Feb 1st

On The Move

I had planned to keep both this blog and my interactive blog going, partly because I've got attached to this one and it holds my archive, but also because I thought that the two blogs might hold different information. Well there's only so much time I can spend at the computer before I go mad, so for the time being at least I'm on the move to the interactive blogosphere. I hope you'll come with me. Please follow the link below

http://slipware.blogspot.com/

Jan 31st

No low flying aircraft today to disturb my tranquility and nobody came to take me away or confiscate my camera I'm glad to say.

I decorated the large jugs today and made some more shallow dishes, smaller than the last ones I made a couple of weeks ago. I'll do some more tomorrow. I enjoyed decorating the last ones so I'll have some fun with these and do them all different. They'll won't be ready to decorate until the middle of next week.

This evening I went to Gallery 86 in Crediton to help my mate and photographer Johnny to hang his prints for an exhibition that opens on Saturday afternoon. I really like these works, they're a series of four huge, computer manipulated images of a bird's egg. It transpired that they were too heavy to hang on the wall as the plaster was too crumbly so we couldn't do it. Johnny's going back tomorrow with different fixings.

My friend Andy Manson has some photos in the show too. He's a very well renowned guitar maker. He used to live up at Hollyford a couple of years ago when I shared the workshop with his wife Debbie. Andy makes the most beautiful instruments for the likes of Led Zepplin and The Police, an amazing craftsman and a lovely chap, it's always a pleasure to see him and Debbie, I miss them being around all the time..

Johnny gave me a disc of images that he's taken of my pots. I haven't opened it yet but when I do I'll put some on here.

Snow forecast for tomorrow, although I'll believe it when I see it, it rarely snows in Mid Devon.

Images:

Jug with combed decoration and green slip

Johnny and his huge prints.

Link to my Interactive blog

http://slipware.blogspot.com/

Jan 30th

Happy Birthday Hollyford Pottery

When I was eighteen my ambition was to become a potter - oh, and to meet Johnny Rotten, so it's been a pretty good twelve months really.

I forgot until I got to work this morning and looked on my calendar, that yesterday was my first birthday. That is, in so much as it was a year ago that I officially left the University's employment and ventured out as a full time potter. Well I'm still here, I haven't starved, in fact I'm over a stone heavier - more to do with packing in the cigarettes and middle age spread than anything else I think, but I've managed to scrape a living for a year by selling the things that I love to make and that feels good. It hasn't been the easiest year, when the van died I couldn't afford to replace it, but I found my feet and discovered the minute detail of the countryside. We didn't get much of a holiday in the summer either, but I'm confident that this year should be better as my competence and confidence has grown and I've at last learned how to make the kiln do the things I want it to do. My head's in a much better place than it was a year ago.

It was a beautiful day in Devon today, warm enough to enjoy a tea in the sunshine while watching a red deer in the field outside the workshop. A huge military aircraft came over really low and the deer was gone. Perhaps I shouldn't have photographed the plane because about ten minutes later a helicopter came over really, really, really low, circled my workshop six times, presumably giving me a good looking at, before flying off again realising that I'm nothing but a harmless recluse in a shed. I probably shouldn't have photographed that either, but they were asking for it with all that low flying stuff. It doesn't look all that close on the photo, but it was just above the power lines - I'm not sure it's legal to fly so low over someone's property It added interest to my day, I hope it did to theirs too.

My mate Simon Hancox. was just on the phone. He rang to tell me he's got a place at Clay Art Wales and Art in Clay at Hatfield. I'm looking forward to catching up with him later in the year, he's a top bloke who I've known since we were at college together back in the eighties when he had a mullet - sorry Simon, but you know it's true.

No pots made today which was a bit frustrating, but a lot of wood cut and stacked in the dry which was important as the forecast doesn't look good for later in the week. I must get some pots made tomorrow though, the illness at the start of the week has set me back quite badly. I hope to fire in a couple of weeks when Matt comes to visit next.

This blue link thing's impressive don't you think? I worked out how to do that all by myself, I might go for a career in computing if this pottery thing fails.

Jan 29th

In the picture, my mate Ron, the crazy American Soda man

Jan 29th

Well the dreaded man flu has been made all the worse these last two days by triggering a migraine so I've been in a right state and have barely had my head off the pillow until now. It convinces me all the more that these migraines ar sinus related.

So no wood stacking and no potting for two days - what a bore. I'm on the mend now and will be trying to catch up tomorrow.

Here's a shot of some 'double jams' I made last week. They're based on similar items made by Cardew and Hamada in the 1930's, oh I'm so progressive. They comprise of two small jars joined together with strap handles and are an interesting challenge to make, because not only do the pots have to match, but so do the lids. I made four of these, breaking from my obsession with half dozens of items, however I managed to crack one of them, leaving just the three, the component parts being of course, six jars - I should have known better than to try and break the rules!

Jan 27th

Happy Birthday Lil' Sis'!!!

The computer finally ground to a standstill last week, not least due to the several thousand photos that I've had stored on it. They've all been removed now, so I can start to fill it up again, jolly good.

I'm not feeling very well today, a nasty cold virus, so I'm taking in loads of vitamin c and trying to sleep it off - that always seems to be the remedy that works best for me. Hopefully I'll feel fitter tomorrow because I can't afford to lose momentum right now. It's a shame, today's been beautiful and I'd have loved to have taken a family walk down the lanes, but I've been curled up under a quilt, shivering instead. If it's dry tomorrow I want to chainsaw the remaining wood that's outside and get it stacked away in the woodshed. Outside the workshop always looks such a mess so it's my plan this Spring to get it sorted out, paint the walls and plant the flowerbeds.

The last week's been most enjoyable, lots of finished pots, decorated and drying on the shelves. If they all come out of the kiln ok I'll have a good variety of form, colour and decorative technique, with combed, drawn, painted, sprigged, poured and sliptrailed motifs.

There are half a dozen very large jugs that were made on Friday that I'm really chuffed with They're about 420mm high. I changed part of my technique slightly when I was throwing them. This enabled me to get to the final shape in fewer pulls, thus keeping the making marks fresher.

Last night I was lucky enough to take delivery of an electric kiln, courtesy of my mate John the Drums and his local village primary school who wanted it gone to make better use of their already limited space. It's barely been used, what an incredible find. I won't be glaze firing in it, not least because some of my glazes won't work in an electric kiln, but it'll be really useful for firing bisc.

Feeling very dodgy now so I'm off ot bed, poor me, man flu. Cards, flowers, grapes, greatfully received.

Jan 22nd

My younger boy Joe was sick last night poor chap, so wasn't at school today and instead spent the day at the workshop with his old dad. He's been a star. He made some lovely little figures which will feature on here at a later date and also helped stack the woodshed up with timber and unload the clay lorry which finally arrived today. I expect he'll have stiff arms in the morning. His sickness has gone now, all that fresh air and exercise I suppose. I must persuade him to come and work for me more often.

Nic Collins is coming to visit during the day tomorrow. He hasn't been to my place for ages so he'll get a surprise when he finds it uncharacteristically tidy. Marky Mark's coming up in the evening, so we'll work on until about 10.30. It'll be a long day, but I'll get loads done - and all that new clay to play with, woohoo!

I was pleased to discover via Hannah's blog that Margaret Brampton, a fine slipware potter from Surrey, has taken the plunge and decided to fill her evenings by sitting at a computer writing a blog. I've featured Margaret's pots on here in previous posts. Here's an image of her work and a link to her blog http://bramptonpottery.blogspot.com/

Jan 21st

The week's started with a whole lot of decorating. I still find decorating a challenge, but since I've managed to master the kiln, I know pretty much what slip will work with which glaze, in any particular area of the kiln.

I generally use just three slips, green, white and black, beneath an amber or yellow glaze. This provides a huge range of tones and colours, using one slip over or under another and applied in varying thickness. Combine this with the differences in temperature and oxygen in the kiln chamber and the range of tone is endless.

Sometimes decoration can look dreadful until it's fired and sometimes it's the other way round, so it's a case of trying to imagine how the components of form and decoration are going to look when they're finished. Inevitably, it isn't right every time, good composition is the key.

Most of the jugs from last week are done now, but there are a few that'll need a top coat of slip tomorrow. The picture is one of last week's 8lb jugs, with freshly applied black slip.

Apart from decorating, I managed to get all the large shallow dishes from last week, turned and footed relatively easily - I'd had my negative head on and was thinking all weekend that they might be a problem, but thankfully they weren't.

The clay delivery still hasn't arrived so I've been working on another three tier moneybox as these take a lot of time, but use a relatively small amount of clay. That's fine, I had another one on my making list, but I hope it'll arrive tomorrow.

Jan 20th

It's Show time!

A day of admin, Hil and I completing my Tax Return(glad to get that out of the way)and going through the calendar, planning the year ahead. Looks like I'm going to be a busy bee, here's a list of some of the shows that I'm going to be doing this year. There'll be a few more events added to the list which will be regularly updated on my Exhibitions page. Hope to meet up with some of you in the coming months

April 5th-April 26th 2008

Solo show, The Long Room Gallery, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire

April 14th-May 4th 2008

Harlequin Gallery, Greenwich, London, with painter RJ Lloyd www.studio-pots.com

May 17th-18th 2008

Clay Art Wales. The Old Coachhouse, Llanrhaeadr Hall, nr. Denbigh, North Wales www.clayart.org.uk

June 6th-8th 2008

The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey, Devon www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk

June 28th-29th 2008

Earth & Fire, Rufford, Notts www.ruffordcraftcentre.org.uk

Aug 1st-3rd

Art in Clay, Hatfield House, Hertfordshire www.artinclay.co.uk

Jan 18th

Well I've been waiting all week for a clay delivery to arrive as promised by the supplier, but it seems it isn't going to be here until next week now. No big problem really, I've still got a little and anyway, I need to take some time off making to get some wood in to the wood shed.

I'm pleased with progress this week, lots of new pots on the shelf and I'm very happy with all of them at this stage. Anything that bothers me gets cast back into the reclaim bin.

My mate Cookie called round this afternoon. He makes amazing wooden furniture out of gnarly chunks of wood, so we had a good natter about all things creative and the possibility of doing a show together at some stage in the future. I also had a regular customer call by who bought a stack of pots, so it was quite a sociable and successful day. Yesterday I didn't see a soul.

The jar in the photo was from a couple of firings ago. It's hard to see in a photo this size, but the glaze and slip are really rich on this pot, the manganese in the black slip bleeding nicely into the glaze. This is a shot taken by my mate Jonny Thompson. He'll be sending me some more through next week so I'll stick them on here.

The second shot is one of the 8lb jugs I made yesterday which I handled today. Again, because of the size of the picture, you can't really see the texture of the clay.

The final image is of a 5lb jug with black brushwork on a white slip. It'll look nothing like this when it's fired. My camera's really annoying because the lens distorts everything, so these jugs aren't quite the shape they appear on here - great excuse!

Have a good weekend

Jan 17th

Last week I sorted out a really useful bench in the workshop. I built it ages ago, with a cupboard beneath in which I store my chainsaw etc. It immediately became the 'home corner' as they would call such a place at the primary school my boys used to attend, with kettle and microwave, cd player etc. Not long after it became the 'pile it here' corner and was rendered useless for anything other than that purpose.

The reason I mention this now, is that I'm writing this blog while sitting at it. It's beneath the window with a view across the field to the woods. It's going to be a space for handbuilding and a desk and a blog writitng table.

If my blog is supposed to represent a diary of this place, at least some of it should be written in the workshop(then typed up on to the computer at home). I don't have a computer here thankfully. It's increasingly difficult these days to find a work environment without one so I shall enjoy the luxury of not having one here. It amazed me how people's jobs, including my own, at the Uni became regularly desk bound because of computers. How did we ever cope before? It's just my home life it dominates now!

I'm just about to start decorating once I've finished jotting this down and drunk my tea. The pictures will no doubt be a guage of my success...........................................

................................later

Well it went ok, some of them will need a second coat of a different colour tomorrow, but some, including the sprigged one in the picture, are finished.

Made a batch of 8lb fat jugs. The clay was a blend of some that was too soft, kneaded up with some that was too hard. This made it difficult to throw as it has only just been blended so it's 'short' and liable to splitting and flopping. The beauty of clay like this however is that by taking it to its absolute limits, it starts to break up on the surface, showing all the making marks, with a wonderful texture reminiscent of the old nineteenth century country earthenwares that I love so much. I'll stick on a shot of the jugs tomorrow.

Jan 14th

Got stuck in to making again today. My muscles can feel that I haven't done any concentrated potting for a month. I did a batch of jugs, half a dozen tall, narrow, jugs and a half dozen squatter, fat ones. So handles tomorrow and perhaps some large, flat bowls. There are some from the last firing that I'm very pleased with, but I didn't do any using the black slip, so I plan to have some in the next kiln load. I aim to fire glaze in the second week of Feb.

The image in the middle is a mug from my last firing. I had some really interesting ones with great variation of colour in the surface. When I used to take old Winchcombe pots to Sid Tustin's house years ago, Sid would say of pots with this kind of surface, 'this is the type of pot you'd never get bored of.' The photo's a snapshot I took today, but my photographer Johnny Thompson www.pixlpix.co.uk is taking some professional shots for me so I'll put them on later in the week.

And the final image here is a picture of Hannah McAndrew, a talented slipware potter from Galloway in South West Scotland, who I met last year on the summer show circuit. Hannah has just started a blog, check her out www.hannahmcandrew.blogspot.com

Jan 10th

A few days hard graft and a reorganised workshop - brilliant!

Mark came up last night after work and he, Matt and I worked on into the night. They hadn't met each other before but got along really well. Matt has made a number of very fine jugs this week plus bowls and pie dishes. It's been great having him to stay, I think he found the experience useful, I certainly hope so. We went up to Nic Collins' place earlier in the week and he met Nic and Svend, so got to see quite a bit of the Devon pottery scene in the four days he was here. Nic was firing at the time and his huge anagama was in full flame, quite a contrast to the relatively sedate firing that Matt experienced of my kiln a few weeks ago. Here's Matt slipping one of his jugs. I expect he'll be posting his interpretation of the week's events on his blog later. http://wwwfaline.blogspot.com/

Mark got making again last night after a break of several months. We're going to revive our weekly, Wednesday evening sessions which will be fun. He had a number of pieces out of the last firing that he had made earlier in the year, press moulded dishes with painterly decoration that worked very well. He's going to continue exploring that avenue. I plan to make some pressed dishes for the next firing too so I've sorted out a bench in the corner of the workshop which will be predominently dedicated to hand building processes.

I went through the fruits of the last firing again last night. There are some bowls in there that I'm really delighted with, it was such a good firing, I can't stop looking at them. The standard of my pots is improving all the time I think, as is my confidence. I'm sure the two go hand in hand, the braver I get, the more new things I try. These materials demand that they are used in a free and spontaneous way and that can only be achieved when approached in an uninhibited and confident manner.

Today Mark took a day off work and the three of us got to the workshop early. Matt finished his pots, some hurried along with the aid of the blowtorch as he had to head home this afternoon. The torch is a useful tool I would recommend to any potter, although it has to be used with caution because of the risk of cracking the pot, but if you're in a hurry to apply a handle or a slip it can be a real asset.

Mark and I blitzed the kiln shed, digging our way through the several years of the things that 'might be useful one day'. It's never really been sorted out properly since we built the kiln, there was never time when I was only in the pottery two days a week to sort it and it didn't happen during the summer frenzy of pot making, there just never seemed to be a chance.

Things are a lot different now and it's a good feeling to know that the facility used at the very end of the process is already set to go, right from the start - that's the way it should be. I plan to spend a day or two in the forthcoming week to do some maintainance on the kiln, dismantling and rebuilding the fireboxes amongst other things.

It's all getting much more professional as regards workshop practice and really it needs to be. Irrespective of the fact it makes the system run efficiently, in too small a space, I'm starting to get quite a few visitors at Hollyford now and it's not just me that has to deal with the chaos. It's difficult doing some of this stuff alone so the help I've had this week from those guys has been superb, thanks again geezers.

Not a huge number of pots on the shelf yet, a dozen mugs made, handled and slipped and I managed to get another three chambered money box finished yesterday, this time without it falling over like the last one. I've now got to make sure the chickens don't get knocked off over the next few weeks before it's fired - never, ever, count your chickens.

Images:

Matt slipping a jug

A close up of the cockerill

The slipped moneybox

Jan 8th

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's been ages since I got on the computer and did this blog. I only went back to work on Monday after a much needed break with the family. Lots has been going on. We went to my parents' place for a few days after Christmas. My brother and sister were there too and my neice. It's not very often that we three siblings are together under the same roof even though we're a close family so it was really good. Here we all are with my Mum and Dad.While we were up-country we took the opportunity to travel further into East Anglia to visit some friends in Suffolk. They live in a beautiful thatched farmhouse that dates back to Tudor days and have a huge and impressive collection of studio pottery. They spoiled us rotten and we came away laden with goodies including a copy of a rare book about Michael Cardew and even a Cardew tin glaze pot, that's very, very rare. We really enjoyed that visit and look forward to seeing them again soon.New Year's eve was a washout for me - migraine all the way from 2007 until 2008. The midnight fireworks in my parents' town were certainly not what the doctor ordered. It wasn't until the 2nd that I felt well enough to come home, with a detour to see John Edgeler at the Long Room Gallery in Winchcombe. The last thing I did at the workshop before Christmas was unpack the kiln, so the workshop was absolutely chaotic when I got there early on Monday morning, the contents of the kiln covering every surface. I hadn't had time to look at the pots properly when we unpacked so I enjoyed going through them while I tidied up. The majority of them I'm really pleased with, so I'll be putting them away for the two solo shows in the Spring. It was worthwhile putting the extra hours in before Christmas. I'd managed to get the majority of the pots sorted and put away on the shelves before my blogging buddy Matt arrived. http://wwwfaline.blogspot.com/ He's down until Thursday so we've had a good time catching up, chewing the fat and making pots for the last couple of days. Matt's got the slipware bug and it's been very pleasing watching his work and his passion develop. Here he is throwing, with his pots in the foreground. Today I've managed to give the workshop a much overdue sort out too and mixed new buckets of slips ready for the next batch of production. So far I've made mugs and have started to make the component parts for another couple of three-chambered money boxes, hopefully they'll fare better than the one I made a few weeks ago that flopped and fell over when it was slipped.My other blogging buddies have started the new year in enthusiastic fashion. Andrew has just erected a new workshop in his garden, I look forward to see what happens in there over the months to come http://potterboy.blogspot.com/ Gay has also a new studio under development in her new house in Texas http://sistercreekpottery.blogspot.com/And as for Ron - well I don't know how he finds the energy! He's having a break from his soda fired work to make some slipware and it's looking amazing http://pottersjournal.blogspot.com/

I'm glad to have got back on with this blog at last, I've been feeling guilty and neglectful. Marky Mark's coming up tomorrow night so I'll not blog tomorrow as we'll be home late, but hopefully I'll have some pictures of pots in the making later in the week. Bye for now and Happy New Year!

Jan 1st

Save Rufford Ceramics Centrewww.ruffordcraftcentre.org.ukFor the past 20 years Rufford has earned a reputation as an internationally recognised centre of excellence in Ceramics, staging exhibitions by world-class potters, offering residencies to artists, providing a program of challenging and stimulating workshops for members of the public, selling the work of contemporary ceramic artists and exhibiting an enviable permanent collection of British 20th century studio pottery. Each year Rufford hosts the renowned Earth & Fire ceramics fair which represents all the major ceramic artists in Britain and beyond, and provides the public with an unprecedented opportunity to meet the artists and buy their work. Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) is changing the services it provides at Rufford without holding a proper public consultation and has begun implementing these changes. It is cutting staff, closing the current workshop programs at the end of March 2008, and will no longer support the magnificent exhibitions which have been held at Rufford for 20 years. The Centre no longer sells ceramics and NCC's long term commitment to holding the internationally recognised ceramics selling fair, Earth & Fire at Rufford is under question.Act Now!

Sign the online petition: http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/15750.html
Write to your County Councillor and MP using the following link: http://www.writetothem.com/
Send this on to other people! The more of us there are, the louder our voice becomes.

Dec 25th

Happy Christmas!

Well the big day is here. The boys have had such an exciting time and given us a lovely day. Seeing their smiling faces makes all the hard work worthwhile. Not sure whether the neighbours enjoyed the drum kit in the garage!I had this crazy idea last week that I'd get a Santa costume and climb the kiln chimney while it was in full smoke, get a photo taken and put it on here as my Christmas blog. I even went to Tiverton especially to get the costume, but they'd sold out. Perhaps it's a good job really because apart from it being very silly and maybe a sign that I spend too much time on my own, I could have been engulfed in a fireball of dripping nylon. So here instead is a much more sensible photo sent to me by a collector friend, of a Buckley Pottery pie dish from North Wales, I'm guessing early 20th century? Thank you to everybody who has supported me this year with kind words and purchases. Have a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful 2008. I'm off for a few days now to visit family and friends up-country. Back soon, bye for now, take care.

Happy New Year!

Blog for the Save Rufford campaign http://saverufford.wordpress.com/

Dec 23rd

Unpacked the kiln yesterday morning and it was a great firing. There was a shelf at the top in the back of the chamber where the flame had apparently been trapped, so the pots had gone rather brown, but the rest of the kiln was good. It was mostly large bowls and platters and the chicken moneyboxes which I was especially pleased with. Some friends who have become regular visitors came from Somerset to see the pots come out and went away with a few new pieces for their collection. They have quite a few of mine now. They gave us a bottle of bubbly which was really sweet of them, we'll enjoy it on Tuesday, thank you J & S. The post lady also came by to collect an order. I couldn't remember whereabouts I'd put it in the kiln, although I knew it was in a good spot, so I was feeling nervous until I found it. Thankfully it came out with a beautiful golden gloss.That was a fantastic way to end this year in the workshop, ahead of the game with some more pots I'm really pleased with to keep by for my spring shows in The Long Room, Winchcombe and the Harlequin Gallery, London. On top of that, just had confirmation from The Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey that I have been selected for a place, so lots to do after Christmas, http://www.craftsatboveytracey.co.ukLast night played the Love Daddies Christmas Party which seemed to go with a swing. Now with all my commitments fulfilled, I can start to think about relaxing into the festive season after a crazy couple of weeks. Two days to go, better be good boys and girls!

Blog for the Save Rufford campaign http://saverufford.wordpress.com/

Dec 21st

The firing went well, starting at 8am and finishing at 11pm. I did it on my own which was fine, but I'm still paying the price for burning the candle/kiln at both ends as I've now had a horrible cold and headache for two days. I feel loads better this evening after lots of sleep, with a hot waterbottle on my sinuses, plus plenty of vitamin C drink. The blurred picture shows the pyrometric cones viewed through one of the spyholes. These each melt at a different tenmperature, the one at the front having bent over, while the three behind are still upright. The kiln will be out tomorrow morning. Apart from a couple of orders, the pots are for my solo shows in the spring. It's great to be a whole kiln load ahead of schedule, if it's a good firing it'll be a really positive way to end the year - fingers crossed. I'll post some photos of the outcome in the next couple of days. Love Daddies Christmas Party tomorrow night. There is now a blog for the Save Rufford campaign http://saverufford.wordpress.com/

If you haven't done so already, would you be so kind as to sign the petition on the post above wherever you are in the world? Also if you could copy it to anyone who you feel may be interested, it would be fantastic. Thank you, Rufford is a venue of great international importance to potters and ceramic artists and your support is much appreciated, please try and help save it.

Dec 18th

Another long day, wood stacked, kiln packed. Marky Mark helped and we finished late. Off to bed, early start in the morning.

Dec 16th

Marky Mark came up last night and helped me unpack the kiln. It was good to be drinking tea together again. The bisc was 100% successful, so so far, so good. Today I glazed all the pots. It was a long, busy day but it's all pretty much ready to go back into the kiln. I'll pack tomorrow. Mark's coming up in the evening to help. We'll brick the door up, put the gas poker in for the pre-heat, then I'll fire up again on Wednesday. I can't wait to get it done then wind down for Christmas, I feel tired having had to be at the workshop on and off, both days of the weekend. It'll be out on Saturday morning, when I've got some visitors coming to see it unpacked. Hope it's a good one.Mark inspecting one of his pots

Glazed mugs

Dec 14th

Forbidden no more! Sorry the site's been off line for a few days, something to do with data transfer and me not paying the bill. I understand these things not, if I did I probably wouldn't be playing with mud in my countryside retreat - well I probably would actually, I just know that since I started updating the blog myself, it's costing me about £15 a fortnight. I think it may be something to do with file size, anyway, it's no longer for me to worry about, my web site guy is going to take a look at it.I fired the kiln on Wednesday as planned. Poor old Marky Mark called off sick with a bad case of man flu so I ended up doing it on my own. A firing is not the place you want to be when you feel like that, too much smoke and extremes of heat. He's hoping to be better for the weekend in time for a frenzy of glazing.It was a long firing, 8am -12.30am. Much of the energy was used in steaming away the rain water that had penetrated the chimney and kiln shed. The glaze firing will be much quicker as the kiln and its contents will be relatively dry. That's going to be next Wednesday and will be unpacked on Saturday morning. Meanwhile I've to mix glaze, unpack, glaze the pots and then re-pack by Tuesday night ready for pre-heat. Mark's going to give me a hand to pack which will make life a lot easier as one of us will be in the kiln, while the other passes the pots in. Despite Wednesday's late night and getting to bed at about 2am after the firing, I got Hil to drop me at the workshop yesterday at 8 in the morning. It was a struggle. The bisc used a lot more fuel than I had anticipated and I was keen to get a load more timber in and stacked around the kiln, taking advantage of the kiln's storage heater qualities. It took up the morning, then I treated myself to a leisurely stroll home through the winter countryside. Here's what it looked like - proper pretty. I feel really tired, so today is a day off to sort out things like this blog at long last.
Treetops in Stockleigh LaneThe road bridge at Hollywater

A 'Christmas bauble' in the bottom orchard

Dec 11th

Kiln packed, burner in for the overnight pre-heat, so I'll start on wood tomorrow morning at about 8am. Today was busy, lots of running round, including dropping a load of pots off at the Lantic Gallery in Tiverton. I really like that little gallery, it was buzzing with activity, a frenzy of people buying Christmas presents.

Looking forward to seeing Marky Mark manning one of the fireboxes tomorrow evening, we're a good team because we built the kiln and learned how to fire it together. I've missed him not being around. There are quite a few of his pots in this firing, as well as Christine's and Dana's. In fact, the workshop shelves are completely empty of raw pots.

Dec 10th

The Crediton show opened on Friday night. A potter from Somerset, Paul Jessop came along with his wife Marion. Paul makes slipware which he fires in a gas kiln that he's recently built. He's getting some good results, I used to fire with gas without much success, Paul seems to have mastered it. I look forward to seeing the fruits of his labours in the time to come.I was going to fire today, but have postponed until Wednesday, some of the pots were still a little damp and the kiln shed was full of sticky mud after the recent deluge. The forecast is better for later in the week. The extra time enabled me to make a load of mugs to fill some gaps in the kiln. When I was in Cyprus a few years ago I was chatting to a potter, Georgio, who told me that it gets so hot there that by the time he's filled a board of mugs, the first ones are ready for the application of handles. I replicated that atmosphere today with the help of my flame-throwing gas burner, so I was able to throw, blast, handle, blast, slip then blast until the mugs were completed and dry enough to make the firing. It's not my favoured method, preferring slower, calmer , natural drying, but it helped fill the gaps and when the firing process involves the investment of so much energy, every bit of useful space in the kiln needs to be full. Marky Mark rang me tonight to say he's got a new car which means he'll be up on Wednesday evening. It's been months since we got together at the workshop - can't wait to see him and to have some crazy evenings making pots together once again, it's been too long.

Off to deliver some pots to the Lantic Gallery in Tiverton tomorrow, www.lanticgallery.co.uk, then back to the workshop, finish packing the kiln, brick the door up and light the gas for a slow pre-heat overnight.

Dec 6th

Got the kiln packed yesterday. I'm just waiting for a few pots to dry sufficiently before bricking the door up. I'll fire on Tuesday. The weather's horrible at the moment so I'm hoping for a dry spell, but then it is December and this is Devon, so not much chance of that.A day at home today to sort out the last of my show applications and to catch up on the various other admin tasks that always seem to get left until the last minute. If I get accepted for all the shows I've applied for, 2008 will be a busy year. This evening I've got to go to Gallery 86 in Crediton to help Cookie take down his show and to prepare the space ready for tomorrow night's opening. I'll not put the pots in place until the morning, but there'll be tables and plinths to organise in readiness. Quite a few artists, sculptors and potters are exhibiting so I'm not sure how much of an area I have yet, I'll decide what pots to put in once I know.It'll be a good quality show and very ecclectic, if you can make it, please come.

I'll post some pictures when it's all set up.

Dec 3rd

What a fantastic sale. Some folk travelled a long way, I appreciate it very much, thank you everybody who bought pots. The weather was absolutely disgusting but that didn't seem to be a deterrent.Had friends from Suffolk to stay this weekend which was great. They have a magnificent colection of studio pots which now includes quite a number of mine. Always a pleasure to spend time with other obsessive pot lovers. Unfortunately, on Sunday I developed a migraine before they left and spent yesterday and today crashed out recovering. Feel good now but should have been at work today, oh well, can't be helped. Luke's got another appointment at the dentist tomorrow in Exeter so I probably won't get to the workshop much tomorrow either. Have to start packing the kiln ready for a bisc firing so it'll be a full day on Wednesday. I hope to fire next Monday.Thursday I'll be installing my show in Crediton, the opening's on Friday night to which everyone's invited.(see blog Nov 24th) http://www.gallery86.co.uk/

Not a great photo of the inside of my garage, I took this this evening as I forgot to take one on the day when it was a hive of activity. Still lots of seconds and old work to sell so I'm going to keep some of them set up for a while in case anybody would like them. Some of it's going to a sale in Thorverton, another local village, next weekend.

Nov 29th

On Tuesday I took some pots to the Polka Gallery in Exeter http://www.polkadotgallery.com/intro.html It's a good gallery, selling top quality work, plus my pots, ha ha! Yesterday my mate Cookie and I hung his exhibition at Gallery 86 in Crediton. He makes, amongst other things, amazing wooden furniture and wonderful picture frames from ancient chunks of gnarly timber. The show opens tomorrow night and runs until Thursday. http://www.gallery86.co.uk/Following straight on from Cookie's show and in the same venue, is an exhibition I'm in with other local artists and potters. It opens a week tomorrow, Friday 7th. (scroll back to blog 24th or see link above for more info.) Loads to get organised tomorrow ready for the weekend sale. At the moment there are lots of pots dumped in the garage, so I've to sort through them and price everything. Then I've got to try and display them a bit better so they don't look like they've just been piled in a garage. Still making the last few pots for the next firing which I aim to have out just before Christmas. I was going to put some pictures on but they were too blurred, so here's a picture of a gate instead. There was a beautiful mist this morning before the sun broke through later on in the day and the picture shows the view across the field outside the workshop.

Had an email from Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols to say that Johnny and the boys really like their tankards - ah, bless 'em.

Nov 26th

A day of finishing today, lots of handles put on and sprig decoration applied. Saucers turned and footrings thrown. I used to make a lot of these little sprig stamps. There was a time when I'd have a few new ones in every kiln but I haven't done that for a while, something I'll revive I think. I've got boxes of the things, some that work, some that aren't so good but I can't bring myself to throw them away. It's a decorating technique that was often used by medieval potters. A little pellet of clay is attached to the pot surface and then the stamp pressed in.

Off to town tomorrow laden with pots to try and get them in some galleries. Can't really afford the time out of the workshop so I'll probably go up there tomorrow evening to catch up.

Nov 24th

Nov 23rd

SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALEOne week until my pre-Christmas sale of seconds and old work Saturday 1st December from 10 am - 4 pm.If you'd like to come, drop me an email with the word 'Pottery' in the subject box to dougfitch@fsmail.net and I'll send you details

SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE

Nov 23rd

Had an enjoyable day today, listened to loud music, slipped teacups, made jugs and walked home in the winter sunshine. Have to go to the workshop in the morning as I've a wood delivery coming, plus various handles to put on and other bits of finishing that need doing. Need to empty the workshop of all the sale pots, of which there are many. We're going to run the sale from the garage next to my house so we'll be sorting that out in readiness over the weekend. Can't wait to get the space back in the workshop.Spoke to my old mate Marky Mark tonight on the phone. He's been without a car for ages, but is getting a new one in the next few days. Can't wait to get our crazy potting evenings going again, it's been too long.

Happy Thanksgiving friends across the pond.

Nov 22nd

Come to a festive evening of rural punkThe Love Daddies Christmas PartyLove Daddies plus DJDoors 7.30 Upstairs at The Lamb, Sandford, Crediton, Devon Saturday December 22nd Free entry

Nov 22nd

The workshop's filling up quickly although the majority of what I'm making is small stuff. Still have to do the jugs, need to get on to them if I want to get them dry in time so tomorrow would be a good idea. It's going to be an interesting kiln load with a whole variety of items. Might get some teapots done tomorrow if there's time. Today I handled teacups that I made yesterday and threw the saucers. I rarely make teacups, in fact I've only made one since I was a student, that was for the teacup exhibition at the Where I Fell In Love Gallery earlier in the year - one in twenty odd years. Anyway, I've made a dozen so that'll up the annual average.Had a letter of confirmation that I've been accepted for Earth & Fire at Rufford again next summer. It's always an anxious wait, wondering whether applications have been successful because there's a lot of competition for some of these shows. I love the Rufford show and I'm really pleased to be going again, this will be my fourth year.

Nov 20th

I've been decorating a lot of the bowls and platters that I made last week. There are a few more to do tomorrow. The remaing moneyboxes survived slipping.Decorating's difficult, you get one shot at it with wet slip, but that's the beauty of it, the marks are spontaneous and capture the liquid qualities of the material. I like to hit the slip when it's really wet, some potters prefer to sgrafitto through the slip when it's toughened. I do that occasionally with commemorative stuff where I need to do lettering, but by and large, the sloppier the better suits my way of working . The decoration on the dish is simply white slip, slightly thinner on the rim, wiped back with my finger. I'll glaze these in a light yellow glaze and highlight the rim in green. I keep forgetting to measure these, but they're probably about 400mm in diameter. Made some more wide dishes today, rather like shallow pancheons. These ones won't need footrings. Also mugs and a puzzle jug, the history of which I threatened the other day, I was going to tell you more. It's late now so that'll have to wait for another day. Strange looking things though so they do need some explaination if you've never seen one before. I think there are some crazy ones at the foot of my finished work page that I made a couple of years ago for an exhibition. I really need to update that page. I've only just learned this week how to do this blog page myself, hence the increased regularity of my postings. The boys got really bored of doing it for me so I had to learn. Tomorrow, more decorating and hopefully some large jugs for the top of the kiln. I wanted to make some today, but the clay was a bit too soft so I've left some out overnight on my wedging bench to toughen up. It's difficult to thin the clay walls of the pot if the clay's soft so making pots of any scale is impossible, hence the mug making session today, soft clay's great for freely-thrown wobbly mugs.I need to get some pots out to the galleries. I'm terrible at doing this which I think is typical of a lot of makers, I get stuck in to making the next lot before having got out to sell the last. If I'm not careful, it'll be too late for the Christmas market, if it isn't already. I want to keep some back for the solo shows in the Spring and I've a show in Crediton opening early in December so I must keep some back for that too, but some has to go out this week. Enough rambling, time for bed with a good pottery book. I must be so exciting to live with.....................not.Images:Wet slip on a large dishA puzzle jug

Nov 19th

Oh dear, think I need to find a better way of slipping these money boxes. I poured the slip over this one and I think too much leaked inside, weakening the bottom chamber around the coin slot. I watched it crack, then gradually slump over. Oh well, it's all part of the learning curve, each different item I make has it's own challenges. I'll get it right next time. Today I finished modelling the other single-chamber money boxes. I managed to slip the one I made on Friday successfully. The rest of the day I turned bowls and threw the footrings on. A big day of decorating tomorrow then back into throwing some more pots. Just got a copy of the excellent Slipware book recently published by A&C Black. There are many illustrations and text about some wonderful pots from the collection of The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke on Trent. You can get it from Amazon for less than £20, bargain.

Nov 18th

SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE I'm having a pre-Christmas sale of seconds and old work on 1st December from 10 am - 4 pm. Many bargains to be had! The workshop's too small and chaotic so I'm going to do it from home, which is also small and chaotic, but not so muddy. If you'd like to come, drop me an email with the word 'Pottery' in the subject box to dougfitch@fsmail.net and I'll send you details

SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE

Nov 17th

Some shows that are going onHere are a few events that are happening during the next week or two.Wearable Art is an exhibition near Tiverton, Devon and features my friend Heather Cutler's bags.http://www.rags2bags.co.uk/It runs from 16th - 25th November. Here's a link to the gallery: http://www.redearth-art.com/ Made in Cley is a co-operative based in Norfolk. Their winter show opened this weekend and runs until 31st December. At present there are 8 people working at MADE IN CLEY, Mary Perry, an email buddy of mine who makes pottery, Wolfgang Altmann: pottery, sculpture, prints, Gunhild Espelage: pottery, Christiane Guenther: pottery, Richard Kelham: pottery, Quay Proctor-Mears: jewellery, Rosalind Redfern: pottery Barbara Widdup: pottery.

More information can be found on their website: http://www.madeincley.co.uk/

Nov 16th

It's been a productive week in the workshop, two dozen breakfast bowls, mixing bowls, half a dozen tankards, six big shallow dishes and eighteen fruit bowls, a range of small, medium and large. Lots of finishing and decorating done and still a fair bit to do on Monday. Other bits and bobs I've made include a series of money boxes that are based on the ones made in the country potteries of England in nineteenth century. The picture isn't very good, I'll get a more detailed one next week. Donyatt Pottery in Somerset were particularly renowned for making such money pots, which had a cockerel on the top, surrounded by hens, looking up to the cockerel as though in adulation. Ah, that's what I like to see!(ouch, only kidding). Some, more sophisticated moneyboxes had three seperate chambers, one above the other, I suppose for pennies, half pennies and farthings(?). These would have been relatively expensive items and made to commssion. I remember seeing a very fine one of these in Liverpool Museum, probably made at Buckley in North Wales. Several years ago I also saw one in an antique shop in Stow on the Wold, I couldn't afford it but have always wished I that could have. Someone once said 'never regret your extrvagencies because you'll always regret your economies.' I regret not somehow getting the cash together for that one because I don't imagine I'll see another for sale except in an expensive saleroom. Single chambered onion-shaped boxes with decoration like the old one in the image, were given as gifts to celebrate births or weddings and were made to be preserved as keep sakes. I've got a couple of simply decorated ones in my collection with sgrafitto text but no chickens. However, unglazed, cheap ones, would often have been owned by apprentice boys and in these they would collect their traditional Christmas gifts, on the day which on account of this, is still know as Boxing Day. These would have been smashed on the floor to release their contents and so, are relatively rare, although I do have one. There we go, that's this week's history lesson. Next week, puzzle jugs. I used to love modelling with clay and have been trying to think how I could introduce it into my work. I really enjoyed making these. They were inspired by Ron's recent modelled pieces, although I don't know what he's been putting in his tea, I have yet to make any two headed ones! http://pottersjournal.blogspot.com/

Nov 15th

It was a frosty one this morning. The season's marching on apace. Hil's been taking a detour and dropping me off at the end of the lane to the workshop before she goes to work. It means I'm there for eight, so I can get a full day's work done. The walk's been wonderful, but it means I get there late and tired before I start, so getting a lift's been good. I walked home again this evening though, I'm determined I'm not going to lose touch with the hedgerows and I'm keen to keep my fitness up - nearly a year nicotine-free. Made loads of bowls in all sizes today. I'll take some pictures tomorrow.

It's still going really well. I'm in my element with the woodburner fired up and just Radio 4 for company.

Nov 14th

Slipped bowls, made dishes, went to band practice, got home too late. Bed

Nov 13th

A new entry and those ugly brutes are off the bottom of the page, I'm sure my mother will be delighted!Back to the real world. Things seem to be going really well this week, with none of the mental struggle I usually encounter straight after a firing when the shelves are empty. Perhaps my adventure to the Capital freed-up something in my brain? Maybe it was the trip to the V&A? Can't think it was anything to do with Johnny Rotten. Whatever, I'm loving it and feel really inspired, more so than I have for a while. It's a good feeling. My plan is to get a kiln load made and fired before Christmas - hard work but I'll manage it. I need loads of yellow and green pots to mix in with the last batch. I also need to make platters and bowls as jugs and jars made up the majority of the last firing. I love making jugs so doubtless I'll make a few for this kiln load, but not so many. Looking forward to making some other forms. I made two dozen small bowls yesterday, some mixing bowls and half a dozen tall tankards. Today's been lots of finishing, applying footrings and handles. Decorating tomorrow and wide, shallow bowls to make.

I want to get as many firings through as possible so I can select a good variety for my solo shows in the Spring. There were some good pots in the last firing and I've a dilemma, do I keep them back for the Spring, or do I put them out in the galleries? I guess it depends how hungry we get.

Nov 10th

Luke and I had a fantastic time in London. We visited all the sights, I thought it important as Luke was missing school, that we should at least take in some classical culture before indulging in popular culture. So we went to Westminster, Trafalgar Square etc. and took in the paintings of the National Gallery. Luke really enjoys art and has a great talent for it, so was interested. There are some great pots in those old paintings which will influence the ones I intend to make next week. www.nationalgallery.org.ukWe went on to look at the artifacts of the Victoria and Albert Museum. www.vam.ac.uk/index.html Unfortunately the main pottery area is closed at the moment (probably much to Luke's relief). A shame, because there are pots in there that changed my life. Then we headed out to Brixton to see some other old crocks that changed my life, the Sex Pistols. Glen Matlock did us proud. I was expecting a couple of tickets in an envelope, but when the people in the box office sent us to the stage door, we realised that it was going to be more exciting than that. In fact, it was 'Access all Areas' wristbands that were waiting for us and reserved seating with friends and family of the Sex Pistols. Luke spent the gig sitting next to the drummer from Madness, best seats in the house. I was glad not to be in the mosh pit, I'm too old for all that and we'd been walking all day so the sit down was good. Years ago I'd love to get in amongst the action, but wake up the next day feeling battered and bruised. We also had access to the VIP lounge/bar which is where we got to meet up with Matlock, the rather scary Mr Rotten and also Charley Harper who I'd met before when the Love Daddies supported the UK Subs back in the summer. He was saying what an odd gig that was, playing in a field - that's normal by my/Devon standards, I'd never thought of it as being strange. I think it reinforces my increasing realisation of how different things are in this part of the country from elsewhere. Devon's good to escape occasionally, an opportunity to see other cultures and wider roads, bigger buildings and crowds, but it's always good to come home. It ain't punk rock, but I like a quiet life these days. Got home at 4.30 this morning so very tired today. Great fun though, thank you Mr. Matlock.

Images:
With Glen Matlock
Luke and Johnny
With Charley Harper

Nov 8th

Well I took a load of photographs but they were rubbish! A while ago my good camera bit the dust, almost literally, when clay dust got in and jammed the lens. I'm waiting until I can afford to get it repaired. So I'm back on the old one that makes everything look a bit weird, which isn't good when I spend so much time concentrating on form, only for them to come out on photographs looking nothing like what they're supposed to. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. My mate Jonny Thompson www.pixlpix.co.uk is going to take some proper pictures next week, but here are a few pots from the firing. Tomorrow's going to be fun. I'm off to London with Luke as we're on the guest list for the Sex Pistols' gig in Brixton. The thought of London scares me to death, last time I went I couldn't cross the road! Lanes and fields are more my style these days. I'm sure we'll get in to it once we've arrived. A couple of years ago I was asked to make a blue plaque to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Pistols' first gig at St. Martins School of Art, when they were so dreadful that they were unplugged a few minutes into their set. Glen Matlock, the bass player unveiled the plaque (see blog 7th Nov 05). Here's a review and pictures of the unveiling on the Pistols web site, you'll have to scroll down the page. www.philjens.plus.com/pistols/pistols/reviews_events_old_1.htmMatlock asked me to make one for him, so I've to deliver it tomorrow. It turns out that the support band, The Cribs, is Luke's favourite band that he went to see a couple of weeks ago in Exeter so he's very excited. I was Luke's age when I first heard the Pistols, so an odd turn around.

What's more earthy and English(and coarse) than the Sex Pistols? Answer, one of my tankards, so they've one each with their names on. This is the rock and roll web site, remember where you heard it first that Led Zep were reforming?!

Nov 6th

Unpacked the kiln tonight and I'm very, very pleased with the majority of the pots. There were a few that probably took a bit too much flame and have gone rather dark, but they were in the minority and even these have really interesting qualities. The top of the kiln gets a bit warm and smoky, that's where all the tall stuff tends to be and the pots can go quite brown. I often fire it this hot to get the bottom hot enough, but the next firing is going to be a cone lower I think. I need to make a kiln load of yellow and green pots because I did a lot of experimentation with the black slip over the white, with the darker glaze over. The experiments worked really well but I'm lacking variety so I'll get cracking with that next. I'll post better pictures later. I need to get them out and about to the galleries but I'll stick some on here first with the prices and if anybody's interested, feel free to give me a shout. My email address is dougfitch@fsmail.net but please put the word 'POTTERY' in the subject box because I get hundreds of spam emails a week, cheers. Matt's pots came out well too, he's going to be really pleased with them when he gets them. Some have an essence of his great, great grandfather, Elijah Comfort's work from the early firings at Cardew's Winchcombe Pottery.

More pictures of pots tomorrow

Nov 4th

Matt and Tig were brilliant this weekend. They arrived during the day on Friday and helped to pack the kiln. We blearily started the firing a little later than planned on Saturday, having gone to bed way too late the night before, after maybe a pint too many than was sensible. I went off for three hours in the afternoon to do my demo in the chapel - that was fun, a bit of throwing then a bit of teaching. Although I've had lots of people help me to fire in the past, it's the first time I've ever gone away and left the kiln completely in somebody else's hands. They did a brilliant job and had the kiln glowing red by the time I got back. It was a beautiful day to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, the sunshine during the day giving way to a stunning, star-filled sky. There's no light pollution at Hollyford and the stars go on forever. We finally got home at about one thirty this morning. Matt and Tig wearily set off home before lunch. I think they enjoyed it although it was a very long, very hard day's work and we all looked and felt completely wiped out by the end of it. There are some pictures of events on Matt's blog http://wwwfaline.blogspot.com/ Early to bed tonight. Unpack on Tuesday evening. Good feeling about this firing. Thanks again Matt and Tig, you were brilliant.

PS Tig runs a mail order plant business, here's a link to her site www.futureprimitiveplants.co.uk

Nov 1st

The countryside is full of autumn colour, wonderful earthenware tones, I'm going to enjoy this season I think. This is the little bridge over Hollywater stream on my way to work. The bisc firing was successf