Open Studio

wendydiamond20
Jul 1, 2022
1 min read

Since moving to South Wales I have had a number of visitors in my studio, some of whom have tried their hand at throwing and hand building. I have shared what I know.

Tomorrow for the first time I shall be opening up my studio to four ladies who belong to an Arts &Craft Group which is part of the ‘University for the Third Age’ offer in the Newport Area.

I plan to give them an overall flavour of my passion for pottery and demonstrate coiling, slabwork and throwing. Carol came over for a cup of tea and a chat this afternoon and found herself prepping tomorrows session; rolling slabs, washing paint brushes and making tea!

Meanwhile, back at the Water Feature. I am in the process of transferring leaf designs on to

. the outside of each bowl., some of which will contain words which represent some of Jonathan’s interests. Then I will transfer the imaged to the bowls using using slide decals which hopefully will survive the firing process.

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Realising a Dream..

This is me. Setting out on my journey as a hobbyist potter.

Pottery was an ‘add on’ O level course when I was at school, only offered in the sixth form. In to studying Music and RE to A level, I embarked on pottery ‘O’ level as a bit of light relief. I loved it although I was never particularly good at it. I made a few pots, mainly handbuilding using slabbing and coiling but didn’t really learn much.

What I wanted to do more than anything was throw on the wheel – the school did have a wheel but no one was allowed near it unless they knew what they were doing… an interesting approach to the process of acquiring skill methinks. I do have one of my very first pots – rather crude really, but its mine, with my initials ‘scrauped’ on the base. Over the intervening years, of which there were many, I watched the art of throwing from a distance, always hoping that one day it would happen.

We had bought our little cottage in Halifax in 2009. Six years later the adjoining house became available so we set about creating a home by combining the two halves. The ‘under-dwelling’, a feature of a number of houses in that area of West Yorkshire was a real gem; we converted into a pottery studio for me and there began my journey. I enrolled on a course in Springhead. Oldham and my amazingly talented pottery teacher, Sue Devine gave me one-to-one tuition in throwing. I bought a pottery wheel and was given a small kiln. My journey had begun – 40 years later!

Twelve month ago, my partner and I moved to Newport in South Wales. I am most fortunate have a pottery studio here. Why Andante Ceramics? Well, I work slowly, I go with the flow, I create no deadlines for my self. My world of clay is completely self-asbsorbing and tomorrow, if I am fortunate to have one, is another day.

My media pages give a flavour of what I do and my blog documents my thoughts as I journey through the wonderful world of pottery and ceramics. I wont sell any of my work but I delight in making pieces specifically for friends; I love the challenge that creating bespoke pieces bring. If you would like me to make something special do please ask.

Wendy Diamond

Open Studio

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