BEHIND THE SCENES with Andrew Hazelden

ANDREW HAZELDEN (taken from our newsletter of 6th July 2023)

Andrew Hazelden's pottery studio sits amongst the tranquil trees of West Berkshire, with a flower patch and a field of goats for neighbours. The natural world is reflected in Andrew's work which is prolific in flowing lines of flora and fauna. After studying ceramics at the Epsom School of Art and Design, Andrew learned his signature technique of tin glaze earthenware and reduction fired lustre at the Aldermaston Pottery in Berkshire with Alan Caiger-Smith. Using a blend of Italian Duruta and Spencroft clays, Andrew hand-paints the oxides onto the tin glaze in the centuries old maiolica tradition.

Andrew Hazeldon

Andrew, tell us about some of your creative inspirations...

My technique of tin glaze and lustreware has a very ancient history, and these traditions and symbols inform much of my inspiration. Symbolic meanings are important to me; an early 9th century Persian bowl inspired my Hare designs, and the hare can be seen throughout the history of the maiolican technique with various meanings. I recently saw an ancient vase in the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, and amongst the hares running around the vase was the Arab word 'Barakah', meaning Blessing. The meanings of symbols which develop through time are very present in my work, the Octopus which I have painted on jugs and fish dishes was firstly inspired by the Minoan vases of 1500BC which are in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. But in the contemporary world the octopus has also become a symbol of intelligence and science.

Places have also been a great inspiration to me. The Olive Tree design started after seeing a wall painting in Mount Nebo when I visited Jordan in 1989, and my Quince design is directly from my memory of the beautiful old quince tree in Aldermaston Village (where I worked with Alan Caiger-Smith at the Aldermaston Pottery) and from which we made membrillo every autumn. The birds I often use on plates made to celebrate weddings were inspired by two peacock birds that are carved into the Norman tower at Aldermaston Church.

Working at Aldermaston Pottery for 22 years, the shapes and brush patterns have always stayed with me. Alan Caiger-Smith's Arts and Crafts philosophy was 'use beautiful things to enhance your everyday life' this has been a mantra for me and for many other potters.

Andrew Hazeldon's pottery studio in Berkshire

How do you begin to make a piece of work?

When I left Aldermaston Pottery I took a record of all the shapes and weights of the different pots that we made there - my pottery 'bible'. Some of the shapes I still make but some have changed with time - the salt jar, full stilton pot and three different ashtrays are some that are pretty redundant now. As I explain to my students, it's important to weigh out your lump of clay according to what you are making, otherwise you don't really learn anything about what size pot can be made from a 2lb lump of clay. So next to a potter's wheel is a pile of round lumps of clay carefully weighed out and waiting to be thrown. Sometimes a batch of pots are made, maybe twenty small mugs or three large 2-gallon jugs - whatever fits nicely on the wooden board.

Once the pot is thrown it is left a day to go leather hard and then it might have a foot turned or a pulled handle fixed to it depending on what it is. It is then dried slowly for the biscuit firing, the pots must be bone dry before going into the 1000 degree kiln. Once the pots are fired they go orange in colour and then they are dipped in a tin glaze, ready for brush painting with natural oxides.

Work in progress in Andrew Hazeldon's studio

Take us through a normal day in your studio?

I normally come into work at 9, and after my coffee and emails, I'm perhaps finishing something off from the day before, sometimes having to open all the windows if the there has been a kiln firing overnight! There may be some pots thrown that need handles or bowls that need turning, or I may start throwing a shape that is needed for my showroom or a custom order.

When I was at Aldermaston Pottery we were either only making or painting on any set day, but with my own pottery I could be doing both as well as packing the kiln, sieving a glaze or pugging the clay through the pug mill.

By 11am it's time for more coffee, during my break often someone turns up to collect a pot or place an order, or buy something from the showroom. I may have sold the last cream jug so I promise that I will throw some more soon! It can be quite difficult to keep up with keeping the showroom full, especially if a gallery owner turns up and wants to take all my 7'' bowls! I mainly do sale or return with galleries, so lists have to be written, commissions discussed.

I will stop for lunch around 1, depending on how busy I am. Next a lustre kiln will have to be packed for the following day. The lustre kiln is outside to keep any possible carbon monoxide fumes at bay; the dampers have to be blocked for lustre, so it's not wise to fire it indoors. By the time it is packed and ready to start firing tomorrow, it is 4pm and time for tea! I'll usually check my emails again, and perhaps throw some cachepots, before leaving for home around 5.30.

Stack of bowls by Andrew Hazeldon

What projects have you been working on recently?

I have recently collaborated with the Victoria and Albert Museum. They had the renowned Iranian lustre potter Dr Abbas Akbari coming over to lead a tile making workshop at the museum, and I was invited to fire the tiles in my gas kiln with the help of Dr Akbari. Learning from and hearing the wisdom of a potter who comes from the very place lustreware was first developed was very inspiring. As well as seeing him work close up he also gave me some very useful tips - from firing a reduction lustre kiln to recipes and techniques as well!

I have also been busy getting ready for my Summer Studio Exhibition which opens on the 8th of July. Pots have been thrown, fired and painted, and the showroom is finally full of 'beautiful things to enhance everyday life'.

Lustreware bowl by Andrew Hazeldon

For more information about Andrew Hazeldon visit his website https://andrewhazelden.co.uk/