there have been more pots in the running, despite lack of blogging, but an awful lot of other things happening

such as decisions on how to finish these slow coiled pots

with a plain white slip over the textured surface?

unglazed and oxide painted on was really disappointing

besides causing unforeseen accidents with kiln shelves

so what to do? inspiration from the post war generation of studio potters is all very well, but different times breed different ideas

oxide painted on and scraped off again in patterns is pleasing …

inspired by natural things found

and seen

but what to do

to fire them? in my gas kiln with reduction the oxides seem to lose the softness

I want – here I have just bisque fired a little higher to try to fix the oxides for slipping/glazing

in between I have been to Devon for a wonderful poetry writing course with Anne and Peter Sansom – which sent me spinning off in all sorts of other directions

then I have been printing plant materials onto textiles …..

I have to say his work is quite inspirational and some little threads of drawing might leak onto my pots soon

I have also been taking part in a landscape writing course which I am sure will influence the pots

and learning how to put together some different shapes

which ended up as this

and is cooling in the kiln as I write

thoughts of my painterly oxide application

and my having begun to paint again –

so looking at landscape with different eyes (more in a subsequent blog)

considering textures

even the textiles like this piece of silk velvet which reflects light

and the shimmer of light on water in the reed beds and dykes on the coast

I decided to stick to what I am doing well already with the chun glaze …..

awaiting results – also a following blog as I’ll be opening the kiln on wednesday