Clay

I use Standard Ceramics 266 stoneware. It is a nice, plastic clay to work with, and fires to a lovely chocolate brown colour. This clay is a bit temperamental in terms of firing and glazes, so it is not one I recommend for beginners, or those who do not have control over their own firings.

Making

All of my work is hand-built from textured slabs of clay. Slabs are created using a slab roller, and then textured with bisque stamps I made, and various other texture tools. For some of the forms such as cups and mugs, I use templates I have created. Other forms such as bowls and plates, are created using bisque molds that I made myself.

Decorating

All work is decorated at the leather hard stage using a combination of coloured Amaco Velvet underglazes and white slip. Decorative elements in my work are derived from newspaper cut-outs that act as both a stamp and a resist when decorating. These cut-outs are generated from text from old family correspondence and ephemera. Letters are digitally scanned, enlarged, and then laser cut into newsprint.

Glazing

Once the work is bisque fired, it is then glazed on the outside with a clear glaze that I mix myself.

Firing

All of my work is fired twice in an electric kiln. I bisque fire to ^04, and glaze fire to ^5.

Recipe

Download a PDF of my glaze recipe and slip recipe