Mike Finch throwing a salad bowl at Winchcombe Pottery
I realise now that I should have taken more videos of Mike F throwing. This is the only one I have in fact. Somehow he always had me busy with other tasks when he was at the wheel. However, on one of my last days at Winchcombe I did interview with him (in three parts) and will be posting these videos soon.
I did spend some time watching Mike throwing though. He is a fantastic thrower, seeming to churn out pots without any effort at all. His wheel is always surprisingly slow and his moves smooth and relaxed. It really does seem effortless. Something to remember when I am perspiring over a rapidly spinning pot.
I did spend some time watching Mike throwing though. He is a fantastic thrower, seeming to churn out pots without any effort at all. His wheel is always surprisingly slow and his moves smooth and relaxed. It really does seem effortless. Something to remember when I am perspiring over a rapidly spinning pot.
Matt Grimmitt throwing a flower pot at Winchcombe Pottery
But on to today's video! This was taken one day when the studio was filling up with pots to be bisquit fired. However, Matt noticed our lack of suitable pots for the bottom of the kiln, so decided to make a batch of flower pots. We don't make a huge amount of flower pots, what with Whichford Pottery fairly close by, but do make a few sizes and different glazes.
When the slipware workshop is ready we should have some lovely earthenware flowerpots coming out too. They are quick to throw and you don't have to be too precise with them so Matt filled the bottom of the kiln up in no time.
Matt Grimmitt throwing a mixing bowl at Winchcombe Pottery
One of our bestselling items at Winchcombe are mixing bowls. They come in various sizes an are excellent for use in the kitchen.
I am not sure exactly when they came into the range but perhaps the 1970's. Matt Grimmitt now makes them. He spent a long time considering the shapes of mixing bowls of the past, in particular those made by Eddie Hopkins. Unfortunately Eddie died in the floods of 2007 and was not around to demonstrate his method. Trial and error plus lots of practice helped Matt get to the point of being able to churn boards of them out.
The large lip is particularly nice I think-good and fat to enable easy pouring. Here's the video:
I am not sure exactly when they came into the range but perhaps the 1970's. Matt Grimmitt now makes them. He spent a long time considering the shapes of mixing bowls of the past, in particular those made by Eddie Hopkins. Unfortunately Eddie died in the floods of 2007 and was not around to demonstrate his method. Trial and error plus lots of practice helped Matt get to the point of being able to churn boards of them out.
The large lip is particularly nice I think-good and fat to enable easy pouring. Here's the video:
John Forster slipping beakers at Winchcombe Pottery
I never actually slipped any beakers at Winchcombe. All of mine got too dry whilst I was being tasked with other things, so will end up with AK or MW Glaze all over them. But it was good to watch and film John doing the process. These ones are iron slipped:
John Forster throwing beakers at Winchcombe Pottery
Whilst I was at Winchcombe Pottery I tried to film as many videos as possible. I now realise I could have and should have taken more because watching them back has been very helpful. Over the next couple of weeks I will be uploading them to youtube and posting one every day.
I thought I would start with a form which I made myself but that are normally made by John. I wanted to give cylinders a go after so many four inch bowls so beakers were the natural starting point. John demonstrating them to me (repeatedly) was very helpful in my own attempts.
Next up will be a video of John slipping beakers.
I thought I would start with a form which I made myself but that are normally made by John. I wanted to give cylinders a go after so many four inch bowls so beakers were the natural starting point. John demonstrating them to me (repeatedly) was very helpful in my own attempts.
Next up will be a video of John slipping beakers.
Slipping Handled Beakers
As if throwing them and putting handles on them wasn't enough! Slipping too!
Having not done much slip combing, and practically none on the outside of pots, I was feeling worried about this process. If you get them wrong they just look awful when they are fired.
Anyway, here's my attempt.
Now you have to set them out to dry before bisquit firing. Here's a video of the process:
Having not done much slip combing, and practically none on the outside of pots, I was feeling worried about this process. If you get them wrong they just look awful when they are fired.
Anyway, here's my attempt.
 |
| Stir up your glaze well. |
 |
| Hold the rim with one finger and thumb underneath. |
 |
| Dip to just under the inset line. |
 |
| You can't fail to slip your hand as well. |
 |
| Lightly run over the area which was covered by your finger tip, to coat it with slip. |
 |
| Use a bush covered in slip to make a clean edge on the inside rim. |
 |
| Re-mark your lines with your trusty piece of credit card. |
 |
| Thsi is easier if the wheel is turning slowly. |
 |
| This creates the borders within which to comb |
 |
| Moving up and down smoothly, comb throught he slip. |
 |
| Try to keep a constant speed. Again its easier if the wheel is going very slowly. |
 |
| Done! |
Now you have to set them out to dry before bisquit firing. Here's a video of the process: