Testing 1 2 3

ByJoseph Travis

At the start of every project, there is a lot of testing as I enjoy that part and a new project is often a great excuse to try something new, new glazes, new clay etc. In the last post I already showed the new clays I am starting with, plus add on to those Blackpool School of Arts buff clay and crank clay, as well as my own standard clay plus my standard clay with approx 5% red iron oxide, added and some addition grog. The first job was rolling out small slabs and measuring 10cm lines on each so…

Blackpool School of Art

ByJoseph Travis

This year I am taking part in Artist Access to Art Colleges (AA2A) and I will be working out of the studios at Blackpool School of Art this year. I’m approaching my time at the Blackpool School of Art to combine a series of different skills. I want to finally work at AA2A cover a small part of the costs but I once I have my initial stages of testing I will be doing some crowdfunding to help pay for further development of the work, which will allow access to limited edition work. Think along the lines of hand-pulled prints,…

Rocks have Lids?

Rocks have Lids?

ByJoseph Travis

Or how something I created due to injury became of of my favourite ceramic creations. In 2018 I was preparing for Earth and Fire in Nottinghamshire and working as a Design Technology Technician (wood, metal and plastics) as a day job, I was using a bandsaw which was something I did most days as I was generally using the laser cutter and supervising classes at the same time. Our bandsaw wasn’t the best, it was in all likelihood bought by the school long before I was born and it was in constant need of TLC. Regardless, as I made a…

Wave Marks in the Sand, or…

Wave Marks in the Sand, or…

ByJoseph Travis

Wave Marks in the Sand, or Soap Dishes? The answer is soap dishes, I’m making these to take to the Green Loop Eco Makers Market in Lytham St Annes at the end of April. They will be glazed in a wood ash glaze, which is waste from wood stoves, plus a powdered clay and the calcinated seashells from my saggar firings, once they have been used to stop pots sticking together in that firing they turn to powder which can then be used to help flux the glaze. As well as these I will also be making the tools that…