Summer Shows 2014

June and July have been an exciting time for me with my current range of textured vessel forms and brand new oxidised plinths! So far, the weather has been on its best behaviour and I've had a fantastic time meeting lots of people, catching up with potter friends over a beer or two and a BBQ around the campsite; and the all important buyers, of course.

My first show of the summer was “Earth and Fire” at Rufford Abbey and, if you haven't been, it's a fantastic location set in the grounds of the beautiful Rufford Abbey ruins. It's a lovely event that is now in its twentieth year and always attracts amazing potters and sculptors from the UK and abroad. Visitor numbers were fantastic, helped by scorching weather. My new work was well received with lots of admiring glances for my new oxidised plinths not just by the public, but the potters. I reckon that next year there will be a sea of rusty plinths at the ceramics shows! You saw it here first!

The beginning of July saw me back on the road with my van fully laden on my way to “Art in Clay” at the stunning Hatfield House. This is a huge event with over 200 ceramic artists exhibiting in vast Marquees. Andy and Di McInnes, the organisers, put on a great show and I don't know how they manage to choose from the many applicants from around the world. This was my fifth time showing here and, once again, I met some lovely people and enjoyed a positive response to my latest work. I have even been invited to carry out workshops in Australia and Israel later on this year, which will be an amazing opportunity for me. It will extend my experience of teaching short courses from The Sculpture Lounge Studios. I am enjoying displaying my work on different platforms: I particularly like the contrast of vessels on the rusty plinths, wooden blocks and traditional bespoke hollow plinths, which have been commissioned for these summer shows.

The next exhibition, and the biggest event for me, is Art in Action in Oxford. It starts this Thursday 17^th July. I am thrilled to have been selected once again to be one of the main demonstrators in the Ceramics Marquee and I've also been moved to the middle of the Marquee in a prime spot. It will actually be the first time my work has been shown where people can walk around viewing and touching the pieces from every angle. You really are on a grand stage and you have to be prepared to demonstrate and talk all day, which is very tiring but really rewarding.

It really is a lovely event with the best makers selected from around the world. Every year they have a show called "Best of the Best" and in my first year there I won an award for my entry which was amazing. I'm particularly pleased with my submission this year so I’m hoping for good feedback again from the other artists and public. If anyone would like to speak to me about my work, I'll look forward to seeing you there:

http://www.artinaction.org.uk/

Working with Coloured Clay and Texture

 

 

I decided this year to move away from applying underglazes and stains to the surface of my work, and instead work with the raw clay itself to create a range of earthy tones. The piece above, believe it or not, will come out of the kiln dark grey. The more open body lends itself to a more physical approach with texture marks and scraping all part of the finish.

New large scale work installed

I have just delivered and installed this large pair of sculptural vessels to a very happy customer in London.  The plinth is made of steel and I particularly like the contrast between the jet black surface of the clay and the warm, orange tones from the rust.  Even the way the lawn has been cut fits nicely with the work too!

Sculptural Slab Building Workshop

Based within in a busy working studio of successful artists and creative professional practitioners, we specialise in sculpture courses for the beginner, intermediate or experienced. With a history of over six years of summer schools and workshops behind us we offer courses in a wide variety of media. We focus on the creative process and the development of skills.

James Oughtibridge specialises in  large-scale ceramic sculpture, and has exhibited successfully in the UK and internationally, after graduating with an MA from the Royal College of Art. His work has been featured in many publications, most recently in Claire Loder's, "Sculpting and Handbuilding":

 

 Course Details

(12th,13th and 14th September)

 

This exciting course is suitable for a beginner or a more confident artist. Class sizes are limited, to ensure a personal touch and productive group dynamic. Book to secure your place on this popular course. Call James on 07880967343, or The Sculpture Lounge on 01484 687425.

 

James Oughtibridge is a highly skilled practitioner and has been teaching adults since 2001, when he graduated in London. Practical work is demonstration-led and tailored, as much as is possible,  to the needs of the individual. Guidance and help is given throughout.

 

The materials provided on this course are the materials that James uses himself to make work to exhibition standard. There are no extra charges for materials or firings. The only additional charge will be for a glazing day, or follow-up sessions, at a later date if required.

 
This course is focused on sculptural slab-building, but there is some flexibility on ideas and outcome. You will be amazed at how versatile clay can be and at the dramatic structures that can be created in a relatively small space of time.

 

You will learn how to prepare and manipulate the clay in various ways, suiting your choice of outcome, using moulds and formers. Work can be developed to be placed in your garden, or interior, and can be functional or purely sculptural. The course is very much designed to send you away with a proudly finished piece of sculptural work and feeling very much inspired and confident to go back to your own studios/classes, armed with new ideas and techniques to try.

 

£310 for three-day course or £280 if you book and pay in full by the 11th of July 

(inclusive of homemade lunch and refreshments)

 

In addition, there is a large-scale state-of- the-art slab-roller at your disposal:

 

 

 

We look forward to meeting you and introducing you to the The Sculpture Lounge. Holmfirth is a popular tourist destination, and there are many B&Bs to be recommended.

 

 

Ivory Vessel, James Oughtibridge

Last year I was commissioned to make a pair of large scale vessels for an interior designer in London and they have just sent me this fab picture from a recent photo shoot.  It's always really nice to see how other people display the work and potential possibilities for different settings and backdrops.

The black clay vessel which I was asked to make by Valentine Clays in Stoke, has now come out of the second firing and I'm rather pleased with the results.  It has come out slightly speckled from the grog content, but I actually quite like it and think it adds to the overall texture giving it a clayness, if that makes sense.  Not sure yet how it will cope on a much larger scale but reckon its worth trialing for a bit.  Right delivery time now and hope they like it!

11 Upwards Ceramics Course

I have spaces available on a new, exciting hand building course aimed at students aged 11-18. The workshop will take place on a Tuesday evening from 6 till 7.30pm and will run for 6 weeks.  The class is £60, which is inclusive of all clay, glaze and firings.  We will explore different hand building methods, such as slab, coils and mould making.  Every student will be able to explore various decorating techniques and the work will then be glazed and fired for you to take away. Work made may be added to school coursework.

Starting end of September 2013.