I’m no Imelda Marcos, but I do like a pretty shoe. Recently I was wasting time on Pinterest and came across a book, “Shoes; The Complete Sourcebook” written by the delightfully named John Peacock. The book was advertised as the most comprehensive and detailed history of shoes ever published, including over 2000 specially drawn illustrations by Mr. Peacock.
Naturally I ordered the book and it has inspired one of our projects for the April course; little clay shoes. In addition, we’ll be making commemorative dishes with slipware, stamped stoneware mugs, (everybody loves those) and oxide rim tea lights.
If you haven’t already registered, please do so right away.
Even when you’re practicing, you want to make something you like.
Next week, we will be practicing slip trailing on a small square tile. I know how it goes. I say, “just make something simple” and you think, “but I want to make something I like!” So, here are some examples of simple motifs you can use when you’re practicing. You won’t make exactly one of these designs, but they will give you a place to start.
Base your design on a Favourite Roast Dinner from your past. This can be very broad and encompass people, places or an activity.
Watch the Great Pottery Throw down
Get some inspiration for your design by going back to the source. You can catch up on Channel 4. It is Series 7 Episode 1. You can also watch HERE online (though you have to register).
Make your design
Make some sketches or find ideas on the internet. If you don’t have time, at least come to class with a concept and you can develop it as you work. We are using white clay. Your set will be decorated with coloured slips and underglazes. (I’ll discuss those with you in Class 2) but you can also add texture with stamps, carving, and modelling. Be creative and don’t be afraid to be silly and have fun!
Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through your build and the class will work on them at the same time.
5 piece Roast Dinner Set
Pinch pot salt and pepper shakers
Join 2 pinch potsLike the PenguinCreative designs from the show
You’ll join 2 pinch pots to make the hollow forms for your salt and pepper shakers. Remember, there will be a cork in the bottom and it will protrude approximately 1/2 cm. The base will need a foot or a hollowed out area. Be sure to include this in your design.
Coiled Mustard Pot with Lid
CoilingLike the pedestal on your candle holderGreat lid from the show
Have some fun with this – make a creative knob on your lid.
Slab-built Gravy Jug
Slab buildingThis will be the formA handle from the show
Although you all will make the same basic form, it can be made your own with a creative handle, scalloped edges or modelling.
Hump mold dish
hump moldThis will be the formThe little dog dish on the show
The dish is made on a hump mold. Clay is rolled out into a slab and then formed around the mold. You can add a decorative edge, stamps, handles or even some modelling like the little dog Dave added to his dish.
Have you been watching the Great Pottery Throwdown? It’s a good season. There are some very talented potters and (happily) not too many tears.
In one episode, the potters made a 6 piece Roast Dinner Set including a plate, a gravy boat, dish, salt and pepper pots and mustard pot. The forms and decoration were inspired by childhood memories of a favourite Roast Dinner. One potter’s theme was a day at the beach. Another’s was a walk on the Downs. They were great and really stimulated the potters’ creativity.
Call me a copy-cat, but that’s what we’ll be doing in my courses beginning w/c 26 February. It’s a lovely project for both beginners or more experienced potters. Every set will bring back memories and tell a story.
In this project, we’ll be making columnar pieces with a mix of building and decorating techniques. You can create as you go and really use your imagination. It’s a terrific project for those of you who love modelling, decorating, and building. Have a look here for inspiration and register for a course!
Bird Feeders
We’ll also be making bird feeders. These will primarily be made with coils but you can use other building techniques if you prefer. They can be as simple or as complicated as you like. They’ll be finished just as the birds start getting hungry and they’ll love them!
Porcelain is the queen of clays. When thin, it can be nearly translucent. Thicker, it has a fine and very hard surface that is different than any other clay.
However, porcelain is also tricky to work with. It has a very different consistency than other clays. It’s sticky. It warps. It cracks. Getting really good at porcelain requires a lot of knowledge and practice.
Happily, I think I’ve found some projects that will work for even us beginners. It may be sticky, warpy, and cracky, but we should get to work with porcelain too! Wonky porcelain is better than no porcelain.
Using slab and pinching techniques, we’ll make Christmas-ish table decorations, tea lights, spoons and small dishes.
Embrace the challenge of working with porcelain in this short course
This is a one session short course, offered on two days. I’ll glaze everything and have it ready for you to pick up in two weeks…just in time for Christmas gifts.
Dates
Tuesday, 28 November 6:30-9:30
Wednesday, 29 November 1:30-4:30
Price
£50 for 3-hour class.
Please register by 20 November. I know it is rather late to advertise this class and I’m not sure how much uptake I’ll have. Classes that don’t reach my minimum number of students will be cancelled on 22 November. Please don’t pay until 23 November (or pay in class).
Please note:
Because porcelain is challenging, this class is only for students who have previously taken one of my courses. New students, please register for a course in 2024!
October 2023 course students are making music boxes. Here is an overview of how the music box will develop over the coming weeks.
1: Preparation Students’ Homework for the next class:
Design: Look for inspiration on my Pinterest site HERE.
Template This determines the size and shape of your box. Cut it out from card or heavy paper.
The clay shrinks approx 10%. So add 10% to all of the final dimensions for your box
The box needs to be big enough to hold the mechanism
If you aren’t sure or don’t have time, I will have a ready-made template for a box that is 15x11x9cm.
These are the final dimensions for my music box. The templates would have been 10% larger than the final dimensions.
Notice that my lid was made separately with a pinch pot. You can also make a cylinder for the entire form and then cut it in two to make the lid
You will decorate the box using: Underglazes: These are the small pots of paint you used on your mouse. Decals – Choose from: – Existing workshop stock – Custom made: If you want a more personal image, You will need to email me a good photo of it. The size of the decal will depend on the size of your box. We can talk about that in class. I will order the decals. There will be a small extra charge for this.
2. Make the box
Boxes are made from white earthenware clay using slabs, modelling, and pinch pot techniques.
3: bisque fire
4: Decorate with underglazes and apply clear glaze
Clay Bottles, Milk bottles, wine bottles, shampoo bottles. A bottle is not just a bottle.
In our next class, you’ll learn how to coil and make clay bottles. You can coil the entire bottle or (if you like) you could use the different techniques you’ve learned in previous classes.
You’ll have better success with your clay bottle if you sketch it in advance.
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. Have a look around your house for ideas or look at my Pinterest page. Be creative and have fun with it.
Maximum bottle height is 20cm
Decorating your clay bottles
In the last week, you’ll decorate your bottle with wax resist and coloured slips and underglazes. Here are some examples of finishes that are similar to the finish you could achieve with this technique. Come with an idea and we can discuss how to do it.
Everybody loves those tiny houses. I’ve often thought I’d like to live in one. Dusting would be a snap.
For our main project in the next course, we’ll be building tiny houses. They are a joy to make and can be used as tea light holders or as planters for succulents.
Use a variety of Hand-building techniques
In this project you’ll create a template for your tiny house. Then it will be slab built with texturing to replicate the look of different building materials. Windows, doors, and stairs can be created with stamps and sculptural details can also be added.
Texturing makes the architecture look realistic
Use Rollers to make your clay slab look like a brick or stone wall.
Imitate stucco with a bit of burlap.
Create the texture of a Sussex tile-hung cottage with a grouting tool
With the right texturing, you can make a stone castle, a Victorian church, a Bauhaus block, or even a copy of your own house. Then, add some tiny sculptural details like a tiny cat or some tiny window boxes. OMG!
Ball point pens may be practical but they’ve made the written word less lovely. Before their invention, people wrote with fountain pens (or dip nibs, feathers, reeds, brushes or chisels). The fountain pen’s nib releases more or less ink depending on how much pressure is used. The resulting thick and thin lines give variety and expression to the writing. This is the calligraphic line.Ball point pens don’t do this. They make only one unvarying thickness of line, like a noodle on paper.
Calligraphic line can also be used in the images on your work.
Eric Gill understood this. He brought his training in calligraphy to his drawings. The subtle variation of thick and thin lines give vitality to his images.
Frames with Sketches Project
The brief for this project is to decorate clay frames with LINE, giving it a sketch-like quality. Consider bringing some calligraphic line to your work.
Design Options
Make your frame look like a sketched frame Make it personal to you
You can find design inspiration in old clocks, wardrobes, or ornate frames. Look HERE for ideas. Alternatively, decorate it however you want. It doesn’t have to be a sketch of a physical frame. Rocky is making her’s for her daughter who loves giraffes.
It’s not necessary to make a detailed drawing. You’ll be able to sketch out your design on the frame with a pencil. However, if you prefer working it all out in advance, make your design on tracing paper and then use carbon paper in class time to transfer it to the clay.