Table of contents for #91 in ClayCraft

Goodbye

With great sadness, I have to announce that this is the last issue of ClayCraft. If you’ve been a reader since the start, and many of you have, you’ll remember that I knew very little about pottery when it launched. Editors rely on their expert contributors, and I have been so very lucky in that respect. Jacqui Atkin and Kevin Millward were at the first meeting we had back in 2017, and their enthusiasm and support for what we envisaged as a return to a practical, hands-on, studio pottery magazine was very encouraging. There was nothing like it in the UK – and still isn’t. We excitedly forged ahead, and a close-knit team developed over the following seven and a half years. Editors are usually the ‘face’ of a magazine,…

2 min

ClayCraft|#91

LINDA BLOOMFIELD MISTAKES IN GLAZE-MAKING

Linda Bloomfield is a scientist turned potter. More glaze recipes can be found in her books Colour in Glazes (A&C Black 2012), The Handbook of Glaze Recipes (Bloomsbury 2014) and Special Effect Glazes (Herbert Press 2020). By convention, glaze recipes are listed by weight per cent, adding up to one hundred. A classic Bernard Leach transparent glaze recipe known as 4321 is: Any colouring oxides are in addition to this; for example, 1 cobalt oxide means 1% or 1g per 100g dry glaze. Water is not included in the recipe, but glazes usually have 70-100ml of water added to every 100g of dry glaze. To adjust the glaze, for example, to make the 4321 glaze melt at a lower temperature, you would need to add around 10% borax frit for…

4 min

ClayCraft|#91

FISHY SPOON REST

DIFFICULTY RATING YOU WILL NEED: ■ A former to drape your clay over – it could be an old ridge tile as we are showing here, a short length of guttering, or even a cardboard tube would work well■ Thin paper or card to make a template/pencil Whichever former you choose, cover it in several layers of newspaper■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware, colour of choice – we are using red earthenware■ Rolling pin, slightly thicker roller guides – 5mm minimum, plastic sheet■ White and green underglaze or slip■ Brushes to apply decoration■ Copper oxide wash■ Transparent glaze 1 Draw and carefully cut out the body shape, minus the fins, of a fish. Make it a little smaller than the size of rest you want to make. You…

5 min

ClayCraft|#91

A few closing words… Adieu to ClayCraft Jacqui’s farewell

ClayCraft has been with us throughout our journey as Cheshire Clay Studios. Rachel and Jacqui came to visit us shortly after we opened in 2018, and wrote the very first piece about our fledgling enterprise. Since then, ClayCraft has been our go-to place for many, many projects and of course, in the past couple of years we have charted the studio’s development in our monthly articles for the magazine, which we hope you have enjoyed reading. We’ve loved being part of this great magazine, and will miss it tremendously. In many ways, it is hard to believe I am writing a farewell to all you lovely followers of ClayCraft, especially as only a few short months ago, when I was in Australia with my daughter and writing up the step-by-step…

4 min

ClayCraft|#91

A 'WISH' COME TRUE

If you have a news story, product launch or details of some other topical item you’d like our readers to know about, email claycraft.ed@kelsey.co.uk I am 37, Welsh, and identify myself as a nature lover, Christian, creative, and adrenaline seeker. Being kind and giving to others brings me great joy. I try to lead a 'healthy' lifestyle, have never smoked and do not drink alcohol. For many years now, I haven't been feeling myself, but when seeking medical advice, I was often told there was either nothing wrong or, at best, something minor. My very social and adrenaline-seeking lifestyle gradually petered away as I just did not feel well enough to 'be me'. Laurence, my husband (best soul mate ever!) is an action sports Photographer. Quality time together mostly involved…

6 min

ClayCraft|#91

PAPERWEIGHT PEBBLE WITH SGRAFFITO DETAIL

DIFFICULTY RATING You will need: ■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware. Preferably a smooth body of any colour but be aware that surface colour will be brighter on a white background■ General tools and ribs■ Newsprint paper – pencil – sharp cutting knife■ Underglaze or slip colours of choice■ Brushes for application of the above■ Sgraffito tools – can simply be a pin if nothing else is available 1 Begin by forming two equal amounts of clay into balls, the weight of each being entirely dependent on the amount you feel capable of pinching and the size of pebble you want to make, but we are beginning with 200g for each half. 2 Holding the first ball in one hand, press down into its centre with the thumb…

5 min

ClayCraft|#91

THROWN TEXTURED VASE

DIFFICULTY RATING You will need: ■ Clay earthenware or stoneware – colour of choice although the decoration will be brighter on a white body■ Tools for throwing: water bowl, sponge, ribs and cutting wire■ Underglaze colours of choice and as many as preferred – we use 3■ Brushes for underglaze application■ Hot air gun, blow torch or hairdryer■ Glaze of choice – to suit clay type Before you begin: We are not giving a specific weight of clay here because it will depend on the size of vase you want to make and your own throwing ability but we suggest you will need a minimum of 1.8kg (4lb) for a decent size vase. It is a good idea to practise with a smaller amount of clay to begin with, then…

7 min

ClayCraft|#91

Editor’s choice

Over the years, we have planned and executed over 500 projects that have covered the wide range of techniques and processes that working with clay involves. I always think of it as a bit like buying a new house. You may not like the previous owner’s choice of colour or where they’ve put their furniture, but you have the vision to see what it’ll be once you’ve put your own mark on it. So, you may like the form of one of our project vessels but not the glaze. That won’t stop you from making it; you’ll just make the surface your own! Pottery is subjective. So, with that in mind, I’ve chosen a few of the projects I particularly liked, for varying reasons, which are showcased on the following…

3 min

ClayCraft|#91

COURSES

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, Glasgowstefbaxterpottery.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, Angusclayhalf.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 & Gallowayclayworksstudios.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: Throughout the year…

33 min

ClayCraft|#91

THROWN SQUARED SOUP BOWLS

DIFFICULTY RATING A reminder when throwing – to save wordy repetition! Always compress the clay at the rim after each lift – pinch the rim gently between your fingers and thumb, at the same time resting the forefinger of your other hand on the rim and applying gentle pressure. You will need: ■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware ■ Tools for throwing – water bowl, sponge, ribs, cutting wire ■ 2 or 3 glazes for decoration ■ Brushes for glaze application Before you begin: These bowls are thrown directly on the wheel head but if you aren’t confident about doing this and don’t have a quick-release mechanism, throw a pad for a batt, then fix the batt to the wheel head, giving it a thump with your fist…

5 min

ClayCraft|#91

The Accidental Studio All systems go!

If some of you have been following our progress over the past few months here in ClayCraft, you’ll know we could be a case study for the ups and downs of a growing business. We’ve just taken the keys to our new second studio, and the enormity of the task is beginning to dawn on us. It’s very much like having a baby. You know it’s going to be life-changing, you know it’s going to be a lot of hard work, etc, etc, but it’s only when that baby arrives that the reality actually kicks in. Staring at the space is very different from making plans and layouts. We made a visit to our local Ikea to source suitable tables and chairs – these will be different to our lovely…

6 min

ClayCraft|#91

My studio… Hugh Penney

I still have a vision of Christian standing with a cigarette outside the camper van in the Scottish drizzle. I was 15, and Christian was my French exchange pal, a year or two older than me and French, so obviously, he smoked, and obviously, he couldn’t smoke inside the van. We were in the North West Highlands with my parents on a memorable trip that introduced me to the wonders of this far-flung part of Scotland. Years later, we were still talking about the amazing white sand beaches with turquoise water – they look a bit Caribbean, but that illusion disappears as soon as you get in the water... I got to know the area much better when I was a mature student at Glasgow University in my thirties. I…

9 min

ClayCraft|#91

Doug's DIARY

I’ve been mulling over how to start this final diary post for ages, and because I’ve felt so bereft about ClayCraft coming to an end, I’ve had writer’s block. I guess I’ll just dive in and see where we go. It’s been such a privilege to have had the opportunity to share our life with you here, so I must begin by saying a huge thank you to ClayCraft and, in particular, Rachel, the ever-patient editor, who has trusted me to submit my text at the eleventh hour and allowed me the indulgence of this platform. I’ve shared times of great happiness within this diary, and times of personal tragedy too. I’ve always written from the heart, with absolute honesty, about the highs of success but also the darkness of…

7 min