Potfest
I have exhibited at the Penrith Potfest each year since 1997, first in the pens and from 2007 in the park. It is the focus of my potting year and the source of a great deal of inspiration for my work.
Waiting for the show to open on the first morning there is a sense of both relief and excitement. Relief that the months of preparation are over, the many late nights in the workshop done. Excitement at the prospect of meeting new customers eager to look at new work.
I had many new styles of work for this year: lidded carved jars, bottle forms with several different types of glaze and two styles of stoppered bottles. The glaze results on the lidded jars were particularly interesting, the carving (done by Magda) has added a new level of complexity.
Hutton-in-the-Forest
We are very fortunate to have Hutton-in-the-forest as the venue for the exhibition. On the damp Sunday morning, before the show opened, Magda and I took the opportunity to explore the gardens.
Though the light was rather dull, I managed to take some photographs of my work in the garden. This is CHA, an example of my blue-purple crystalline glaze.
Later on Sunday, the morning mizzle was replaced by a bright sunny day. The grounds offered an ideal opportunity to photograph other pieces of my work.
My thanks go to the many people who bought my work. Thanks also to Matt Cox, the show’s organiser, for such a great event. Though I’ve been to Potfest many times, I always come away with renewed enthusiasm. It also helps to affirm all the positive aspects of human nature. Far the potters being in competition with each other, it is about sharing ideas, inspiring each other and just enjoying the company of a very fine group of creative people.
Sitting in the grounds with the evening sunlight filtering down through the great linden tree above my tent, being a potter seemed like the best job imaginable.