ktceramics

2012-01-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

I am now working on planters which are the same forms as the sculptures and water features. They have a double " skin " with a recess for planting in, thus preventing frost cracking if the round shape were filled with compost. I cannot put photos on because I havn't fired any yet. They will be good in groups with the water features and sculptures.
I aim to get a quantity made in time for the Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc this year on March 31 and April !st.

2011-12-19T03:52:00.000-08:00

I really cannot believe that it is so long since I wrote a blog. If there is anyone out there reading it they must have thought I had given up and gone away. The news is I havn't done either. The website has been morbid for ages because I can't add new pictures and change it. My son is working on another site which will be up and running for the spring when people will be thinking of gardens again and I hope spending some money on special things.
I am now semi retired from the day job ( literally as I am working half the week and job sharing.) This gives me more time at the clay and I am trying out some new ideas. The stacked water features did not please me in the end so they will receive a burial at sea. Only the ceramic bits, no pollution problem. In time they will turn into pebbles and maybe someone will find them and wonder what they are.
The weather is still mild, with luck we will miss the savage frosts that did so much damage in the last 2 winters.
I will try to add another blog sooner than 8 months! Happy Christmas and New Year in the meantime.

2011-04-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening and the first day of the Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show is over. I am always mystified that I am so tired after a day of just talking to people! The weather was lovely and I won a bronze award for my exhibits. Another day tomorrow.

2011-03-26T04:10:00.000-07:00

Nearly the beginning of April. I will be at the Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc near Lostwithiel this year. Saturday 2nd 10.00 am - 5.00pm and Sunday 3rd April, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. It is a wonderful occasion in a beautiful setting, it marks the start of spring for me. I really look forward to talking to people about my work and meeting previous customers and regular show visitors. Further information from www.cornwallflowershow.co.uk
I will also be at a new event at Coombe Trenchard 'Arts and Crafts' garden near Okehampton, Devon. This is in June on the 17th and 18th. Further information from www.coombetrenchard.co.uk

2011-03-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Spring is nearly here

2011-03-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

I really am rubbish at this blogging business! It's now March, I must write more regularly. I went to Charlestown this morning, a beautiful small harbour about 10 mins drive away which is home to two beautiful Square Rigger ships. It is always so magical to sit and watch the sea and feel the history of the place. Even more evocative early or late in the year without lots of tourists. I am so lucky to live with this on the doorstep.
Things are beginning to grow in the garden and I am now watching to see what has been damaged by the dreadful winter.
I have just finished a new commission - picture above, and I am working on some examples of a new idea for water features which are made of 3 stacked forms. The one pictured here is something of a" work in progress", I would be interested to get some opinions and feedback. By making them this way I can make taller forms than the kiln would normally allow. If a supporting metal tube and stand is used it could have more than 3 elements.

2010-10-26T02:41:00.000-07:00

Well here we are, autumn half term! I cannot believe the wedding was over a month ago. I am using the winter to make some new ceramics. I plan to get the new website and images of work up and running for spring. I plan to have videos on the new site which should give a new exciting aspect -- being able to see the movement of water on the water features. I am looking forward to making these new forms that are buzzing around in my mind. Like most people, I have noticed a drop in sales in these dreadful times, but I am hopeful for a revival in spring.

2010-09-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Wedding was a week ago, I cannot believe it. It was a glorious day, the weather was perfect and the whole thing wonderful. The porcelain tea light holders all vanished I am delighted to say. Back to reality and the water feature waiting for attention on the workbench. The website is rather static at the moment, I am unable to update it because of problems with my computer. I am looking forward to the new website which will be one of the jobs Sophie will be doing when she gets back from honeymoon. In the meantime I will continue putting some pictures on the blog. Please email me any enquiries and I can tell you what is available and what I am working on.

2010-08-12T03:20:00.000-07:00

2010-08-12T03:06:00.000-07:00

I have just opened the kiln and as promised here are some pictures. The water feature is based on a sculpture I have in the workshop ( and on the web gallery). I cannot believe that I have not already made a water feature in this design, it's such a watery theme and the lines are very fluid. The other pictures are of the wedding tea light holders. As you can imagine it has been a massive change working in very thin porcelain after the more robust stoneware. I am pleased with the result, I think they will look lovely with the light shining through.

2010-08-06T02:45:00.000-07:00

Nothing for months and now two posts come along together! The shelves in my workshop are nearly empty of sculptures. I have been making water features to order steadily and not replacing sculptures when they sell. The gallery and examples page illustrate most of the sculptures I have made,--please remember that in 4 to 8 weeks I can make similar sculptures and water features to order.
John and Sophie are moving out today so I am writing this in the middle of hectic van loading. Kiln firing tomorrow and back to building another water feature.

2010-08-05T03:29:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it has been so long since I updated the blog. I had such good intentions of doing it regularly! I am still busy making commissions. I have just finished the building of a new water feature which I am pleased with, it is a very watery theme of a stylised starfish; I am looking forward to seeing it working. Which brings me to the next piece of news. I am having the website totally redesigned - it will include videos to show the movement and sound of the water features which will be a great improvement on static photos. This work is being done by Sophie Trinick ( my soon to be daughter in law, www.omni-ba.co.uk. )
I am now well into the school summer holidays and getting involved in a new challenge. I am making small porcelain tea light holders for the wedding next month of Sophie and my son John ( lots of wedding news in this blog, but this is the last one). I have based the idea on water lily flowers with overlapping petals, the light should show through making a pattern of the different thicknesses. Seems to be ok in the prototypes I made earlier. I will post photos later when they are fired. It has been so different working on such a small scale in such a different clay.
John and Sophie have been living with me for the last 6 months after moving from Bristol. They now have a flat in Plymouth so are moving on again tomorrow. I will miss their company hugely but the space will be lovely.

2010-02-28T04:46:00.000-08:00

2010 will be my third year exhibiting in Outside Art on 12-27th of June. At Russel's Quarry Garden and Avondale Library Garden near Coventry in Warwickshire.
Duncan Heather from the Oxford Garden Design School said

"Outside Art has quickly established itself as one of the 'must see' sculpture exhibitions of the year. Set in lovely surrounding, the artwork is wide-ranging in style and appeals to all tastes and budgets. If you have never been to a sculpture exhibition before, I recommend you go see this one. If you're an established collector, the choice is overwhelming, the prices very competitive and the service excellent."

2010-02-28T04:20:00.000-08:00

Hi,
I have just spent an exhausting but productive morning in the workshop preparing a batch of clay for the next water feature. I hope it will be a new design ( if things work out as I imagine). I like to make new things as much as possible to vary the gallery page and to make a change from repeating designs. It gets the creative ideas going again and refreshes my approach to all the work. I have been having ideas about making tall column water features , I can make separate shapes which would stack together. The surface could be carved to create a texture for the water to run over. I would really love to make bigger things, for example a stack of pebble shapes of diminishing size. These water features could be many feet tall when assembled. I am willing to make drawings and discuss ideas if anyone thinks this sounds interesting.
Back to the bench now to make the large lump of clay into coils to make the body of the new one.

2010-01-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

Here we are in 2010. Happy New Year to all. Having struggled through all that snow and ice, which was so pretty at the beginning but soon outstayed it's welcome, I have been out in the garden today, the bulbs are coming up and the clematis is shooting. I can detect the first feeling of spring in the air. I know that nasty things like frost and gales will still happen but it cheered me up no end. The workshop has been neglected in the cold weather and I am looking forward to getting back to work. The event I always look forward to is the Cornwall Spring Flower Show in Boconnoc near Lostwithiel,( 10th and 11th of April) I really enjoy talking to the visitors, meeting those I see every year and of course selling things!

2009-12-13T06:51:00.000-08:00

It's now December and nearly Christmas. The wedding was a great success, a very happy, beautiful day overlooking the sea in Fowey. I have finally finished the water feature that was so difficult to find time for during the wedding build up. I will be back to making in earnest in time for spring. In the meantime I wish you all a Very Happy Christmas.

2009-10-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the long period of inactivity blog wise. My daughter is getting married next Saturday (Nov. 7th) and we have all been rather busy. I cannot believe that it is happening so soon even after such a long planning time. I do actually have a water feature on the go but it's being left for very long periods while I do other things. Back to normal soon.

2009-10-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

As you will see I have now put pictures on the blog, I hope they will interest you. The pictures show how every sculpture and water feature is different even if it is " related " to others I have made. The hand building of the form and the free hand drawing of designs are always unique to that individual piece. I am happy to email progress images of your sculpture or water feature as it develops.

2009-10-04T02:50:00.000-07:00

I have recently added two new pictures to the gallery. A group of sculptures inspired by beach pebbles and a larger water feature. The latter is the maximum size I can get into the kiln and it was so tight a fit that I doubt I will be making another any time soon. The height is approx 37cm and the diameter 40cm. The work has recently returned from being exhibited at Russel's Nursery near Coventry.
I am told that people have had problems leaving messages on the blog,-- please keep trying, I want to hear from you!

2009-09-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

I have been back to school two weeks, helping children in maths. Quite a change from this job, but I enjoy the contrast and the mental exercise!
Yet again I have sold a water feature before I put the picture on the gallery page. The gallery seems to be changing of its own accord into an examples page. Please contact me if you are interested in a "sold" item. It is possible that I am in the process of making a replacement, or I can make one from scratch in 6 to 8 weeks. I can email pictures to you.
I still intend to put images of work in progress on the blog but in common with lots of other good intentions I don't seem to be getting round to it.

2009-08-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

At last the blog is linked to my website. All I have to do now is work out how to put images on. I am planning to show some pictures of work in progress to show how I make the ceramics. The sun is shining so I'm off to do some gardening having spent the morning on the coast path watching the sea. It's a hard life in Cornwall!

2009-08-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Hi,

This is my first blog entry. I am excited about having a blog attached to my website as it's an extra means of contact. I am looking forward to hearing your ideas and opinions , answering questions and sharing news.

The weather here in Cornwall is lovely and sunny at last. Autumn is on the way with blackberries and hazelnuts in the hedges. Lets hope it's a long gentle autumn this year. My day job is as a teaching assistant in a secondary school and I still approach the summer holiday in the belief that it will last forever, unfortunately I am now getting that "back to school" feeling.

I am very aware that the gallery page has been static for a while. I am still here and working steadily. I have been completing orders for items marked "sold". I can make such an order in 6 to 8 weeks, the end result won't be exactly like the original but very like it and maybe better!

Off now for a dog walk and then back to the workshop.
Katrina