Table of contents for #88 in ClayCraft

Jacqui Atkin, our consultant editor and creator of our hand-build projects, has a daughter, Charlie, in Australia who makes the most amazing plaster moulds for slip-casting. We’ll run a feature on Charlie in a future issue, but one of her recent commissions was for Matiu Bush. If you were around in the 1970s, you’ll remember the huge green bottle terrariums that were all the rage. Well, he wanted moulds of those. If you’ve ever made a plaster mould, you’ll know that even small ones are heavy and bulky, so imagine what was needed for something of that size! There was a lot of trial and error, but Charlie did it. Matiu came to ceramics fairly late in life, but is really making his mark with his cold-glazed pieces. Spiky, colourful,…

Barium is used as a flux in glazes and clays to enhance colour, and also in small amounts to prevent scumming from soluble salts in clay. Josiah Wedgwood used barium sulphate in his Jasperware coloured clay body. Potters nowadays more often use barium carbonate as the sulphate gives off sulphur dioxide gas during firing. Barium carbonate can be used to make brightly coloured matte glazes. However, barium carbonate is toxic during handling in its unfired form. It is important to wear gloves and a respirator mask. To avoid using barium, many ceramicists have started to use strontium carbonate as a non-toxic substitute. However, the colours obtainable, turquoise from copper oxide, green from chromium and purple from manganese, are slightly different using strontium. Barium and strontium are alkaline earth oxides, both…

HAREWOOD BIENNIAL 2024: CREATE/ELEVATE The Harewood Biennial 2024, 'Create/Elevate', celebrates craft and artisanal heritage through significant works from 16 international contemporary artists, designers, and craft collectives at Harewood House and Gardens. Four major new works have been commissioned from artists Mani Kambo, Arabeschi di Latte, Kusheda Mensa, and Lucia Pizzani. Presented by Harewood House Trust in Yorkshire, the third edition of the Harewood Biennial explores craft through three themes: 'New Narratives', 'The Use of Land', and 'Nourish'. These themes highlight Harewood's collections, local and global ecologies, and the convivial effects of sharing food and knowledge. The event features narrative-rich contemporary objects that open histories and inspire new stories within the house and gardens. Create/ Elevate emphasizes the societal impact of craft, promoting social equity and cross-generational knowledge sharing. Among the new…

DIFFICULTY RATING You will need: ■ Stoneware or earthenware clay1■ General tools and ribs■ Glaze of choice to decorate or oxide/underglaze for a simple wash Before you begin: Look for a good image of an owl – one that is relatively simple in shape without too much fine detail. If you don’t have a suitable book to reference, the internet is a good resource, or try Pinterest. Form an amount of well-prepared clay into a smooth ball that will fit comfortably into the palm of your hand. Weigh the clay so that when pinched, you can make a second half of exactly the same size. Note that the actual amount will depend on what you feel capable of pinching – 150g would be about right, and two of these will…

I think May is probably my favourite month of the year. It is, in part, the knowledge that there's now enough distance from winter, that the evenings will be light until late, the chances of a frost are pretty much gone, and all around us is bird song, as goldfinches and willow warblers flit between the trees. We have had some wonderful, warm weather in recent weeks, and it has brought out the campion and the cow parsley to join the bluebells that have been particularly spectacular. In the past few days, we have returned to showery weather, but the countryside needs it, and so does our private water supply, so I'll not complain too much. Hannah and I have been working so hard. We have had a lot of…

DIFFICULTY RATING 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 hand on the rim and applying gentle pressure. You will need: ■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware, suitable for both throwing and hand-building■ Tools for throwing – water bowl, sponge, ribs, cutting wire■ Tools for slabbing – rolling pin, roller guides (max 5mm thick), rib■ Hump mould (or press mould/sling mould)■ Piercing / carving tools,■ Glaze or decorating material of choice Before you begin: Bases like these are easy enough to throw and lift off the wheel head directly because the amount of clay used is relatively small. Therefore, you should not need…

Jacqui takes up the story: Occasionally, in our busy lives, we meet people who are such independent thinkers that we are shocked (in the best sense) and, at the same time, thrilled by their aesthetic and attitude to life and people. Matiu Bush was one such person, a ceramic artist based in Melbourne, Australia, with a fascinating back story. He is a lecturer and nurse practitioner in his day job, although no longer full-time, and is working on his PhD thesis. He has a space at Jack Balfour's ceramic studio where he heard about my daughter's mould-making skills – Charlie is known as the 'Melbourne Mould Maker'. Matiu had contacted Charlie some months earlier to ask if she could make him moulds for an exhibition he was planning of 50…

SCOTLAND STEF BAXTER POTTERY Courses: Handbuilding & throwing day class drop-in. Night and weekend classes. 1-1 tuition & Raku classes. Suitable for all levels. Open access coming. Dates: see website Location; Govan, Glasgow stefbaxterpottery.com CLAY HALF POTTERY STUDIO Courses: Beginner-intermediate throwing, handbuilding, glazing, adult & child and prosecco & pottery classes. Private classes for 1-8 people & pottery birthday parties Dates : weekly/monthly/by arrangement Location: Montrose, Angus clayhalf.com CLAY WORKS STUDIO Courses: All levels from beginners to intermediate. Taster courses, general pottery and throwing courses. Open access facility for more advanced makers coming soon Dates: See website Location: Dumfries & Galloway clayworksstudios.co.uk DUNDEE CERAMICS WORKSHOP Courses: Classes for all levels from beginner to intermediate, for individuals and groups. 1-1 tuition available. Open studio access and kiln hire for members Dates:…