I have finally got the stains put on my bark piece which I did at Jane Richardson's studio :) Here are the results ! It just needs a clear glaze put over the top now :)

                           

                                           

Weaving :)

Here is some piccys of me practicing some weaving.For this piece I have used colours that blend well together. This piece is going to be a wall hanging.

William turning his clay piece

                                                   

The clay piece is wet around the edges with a sponge then the metal wheel surface is made wet very slightly then you turn piece upside down , and gently place the piece in the middle and both hands are placed on the outside. The next stage is centering the piece by getting the wheel going and trying to get the piece so its not wobbling about in your hands. I then  press on top very gently to create a suction. The clay on the outside is called keys when placed around outside of the piece. This is to help support the piece whilst working on it.

Teaching will how to throw

Today I spent the afternoon teaching my brother some throwing! For his first time on a wheel he did really well. I still have lots to teach him !

                                                                    Shaping the bowl

Visiting jane richardson's studio :)

Today I made a sculptural piece from one of my ideas in my sketchbook, I found inspiration from a tree trunk. I loved the knarly texture of it and wanted to repeat this on my sculpture. I rolled clay out onto a surface and then I pressed lots of different textures into the clay. These varied from seeds to plant heads and wood ash . I started by ripping of bits of clay and building them up over a bowl which was covered in cling film , this is so the piece didn't stick to the bowl. When this had hardened up a bit the piece was then taken of the bowl and a prop is placed on the inside due to it being slightly heavier on one part of the sculpture and this was to support the piece.

                                                                     Using paper clay

                                                              I absolutely love this texture!!

My other favourite part is the ends of the trunk 

Setting up the studio!

Here are a few piccys of  the barn being turned into a studio for me to work in. I am going to be using the stable for a working area and this is where I will be using my pottery wheel and I will have all my equipment like my glaze table, wedging table , damp cupboard, shelves to store work. Then in the corner of the barn I will have my kiln.

                        The stable in progress, i am going to have some lights fitted soon.:)

                                    My Kiln!! Im so excited , I cant wait to start using it.
                                  It needs a couple of test firings first to check everything is working.