Summer Workshops

So this week is the week of our summer workshops at the Marine Hall at Fleetwood.  The best thing about our room there is the two massive windows that look out onto the lower prom and the sea.  Tuesday the waves were crashing and very destructive and people were attempting to surf, Wednesday they were calm and gentle and we saw some kayaks go out as well as yachts out in the slightly deeper water.

                                                                    Photograph by Benjamin Travis
Part of the old Fleetwood Dock, not much happening there any more the company that ran boats from here to Ireland stopped, good for the locals because there weren't as many big trucks coming through the town, but takes away from the feeling it was always busy there.

Some of the children's work packed into trays ready to be moved back to the studio.

This is the Mural we are working on too, this was after the morning session.  We still have a lot to do on it as you can see.

The other thing we have been doing is a plaster tile with the children, but I don't have any pictures as they took them away with them at the end of the session, despite having not touched plaster for over two years, I have been mixing it and pouring into moulds the children make.

Out to Work

                                           Photo by Benjamin Travis
This week the pottery studio at the Mill will be closed as we are working in Fleetwood at the Marine Hall teaching workshops Tuesday to Friday.  We are doing Coil pots, Treasure Box, Plaster Casts and a Mural that we are making there on site.

The Marine Hall Garden's are being re-landscaped at the moment, don't let that put you off, we will still be working there.

From the Council Website:
"Pottery Classes for Children

Tuesday 16th August 2011 - Friday 19th August 2011
Red Fox Pottery are providing a range of pottery projects for children aged five and upwards. Find an object on the beach and use your plaster casts to make a treasure box. Or decorate a tile - one for you and one to make a tile panel for the Marine Hall. If pots are your thing, try making an easy coil pot. All items will be taken to Red Fox Pottery to be fired and can be collected from either Marine Hall or the pottery in Thornton Cleveleys. Sessions held at the Marine Hall, Fleetwood. Two sessions 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm. Cost: £5 per child per session. Suitable for 5 - 14 year olds.
Further Information: 01253 887693"

Manchester Museum

I have been busy in the pottery preparing for our week at the Marine Hall next week, very nervous about everything, I want it to be a success.  The pottery is closed Monday to Friday next week, so no one will be there to help you out if you need anything, if you do need anything while we are away please contact me at Joseph at redfoxpottery dot com . 

So I haven't made much over the last week, creatively I feel a bit stuck with my pottery.  Not sure what to make, I really have enough stock of the bits I like, and have started firing the cupcakes so I can show pictures of them soon.  I also made a crackle glaze for my wife which needs testing in today's kiln.

Yesterday we went to the Manchester Museum to see Stan the T-Rex, and I got photographing the pottery collection.  Definitely a place to take Anthea to again so she can get some reference for different animals as they have a taxidermy section too.

Potfest in the Park

Yesterday we closed the studio so we could go visit Potfest in the Park, as we have done every year for the last five.  There is some really amazing work there, and one year (in the distant future) I would love to display there myself.

We got there not long after it opened and people were still deciding what their prices were on certain pieces.

We spent three and a half hours wondering around and picked up a few small pieces, and lots of inspiration.

Bowls Finally photographed

I have been making new bowls, just some general purpose and ice cream/dessert bowls, I made the form so then they would easily stack. They are decorated with the single blue/green cobalt stripe of my work. They are available in the shop right now.
Stack of Ice Cream Bowls

This stack has 3 ice cream and GP bowls to show that they even stack nicely inside each other.

Single General purpose bowl with single stripe on it

My little boy's Monster, he keeps carrying it round with with him and tells me it is going to eat me. I am planning to do a post on specially on kids and clay and birthday parties.

On another note in September I am planning a trip to the southern tip of the country, finally going to visit St Ives, and the trip will probably end 10th September at the Muchelney Pottery Open Day. There are other potters I would like to visit Paul Jessop, Doug Fitch. I would like to visit Svend Bayer, Nic Collins and Richard Batterham(If he accepts visitors) I know there are plenty more I haven't mentioned are there any potters that are a good visit?

Earth, Fire, Sea and Sand

Been very busy this week, Last week I was at Art and Garden, so I took Monday off and had a lazy day with my little boy.  Tuesday I rearranged the studio and cleaned all the shelves and display boxes, it took most of the day, I made a seconds box to get rid of all those pieces I don't like and don't fit into my view of where I want to take my work.

Wednesday I looked after the NPA Exhibition in Lytham and was trying to sell other peoples work, though I could show them my work I find it easier to talk about other peoples.  Thursday I went off to Blackpool and Fylde College to look at their end of year show for the Art and Design people, my little brother just graduated there with a Distinction-Distinction-Merit in Photography, and I spoke to two of my old tutors from when I was doing my National Diploma in Illustration(which I didn't finish)

Friday I went to Earth and Fire, I met up with a lot of potters but made the mistake of forgetting my camera.  Above is a picture of myself with Steve Booton who I spotted after coming back from Lunch, I wasn't certain it was him so went over and was listening to him for a while.  He had one of his Black Tea bowls in his jumper, there is a lot about ceramics that the camera just doesn't pick up.

Jack Doherty was there too, I love the textures of his soda fired porcelain, he came to the University last year and gave an amazing demo and talk.  I also spoke to Doug Fitch, Hannah McAndrew, Ben Brierly, Nic Collins and a few other potters, I found Paul Jessop wandering around too.  There wasn't enough time to talk to everyone, in fact I was at Earth and Fire for 2 hours longer than I had originally planned.

The UCLAN graduates were there, I think Earth and Fire is more suitable for graduates than all that money we spent last year going to London and not really having many people that were interested in ceramics.

I enjoyed myself and by the time I spoke to  Nic Collins the quiet reserved potter that I am was wildly gesticulating and Nic is a very quiet calm man, it was interesting talking to him, but I think I came off as more than a little insane. I got lots of great advice and was feeling really inspired, but won't get chance to use that energy on actually making until Tuesday and first I have to make bowls so I actually have some I am happy with.

I also bought a discus wheel, the are so amazing powerful for something light and won't break my back if I have to carry it through a school, or across a field.  The base isn't as stable on the slanted field I was on yesterday, so we need to come up with a system of levelling if we are on grass again.  We had a good day yesterday at the local park, the generator they lent us was very noisy though, and the discus worked well.

I wanted to take pictures of my pots by the seaside that inspired them,  I just need them to be bigger.

A better image of my teapot, I have shots of the whole set in pieces and together but I just need to edit them all to a manageable size.

Art and Garden 2011

It is nice to be out in the fresh air, but I do feel bad that the studio hasn't been open, IT is closed next Saturday too as we are attending the Family Fun Day at the Park in Poulton le Fylde.

Day One over but still today to go, I have a lot of the new work on display including my tea sets and paintings.  There is today left so if you are in the area between Blackburn and Preston its a really nice visit and the Gardens are amazing, it is a £3 donation to get in.  It is by the river and even with all the people around and a about it is still so peaceful.

There are a lot of other artists too, but I always feel uncomfortable taking photographs of other peoples

 The wooden stands are inspired by Steve Booton, they aren't finished yet but it is something to do over the next few weeks as I don't have another event booked.  It is a very crowded space but there are pieces I felt I had to show.

 My big pots on one of the lawns, they seem a little smaller in such a big space.  I want to make more and bigger, but that plan is on hold.  I also did a photo shoot of them down on the beach on Friday but I still have to edit all those shots still.

There was so much wall space and though I had hung up the three clocks it looked so empty so I brought some paintings down too to fill the space, I feel like an interloper when it comes to painting.

Tuesday is the start of the Lytham show,