Kent Potters' Association Picture Gallery

Kent Potters' Association Picture Gallery

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Mike Evans

Mike made the move from admirer to maker of pots whilst spending a year working in Edinburgh, by attending adult education courses there. On returning to Kent, he and his partner set up their own studio and joined the Kent Potter's Association. A major house move and renovation project has meant that the pottery has been on hold until recently, when he started making again.

Holly Jug
Cream semi-matt glaze over
sprigged decoration and
coloured slips

Making

Using white earthenware and terracotta clays, most of Mike's work is thrown on the wheel, and then additions or alterations made. In the case of the creamware illustrated here the leaves are cut from a rolled sheet of clay with a tool like a pastry cutter, and sprigged onto the pot. The stems are then modeled using strips of clay.

Decoration and Glaze

Coloured slips are applied to the leather-hard pot. In the case of the garlic storeage pots no other decoration is required, the slip being sufficiently vitreous. For the creamware a cream glaze is applied all over the work. This is Mike's favorite glaze.

Garlic Pot
Thrown and altered. White
engobe over terracotta

Teapot
White earthenware
tin glaze over
coloured slip

Firing

The white earthenware is fired to 1200 Celcius, the terracotta only to 1100 Celcius, both in a small electric kiln. The red holly berries on the creamware are applied as an onglaze, and re-fired to 800 Celcius.