Cafe Sci // Earth, Water, Fire and Air

Cornwall is one of the richest and most diverse geological areas in the world, and has all the ingredients for creative work in Pottery / Ceramics.

Simon and Karl will introduce all these ingredients, and how understanding their nature helps appreciate the range of ways they can be used creatively. 

Simon’s early career started with setting up a small independent workshop producing furniture commissions. He fell into lecturing quite by chance and enjoyed working with students so much that he decided to change career.

Simon spent almost three decades in Higher Education lecturing in Crafts, the Histories and Theories of Craft and Design, design process and life drawing, guiding and encouraging his students to develop their work and professional practice. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in recognition of his contribution to social change through education and community projects.

With an eye for detail, a head for solving problems, an incredibly steady hand and never ending patience he explores a range of materials and works to develop and produce work of simplicity and beauty.

We have...

EARTH: Cornwall has many clay and mineral deposits to make functional and non-functional work with a rich variety of decoration and glazes.

WATER: Clay has differing water contents and the processes to remove this are many and varied due to the types of clay and the inclusions they may contain.

AIR: Air not only helps dry clay but its oxygen component can be used or excluded to alter the firing process and qualities of finish. It can also be used to make music!!

FIRE: There are many fuels that burn, and types of kiln from Pit, Sawdust, Coal, Wood, Oil, gas, straw, to name but a few that burn up the oxygen to produce a reduction atmosphere.

Whatever else the ancients may have thought, these really are the elements of pottery...