Your first thought when you’ve taken your latest pots out of a group atmospheric firing is not necessarily ecstatic. Linda Doherty says that she’s never really satisfied on the first day. When I saw that at least two pots weren’t quite ‘done’ I thought that I’d just take all the work home and look at them in the morning. One or two seemed to be just fine.

Next morning I unpacked them all and felt pleased. The front and back habit of soda firing means that one side might have grey, blue or red-brown orange peel and the other side will be quieter but will leave any added decoration, decals or drawing  clear and colourful. Sometimes there’s too much melt/soda on a piece and on other pots there can be areas where the slips need some more soda or heat. As I studied my pots and referred to my notes I started to plan my next adventure in soda. There are other flashing slips to use, other combinations to try out and other forms to make.

The globular vase has an indistinct ‘running boy’ on its side, made by spraying ‘red’ slip over paper resist on the bone dry pot. Unashamedly I took the idea from a Mick Casson pot I’ve admired at the V & A for many years. His is called ‘Swimmer’ and is much bolder. If I do something like that again I must use a darker slip, perhaps like the bill on my jugbird.

Here then, are most of my new pots. I shall take most of them down to Circle Craft next week so if any of them take your fancy that’s where you’ll find them unless you contact me soon. Three of the goblets have been reserved and I plan to keep the large jugbird here with me for a while.