Earthenware colour glaze tests

These are some pots I have glazed with some new colour tests, ready to Raku fire with horsehair. The little lidded pots are also a new experiment. Unfortunately it's howling with rain and the weather forecast is pretty dismal for the next few days so I don't know when I'm going to be able to finish them.

These are the colours I tested using an earthenware  gloss base glaze

Lilac 4/2/1%

Turquiose 4/2/1%

Buttercup 4/2/1%

Green 4/2/1%

These colours are a blend of all the above colours at 1%
They don't show up very well in the photos but there are some really nice colours as a result of this test

Summer Update

Gosh it's ages since I blogged last... I think I have been subconsciously having a break now I have finished college. But actually its good to keep a note of what I've been doing for my own records, to look back on in the future.

I have done quite a lot over the summer and last couple of weeks since the children went back to school.

I have exhibited at the Red Earth Gallery, Bickleigh Mill, with the West Country Potters. I sold quite a few of my little horse hair raku pots, so I have been busy making some more over the last couple of weeks to Raku next week hopefully.

This picture is of me force drying some test tiles (I'm soooo impatient!), My husband wasn't terribly impressed when he came home from work expecting his dinner to be in the oven!

I'm testing a load of earthenware colours to glaze the inside of the raku pots with... in the kiln now as I type.

I also have some work on exhibition in Margate at the moment, so hopefully that is going well.

I have been selected to exhibit at the Devon Guild Christmas Exhibition so busy making for that as well as testing some new ideas which I will add to the blog when I'm happy with them.

Wall hanging

I'm trialing the idea of wall hanging pieces. This piece is made from paperclay, to lighten it and add further texture. Slip resist of a fern leaf and then glazed. 
I'm thinking of a triptych (series of 3) showing the different seasons of plants in my garden. Obviously I can only do summer at the moment though.......!

Black chunky paperclay. Porcelain slip resist fern leaf.
Glaze fired 1260*

Results!

Well the results are out and I officially have a Foundation Degree with Distinction! Hoorah!
A really huge thank you to my husband (not just for the lovely bottle of bubbly!) but for putting up with all the stress and supporting me over the last 4 years of study. I hope I can start to repay him with some success now. I do feel this is just the beginning though as this is where the hard work begins, enlightening the world to Nicola Crocker Ceramics! 
Off to London for the day tomorrow to have my work photographed for a book 'Handmade in Britain'. This is to be launched in conjunction with the London Design Festival in September.
Shades of Clay at Atelier in Barnstaple during August.
Exhibition in Margate at The Pie Factory Gallery 3-30 September...... so lots to be getting on with!

WPA Potters Market

My friend Taz Pollard http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taz-Pollard-Ceramics/139302119425139 and I had a stall on the Quay in Exeter yesterday. Amazingly we had really good weather after what was a miserable week. There was a regatta going on at the same time too which attracted a few extra punters. Unfortunately sales weren't great (generally, not just us) but it was a great exercise for setting up my new stall lay out.

The Potters Market

Taz and Nicola Pots!
I made the plinths from leftover pieces from our kitchen we had fitted last year.
I think they worked extremely well. They pack up nice and flat and all fit onto one box, they were a lot sturdier that some of the stands I saw. The high gloss suited the work really well too.

Selection of my smaller pieces

Taz's beatutiful Yunomi's ~ I just love the little plinth they are on too

Limpet Pots with crystaline glaze inside

This was new idea ~ stand made from Parian Porcelian

Our Stall!

Pot On location

Here's one of my creations that I gave to my Aunt and Uncle as a present recently. It's nice to have some photos of my work in situ as apposed to studio pictures. (secretly hoping it will act as a promotion piece as they have lots of very nice friends....!)

Degree Show

This is a selection of work from the degree show (Ceramics) including my own work.

My Pots

Frances!

Karly La fontaine

Class of 2011

Russ Kingdom

My smaller pieces

More!

Display

Emma Giffard