News today of the loss of two of the community’s great artists. Thanks for all the inspiration.

RIP – Emmanuel Cooper



“Potter Emmanuel Cooper’s first solo show was in 1968 and since then he has continued to regularly exhibit his vessels which are characterised by an interest in marrying relatively classic forms to vibrantly coloured glazes and unusual textures. But he also has other interests: he was a founding editor with Eileen Lewenstein, and since 1996 has edited, the highly respected magazine Ceramic Review, he is Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art and has been awarded an OBE for his services to the arts. However in spite of his writing and teaching activities, Cooper remains at heart a potter, saying, ‘The head, heart and hand literally and metaphorically come together when I’m creating.’”

Text via Ideas in the Making. Please follow the link for more images and text.

RIP – Raymond Finch


“Ray Finch, a South Londoner born in 1914, approached Michael Cardew in 1935, seeking employment. Cardew told him to go away and get some experience. He studied for a year at the Central School of Art, in London, and then was accepted by Cardew at Winchcombe Pottery. When Cardew went to Wenford Bridge in 1939 he left Finch in charge of Winchcombe. Production was interrupted by the war, but when it re-started in 1946 he purchased the business from Cardew. He ran Winchcombe until 1979 when he handed the running of the business over to his son, Michael.”For more info about Ray Finch please visit: http://www.studiopottery.com/cgi-bin/mp.cgi?item=164, http://rangefree.blogspot.com/2012/01/ray-finch-rip.html or this post on Dan Finnegan’s blog.