Third time’s a charm?
Well I got to my third glaze firing with the older tested glazes and three new ones brought to me
Brittany pottery throwdown
My daughter Evie came to visit for three days this weekend, and brought a couple of friends along. As part of the stay we all agreed they should have a go at making some pots, Evie has done a bit of ceramics before but for her friends Amy and Becks this was their first experience of “playing with clay”. We started with an idea to build some small slab mugs for espresso coffee but this evolved slightly. Evie stuck to the brief but Becks decided to go for a taller latte version and Amy pushed all the boundaries and made a jug. All went well with the slab work so they had a go on the wheel. With help on centreing, and guidance on basic techniques they all produced a bowl to go alongside the mugs and jug and Beck’s tea-light holder. Everyone agreed it had been a successful Brittany – pottery throwdown, and they have all given instructions for
A little bird told me…..
Following some sage advice from my long term mentor Jo Dove ,who visited us last weekend, I now have a selection of pottery vessels worthy of the name ceramics. I have completed a second glaze firing and I am making progress. Glazes that were previously painted on have now been dipped and ladelled on and the thicker application has given results that are far more promising. There seems always to be a downside; on this occasion the collateral damage has been that a couple of the more interesting glazes have run a little, meaning I will be chipping a little glaze off my kiln shelf. Lesson learned to keep these to the top half of any future pots. Below is a selection of photos from this more successful firing, of porcelain and white stoneware, which I hope I can replicate going forward. I am really interested to hear any comments on favourite colours or shapes which i might pursue in
Two steps forward…….
This post has been delayed because to be frank I didn’t want to post it, but in order to demonstrate that my expedition into ceramics is not all sweetness and light, it had to be done. I now have my first pots out of the kiln for about a week following glazing. As you can see they are a motley crew, and whilst I am pleased overall with the throwing, trimming etc; it is clear I have a lot to learn about decoration, oxides and glazes. I also tried my luck with a couple of encaustic tiles which I can also improve upon with more attention to detail. The glazes are all basic supplier and “bought off the shelf” and I thought my tests, see previous blog post, would be a fair guide as to the results I might expect. However, clearly there are a number of variables I have not taken into account of which, I suspect, thickness of
Glaze tests and Porcelain pots
Glaze tests Those first trial pots and test tiles fired a couple of weeks ago have now had some glazes applied, along with some Cobalt and Copper oxide stripes. I need to pay attention to those glazes on the left which appear to have a tendency to run, else I will end up with glazed kiln shelves! Porcelain pots For those of you who have ever used the wheel to throw a pot you will be aware that porcelain is a very special challenge. Porcelain has very special qualities when fired that make it desirable, it’s pure white lustre and translucence. However, to throw porcelain requires skills in; patience, delicacy and mud wrestling! I started slowly over the past month and my first pots have been created by using a white stoneware body, but this week I moved onto porcelain. I must say that I was surprised that having not thrown porcelain for over a year I was pleased with
Baking Biscuit
A busy few days and two key developments. First I am now a member of the local arts group – Art’Goat Association Artistique. They have kindly offered me the opportunity to join their “expo” later in the month but I am going to wait until I have produced some ceramic work in France before I step into the public gaze. Secondly; the successful first biscuit firing of my debutant pots, and a number of tiles to be used in glaze testing. Thanks again to Jo Dove Ceramics for guidance on the firing schedule.
First Kiln Firing
To all you established potters out there the firing up of a kiln is no great occasion. To a first timer there is a great deal of trepidation in turning on this 6kw oven. There are a number of worries, such as; tripping the house electrical supply, overheating circuits, the kiln not working or even bursting into flames. This first firing, as per manufacturer’s instructions, was performed this week, to dry out the lining of the kiln and associated furniture. It all went according to the plan with no disasters. I can now look forward to my first French thrown pots going for biscuit firing when I have a kiln-full. I have also trialled a maker’s mark on the base of a couple of new pots, based on the Brittany heraldic symbol of Hermine. To find out more see the Maker’s Mark page.
Let Pottery commence
It is exactly a year since buying the house in France and I have thrown my first pots on French soil. Many thanks to all those who have helped along the way and without whom this would not have been possible, Suzie my wife, Nick the builder, Teresa and Brendan of Scarva.com, Bruce the electrician, Brendan the fellow Huelgoat potter, and neighbours and friends who have offered encouragement along the way. From the blank canvas of March I now have a new 75 ltr kiln and a ventilated kiln area. I have a sink area, with clay trap (patent pending) and space for for glazes and decorating There is a work-station by the window with the wheel Finally a solid wood Breton dining table to serve for wedging clay etc. Thanks again to Jo Dove for her continued support from afar……
Blank canvas
It is the 1st of March 2019, I have ordered my kiln and my wheel alongside a range of other equipment, tools, clay, glazes and oxides etc. I will of course have forgotten some things, but I will discover what these are as the weeks go by and I look about me for some essential tool that my evening class tutor, Jo Dove, would have had secreted about her studio in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, UK – http://www.jodoveceramics.co.uk I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jo for her inspiration, patience and mentoring over the past 10 years, which have allowed me to take these first steps in setting up my own workspace here in Huelgoat, Brittany, France. http://www.mairie-huelgoat.fr/index.html The space I have is generous for a potter looking to set up from scratch. We have a detached house with a sous-sol (basement) which is supplied with electricity, water and natural light.