The latest batch of pots – a bit of a special batch for various reasons. One, they are the final pots I’ve made as part of Mary Chappelhow’s pottery class at Brougham Hall. I’ve been going to Mary’s classes weekly on a Monday since January 2016 – so that’s six years of classes. And it’s been wonderful. I’ve learned loads and made some great friends. It’s been a real wrench to finally say I’m going to leave, but I thought that the time had come, and the end of the year seemed a good time to call it. I’ve temporarily paused my Open Uni studies so that (all being well) I can focus on pottery a lot more in 2023. I’ve still absolutely *masses* to learn – starting with glazes – so I’ll still be hanging around at Brougham Hall as much as I can reasonably get away with without driving Mary mad. 🙂
The other reason they are special, is I’m really pleased with how the oxides have reacted with the white glaze. The green is the result applying of copper oxide on a banding wheel and, if you apply absolutely lashings of it, you can get it so thick that it goes black and almost looks like it has ‘burnt through’ the glaze to make a really pleasing burnished look. I love it when this happens, and that is basically my goal with this glaze combination. So I’m very happy. (Also the white glaze has randomly developed a speckle – no idea why, but I love it, so adding ‘light speckle’ to the list of things I like in a white glaze.)
So one sad-happy potter tonight.
PS I should do some marketing shouldn’t I, although it rather ruins the tone of this post 🙁 But these are all coming with me to the Wonderful Wild Women event in Kendal, 11 December 2022. Castle Green centre, 11-3pm. There will be mince pies and music, a shared stand with the most excellent Deb Land (who makes the most beautiful ceramics) and about 30 other stalls of local crafts.
