Been some months since the last blog update... I’ve been working away - attending the International Academy of Ceramics Conference in Paris, running courses in Ballenberg Switzerland and the Ceramic Research Centre in Denmark. Each time I travel I try to co-ordinate so that a journey is multi-useful... so on the way to Ballenberg, Switzerland - I stayed in Geneva delivering new work to Valerie and Peter at Galerie H, meeting one of Peter’s clients about a possible commission. In connection with my preparations for the new edition of Ceramics and Print I met with artist/researcher Magdelena Gerber at the Experimentation and Research Centre for Contemporary Ceramics. I had a meeting with Anne-Claire Schumacher, curator of the Musée Ariana about work for an exhibition in 2012, and visited the new Bruckner Ceramic Research Centre in Carouge. Had a great print course with interesting and enthusiastic participants, including the Kurszentrum director Adrian Knusel. On the way home I stayed overnight at an excellent B&B near Appeldorn and spent the next day at the spectacular gardens at Paleis Het Loos before my ferry home.

My time in Denmark included a wood soda firing with Ane-Katrine von Bülow and  teaching a print course (both activities ably assisted by the excellent Laura Mckibbon from Vancouver). Great workshop participants again - people from Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and the USA. The came the opening of an exhibition (with Kurt Weiser and Stephen Bowers) at Ann Linnemann’s beautiful gallery in Copenhagen. I also met up with Nina Hole and we discussed our ongoing plans to work together on a printed kiln sculpture. Also talked with the Research Centre about a Print Symposium for 2012, and a commission for a life sized printed tree for the sculpture park....

En-route to Denmark I stopped off at the Royal Tichelaar Pottery, Makkum. On the way home stayed at a great B&B at Finkum - spent the next morning at the wonderful Keramiekmuseum Princessehof Leeuwarden before heading to Ijmuiden for my ferry.

It always takes more time to recover from my travels than I think and so this past week or so has involved catching up on all the stuff that gets neglected when I’m out of the studio... travelling really knocks me out of a routine and the running of my business. Its also important to make time to reflect on travels, experiences and connections made.... and I also miss family and garden...

Now its back to work in the studio - the commission for Gateshead, as well as new artwork creation for the Scott Linnemann collaborative works.

Some pics... the top one being one of the porcelain pieces that inspired the printed English pattern, now produced by Burleigh called Calico, and inspiration for the Cumbrian Blue(s) contribution to the Hanoi Mosaic Mural.

More to follow another day