Anyone for seconds?

So the glaze that was good, stable, safe, reliable...yeah its not. 

Not sure whats happened as its in consistent in both firings I did (around 150 pots doomed!). The insides were fine, all be it not as I intended. 

Its strange as Ive used the same batch on two previous firings with not issues. The only thing that may of been an issue was the sub zero temperate in the studio which could of affected the glaze???

Well there will be a lot of seconds on sale at the open studio 

Good form old boy

Just a few different forms Ive been playing around with. ( March/April)

A closer look at new beginnings

Theses are just a few images taken back in Nov/Dec by my fellow Sainsbury's colleague and 3rd year photography student Luke Forshaw.

http://www.lukeforshaw.co.uk/home

This is 3rd type work I've produced over the past 3 years. I graduated using reduction fired stoneware with a black Tenmoku glaze. Then during two trips to Guldagergaard (http://www.ceramic.dk/) in Denmark where I wood firing in a train kiln using various glazes including shino and ash.

So now Im working in a red earthenware with a tin matt glaze, fired in a electric kiln at my studio in Bankley House. (www.bankley.org.uk/)

So why such a change? I don't think I can high fire without using gas or wood as a fuel and currently these options aren't available to me, its just how I feel. I've always been a fan of red clay so it seemed the obvious choice and I've worked with this tin glaze before and enjoyed the results. Another reason for low firing is its less stress on the kiln so i can get more life from it and thus reducing the need to spend hard earn cash on repairs. 

December: The little Northern Craft Fair

So back in December I had a stand at a new Great Northern event. It was a one day craft show held Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and it was put together by the Ladies responsible for the Great Northern Crafts Fair. 

It gave me a chance to test the water with my new range of work which is made from a red earthenware clay with a tin matt glaze and fired in an electric kiln. This is somewhat of a change from my previous work.

The show was a mild success for me. I wasn’t expecting to make my fortune and didn’t think that the clientele was going to be aimed at my type of work but I did ok.

www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk/

www.facebook.com/GNCCF

Can I get a rewind!

Apologies...its been so long since is last blogged. I had a break over Christmas and the new year which seemed to just snowball and I lost my rhyme and got out the habit of blogging.

The new few post will be a recap of the last couple of months.

May Wild Ceramics

This is a new gallery set up in Chorlton, Manchester by Ceramic artist Rebecca May and Mike Wild.
There first exhibition "Manchester Made" features 7 local makers including myself.

http://www.maywild.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/maywildceramics

The Little Northern Christmas Fair

I will be showing my new work and hopefully a selection of ceramic tree decoration