Mike Finch at his wheel. Interview at Winchcombe Pottery, 21/11/13, PART 3
This is the last installment of my interview with Mike Finch. In this part he talks about firing kilns at Winchcombe, from oil to electric, wood and the old bottle kiln which "nearly bankrupt the place" as it was such a pig to fire.
He also offers some advice to aspiring potters: to go for it and not worry about the money. I like this advice and have referred my mother to it (she is quite concerned, perhaps rightly, about the wage packet of the potter). Hope you enjoyed these videos, I plan to do more interviews with potters in the future.
He also offers some advice to aspiring potters: to go for it and not worry about the money. I like this advice and have referred my mother to it (she is quite concerned, perhaps rightly, about the wage packet of the potter). Hope you enjoyed these videos, I plan to do more interviews with potters in the future.
Mike Finch at his wheel. Interview at Winchcombe Pottery, 21/11/13, PART 2
In this, the second installment, Mike talks about many subjects from Michael Cardew, to the ethos of Winchcombe Pottery, his criteria for a "good pot" and learning a lot from a potter in London called Harry Horlock Stringer. I had not heard of this potter but as Mike says, being a good thrower does not mean you can teach other people how to throw. Here's a link to a page about Harry:
http://www.cpaceramics.co.uk/gallery_detail.php?member_id=217
Here's the video:
http://www.cpaceramics.co.uk/gallery_detail.php?member_id=217
Here's the video:
Mike Finch at his wheel. Interview at Winchcombe Pottery, 21/11/13, PART 1
This is the first installment of my interview with Mike. Doing them in three installments was not an artistic decision. I had some technical difficulties. Namely, running out of space on my camera's memory card, and then running out of space on the back up too. The other unforeseen problem which I realise now watching them back is that I was standing very close to the camera and Mike far away, so my voice is too loud and his a little quiet.
However, and having said all that, I think the videos do allow you to get a flavour of Mr Finch and see the twinkle in his eye at points. In this first part Mike talks about his route into being a production thrower at Winchcombe Pottery, about growing up around pots, learning to teach and the irresistible draw of the Cotswold countryside.
However, and having said all that, I think the videos do allow you to get a flavour of Mr Finch and see the twinkle in his eye at points. In this first part Mike talks about his route into being a production thrower at Winchcombe Pottery, about growing up around pots, learning to teach and the irresistible draw of the Cotswold countryside.
John Forster slipping and coming a specially ordered Leech jug at Winchcombe Pottery
This is the last of my practical Winchcombe Pottery videos. Ending with a shape which isn't even a traditional Winchcombe one. Oh well, I will just have to go back and film some more videos in the future.
A customer came in with a jug she wanted us to copy... a Leech jug which she loved using. John took up the challenge and threw four. We always make extras in case one blows up or gets lost in the rest of the process. For this one John decided to decorate it with large vertical combing.
Tomorrow I will be posting the first part of my interview with Mike Finch, at his wheel.
Oh and here's a picture of some bread I baked recently. It was seriously good. My best bread attempt yet I think.
A customer came in with a jug she wanted us to copy... a Leech jug which she loved using. John took up the challenge and threw four. We always make extras in case one blows up or gets lost in the rest of the process. For this one John decided to decorate it with large vertical combing.
Tomorrow I will be posting the first part of my interview with Mike Finch, at his wheel.
Oh and here's a picture of some bread I baked recently. It was seriously good. My best bread attempt yet I think.
Matt Grimmitt slipping and combing oil bottles at Winchcombe Pottery
This is an excellent demonstration of how to comb the outside of an awkward shape. I think it is more difficult combing the outside of pots rather than the inside, but perhaps this is because I have mostly combed four inch bowls.
You have to be relaxed and move at a constant speed up and down with the comb. He makes it look easier than it is here.
You have to be relaxed and move at a constant speed up and down with the comb. He makes it look easier than it is here.
John Forster slipping and decorating a small vase at Winchcombe Pottery
This video shows John decorating a little vase. I like how the design is framed with horizontal and vertical lines through the slip.
John's swishes, like fountains, are inspired by some of Michael Cardew's decoration. The left bowl is an example of what I mean:
These sold at Bonhams in 2007 for ₤1,320. Fwaa. They are quite large pieces though-the left one is 26cm diameter. I like how it domes in at the rim. It would make an excellent tea bowl for a giant.
The kerfuffle at the end of this video is me being told off for perching on the little kiln near John's wheel.
John's swishes, like fountains, are inspired by some of Michael Cardew's decoration. The left bowl is an example of what I mean:
These sold at Bonhams in 2007 for ₤1,320. Fwaa. They are quite large pieces though-the left one is 26cm diameter. I like how it domes in at the rim. It would make an excellent tea bowl for a giant.
The kerfuffle at the end of this video is me being told off for perching on the little kiln near John's wheel.