Blog Moving

After not posting on this blog for over two years, I have decided to move the blog to the new website I am working on over on RedFoxPottery.com

I am doing my Master's degree now so the focus is on that.

Teaching and the Realities of Life

In the last three months since I last posted things have been busy, but not a pot to show for it.  Not entirely true, yesterday I took the apprentice for a ride out and treated myself to a wonderful Tenmoku mug/tankard by James Hake.  He have me very good advice over the last few years, not that I always listened.  Yet to christen the mug I have plans to this evening once the older one is settled for the night.

The last few months I haven't been down to the studio as I am now doing my PGCE, I am training at one local college and teaching at the other.  There is plenty of course work and more academic reading than I have ever done as a necessity on any other course I have studied.  In teaching there are lots of theories that I either don't agree with or don't find any use with the field of Art and Design.

It is all very different to my experience as a learner so I am still trying to find my feet in the world of  "Fine Art".  My education was always very hands on, always learning something new, preparing you for the next stage, the next step, but they seem very settled in their routines.  I have a kiln and a couple bags of clay at my placement, just not much messy space.

When I get back to my wheel I am going to throw what I want to throw and not think about what will sell, I'm sure that may come in again at some point in my far future if I ever decide to become a full time potter.  For now there is so much I have to do and not enough time for that, that the things I want to do will take a back burner.

Right now I'm not entirely certain what my future will bring but right now I prefer it that way.

Creative Blackpool

Two Events I am attending this week that my work is entered into, ArtBURST is opening tonight (16th August 5-9) so I am taking the new apprentice to see if he can get a hang of at least one element of the art world as he apparently still can't work in the studio for me.

ArtBURST has my stoneware with some older pieces as well as some new stacking bowls I made recently.

Me&FYC starts tomorrow (17th August), my latest work which is the sgraffito earthenware is for sale there, there are mugs and pin bowls, with two different Blackpool buildings and the boats that I designed for Fleetwood.  I will be there for the opening too, but I won't have the new apprentice with me.

My New Apprentice

My New Apprentice - little boy 9lb 13oz b. 12th July

Not much has been done recently at the pottery, there isn't much sleep since the new apprentice arrived, he disturbs our sleep and it up at all hours day and night.  He is trying to eat us out of house and home, and refuses to do any work.

I got out to the studio today to glaze some stoneware pots, they are loaded and waiting in the kiln to be fired for ArtBurst in Blackpool next month.

Fleetwood Library

Composite of Images from my Instagram Account.

For the whole of July all my new work is at Fleetwood Library.  I grew up in Fleetwood and I remember using the library there when it was brand new, and I am happy to have a show there.  Please go along and see the show, all of the new work is based on drawing and pictures I made in Fleetwood over the past few months.

Sneak Preview - Earthenware Pottery

Took a few pictures as I unloaded the kiln, and I refilled it too, only trouble is I forgot to put one last mug in, so it will have to be bisque fired with the stoneware pots I have waiting to be fired. I have decided I want to up my game when it comes to my photography after reading quite a few articles and looking back at my photographs, it can only be for the better.

Contents of the kiln after the earthenware glaze firing

I have a busy few days so I won't be taking photographs of individual pots for a few days, are there any in particular people would like to see?

Sgraffito or Carving, I can't decide

I have been making some Terracotta pots over the last week, so I have been working with carving and sgraffito tools.  I find that the pots spend a tremendous amount of time under plastic waiting for me and for them to be at the "right stage" time and patience is required.  I really am learning that even waiting takes time.

Here are some of the pieces in progress for my up coming exhibition.  All based on drawings I have done around the town.

Fleetwood Bowls

Fleetwood Boxes

Fleetwood pin dishes

The Carving tool and some of the pin dishes.