I recently got a new mug made by Simon Levin. I was very inspired by this mug and had to give it a go. The mug is very different from the current style of pots that I am making which of course caused me to question everything I have been making. This mug I think, demonstrates the "language of clay" as Simon calls it, very well. The thing I like most about Simon's pots, and this mug in particular, is that they are very well made and thought out without being overly refined. Simon also achieves incredible surfaces in his wood fired pots by a method that he discovered which he talks about in this podcast. The podcast is somewhat lengthy but is very interesting and informative.Simon's ability to create these amazing pots is very inspirational to me and may be leading my pots in a new direction. The ability to show the amount of skill that Simon's pots do without being over refined amazes me. I think that my pots have become over refined. I hope to be able to implement this "less is more" philosophy into my pots.
(My new Simon Levin mug)
(New cup I just got from I also just got a new cup from Tom Turner today! Although Tom's cup and Simon's cup seem to be on the two ends of the pottery spectrum they both offer a quality that I look for in my work. Both cups are very well made and show the tremendous skill of the potter who made them. Both pots are truly amazing and I am extremely happy to be able to add them to my collection.
