Pots & Pieces: the Gallery

Newest additions head the  list:

We recently opened the studio as part of the local Arts Trail, which prompted me to make many new pieces :-

This is one of a range of larger and more rugged stoneware pots, mostly formed by a combination of coiling and throwing. Each is made over the course of about a week to allow time for the clay to firm up before adding more coils.

The Emsworth Arts Trail was invited to have an exhibition on launch day for the Boat Project. I made this model for the event, slab-built in stoneware with a take on Lear’s famous poem stamped into  the hull.  Quite by coincidence Lear’s 200th birthday was just a few days away, celebrated by Google with one of their homepage header cartoons.

These planters look great when potted up, but are a nightmare in the pottery. I have yet to make a perfect one, without distortion, yet they are already selling well, albeit as seconds. People seem to like the quirky wonkiness. Blue has quickly run ahead as the favourite colour.

Earlier pieces now follow:

This is typical  of a range of pots based on spheres between 10cm and 30cm diameter. I hand built them using small lumps of clay. The cracks are the joins. In this example oxides are brushed over the cracks then sponged back before firing unglazed.  This is one of my favourite pots, and the image I use on my current business card.

This bowl is about 18cm across, but Imake them various widths and depths. This is made from a mix of earthenware and porcelain clay, with a blue glaze formulated to run and weep freely.

This little soap dish has hand-carved bamboo supports for the soap. My wife says that no-one buys bar soap these days; but these are rapidly becoming my top seller. Colours vary.

I used to make a lot of terracotta garden pots. This one stands about 50cm tall. I fire the bigger ones in an  electric kiln which I converted into a gas kiln. This particular pot over-fired, as shown by the dark discolouration,  and cracked in the kiln, but it’s still usable. It has grown potatoes, geraniums, nasturtiums, and more.

These are Japanese-style rice or noodle bowls with hand-carved bamboo chopsticks. There is a small lip, and a small hole opposite to take the narrower ends of the chopsticks.

Keeping the Japanese theme, this is one of a range of  slab vases in stoneware. I found that earthenware vases used for flowers allow a small amount of water to seep through the base, leaving damp marks or even discolouring polished surfaces. The neck is thrown on the wheel and joined to the body.

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Earthenware again. These plates are about 30cm x 30cm, and stand on 4 small square feet. The fish are made by pressing an old Indian fabric print into the damp clay, infilling the impression with coloured clay, then scraping back when dry before biscuit-firing. Clear glaze is then applied, before a second firing.

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These pots for knitters are designed to take a ball of wool. I’m not sure if they are kitten proof, but could be. Better get a cat to find out.

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Another favourite. These stoneware jugs range from 10cm to 30cm tall, in a variety of shapes.  The brown  is an iron-rich traditional japanese  glaze called tenmoku (spelling varies). The white is made to a special formula, and produces a wonderful and random interference effect with the tenmoku.

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Mugs to match the jugs. Stoneware, so robust.  Absolutely fine for the dishwasher, the microwave, or any other kitchen device. On second thoughts, don’t put it in the mouli. I do a wide range of mugs as they always sell. I’ve stopped doing earthernware mugs as they are too fragile unless the lip is thick, in which case they are not so nice to drink out of.

I also do mugs  with names on, any writing in fact, even mathematical formulae. Now why would I do that?

A 30cm circular plate – obviously! Not obvious are the 4 feet on the base. A bit of lift always help the look of ceramics.

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Back in the garden, and a very early pot from 8 years ago. Made by joining two thrown halves, and decorated with a bit or rope rolled across the surface of the still-moist clay. The green is lichen, not some clever glaze effect.

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Xmas decorations: stars big and small, a snowman, a bell, an angel, a Xmas tree,a large snowflake, a heart, a butterfly. A butterfly? It was in the box with the ‘cookie cutters’…..

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One of a range of candle-holders

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Most lamp oils are based on paraffin, and are smelly and sooty. Green Bio Lamp Oil is a non-toxic, non-sooty oil which burns perfectly. Totally recommended, I keep a small stock, or buy from Candle Cavern in Petersfield, who stock a superb range of candles and related products.

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Another orb, this one in stoneware with a splashed white glaze, a splashed clear glaze, and some bare rough clay for texture. This white glaze creates a beautiful edge effect where it meets the bare clay.