treatments. Some of the new test pieces explore a different look to the light celadons and dark pieces that I make. I’m …
I’ve been experimenting again. In fact I think I’m always experimenting a bit. I always want to try out things and ideas that are new to me, so I rarely spend a day in the workshop without trying out a variation on a shape, a new glaze recipe, or a new clay body. Recently I’ve been …
I’ve just unpacked my kiln after a reduction firing. The firing contained some pieces intended for the Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey in June; some are for a couple of galleries right now and some for a very exciting teabowl exhibition I’ll be taking part in later on in the year (more info to follow …
I have just opened the kiln to inspect my first reduction firing of 2014. I had been very nervously waiting for the kiln to cool down because the firing itself hadn’t seemed to go particularly smoothly. So this morning, when it was cool enough to open, I inspected the results and found there were some …
This week I’m packing up all my best pieces, and heading off to show my work at two fantastic events: Handmade in Britain at Chelsea Town Hall, London, and Art in Clay at the Farnham Maltings, Surrey. I have some new ideas to share as well as my range of vessels and other objects. Here are …
I’m getting my work ready for Earth and Fire at Rufford in Nottinhamhsire next week. I’ve got a fresh batch of pieces out of the kiln and I’m looking forward to displaying my pots alongside some of my ‘curious utensils’. If you’re in the neighbourhood, come along to see over 100 potters all in one …
I’ve now had two firings to cone 10 in my new kiln. The first one contained lots of pots that didn’t matter if things went wrong. Luckily, things went fairly well, but it got a bit exciting when the floor started to burn! I carried on firing to the end, and a friend said this …
This week I fired another group in my series of celadon vessels. The firing went very smoothly, and the pots came out looking good. I’m still sharing space in a fellow potter’s kiln until I get my own one set up. But for now, with small batches of pots, this is working out very well. …
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