Chalices and patterns

The chalices and patterns are finished and have been handed over to Sarah Jemison of Christ Church, Windhill. This is the first time I have worked to such a very specific brief and it took longer than anticipated to complete as I progressed from calculating the weight of the clay for throwing to researching and testing glazes to get just the right result. Getting the right glaze took the most time waiting for the tests to be fired, hoping they would come out right, and going "back to the drawing board" on more than one occasion.

The testing and preparatory work paid off, the glaze is a lovely soft satin slightly warm speckled grey. All the pieces are as similar as possible, however they all have their unique small differences and individual characters.

And now I'm making some more space scouts while I ponder what next. Would I do another commission like this to a very specific brief? Yes, I think I would. Getting the finished pieces just right has required practical problem solving requiring patience and persistence alongside imaginative solutions. But best of all was Sarah's pleasure when she saw the finished pieces for the first time.

Work in progress

Fired  and unfired work

I've been busy at Hive with a number of projects, meanwhile work on the chalices has been progressing. All the pieces have been biscuit fired and are waiting for their next and final glaze firing.
 

Glaze tests

Trial glazes have been made, tested and retested to get the just right one. When the best glaze is chosen, all the pots will be glazed and fired. I'm getting exited and impatient to see them all together and finished.

Wedgwood made and fired thousands of trials to get the exact finish he wanted. You can see trays of his glaze and body trials at The Wedgwood museum .

A new commission

Relaxing after a busy at at HIVE. I've been asked to make several chalice and pattern sets for Christ Church, Windhill. I'm a bit stiff after working at the wheel for the day and debating whether to have a hot bath first, or a cold beer. 

Work in progress - some patterns (saucers) towards the front and component parts for the chalices at the back.  The chalices are made in two parts, bowl and foot which are then joined together. Meanwhile I have made some sample glazes which are being fired on test tiles,  I have to be patient as they will not be out of the kiln until early next week when I will select which glaze to use.

 

Some new Ceramicals

  
I have at last  finished my latest group of Ceramical Scouts, I've been experimenting with another traditional technique, Maiolica , which has given them a very different look and attitude.

 














Also finished are the boxes inspired by the Antikythera Mechanism .

 

 I've been offered a wonderful commission, to produce a number of chalice and pattern sets for a local ministry. I'm very much looking forward to starting to work on them as I'll be following my favourite traditional techniques and creating classic and contemporary pieces. Strictly no gears or gizmos!

Insecticals

Is been a while since I posted my last blog, so I sat a while in the sun reviewing all that I had been doing over the past months and was mystified by a delicate whirring, clinking and tinkling. Closer investigation revealed wonderful mechanical insects. 

I have a box of almost finished ceramicals, so will turn my atention to them whilst I ponder my new insectical friends.