Clay in progress

I have spent quite a lot of time lately working with clay at the Wapping pottery summer school.It has been a fantastic opportunity to experiment with lots of different processes and ideas. Also,working on a larger scale. Having a whole day in which to work has been really good especially on hot days when the clay has hardened so that it is easy to get to the next process.

Before this I has been to pottery classes that were once a week for only two and a half hours which doesn't give much time to get things done before it has to be covered in plastic to retain the moisture for the class the next week. 

Here is a link to a video called 'paying honest attention' that I watched today by a Danish potter called 

Anne Mette Hjortshøj  it is fantastic to hear her speak about the process,types of clay and see some of her work; Plus she uses a wood burning stove.

Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgumkcojbOM

Below are pictures of some of the pieces that I have been working on and hope to finish in September.

Large plate detail ; Experimenting with glaze on Stoneware .I have used weeds that i picked up outside of the studio.

This is a pot that I have been working on that was part molded around a margarine tub and then built upwards.So,It started off as a slab of clay than I wanted to play around with texture and decided to push fine crank which I had removed from another piece onto the wet clay.It has yet to be fired and I am hoping that the crank stays intact.

Another new technique; which involves painting an oxide glaze onto a glazed ceramic tile.Then,using paper to transfer the image onto the clay.(this means that I have an oxide line drawing on the back of my paper to push down onto the wet clay and leave an image)There is still  time to refine the shape a little before the clay is too dry.But,I don't think that I can shape the clay too much .So ,I am looking forward to getting back to the studio and work on it some more.

                            This is the underside of a plate shape that I am making using a plaster mold.

                           My first attempt at making a coil pot using both crank and stoneware clay.

                                                  Some of the work ready to be bisk fired.