Kiln Diary #07
“The porcelain vessels that I make are not production pieces, each one is individual and unique. I think about them like small drawings, each one with its’ own character, colour and surface. Time is the key factor for there is no part of my making process that can be hurried.”
I have been delighted and overwhelmed by the response to my feature on Rick Stein’s tour of Cornwall recently. The reaction to my work has been amazing and I send a heartfelt thank you to all who bought work from my online collection or signed up to my Kiln Diary. As I write, I am also working on a new collection in the studio which will be available in the Spring. By subscribing you will be the first to hear about the next firing and I thought that I would take a moment to explain a little about that timescale and the way that I work.
The porcelain vessels that I make are not production pieces, each one is individual and unique. I think about them like small drawings, each one with its’ own character, colour and surface. Each collection moves on a little from the previous one as I am always evolving and the shapes and forms over time. Sometimes focussing on surface marks or textures, refining the rims and discovering new nuances of colour in the firing of the kiln.
Winter is not my favourite making time. My soda kiln is outside so the work and the potter are at the mercy of the elements, the Cornish wind and weather. Loading unfired pots into the kiln is difficult as now they are at their most vulnerable and easily broken. The firing takes fourteen hours of close attention and this is the most critical stage. I make everything happen in the kiln. It is where every detail finally comes together.
Time is the key factor for there is no part of my making process that can be hurried. Each stage needs patience and careful consideration. I gently nudge the pots along their journey, and it can take up to 6 weeks or more from beginning to end. From waiting for the raw clay vessels to become dry enough, to applying the copper slip, to firing once with soda bicarbonate. I am mindful of each and every step.
Other news – After being postponed in Spring 2020, the annual international exhibition featuring the finalist works of the latest edition of the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize will be on show at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in May 2021. The Loewe Foundation’s commitment to craft remains as strong as ever to celebrate excellence and innovation in modern craftsmanship, and recognise artists whose talent, vision and innovation promises to set a new standard for the future. I am thrilled that my Guardian Vessel will be on display alongside the other finalists selected by the expert panel.
I hope that you and your families stay warm and safe at this time.
