What Would Ben Doon Do?

I'm back into the swing of studio production and the thought it starting to stir about where I will keep all the things that I'll be producing. See I'm a maker, last year I was very lucky that a studio space was provided for me even though I didn't have any studio classes. Trouble was that I always felt that it was inappropriate for me to make as much as I wanted. So its been one week since my now studio heavy classes started and I've already used more than 200lbs of clay and mixed ten new glaze tests. 

See the thing is that I'm Canadian educated and English trained, which makes me a freight train in the studio, the uncomfortable part for me is telling the world what I'm up to and how I do it. See it stops me from being in the Flow of my making, not denying the quality of how important it is to slow down, have a cuppa tea and some biscuits and wright a little whats on about the work. 

This blog is a required weekly assignment for one of my Thesis Classes. I'm required to include a minimum of: 

3- Images of whats going on (work, recipes, a firing schedule, stuff), 

Written Content about my goings on and whats going through my noodle of a brain

as well as 1 Link to something related to thats going on.  

I think I should tell you of Ben Doon, a potter who greatly admire. See Ben Doon is an educated man, Ben Doon travelled the world in his youth, Ben Doon saw many things and decided that people in love with things, Ben Doon lives in seclusion in a converted mill on a hill about a glen in Scotland, Ben Doon has no need for worldly things, Ben Doon makes potter from locally sourced materials that he then trades for the things he needs, Ben Doon makes his own Whisky, Ben Doon is a potter, Ben Doon is very well read and believes in science, Ben Doon suffers no fools, Ben Doon has no time for BS. When I'm working in the studio, I'm always thinking to myself,

 "What Would Ben Doon Do?" 

Okie Dokie

I use to hate the idea of drawing on my pots, now, I'm ready for it. I don't really know where a these are coming from, I like them and I like making them.

Started using some Solo Cups to use as slump moulds. Thinking that the finished pieces will look something like fine china when finish. 

But man I still Love surfaces like these.

Marc Egan asked me to dig clay for the next group of students going through glaze chemistry. The deal is that they share the results with me and any of the left over after they've finished cleaning, processing and testing is mine... assuming they don't want it after. 

My own clay tests

 And test tiles for some new glaze ideas

But this is something I see every morning. 

Shortly before this I always think to myself

Back at it then.

Trying to get back into the swing of things. I just came back from a two week glazing workshop with 22 amazing people. Our fearless leader Peter Beasecker worked so hard, there were nights where everyone was there until 3am trying to meet the deadline. I learnt a lot about glazing (small glazes) and (big glazes)... thats how much the piece can handle without being overwhelmed  by the glaze. 

I've never used so much latex in my life. 

 My obsession with cups served me well. It was so easy to pack a bag full of cups and transport them on a plane. I have 2 or 3 really good starting points for my final year at Sheridan.

This pot below. Its probably one of the best pots I've ever made. Peter said something to me the first time I met him, wayyyy back in November...he said "if it looks over worked, its not over worked enough". I don't know why, but I've always had this urge to work a pot to death. But at the same time I love making loose shino pots. But man, this pot is something else. 

Peter had us make Shooters to fit into a carrier, but for him to make one and have it dried and fired without cracking would of been a real challenge. So one was made with the help of some of the other studios. Metals, The Fabrication Lab and Wood all helped to make this possible...of course the class didn't find out until the end what was going on. 

We all made a quick drawing of one of or pieces and it was milled onto the base. 

 The piece was sold at the end of session auction to help fund the next group of Work Study Students (I was one) thats where we go and for the price of our room/board/workshop. We put in hours to help run the facility. Anything from washing dishes to maintaining on the grounds.

But I can't stay away from the studio for too long. I'm back at it. Taking what I learned and applying it. 

My obsession with drinking vessels is still strong. I love them. I haven't quite figured it out yet but in the future I will probably say to myself...

Not surprisingly its been a long time since I've updated my blog. People probably think that I'm still on a plane over the ocean....this is not true.

I've been very busy making...making...making...

 A wee 2 jug for some refreshments. 

Some bowls, made these the first day of classes. 

pie plates....not one of these came out of the kiln looking even remotely nice, lessons learned in firing. 

If I look like death in this photo it may be because I'm a "little" tired, I was cleaning some clay I found on my farm in London. 

some tests to make a bubble gum pink slip for decorating. 

experimenting with slip decoration, the one looks like a seagull pooped on it. 

And always firing Kilns (bisque firing, these were glaze fired a few weeks later, this is work by the class)

and sometimes you don't always get the firing schedule right when your on a time frame

some mugs, I had a lot of fun making these

this guy was my favourite....theres no attached foot.....how sureal

heres that local clay of mine at ^o4, ^6 and ^10....its a tea-dust

I don't know if this casserole will fit in an oven, but oh well it'll hold popcorn at a party. 

tiny little shooters, I put a lot of these into the wood firing we did last week. They fit Everywhere

The unloading of our wood kiln

A cup with two stories, fired on its side on shells. 

The department head said this was a little over done, but then she said that thats OK because its just who I am. 

Sorry I haven't been updating in the last while, I've gone a little "nuts" with school, gallery openings, and everything else. I'll update again in a couple of days after critiques. 

Its been one hell of a trip. I've learnt a lot of lessons that can only come with experience. "be more dramatic with your lines" "make the foot make a statement" "the rim of the pot should finish it off"

While here I've been making my own work (though it hasn't been fired yet) it'll bee nice to see how my pots come out of the kiln...though its a few months away.

I wouldn't of been able to get here without the help of my friends at the London Potters Guild, I won't name any names because I'll probably forget someone and I just know that I would never live it down.

Tomorrow I begin my long journey home, My plain leaves at 6am from Cardiff on the 23rd so tomorrow I'll be staying in a Hotel. Now is the hardest part of the trip...Limbo..

My tools are clean. 

My bags are packed

And the last bisque is loaded.