Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Dennis Blatchley | Episode 1074
Dennis Blatchley is a ceramic artist living and making in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Dennis makes a wide range of slipcast terracotta tableware with a distinct matt finish. Dennis’ work comes in a choice of colours, that can be ‘mixed and matched’ to create a variety of exciting colour combinations.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
GRPotteryForms.com
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
The preferred printing supplier for potters everywhere! SmallDogPrints.com
What makes this attempt different from the past?
It is certainly different because I have the support of my partner. I wouldn’t be able to do it if she didn’t have a steady job, if we couldn’t afford to possibly lose money. It’s all in the end about the capital that had to go into making the work.
What does a making day look like for you? What does it mean for you to make your garden shed area work for you?
I get up in the morning, I put on my wellies, I go into my shed and put on what is a terrible little heater, it doesn’t really give out any heat. I think it’s psychosomatic and makes it feel like there’s some heat. And I don’t have running water in there so I have to get various buckets of water, I put on some music, I clear the space, and I start making some pots.
How often are you able to fire your kiln?
Probably on average every couple of weeks.
You are a growing business. How do you keep track of your customers?
I don’t and I should. And that is something I need to set up. I need to have a mailing list and I don’t at the moment. People contact me mainly through Instagram.
What is the next piece that you would like to develop?
At the moment I am trying to work on what’s essentially just a large bowl with a lid. It’s quite big, like a large salad bowl with a lid but it’s proving very problematic. The biggest problem I have with my work is warping. I fire my earthenware clay to quite a high temperature and so any sort of discrepancy in thickness it really punishes me for. So that’s the goal next year hopefully, if I can pull that off I will be pleased.
What is one thing you love about having a small workspace?
Oh well, the turn over. The fact that I can fire my kiln every couple of weeks. I mean opening the kiln, putting stuff in the kiln, and firing pots is basically what I love. It’s the drama. Making pots is a mini drama. Every pot I make, it’s a little drama. I’m trying to make that pot even if I have made that shape many times before, I am trying to make the best version of that shape every single time and then I stick it in the kiln and every time I am hoping it is going to be the very best version of it. Having a small kiln, that’s the joy of it. I fire a lot. I am opening the kiln a lot. I’m getting stuff out a lot, assessing it, feeling good or bad about it depending on how things have gone and then moving on. So that is the pleasure of having a small space and a small kiln.
Book
Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust
Contact
Instagram: @dennisblatchley.ceramics