Joseph Ludkin

Ceramics and Design Craft News

[jludkin]

2nd gas firing came out a little under fired on the bottom couple of shelves. On reflection the whole kiln needed a little more heat work, it had reached the desired temp on the thermocouple and cone 9 was down on the spy hole on the top shelf but it was still quite upright on the bottom shelf but we didn’t know this until we opened the kiln. It’s slightly frustrating that there is only one spy hole on such a large kiln as if we could have had a quick look at the bottom cone and kept going but it is such a lovely kiln and we are so lucky to have it to fire in I can’t hold it against it! I think I have worked out a formula to determine how much ‘out’ the thermocouple is (compared with absorbed heat) as the kiln climbs and will create a graph for future firings to test out the theory. It might help us second guess what the bottom cone is doing in future? Having said all that I am pretty glad this pot didn’t get any more heat work as the glaze would have run off it completely. I think It’s a little too drippy and the recipe probably still needs a little stiffening with some more clay and Quartz and perhaps a small reduction in the ash content? I think both the clay body and the ash I am using in this one must be particularly high in alkalis? as the recipe is 70:30 clay to ash at the moment which under normal circumstances (using a ball clay, China clay or kaolin) would produce a dry ash glaze. But this one it is a real dribbler!?! and. I do wonder if the fact that I am using clay from the seaside is making a difference? Has it absorbed a higher level of Sodium from the sea salt? Is this causing a low melting point/dribbly glaze? All said and done I really like it’s colour and the way it works with the clay. At least we got good reduction again in this firing too. This was the main thing I have been dreaming of, clay with life and soul !! #gasfire #reductionfiring #ashglaze #flux #greeb #bowl #pattern #yorkshire #northyorkshire #saltburn #sea #clay #ash #drip #dribble #croftpottery (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CktVDAODZtg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jludkin]

Gas firing number 2 today @croftpottery We have gone in to reduction and climbing nicely. @ionaceramics has a show this weekend in Manchester so it’s mainly her pots inside but I have got a few more test pieces that will hopefully be developments on the things learnt last time!?!? One being remember to use soft wading this time so my pots don’t stick to the shelves 🤣#schoolboyerror #flame #reduction #reductionfiring #gaskiln #gasfire #croftpottery #pots #northernpotters #yorkshirepotter #thirsk #northyorkshire #kiln #dance #pottery #process #glow #orange #pottersofinstagram #makersgonnamake (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckd4OjUDovq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jludkin]

Fermentation Jar prototype complete! Gone for an olive green food safe glaze that doesn’t craze for this one, it’s come out a bit retro 70s but I think it works with the shape? The next one will be Tenmoku. Unfortunately this now means I am going to have to make another massive batch of Kimchi goodness to test it out! #kimchi #ferment #fermentation #lactofermentation #lacto #olivegreen #pottery #pot #food #northyorkshire #yorkshire #croftpottery #make #makersmovement #makersgonnamake #pottersofinstagram #ceramics #homeware #experiment #design #korea #korean (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjalkf6DUDO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jludkin]

I have been experimenting with a lot of little bowl shapes and footrings over the past few months, I tend to throw these as bowl demos for my classes so it’s a perfect opportunity to try out a few ideas. I am a huge fan of fermented veg/pickles and these size bowls have been in my mind for such a purpose. I am just starting out on my fermentation adventure having started to make alcohol last year from the apples in our orchard and grapes on our strawberry vine I am now beginning to explore Lactic fermentation and acetic fermentation to extend the life and general usability of all the fruit and veg we have in our garden. Now seems like the perfect time to start to combine my pots with a purpose so I will be refining and making a range of these bowls over the winter alongside some experimental fermentation vessels for veg, kimchi and vinegar. I am hoping to use clay I dig locally for the bowls and wood ash in the production of glazes and will be using some of the apple wood I have been drying from topping the orchard to make some chopsticks and cutlery so that when I sit down to use them, practically everything in my hand will have come from within the boundary of the village I live in. #bowl #pickles #fermentation #ferment #kimchi #fermentedbeans #beans #rice #chicken #sesame #ricebowl #chopsticks #chilli #pottery #thrown #clay #ash #ashglaze #make #food #cook #wood #grain #theyorkshirepotter #northyorkshire #yorkshire #digyourown #digforvictory #homegrown #growyourownfood (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci_ANoVDZuU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jludkin]

Pink! This Yunomi from the collection @theleachpottery is made from two types of clay from my local area, the body is Saltburn clay and the bright pink slip is from my local woods at Kilburn right next to the White Horse. I have processed the Saltburn clay slightly less on this one leaving in stone inclusions to create planned texture but also to allow the clay to naturally pit and bloat to add an uncontrolled element to the work. Both are fired to around 1100c. There are two Earthenware Yunomi like this one in the collection and they signal the start of a new direction that I am exploring in my work. I am becoming more conscious of my impact on the environment as a potter and I am searching for ways to create work with exclusively local materials that I harvest. I am also starting to look a greener firing alternatives and lowering my firing temperatures #earthenware #earth #digyourown #homegrown #dig #local #thinklocal #localmaterials #locallysourced #sustainability #environment #localclay #wildclay #yunomi #cup #ethical #potter #terracotta #fromtheearth #northyorkshire #yorkshire #theyorkshirepotter #northernpotter #josephludkin #theleachpottery #reduce (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc7cWHtDP8T/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jludkin]

Another Yunomi from the collection available @theleachpottery pottery this week. Hakeme slip work over a black clay body with an Ash glaze and small embossed diamond motif. #yunomi #theleachpottery #ashglaze #diamond #green #motif #blackclay #hakeme #brush #paint #glaze #cremerging #northyorkshire #yorkshire #gather #collect #forage #make #makersmovement #potter #pottery #potterofinstagram #northernpotter #yorkshirepotter #josephludkin (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc4l80Qj2um/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jludkin]

I am very honoured to be @theleachpottery ‘potter of the week’ this week. To celebrate my move to rural North Yorkshire I made 12 Yunomi using materials harvested from the Moors, Dales and coastline around my new pottery @croftpottery to make this body of work exclusively for the Leach Pottery. The Yunomi are available to buy with 10% off this week from the @theleachpottery gallery shop and webshop. I am also teaching a Teabowl course @crownworkspottery in London on the 7th and 8th May. So if you are interested in how I make work or want to learn some new techniques come and throw some Yunomi and Chawan with me in a couple of weekends time. #yunomi #chawan #teabowl #tea #make #leach #leachpottery #cornwall #stives #kernow #northyorkshire #potter #potteroftheweek #maker #sale #theleachpottery #gallery #makersgonnamake #makersmovement #pottersofinstagram #cremerging #ceramics #cups #pots #pottery #croftpottery #northyorkshirepotter #thedales #themoors #saltburn (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcyKqKkjXfP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jludkin]

Yunomi Same glaze as before but on a darker clay body with a lot more iron. Even with a white slip applied over the dark clay the high iron content interferes with the glaze making it darker, more matte and lends a lovely dry texture. This one is also off to the Leach Pottery #ash #ashglaze #yunomi #cremerging #craft #pottery #pot #tea #drink #hold #warm #green #dry #texture #dark #oak #make #maker #potters #pottersofinstagram #yorkshire #northyorkshire #saltburn #wildclay #glaze #naturalglaze (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cat7f26gHF1/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

Yunomi Ash glaze with raw ash and water stayed around the foot ring. The ash and water spray adds a different texture and colouration but it also interferes with the glazing line and makes the glaze more fluid causing a satisfying dribble #ashglaze #yunomi #cup #leach #leachpottery #ash #ashglaze #green #greentea #tea #teatime #drink #hold #use #pot #pottery #crofrpottery #northyorkshire #thirsk #rainton #saltburn #saltburnbysea #wildclay #wildglaze #makeyourown (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CarSbVTgfFb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

This beautiful Yunomi by @johnwebbpottery just arrived in the post from the @theleachpottery . John is potter of the week on the Leach website and there is 10% discount off his wonderful work. Very happy with this absolute cracker, it adds some lovely colour to my collection #yunomi #johnwebbpottery #leachpottery #tea #saltglaze #blue #mottled #orangepeel #collection (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CakC5OKAwoL/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

Yunomi Super happy with this new blend of clay, it toasts really well and creates lovely colour contrasts on the foot ring. Another variation on the Saltburn ash glaze. Applied over white slip that has had pellets applied to it which I then push shells in to to give the glaze some nice texture to run about it. #yunomi #ashglaze #cup #tea #shell #green #dribble #run #toast #toasted #roasted #clay #blend #blended #slip #pottery #theyorkshirepotter #saltburn #yorkshire #northyorkshire #josephludkin #leachpottery #collect #buy #gallery #nature #wildclay (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CajitT5AIhN/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

Yunomi Dark clay body with Hakeme brushed white slip and a ash glaze. Kind of a Green ash glaze take on Buncheong I suppose? I am really pleased with the way the glaze breaks from matte around rim to shiny lower down the waist, gives a nice contrast. This one is off to the Leach Pottery #yunomi #cup #ashglaze #tea #greentea #glaze #shiny #matte #hakeme #buncheong #brush #darkclay #wildclay #digyourown #leach #theleachpottery #leachpottery #oak #woodtop #stilllife #pot #pottery #thrown #wheelmade #vessel (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cahqki7gAxJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

First batch of new work is now coming out of the kiln, feels fantastic to get back to making again. Alongside using them in some new ash glazes I have been experimenting a lot with all the local clays up here to throw with and to see if I can make things with them. This Earthenware Yunomi has been made with clay from Saltburn Beach All the work I will be posting over the next few days will be making its way down to the Leach Pottery and will be available to buy from their website and gallery soon. #yunomi #wildclay #cup #tea #leach #leachpottery #northyorkshire #northyorkshirepotter #pink #earthenware #clay #terracotta #cornwall #red #pottery #pottersofinstagram #makers #makersgonnamake #makersmovement #drink #art #potter #josephludkin (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cae9j4igWF4/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

Mark making today, trying out some of those sketchbook ideas #yunomi #marks #markmaking #cut #carve #engrave #emboss #sgraffito #slip #slipdecoration #stoneware #cup #pottery #make #sketchbook #ideas #test #experiment #shelfie #shelflife #lineup #pottersofinstagram #shell (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZhtMLqL6W0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

Finally after nearly a year out (move and building new studio) and two false starts this year (bad back and Covid) I am back making pots and I cannot begin to express to you how good this feels !!! Although there has been a lot of blood sweat and tears over the last year and I am not going to lie, it’s been a very tough dream to chase I count myself very lucky to have had the opportunity and am very thankful. The studio is done, I have an awesome gas kiln on loan waiting to be set up outside, I have bags of clay stacked up, loads of natural clays, rocks and materials all around me, a big bag of wood ash from the fires, and a years worth of ideas crammed in my head and sketchbook, it’s time to get making. Had to start with my old favourite just to see if I could still throw. Bashed out a few today to get back in the groove and to use as tests for new glazes, clay combos and to test out the gas kiln. This Yunomi has been thrown, slipped and wet trimmed whilst still on the wheel head. I prefer trimming this way as the tools cut the clay in a different way when wet, I find it gives more texture and allows cuts to be more gestural and fluid. I find that trimming footrings and the hips of Yunomi when dry sometimes makes things too perfect? Tomorrow I will add more slip and surface decoration and then this will be put aside for ash glazing and gas firing #yunomi #thrown #throwing #wheel #wheelthrown #clay #northyorkshire #pottery #make #ceramics #trimming #turning #fettle #josephludkin #cup #tea #brown #wet #spinmeround #spin #yorkshirepottery #makersgonnamake #makersofinstagram #pottersofinstagram (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZc7nSXD4LM/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

My Grandfather, the potter Keith Corrigan. Pictured here at Holkham Hall pottery. He helped Lady Leicester set up the pottery in 1951/52 @holkhamestate in Norfolk, managed it and designed many of its iconic early pieces. He ran the pottery for a few years before starting his own pottery in Wells next to sea and then the village of Saxthorpe. Although there is little recorded about him in the potting world he was chums with many of the influential potters of the time and was a friend of the late great Mick Casson. Bomps was a fantastic potter, a senior lecturer and head of department. He was also a founding member of the @craftpotters and would often come down to supply and help run the shop in Soho. I spent some lovely time with my mum over Christmas looking through a great box of delights about him and she has put a lot more of his work on display around the house. Although I didn’t get to know him that well as he passed away in the mid 80s I think about him often and wish he was still about to learn from. Now that Croft studio is built, the courses are up and running This years goal is to get Croft Pottery up and running as a batch production pottery with a line of homeware. I will definitely be drawing influence from my grandfather #grandfather #keithcorrigan #family #holkham #norfolk #northnorfolk #holkhamhall #holkhamestate #potter #craftpottersassociation #potterystudio #production #productionpottery #makers #pottersofinstagram #history #ancestry #artisan #craftsman #pots #blackandwhitephotography (at Holkham Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYMtGWhjrpe/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jludkin]

Experimenting with carving through the slip back to the dark clay on this one, the glaze is also slightly more glassy on this one too. #yunomi #cup #green #scraffito #carve #slip #foot #board #wood #glassy #glass #glaze #shine #contrast #tea #yorkshire #northyorkshire #pottery #pot (at Rainton) https://www.instagram.com/josephludkin/p/CYE4CvNj4ky/?utm_medium=tumblr