Table of contents for #84 in ClayCraft

I know this may be an unpopular view, but I’m a little bit sad that the contestants on the Great Pottery Throw Down are all so good! It seems to me the days of it being truly amateur potters who make some really classic beginners’ mistakes are gone, and in their stead we have some contestants who have been potting for years, and artists – who will inevitably be great at surface decoration – and all of them are certainly extremely talented and competent. It definitely showcases the amazing things that can be done with clay, but I feel it might be pitching itself at too high a level. Of course, that’s me making an assumption about ‘home potter’ meaning more of an ‘enthusiastic amateur’, and that’s my problem, not…

Since the pandemic, there have been supply chain issues that have affected many of our glaze materials. Prices have increased so that pottery suppliers sometimes opt for a cheaper material, affecting our glazes. This happened to me recently when I bought a new batch of talc, a magnesium silicate mineral used for making matt glazes. I have been buying talc from the same supplier for 20 years, so I had no reason to test the new batch of glaze before using it. I glazed two kiln loads of pots with the new batch. Two days later, I opened the kin and found, to my dismay, that every pot had turned a beige colour. This resulted from a contaminated batch of talc, which made up 20% of the glaze. The original…

DIFFICULTY RATING You will need: ■ A cylinder former – could be a cardboard tube or a small length of drainpipe. The best size is between 7-8 cm in diameter■ Newspaper to cover the former■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware, preferably white■ Rolling pin, 5mm-thick roller guides, plastic sheet ■ General tools and ribs ■ Underglaze colours of choice■ Fine brushes for underglaze application■ Transparent glaze Before you begin: If you aren’t a cat person, the method can easily be adapted to other animals – dogs, rabbits, hamsters, or even more exotic creatures. 1 Record some ideas in your sketchbook to work from later. Consider things like size and proportion. Include details like colour and markings and where the tail might be attached. Make notes to accompany the…

The Leach Pottery is excited to present its first selling exhibition of 2024, 'Colour & Movement', which launched this month, just as the shoots of spring started to unfurl. The group show celebrates contemporary and emerging potters who work with colour, flowing decoration and lively movement. Expect pots with a sense of freedom and energy from Dylan Bowen, Heather Gibson, Dawn Hajittofi, Jennifer Hall and Tarragon Smith. Dylan Bowen makes slip-decorated earthenware using both traditional and contemporary materials and techniques. Dylan works on a small but ever-mutating range of shapes, large platters, bowls and more sculptural forms. The clay can be thrown, cut, carved or hand-built; then slips are poured, dipped or brushed on. Marks are made quickly using trailers while the layers of slip are still wet. His work…

DIFFICULTY RATING You will need: ■ Preferably a smooth clay of choice, earthenware or stoneware – any colour■ Ribs and general tools■ Glaze of choice to fit clay type 1 Begin with a ball of well-prepared clay, large enough to fit in the palm of your hand comfortably. 2 Press your thumb into the centre of the ball until you can feel some pressure in your palm, then begin to pinch the clay wall at the base between your fingers and thumb. Establishing the thickness at the base first is important because it will become harder to reach as the shape grows. Work with a rhythmical action, regularly turning the form to ensure an even wall thickness. 3 In addition to pinching, but only if your clay is soft and…

I’m trying not to make a habit of this, but I’ve another idea you might be interested in. The first time I wrote to you, I’ll admit, was because I thought it would be amusing if I suddenly appeared in my wife Elaine’s favourite magazine. When you replied, I’d forgotten about that and blurted it out, but it was still a lot of fun. This idea is for what might be a new piece of ceramic kitchenware (unless you’ve seen it before?). I’ve always loved poached eggs but have never been able to make them. The internet is awash with articles by TikTokers and celebrity chefs, and I have a cupboard full of cheap plastic gadgets I’ve tried without success. None of the many techniques using microwave or air-frying ovens…

DIFFICULTY RATING You will need: ■ 1.8kg (4lb) clay of choice for the body of the jug plus extra for the handle■ Tools to throw with – water bowl, sponge, ribs, cutting wire To decorate: ■ Three or more glazes of choice in colours that work together■ Wax emulsion with a brush for application Before you begin: This form is best thrown on a batt unless you’re confident about lifting work off the wheel head. If you don’t have a quick-fit mechanism for your wheel, you will need to throw a pad to secure the batt onto. A note to prevent wordy repetition Always compress the clay at the rim after each lift – pinch the rim gently between your fingers and thumb while resting the forefinger of your other…

DIFFICULTY RATING YOU WILL NEED: ■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware, but choose a smooth type for ease of carving■ Rolling pin, 10mm-thick roller guides, plastic sheet ■ Carving tools of choice – they could be loops specially designed for carving detail, sgraffito tools or general wooden tools – they will all work■ Stamps or texturing tools – MKM tools have a good selection■ Underglaze or oxide to decorate■ Transparent glaze (optional) BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Do a little research to find simple images of ‘Mother with Child’ that you find appealing. You could look at old master paintings or stylised mid-20th-century interpretations. Look at creations in alternative materials like wood or stone – the internet is an excellent resource if you don’t have books to reference. We have…

Putney School of Art and Design (PSAD) was originally founded in 1883 and has been in Putney since 1895. The main benefactor of the original Victorian school (with a superb life-drawing studio, complete with vast north-facing windows) was Sir William Lancaster, an eminent local politician and philanthropist. At the heart of Putney School of Art and Design is creativity – each member of staff aims to inspire creativity within the community, allowing all aspiring artists a chance to experiment and learn, no matter what experience level they are at. Not only does the school offer pottery, ceramics and ceramic sculpture but also art and design courses such as painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, and printmaking, as well as more specialised courses including the part-time Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, family…

Well, so much for hitting the ground running this year. Three or four days after Christmas, I took ill once again with yet another virus. It felt like COVID, with a high fever for days on end and the most terrible, uncontrollable cough. I tested daily, but each time, the result was negative. I know lots of people who have had similar symptoms, so it’s clearly something nasty that’s going around. It’s taken over three weeks for me to feel anything like fit again, and only in the past few days, have I been able to do a full day’s work. When I started back, my breathing was too difficult to knead the clay for the big pots I’d planned to make, so I started with light duties and made…