Studio Journal: April 26
“April was just beginning, and after the warm spring day it turned cooler, slightly frosty, and a breath of spring could be felt in the soft, cold air. The road from the convent to town was sandy, they had to go at a walking pace; and on both sides of the carriage, in the bright, still moonlight, pilgrims trudged over the sand. And everyone was silent, deep in thought, everything around was welcoming, young, so near— the trees, the sky, even the moon—and one wanted to think it would always be so.”
― Anton Chekov, Short Stories
We are working on some larger one off pieces at the moment for our gas firing which is scheduled for early June. It’s a big kiln to fill and with throwing only just commencing, I am wondering if we will get everything done in time. This firing has required some forward planning as we think about pieces that we can reveal and showcase at different points in the year. Seasonal pieces such as candle holders and oil burners for when the Autumn approaches; larger display vases and bowls for our upcoming summer shows; vessels for flowers; cups and saucers, a few one off teapots. Dare I say it - Christmas gifting.
In the last week Matt has been throwing a series of Autumnus vases and bowls (video snippet below) and it has been really satisfying to see the studio filling up with larger and more dominant forms. It is a confident start. The Autumnus vases are one the larger forms we make and they are so visually striking both the end result but also seeing them thrown on the wheel. The plasticity of the clay is really pushed and occasionally the sides of the bowl just collapse in a heap. Luckily not so this week. These bowls and vases are designed to be used with the niwaki kenzan and we will hope to release them for sale in August and September - harvest time when the garden is brimming with flowers and grasses to collect and display.
Producing new work for the gas kiln is like an invitation to play. With materials, form, glazing, and brushwork, and we intend to do a lot of playing over the next five weeks. But we also like to incorporate a slice of this play into our regular electric firings where we can, and sometimes in the subtlest of ways. We have spent a decade really trying to make consistently and perfectly and we’re at the point now where the next challenge is to loosen up a little and relax, allowing more of our personality to ‘infuse’ into the pots, be that shape, traces of making, glaze etc. etc. whilst still being consistent and perfect. I think we are really getting somewhere with this subtle shift.
Personality is a subject we’ve thought and talked about a lot this month as we have been teaching our throwing workshops. It is interesting that alongside the physical side of instructing someone to throw, a more philosophical and poetic narrative naturally emerges about huge topics such as failure, persistence and mindfulness. Personality traits emerge strongly when someone firsts sits at the potter’s wheel and attempts to throw, and it is a very interesting experience to witness. Many people are so careful and possessive over their first pot, going so warily so as not to see it collapse in a heap, but the irony is the student needs to experience this collapse in order to learn the constraints of the clay - so we seem to encourage this! It is the second pot we can hold dearer. Nevertheless our 8 students this month were all not only lovely people but very patient too and each person made substantial progress throughout the 2 hour lesson and I am really looking forward to seeing their pots come out of the kiln. These first vessels represent something quite magical and spring like - beginnings and growth.
We’ve managed some shop updates this month too. Yet another replenishment of our curved mugs, because they are so popular! Also coffee pour overs and dinner bowls.
At the moment alongside making work for our shop and the gas firing next month, we are also working on two commissions and one wholesale order. We’re making more pieces for Katto (WIP pictured below) which are just going through the kilns.
Hand-thrown coffee pour-over / dripper, thrown at the wheel in a flecked stoneware.
Available in the following glazes: charcoal, nori, ochre, olive, powder, sand and speckled white. To learn more about the different glaze colours, please see our colour guide.
Designed for use with Hario v60 coffee filter paper size 2. Simple add the filter paper, your desired amount of coffee and add boiling water. This is compatible with any of our mugs and cups (except mini tapered mugs or espresso cups).
Curved Mug thrown in an iron-rich flecked stoneware. The perfect vessel for a hot chocolate, milky coffee or cup of tea.
The mug has a comforting shape to hold and an elegant foot-ring.
H 7cm x D 10.5cm. 300ml.
Things we’ve enjoyed listening to: The audiobook of Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (very feel-good! antidote to the news)
I’ve been reading: Still Middlemarch! Loving it but going slowly.
Eating: Very tasty chilli paneer from the Meera Sodha book ‘East’ which we made a huge batch of for a camping trip to Hadrian’s Wall at the beginning of the month (such a fun trip with the children - some fun Roman pots from Housesteads Roman Fort and Vindolanda pictured below).
