Who's the best ?

Who are the best Potters currently around , I'm mainly talking UK potters , I reckon ( biased of course ) Robin Welch , Alan Wallwork and Sam hall are streets ahead of most , no secret I love Hall's work , I think for his age he has devoloped a great technique , Robin Welch is more advanced and has progressed in a fashion that I really admire , Wallwork has created some beautiful pieces that will never age imo, nature in stone . I have struggled to find works by other potters that make want to own as much as these three , I know there are brilliant potters out there , no doubt about it, but that extra spark isn't there for me and Iv'e looked at thousands of pieces , so many potters don't seem brave enough to go beyond the norm , salt pigs , pots that replicate the leach or early slipware stuff is a cop out imo , I would rather own a piece by an artist who has a modicom of originallity, My fav potters are !1-robin welch , sam hall, alan wallwork, .

Halima Cassel seems to be getting into public collections and books. Her work is very expensive. Jayne Hamlyn has a unique style currently and is developing some lovely glazes. Sara Flynn is up and coming too having exhibited at this year's 'Collect' and at Erskine Hall and Coe in London.

must admit never heard of any of them apart from Hamlyn , I never really liked her stuff that much , a bit boring and run of the mill , I will check out the other two though , it needs more than a glaze for me , I want form , texture , life etc . glazes are just chemicals applied .

much has been said of Anthony Theakston in recent years, but does he do much more than birds?

but one can't deny his beautiful sense of style and form

bistoboy wrote:but one can't deny his beautiful sense of style and form

Yup , can't argue with someones style , but for some resaon I am always drawn to sort off the road pieces , i admire the heritage and allure of older works, but knowing todays pieces may be regarded the same in the future is kinda exciting to .

Now what about getting ceramic artists to submit work to a selection panel for a prestigious exhibition in Central London and make it into a TV programme.

We can call it "Show Me the Coper".

P.S. As it's my idea I want to be on the panel.

Or maybe 'Show Rie the Money'?

Grayson Perry is a brilliant artist and an interesting character. Take out a mortgage and get one of his and you'll be sure not to lose out.

studio-pots wrote:Now what about getting ceramic artists to submit work to a selection panel for a prestigious exhibition in Central London and make it into a TV programme.

We can call it "Show Me the Coper".

P.S. As it's my idea I want to be on the panel.

Sounds Great , I would certainly watch a programme like that , work needed on a title though , I think something like "Top of the Pots " would be better , a showing of contemporary works by uk artists , ok SP you can be a judge , but I reckon a member of jo public should also be there as well and maybe another potter , Perry , yeah , why not would get viewers in I suppose

Having had a look at the works of all those named above - I have to be honest and say none of them 'do anything for me'.

I know Ed diagrees and it's certainly very different from those styles he seems to like.

But for me Kevin Walker (Fortcustard) is my favourite of those I'm aware of working at the moment. His work is not 'samey', the vase shapes all vary, the images reflect a range of styles and the colours vary greatly. I particularly like the 'emotion' he seems to put into the faces of his creatures - you can almost tell what they are thinking. They are more caricature than strictly 'life like', which appeals to me. I also like the mythical / fantasy element to a lot of his work.

They are not all to my taste - sometimes the images, sometimes the colours, aren't for me - but I still admire the work. I've purchased a few of his pots now and often they are better in the hand, than they appeared in pictures (especially the colours).

I also like the fact that they are all hand made and not just out of a mold.

But it's a good job we all have different tastes.

I agree ,none of the pics shown on the forum look as good as my pot

In my opinion it's Geoffrey Swindell.

you need to buy some pieces of his work potty

Potty wrote:In my opinion it's Geoffrey Swindell.

can't say i was familiar with his work until you mentioned his name Potty. So, had a look on Google. Wow! his pieces look like a coral reef

he's an exceptional potter