thrown and carved bowl made by work experience student at eastnor pottery

hereford college of art student doing undertaking work experience at eastnor potteryOnce or twice a year we liaise with local high schools and colleges offering students work experience placements here at the Pottery.

Putu is a student at Hereford College of Arts currently studying on their Extended Diploma in Art and Design. She joined us recently to experience our busy little creative business first hand.

As well as assisting with our classes and courses, Putu had the opportunity to make her own ceramic work incorporating some of the themes and ideas she’s exploring on her course. Weaving is a process she’s particularly interested in and subsequently had a go at weaving clay. Nice work Putu!

weaved clay work by hca work experience student at eastnor potterypot thrown on potters wheel and decorated at eastnor pottery by hca student on work experience

weaved clay bowlthrown and carved bowl made by work experience student at eastnor pottery

 

 

white hand thrown tea pot with black spotted spout, surrounded by hand modeled red dragon

It’s mostly adults who enjoy our Weekend Potter’s Wheel Courses here at Eastnor Pottery but every once in a while we’ll entertain a teenager or young person. We love the dynamism and creative flair the junior potters bring to the table.

GCSE art student Ellie was no exception.

Ellie was gifted one of our weekend courses as a Christmas present last year and attended a fully booked event in the Spring 2021. On day two, you can  assemble the pots from the previous day into a single work of ceramic art. Ellie was keen to make a Dragon Tea Pot and threw all the components (spout, lid etc) on Saturday. On Sunday all the bits and pieces were leather hard and perfect for scratch and slipping together. We think she made an amazing job of her mission – Well done Ellie!
white hand thrown tea pot with black spotted spout, surrounded by hand modeled red dragon

white hand thrown tea pot with black spotted spout, surrounded by hand modeled red dragon

white hand thrown tea pot with black spotted spout, surrounded by hand modeled red dragon

white hand thrown tea pot with black spotted spout, surrounded by hand modeled red dragon taken from a birds eye view

lady with a mask on sat at a potters wheel holding up wooden board containing 2 pots she has thrown

Lauren, a student at Hereford Art College (HCA) joined us for a week of work experience.

As well as joining one of our Introduction to the Potter’s Wheel classes, she assisted with glazing, packaging customers work and re-claiming clay.

Lauren is considering a career in ceramics and was considering applying to Cardiff Metropolitan University to study the craft. Here’s her art Instagram account.

lady with a mask on sat at a potters wheel holding up wooden board containing 2 pots she has thrown

a green jug, green and purple pot and an unpainted ceramic dish on a wooden board

textile artist katie glover degree show pieces 2020

This time last year we were entering a phase of extreme busyness with classes, workshops and pottery events taking place not only here at the Pottery but out in the wider community. Eastnor Pottery and the Flying Potter could be found in two or three different venues across the West Midlands, all on the same day.

To fulfill the seasonal demand, we employed a select team of undergraduate and casual workers to help share the clay love.

Say hello to Katie!

textile artist katie glover degree show pieces 2020

Katie worked for us last Summer having completed a week of work experience with us in the Spring. At the time, she was a 2nd year student on a BA Hons Textiles course in Falmouth. Katie has now graduated with a 2:1! Well done Katie :) What with her creativity and positive attitude, she has an exciting future ahead of her.

All the photos featured are from her final ‘degree show’ project.

“For part of my final project in third year I took a humorous approach to the classic British holiday, delving in to the weird yet wonderful world of British culture and how it translates abroad. producing a wide variety of works to accompany this intriguing topic ranging from jacquard weaving, illustration, graphic art and embroidery. As a graduate, I hope to expand my digital business and become a key part of the ever growing graphic industry.”

textile art by katie glover

textile art by katie glover

This is what she had to say about working at Eastnor Pottery.

“Upon my first day I was welcomed with open arms and delved in to many different learning experiences from customer service, postage and packaging, glazing, throwing pots and not forgetting many teas and coffees! The pottery is beautiful setting inspiring creativity and positive environment for all the activities they offer. Jon and Sarah’s enthusiasm and support helped me to become more confident in the world of work and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience! I am truly grateful for the opportunity they gave me to be a small part of their wonderful business and everything I learnt whilst working there.”

 

ex eastnor pottery apprentice ethan powell

ex eastnor pottery apprentice ethan powellCongratulations to Ethan, our first ever Community Arts Apprentice who’s just graduated in Ceramics from Cardiff School of Art & Design.

Not only that, he was also presented with the Alun Barratt-Danes Technical Excellence Award for his graduate work.

Although the class of 2020 were unable to mount a physical degree show due to the epidemic, students were required to publish an online exhibition of their work.

stomeware cup by ethan powellethan powell's studio in cardiffvase form by ethan powell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s what Ethan has to say about his work and motivation as he steps out into the world of professional practice:

“In this body of work, I wanted to know if the experience of seeing, handling and using a fired pot could be as contemplative an experience as making it. When I make a pot, I rely on my skills to take me through the process, however I am not guided by them. I try to follow my intuition and that of the material in the hopes of producing vessels with spontaneity and vitality. In my practice I try to harmonise the qualities of mark making on raw clay and applying slips with the glazes I create though I don’t shy away from aesthetic dissonance. I simply see it as an opportunity for more personal reflection. Within the studio I have come to value gathering local materials to use as glazes, such as slate and sand from the River Taff and wood ash from my childhood home. I find cleaning and curating the studio space to be both calming and clarifying. In that sense the habits of making show me a reflection of my own human nature. Thus, in the aesthetic choices we make when we curate the objects in our home and our lives there is an opportunity to abstract the qualities of our deepest human nature through contemplation.”    

The future looks pretty good for Ethan in these testing times – he’s secured employment for September as a Studio Technician at an Oxford school. Good work Ethan and we look forward to seeing you develop as a maker.