The Great Pottery Throw Down (2015–…): Season 3, Episode 4 - Episode #3.4 - full transcript
This week we've a Neapolitan of colors
for a glorious slip cast challenge.
Hmm, yummy.
With just nine potters remaining
who will survive the slippery little multicolored
clay construction?
Welcome to The Great Pottery Throw Down.
Can I have a flake in that, love?
Ta.
This week, a throw down first.
We have something.
A slip casting main make
and the slip-ups come thick and fast.
It's not coming out.
Oh, my God.
It's all come out.
And a throw down
that no one saw coming.
Oh, God, I'm doing it wrong already.
Where size definitely matters.
What's a good width anyway? KEITH: 22 centimeters.
But who's creations
will see them crowned potter of the week?
I literally didn't think you were gonna get anything off.
Brilliant.
And who will be slip-sliding away?
I think I'd rather go through labor again to be honest.
That don't even deserve a wink.
This week, the potters have to tackle a technique
that's normally reserved for the world of mass production.
Slip casting is a method of making ceramics
by pouring slip, which is liquid clay, into plaster molds.
Perfect for creating shapes that are hard to do on a wheel.
It's used for everything from teapots to toilets
but it's a tricky process to get to grips with
and we've never attempted it as a main challenge before.
This could go quite bad, this challenge.
It's quite a sort of difficult one
to get your head round actually.
They're gonna see some strange stuff happening today
and a lot of leaks as well.
Slip casting is Sue's thing
so I assume that she's just gonna be tearing us apart
yeah, which is quite nerve-wracking.
The most nervous I've been so far, I think.
Morning, potters, welcome back.
So, for your first challenge this week
our judges would like you
to make two slip cast multicolored decorative vases.
The smallest must be 15 centimeters
and the largest 25 centimeters.
And you're in luck because Sue is a slip cast expert.
So, no pressure.
So, potters, you've got three colored clays.
And remember it's really important
to think about your timings.
Timing is absolutely crucial.
If you leave your slip in the molds too long
your cast will be too thick
and if you pour it out too soon
your cast will be too thin.
You've got five and a half hours
to slip cast and decorate your two vases.
And your time starts now.
So far, our potters have been dealing with solid clay.
Oh, my God.
This will test their knowledge of it
in its liquid form.
Yeah, I'd say this is the hardest challenge
considering the time we're given.
The potters have each been given
two molds, one cylindrical and one spherical
So, it's like a puzzle. MEL: in which to cast
all the component parts of their vases.
If they're not properly secured
the liquid clay could leak out.
Gotta have the elastic bands on tight.
Who'd have thought it would be so hard to put a bloody elastic
band around a cylinder?
The potters are using porcelain slip
which they need to stir to get to the right consistency.
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.
I'm just starting by keeping everything nice and smooth
by sieving twice.
You're, sort of, looking for double cream, really.
This one got little lumps in
and I'm sure Sue would not like lumps, no.
Of course, I wouldn't like lumps either.
So, Sue, slip casting, you pour the stuff in
you pour it out and there's your pot.
It's not hard, is it, really?
It's really difficult.
It's not like throwing where you just stick it on the wheel
pull it up and then that's it.
It is a notoriously difficult method of making to master.
- Go on. -This is really a good example
of what we're asking the potters to do.
The maker has used five layers of slip
and she's carved through
to reveal all of those colored clays underneath.
That's really hard because of the precision involved.
I think they might find this really hard.
- Are you very precise then? -Very.
So, I'm going blue, pink, white for my sphere
and I'm going white, pink, blue for my cylinder.
I'm doing three layers of color on some of them
two on others.
There's a layer of blue then I put white inside.
So, we're gonna etch into it so white will come through.
Trying to visualize it. I'm struggling with these challenges
to even imagine what you guys are doing.
Even me. So, this is my first time ever doing
like layers and stuff so
like, it's new to me.
To confuse matters even more
Is that really white? MEL: at this stage
the different colored clays all look the same.
- Is that your white? -Yeah.
Oh. It's really dark.
- I thought it'd be pure white. -When it's fired, it'll change.
My illustration shows different layer colors
and when you cut through the layer
it will hopefully show three different colors.
Rosalind's making
matching stylized owl vases.
She'll construct her feathered friends
out of two cylinders and a sphere.
They're just to make people smile
so hopefully I'm onto a winner.
Everyone loves an owl.
I'm doing my first layer which is gonna be blue.
This first pour
will form the outside shell of their vases.
This could get messy. CLAIRE: I don't like mess.
As soon as the liquid clay
hits the plaster, it starts to dry.
And the depth of each layer
will be determined by how long it's left in.
It is all about precision timing.
I don't want this in the mold for any more
than a minute and a half.
Each minute equates to about one mm of thickness.
On my blue one I want two mil
I'm giving it two minutes.
I think the slip is a bit too thick.
Oh, God.
Hiya, Rainna. RAINNA: Hello.
How you doing?
I'm having a right laugh, here.
Good. -What's going on?
I don't know.
You don't know?
It's just really, really difficult.
Have you got anything to show us? A drawing?
Yeah, it's terrible. MEL: Oh, let's have a look.
All right. Don't take the mickey though.
We never do.
Okay, so it's- -MEL: Sorry.
- See what I mean? -Sorry, no, it's lovely.
It looks terrible, I know
but I'll explain my drawing.
Based on the coast, White Cliffs of Dover.
That's the sky, that's the white cliffs
that's the sea, that's the sand. But it's a really bad drawing
but I was hoping that's gonna look better on my thing.
I'm sure it will.
Rainna's slip cast vases
are an affectionate nod to her home county of Kent.
Her abstract design will see a cast sphere shape vase
of blue and yellow
representing the sea and beach
and a large cylindrical vase made from blue and white slip
as the sky and cliffs.
To add texture and height
she'll use a decorative technique called slip trailing.
The slip trail I'm gonna have so it's gappy.
So I'm only gonna take half of the mold
- and then slip trail on there. -Right, okay.
Leave that to dry. Hopefully, it'll peel off and then
I can then attach it with some more slip.
- I'll look forward to that. -That's the technique I'll use.
'cause otherwise I'm only just keeping to two simple forms.
So I thought I'll keep to the simple form
but add something that's quite challenging to do.
Well, sounds good.
- Good luck, Rainna, yeah. -Thank you.
And we are at the time limit.
Excuse me while I pour this.
Each layer of slip needs to be timed to perfection
if the potters want to achieve an even thickness
to the walls of their vases.
Blimey, it's heavy.
The muscles are definitely gonna come in handy for this.
Save going to the gym.
Yeah.
I just hope the rubber bands don't come off.
Oh, mate. MATT: The band was on
there's just so much weight of slip in there that it just
the band wasn't strong enough to pull the bottom up with it.
Little, little spillage, won't be doing that again.
For his large vase
Matt is hoping to make multiple casts of spheres
which he'll then stack to construct his largest vase
and use the cylinder cast for his small vase.
Matt will incorporate his three colors
using a technique called marbling
by mixing his slip together.
How you achieving that decoration on there?
I'm pouring pink into the jug first and then
- Yeah. -you can just see in there
there's a little bit of pink and white.
So, how are you swirling it?
Are you agitating the mold?
- Just pouring it and as it... -Okay, right.
So, you're really trying to get some fluidity in the design?
Hopefully I can do that.
But fluidity
appears to be something Rainna's having trouble with.
It's not coming out.
God.
I think the slip is probably a bit too thick.
Break it open.
Oh, there you go. Look at it.
It's disgusting, I'm starting again.
Rainna's not the only one
struggling to manage the slip and molds.
It's quite slow pouring.
Maybe it's gone all solid in there.
I really don't know what's going on inside the mold.
I'm just gonna take a look, see what it's like.
Ooh. It looks very wet and congealed.
Yuk.
I'm ditching this one and starting again.
Oh, all that work.
Start again.
I'm going to cast another bowl through the bowl mold
so that I'll be able to use it as the bottom half of my bud.
After three weeks of sea-themed designs
Leonard has decided to get back on dry land
with his Dahlia-themed vases.
He will carve out his cylinder and sphere casts
to capture the thin petals of the flower.
One vase in full bloom and one as a flower bud.
I love drawing Dahlia's.
I want it to represent this bowl
which is the bud of the Dahlia.
So I need to cast two bowls
one which will get carved into the petally legs
and the other bowl will be pared back
to reveal the colors underneath the surface layer.
Flea is also going
with flower themed vases.
So, my daughter's name is Iris. Keith: Right.
I love the name, I love the flower.
So what I'm hoping to get is the dark blue on the outside
the yellow on the inside
and the Iris' will be carved
so you'll get the yellow coming through.
Flea's vases will be made from cylinders and spheres
which she'll cut and join
to produce a contemporary matching pair.
The delicate detail of her Iris design
will be achieved by scraping and carving
into the surface of the porcelain.
But she needs to cast her molds first.
Ooh, sorry.
Can you remember what that's for?
Yeah, it's for this one. Let me just
it's not quite thick enough.
So, you're getting the hang of this now then?
It's not for the faint-hearted.
I think I'd rather go through labor again to be honest.
I mean that.
Come on, it's like rocking a baby to sleep.
Shh. There, there.
After their painful start
Hallelujah.
Rosalind, Leonard and Rainna
It, well, it's coming out, so that's good.
are back on track.
Just prepping the next color slip.
I think we'll be okay.
The only thing is, I've got to cast two of each
so excuse me while I mop my brow.
With two molds and several layers of colored slip
So, I'm on pink.
organization is key.
I don't know what I'm doing
I don't know what I'm gonna do next
bear with me, I'm thinking on the spot here.
I poured the second layer in to the sphere
the next layer I'm going to pour in is going to be blue.
Is it? I can't remember now.
Rosa's hoping her blue, white and pink vases
will capture the bond between a mother and child.
She'll press a sphere-shaped indent
on the side of her large vase
to allow the small vase to snuggle into it.
You know when you're pregnant you're carrying the child
you can get them separated
but you're still part of each other.
- Wow. -It's a little deep, isn't it?
Yeah, I like it. It's good.
Potters, just over an hour gone already.
- Oh, really? -Yes.
Messy business.
You've got it all over you, mate.
- On my face? Yeah? -RAINNA: Yeah.
Ten seconds, oh, heck.
We've got this.
Each layer of color is a painstaking process.
So, I've done my blue, I'm on my white,
I'm getting some muscles.
The more colored slip the potters add
the heavier and more difficult the molds are to handle.
Oh, my God. It's all come out.
What am I gonna do?
The potters are over an hour into their challenge
to produce a pair of multicolored slip cast vases.
I'm just about to empty out my final layer in my bowl
which is the white layer.
Hopefully it works out.
It will work out.
But for Flea, it's back to square one
and this time she's taking a belt and braces approach
to secure her mold.
I don't wanna lose the slip.
I'm gonna make this work.
If the potters thought getting the slip into the mold
and keeping it there was hard
Can't get it open.
they now face the tricky process
of getting their cast safely out
Am I just a idiot? I bloody can't get this apart.
Nah, me neither.
and in one piece.
I can't get it out.
That's a problem?
They're just stuck.
They're just stuck.
At the moment, my bowl is stuck in the mold.
Any slip-ups now
mean they risk not having the time to start again.
All fun and games, ay.
I've got three cylinders to cast and five spheres
so enough to make me worry about time.
One slip of their hand and the cast could be ruined.
Oh, yes.
Oh, finally. ROSALIND: Hallelujah.
But, I need to pour another one quickly.
How's it going, Flea?
It's good, I think I'm gonna do it.
If I stop shaking.
As Flea catches up
the rest of the potters prep their molds
for the second batch of cylinders and spheres.
Clean this guy, get him back together
'cause I need to pour the next layer into him.
Claire's vases of blue
white and pink will also feature a fourth color
as she'll decorate them with yellow feathers
that she'll cast in sprig molds she made at home.
A detail that has special meaning.
A feather, kind off, means a lot to me in my life.
Ever since I lost my granny to cancer
I kept getting all these little feathers appearing
out of nowhere just really strangely.
Oh, I see. What, in just your day to day life?
Yeah, like, they would appear in the strangest of places
where, you know it just couldn't have come from anywhere.
Like, I never had feather pillows
I never had feather belongings
that just these little white feathers would just appear
in places and I just, sort of, always thought
that's my granny looking down on me.
So that's where my concept's coming from.
And it seems the pottery gods
are finally smiling down on Flea.
Yes.
Could actually happen.
I don't know how I could possibly turn this round
but there's a possibility that I might.
Potters, you are halfway through.
Come on.
How's it going, Leonard?
I've managed to get one whole bowl out.
Yay. True story.
If running a slip casting production line
wasn't stressful enough
the potters need to start assembling
and joining their pieces
if they're to leave themselves enough time to finish
to the high standards Sue is expecting.
It's very important it's joined well.
It's only got one firing
it makes everything more precarious.
The seam should be fairly seamless.
It's gonna be hard to impress Sue.
I think the slightest little thing it's gonna matter.
Finishing, I think, is really important.
It's a bit rough around the sides
but I'm happy with it, gonna just do my best.
Ronaldo's green
blue and yellow vases will represent his past in Barbados
and present in the UK.
His combination of spheres
will be cut and altered for a contemporary design
and to achieve the height required
he'll add an architectural form
as a nod to the skyline of his home in London.
I just decided to stick to the things I love.
I like the kind of futuristic architecture
and I love nature and landscapes
so I think they'll work good together.
I hope so.
Ah, Jacob. -Slimy.
So messy, so so messy.
Your bench is just carnage.
It's organized mess, fine.
- I know where everything is. -Right, okay.
There's a bit of clay under there that I need
Right, is there? Okay, 'cause it just, yeah
it just looks like the whole place is trashed.
Yeah, it is, it is.
Jacob is casting a cylindrical
and spherical vase in deep blue slip
which he'll carve into to reveal a white layer underneath.
He'll also use ornate creatures to adorn the outside
of his pair of vases.
I'm doing cylinders now and then half kind of...
- Like ears? -Ears, yeah.
And then on the ears I'm gonna engrave, like
some mythical creatures
Okay.
if I've got time so.
Oh, yeah, you, well, I dunno.
Yeah. -Yeah.
The potters need to ensure
their vases reach the minimum height requirement.
We're looking for 25 and 15.
And whilst Ronaldo
is using an architectural form to add height to his vases
Rainna is going for a more organic look.
What are these things here?
These are my slip trailing
and I'll just sort of stick that on.
- Looks like a little crown. -It does, don't it?
Maybe you should just wear it.
Would you wanna wear the crown?
Do you think it'll suit me?
You know what, it does, you know.
While Rainna's busy making her crown
Rosa has been raiding the throne for her secret weapon
a ballcock to create a perfect curve in her large vase.
You can sort of squeeze the ball in
and it sort of bends around it.
Anyway, I think that's deep enough.
Oh, it's so wet. MEL: Are you alright?
What's going on?
I'd like to say it was.
I was building something beautiful
but it's not coming out as planned.
Okay, this is supposed to be your Dahlia?
It looks quite grotesque.
It's kind of like an artichoke at the moment I'd say.
So, the idea is that it looks as though it's sat on
petals.
But I'm doing this and I know that I shouldn't be.
Why are you doing it then?
You're very rough and ready with that.
- Because. -Because of time?
The time is going to run out.
Okay, so you have got a really, a lot to do, haven't you.
Yep, quite a lot to do.
The potters have spent hours
building up the layers of colored slip
which they need to gently carve through
to reveal the colors beneath.
Just carved that whole piece out there
and give it an effect of an eye.
But carve too deeply
and they risk weakening the structure of their vases
and could cause them to collapse.
Please don't look at my bud.
Potters, you've got half an hour left.
Oh, dear. CLAIRE: This is really, really, scary.
I haven't put anything into the surface
or on the surface yet.
How did you do it, Flea? FLEA: Sweating.
You, you threw it all over the floor
and you still have two beautiful forms
and I'm still trying to construct mine.
Don't even deserve a wink.
Well, you've got something three dimensional,
put it that way.
I'm feeling a little bit under stress with this one.
Don't know how I'm ever gonna get this done in the time.
Claire spent so long
fettling for a perfect finish
she's up against it for the decoration.
So scared of rushing now and making a mistake.
That's always when mistakes happen.
If I go, too deep it's all over.
When you're carving and you're stressed
it just goes really, really bad.
It's just collapsed.
I won't have a second piece.
- It's gone completely. -Has it?
- Yeah, it just collapsed on me. -Oh, no.
I was carving through and I carved, obviously, too deep.
I'm not even gonna attempt to, work on it but-
Oh, I'm sorry about that, Leonard.
- Keep going. -Thank you very much, Mel.
Alright darling good luck. -Yep, thank you.
What's up?
It's the worst thing I've made, ever.
- Look at it. -It looked better on me.
Oh, gosh.
Oh, my God.
I've gotta think of something.
I don't even know what to do.
Potters, you've got 10 minutes left.
Both of your vases have to be on your bats
and in the drying room by the end of the challenge.
Oh, this just isn't physically possible now.
Rosa, are you cool? Are you on track?
It's fine there, just don't put it that way.
Claire, I know you've got them feathers to stick on.
- I'm sticking on one. -Fine.
Where's your other one? -In the drying room.
Oh, it's already in there, is it?
Okay, you're ahead of the game.
You're trying something new.
I don't know what I'm doing. I'm just trying to add height.
You know what, it might fire up to be really, really lovely.
Well, that's it, you don't know how it's gonna be.
That's the magic of it all.
Nice. RONALDO: Thanks.
Potters, you've got one minute left.
You're making me very nervous.
Chop, chop.
At least I've got something.
Whoa. Alright?
Only one piece.
Come on, now, get your vases on those bats, please.
Oh, Rosa.
Ten, nine, eight
seven, six, five, four
three, two, one.
Time's up.
Oh.
Well done, potters.
Okay, that's it, potters dismissed.
Whoo.
The last 10 minutes was brutal
so I was, like, really rushing to get those incisions in.
I've never feathered so fast.
Literally, I rolled up a load of clay
and just put this weird
I don't even know what it is.
The vases will now stay
in the drying room for three days
before being fired in the electric kiln.
I'm really pleased with what I came up with and
when you're joining like that
there's always concern that there's gonna be breaks.
I just hope it comes through the kiln.
The small piece was a disaster and I lost it.
Got another challenge coming up and maybe if I excel in that
it'll be enough to alleviate the errors
but I don't know.
Each week the potters face two challenges
the second is a complete mystery.
And this week, for some of the potters
it could be a vital lifeline
to keeping their place in the pottery.
I could pull myself back from the disaster the other day.
Positive attitude, always.
I'm a little bit apprehensive about the second challenge.
I'm hoping that it'll be throwing.
We have not done enough throwing
and I'm really excited to get back to the wheel.
Oh, this is intense.
There's rumors about there being
some sort of twist to the challenge today.
I don't think we're worried about it
but we are very, very curious
as to what this twist might be.
Morning, potters. Welcome back.
It's time for your second challenge
and this is a throw down with a twist
because you're going to be throwing with your feet.
You're not really.
- Was that a- -No, that's a joke.
I really wish it was that challenge now
- but it's not. -No.
Instead though
you're going to have to throw a bowl wearing this.
So, Keith, would you like to demonstrate?
Right, here we go.
Now, throwing is all about feeling the clay
between your fingers.
We're looking for the widest bowl
but also, I want to see a really deliberate positive rim
on this bowl.
The minute you put the blindfold on
your hands become more sensitive.
I'm literally just feeling the clay
and I'm feeling that base
and I'm getting it nice and bowl-shaped.
And it's partly muscle memory
from when you throw normally.
It's called Haptic Skill, isn't it?
That's right.
Where you've got the connection between your hand
and your eye co-ordination
and it's things that you do all the time without thinking.
So, you probably all know how to do this.
Do we have to get it off? -You do have to get it off
the wheel.
So, it could go all wrong there, couldn't it?
There you go, well done.
- Are you happy with that, Keith? -It's alright.
Yeah, it's good. I like that.
So, go back to your benches
put your blindfolds on and no peeking.
This is exciting.
Well that properly is a blindfold.
- Rosa. -Sorry.
Okay, all the blindfolds are on.
You've got 10 minutes and your time starts now.
They've been given enough clay to make two bowls.
So, if their first attempt fails, they can have another go.
Just feel that clay.
You'll know when you've got it centered.
Oh, my god, I love this challenge. This is so cool.
I got it on the wheel which is a good start
and, weirdly, I'm shutting my eyes as well.
I've never tried this.
It's nice that you have to feel the clay
- and let the clay talk to you. -Look at Ronaldo.
He's taking it very calmly, isn't he?
I know.
I think, oh, god, I'm doing it wrong already.
Push towards the center, Rainna.
Well done, Leonard.
Nice vase there.
Remember, we want a bowl shape.
I'm trying to work with my intuition.
Jacob's got a really nice shape going on there
now hasn't he?
He has, yeah.
He looks very much in control.
Uh.
Yeah, I'm all right, not too hard.
When you're ready. We'd like to see a bowl at some time.
Slow and steady, yeah?
I need to concentrate on pulling the bowl out
as wide as I dare bring it.
Rosa's is, oh, she's lost it.
She's literally got one more go, right?
Yep.
Ah.
Potters, that's five minutes gone, five minutes left.
It's just gone, time's flown.
I'm not feeling confident at all.
Well, it feels like I'm making something.
Does it look like a bowl?
Woo, losing it.
I can feel a bowl there, but it's got a big foot.
Claire's putting some shape into it now.
Oh, yes.
Matt's getting one off. MEL: Is he?
- That sounds a bit odd. -No, let's not
- let's just rephrase that one. -Yeah.
One minute left, gang, one minute.
Leonard's finished.
- Don't ruin it, Rainna. -Oh, my God you're scaring me.
Just be careful, don't plonk it down.
Five, four, three
two, one.
We have bowls.
You can take your blindfolds off now.
Well done
Oh, my God, I've made a bowl.
Isn't it amazing to see what you've actually achieved
just with your fingers?
Oh, I'm quite pleased.
Ronaldo, class.
Thanks, mate.
Oh, wow. -He's right though
it's actually very therapeutic. Like, you just get in the zone.
My little tiny one.
The potters have made nine wide bowls
but who will measure up in both quality and width?
Hey, Jacob.
You're looking really pleased. It is a good shape.
It's lovely, but it's all about size I'm afraid.
Let's have a look.
So, 19 and a half?
Yeah, good. Well done, Jacob.
Yeah, beautiful. Thank you.
Nice rim on there too. -Thank you.
Well done, Jacob. -Cheers, thanks.
Hey, Matt, how was that for you?
In my mind it was at least 10 centimeters wider
than it is though.
Always is, Matt. MEL: Right.
So, we like the shape? We like the rim?
It's a really strong form, isn't it?
If you just bellied out and widened out this bit
it's just about being braver.
So, 19?
Yeah. -Yeah.
I can see you thought about making the base thicker
to actually get it off. But you haven't been as bold
as you could've done to make that bowl shape.
So, 18.
Now, you're, don't do that.
It does look like a goblet
Yeah.
Got a really nice curve inside.
It's a lovely, kind of, porridge bowl shaped. SUE: Yeah, it is.
Yeah. Hmm, thank you. -I'd say Mummy Bear.
Mummy Bear porridge bowl.
Seventeen, really nice radius.
Yeah.
It looked great when you were throwing it
and now I've just seen it's got a hole in it.
Yeah, it's a, it's a plant bowl.
Ah, right, okay. -Shall we measure it, though?
- Cause that's the important bit. -Yeah, let's have a go.
So it's kind of oval, actually.
Let's take the widest.
Shall we go for 20? MEL: Yes, 20.
20 centimeters.
It looks wide.
- Yeah, I'm very pleased. -You've been really brave there
because you've done a small foot rim and a really wide rim.
You know, that could've collapsed.
So. Look at that, that's 25.
25? That's great
Good work.
It's really quite contained
which is exactly how I thought it would be from you.
Very ordered, really neat.
Eighteen and a half at the most, I think.
It's a strong form.
It is. Just over 21, isn't it?
Yep. SUE: Yeah. Well done.
Thanks, Leonard.
The judges will now rank the potters' bowls
from worst to best.
Really good effort by all of you
but in ninth place
with 15 and a half centimeters wide
is Rosalind.
In eighth place, unfortunately
it was one of the widest,
but it had a hole in the bottom
is Rainna's at 20 centimeters.
In seventh place with 17 centimeters, lovely bowl
Rosa.
Flea was sixth with 18 centimeters
half a centimeter more put Claire in fifth place.
Matt was fourth, with 19 centimeters.
In third place with 19 and a half centimeters
is Jacob.
So, it's between Leonard and Ronaldo
for the top spot.
So, in second place with 21 and a half centimeters
is Leonard.
So, in first place with the widest bowl
at 25 centimeters is Ronaldo.
Well done Ronaldo. Whoo.
It feels great to know I finally won something, like.
Whoo. So good.
So, I got four centimeters more than Leonard.
Size really does matter.
The second week in a row that I've come second
in the second challenge.
I do still feel as if there's a little danger of me going out.
I really wasn't happy with the slip casting.
Being near the bottom in that challenge
and doing so badly on the vases
it's not looking good for me really, is it?
Dum, dum, dum.
After three days of drying
and 24 hours of firing, the potters' slip cast vases
are ready to come out of the kiln.
Come on in.
This is the first time
they'll get to see their vases in full color.
We don't know what we're gonna face
we don't know how they fared in the firing.
We don't know what the color is gonna be like.
The moment of truth.
The moment of truth indeed.
It just gone in for one firing
so there'll be no glazing to cover up any cracks
or anything like that.
Right, let's get them out.
Huh, wow.
Quite a transformation.
Oh, yeah.
Rosa.
Okay. ROSA: Good. It sank a little bit
but overall, I'm actually quite happy with the look.
Jacob. All right with those?
- Yeah. -Claire.
They all survived, so I'm really happy.
Oh, the pink is still pink. Wow.
So, my squashed one's down here in the front.
I was hoping it might.
Focus on the positives.
Yeah.
- The contrast of colors works. -Yeah.
Last week I won potter of the week
and then this week it was just a total flop.
I don't even wanna look at them.
Last but not least. FLEA: Yeah.
I don't know how I did it. That, I don't know.
Really pleased. RICH: Yeah, they look great.
Thank you. -Comeback queen.
It was really intense.
I pushed through and I produced something quite beautiful
and I'm really proud of myself.
The potters must now polish their vases
to achieve a smooth finish
before filling them with flowers ready for judging.
It looks a little bit like some weird, space worm.
When you look back and see the
complete mess we were all in
to have something's quite good.
Oh, I'm so happy.
If I take away everything, just that bit there.
I like that.
I could put at least one large flower head in there.
I'm gonna present them that way.
Less is more, isn't that what they say?
I'm happy.
The potters have turned 126 liters of liquid clay
into 18 unique slip cast vases.
But whose pair will win them potter of the week
and who will Sue and Keith decide
to cast out of the pottery?
Rainna, would you like to bring your vases up, please?
Up she goes.
Thank you.
One positive point
is that they have got your energy about them.
- Frenetic energy. -I don't know what.
I think it's called panic.
That was mad.
How did you do this bit on the top?
So, I just rolled out some clay
whacked it on, dripped a load of slip round it.
Do you call that slip casting?
It was slip casted though.
What, the bit of clay that you rolled out?
There you go, yeah.
You've stuck this bit on the top.
You haven't tried to hide the fact.
You've actually accentuated it.
So, at least you've managed to sort of
you know, hide that in the way of making it really obvious.
Does that make any sense?
Yeah, we can resurrect a bad job.
I'm just glad they're, you know, they're done.
That's over with now.
It is over, thank you so much, darling.
Thank you.
The first thing that strikes me is
which one's the large one and which one's the small one?
- This one here. -That's the large one?
Yeah.
We asked for one large and one small.
So, I was thinking about height
so I thought I could add something to give the height.
I really like this effect here.
Yeah, I quite like your mark making
and it's worked out really well, hasn't it?
Yep.
Well, we can definitely see you've used three colors.
In terms of marbling
the qualities that you've managed to achieve here
are really commendable.
I'm not convinced about the design of this one.
I was just hoping it would be more elegant.
Yeah, it looks a bit like a plastic bottle that's melted,
doesn't it?
Well, that's disappointing.
You've scored and incised through
to the different layers of slip
which is what we were looking for.
I'm really liking this curve here.
So, they sit together, don't they here?
So that makes complete sense.
We asked for you to make them
as a set that would work together
and you've achieved that.
It works really well.
Thank you so much.
That obviously looks like a mistake.
You know, that was always gonna be really tricky.
You just can't do that with a colored clay
or a slip cast body.
You've got lots of layers
and they're very thick so the body's really struggling
On this one, however
it's a far more formidable piece.
You have got your three, four colors in there.
You have done some piercing and some incising.
I do have issues with, sort of, the quality.
We've got two forms here
one definitely qualifies as a vase.
Yep. KEITH: Does this one, Sue?
No, I don't think it fits the criteria unfortunately.
Nope.
Flea, would you like to bring your vases up, please?
Like I'm walking down the aisle.
Duh, duh, duh-duh.
Which one am I marrying?
The one in the middle.
It's not too bad, is it?
You've done a good job considering the mess you're in.
Thank you.
You've ended up with this proper Wedgewood blue.
You know, you've shown real tenacity
in actually getting something out of the mold.
I mean, it's a shame that you can see the seam line here.
Considering where you came from
it's amazing what you've done.
it feels really good to have two things I feel quite proud of.
You know what, Flea?
You should be proud of yourself.
You really should be proud of yourself
because I literally didn't think
you were gonna get anything off
and you have.
It's amazing and I'm proud of you
for actually persevering. Brilliant.
You can but only smile when you see them.
And I like this surface design that you've put on there.
I would've liked a bit more color to come through
- from one of the slips. -Yes, yeah.
I was disappointed to see that that hadn't shown through.
And it's just the attention to detail really
that I was looking for.
I wanted to see, sort of, the rims finished really neatly
'cause you can get a really good level of finish
when you're slip casting.
- I'm liking the weight thought. -Yeah.
The casting thickness is good and at the end of the day
you have produced two things that made the judges smile.
Yeah, they're very charming.
So, I think what is commendable
is that you've clearly thought about
how long to case each of those colors for.
You know, that's down to your aesthetic judgment, isn't it?
And your design skill.
It's just basically down to finish, isn't it, really?
Well, it is. Attentional to detail is what I'd look for
in a slip cast vessel.
And it would've elevated it and given it, sort of an
extra dimension.
Looking for flaws is really difficult.
It's the precision that really works.
You've got this really nice flat top rim and a sharpness.
What is really nice
is that you've got pink inside and also white.
But here you've got a layer of blue
that just shines through.
You know, that's exactly what we wanted to see
the contrast between the layers.
And your little sprigs of feather on there
again, are really, really lovely.
Not only are they beautiful
they're just really well executed.
They're fantastic.
I would've liked to see more of them.
- Me too. -But they're really lovely.
Are you happy with those comments?
Yeah.
Yeah, really, really well done.
It's a slip challenge which was just totally not me
so to get comments like that in a challenge like that
I'm just, wow.
Keith had a little tear so that was nice.
I hope my granny's looking down and she's really happy.
They like my curve. That's quite good.
I think there's a massive chance
I'm gonna be going home this week.
Their comments I think were fair enough.
I knew where I went wrong
the whole thing went wrong.
The judging was what I expected the judging to be.
Do I feel that I'm safe in the judging room?
No, I don't.
Potters, the judges have made their decision.
First, the good news.
This week's potter of the week
and having their slip cast vases displayed
in the throw down gallery is
Claire.
Well done, Claire.
Now the bit that's just getting harder
and harder every week.
One of you has to go home
and this week
that person is
- Leonard. -Thank you.
It does help that I was expecting
to be the one chosen to go this week.
It would've been nice to go onto the next challenge
but it wasn't to be.
It has been extremely pleasant
being with all the other potters
and just the support that they've all given was great.
So, as Leonard leaves the pottery
Claire is named our potter of the week for the second time.
Her beautiful feather vases
will join her winning breakfast set
as she claims another plinth in our throw down gallery.
First time I got potter of the week
I really didn't feel like I deserved it
but today I'm absolutely delighted
that I got potter of the week
because it's just something, you know
I don't normally do.
So to get it in a slip casting challenge
you know, I'm just over the moon.
I'm really pleased that this week is over
it was the worst week I've had.
I thought I slipped up
but actually I've slipped through.
for a glorious slip cast challenge.
Hmm, yummy.
With just nine potters remaining
who will survive the slippery little multicolored
clay construction?
Welcome to The Great Pottery Throw Down.
Can I have a flake in that, love?
Ta.
This week, a throw down first.
We have something.
A slip casting main make
and the slip-ups come thick and fast.
It's not coming out.
Oh, my God.
It's all come out.
And a throw down
that no one saw coming.
Oh, God, I'm doing it wrong already.
Where size definitely matters.
What's a good width anyway? KEITH: 22 centimeters.
But who's creations
will see them crowned potter of the week?
I literally didn't think you were gonna get anything off.
Brilliant.
And who will be slip-sliding away?
I think I'd rather go through labor again to be honest.
That don't even deserve a wink.
This week, the potters have to tackle a technique
that's normally reserved for the world of mass production.
Slip casting is a method of making ceramics
by pouring slip, which is liquid clay, into plaster molds.
Perfect for creating shapes that are hard to do on a wheel.
It's used for everything from teapots to toilets
but it's a tricky process to get to grips with
and we've never attempted it as a main challenge before.
This could go quite bad, this challenge.
It's quite a sort of difficult one
to get your head round actually.
They're gonna see some strange stuff happening today
and a lot of leaks as well.
Slip casting is Sue's thing
so I assume that she's just gonna be tearing us apart
yeah, which is quite nerve-wracking.
The most nervous I've been so far, I think.
Morning, potters, welcome back.
So, for your first challenge this week
our judges would like you
to make two slip cast multicolored decorative vases.
The smallest must be 15 centimeters
and the largest 25 centimeters.
And you're in luck because Sue is a slip cast expert.
So, no pressure.
So, potters, you've got three colored clays.
And remember it's really important
to think about your timings.
Timing is absolutely crucial.
If you leave your slip in the molds too long
your cast will be too thick
and if you pour it out too soon
your cast will be too thin.
You've got five and a half hours
to slip cast and decorate your two vases.
And your time starts now.
So far, our potters have been dealing with solid clay.
Oh, my God.
This will test their knowledge of it
in its liquid form.
Yeah, I'd say this is the hardest challenge
considering the time we're given.
The potters have each been given
two molds, one cylindrical and one spherical
So, it's like a puzzle. MEL: in which to cast
all the component parts of their vases.
If they're not properly secured
the liquid clay could leak out.
Gotta have the elastic bands on tight.
Who'd have thought it would be so hard to put a bloody elastic
band around a cylinder?
The potters are using porcelain slip
which they need to stir to get to the right consistency.
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble.
I'm just starting by keeping everything nice and smooth
by sieving twice.
You're, sort of, looking for double cream, really.
This one got little lumps in
and I'm sure Sue would not like lumps, no.
Of course, I wouldn't like lumps either.
So, Sue, slip casting, you pour the stuff in
you pour it out and there's your pot.
It's not hard, is it, really?
It's really difficult.
It's not like throwing where you just stick it on the wheel
pull it up and then that's it.
It is a notoriously difficult method of making to master.
- Go on. -This is really a good example
of what we're asking the potters to do.
The maker has used five layers of slip
and she's carved through
to reveal all of those colored clays underneath.
That's really hard because of the precision involved.
I think they might find this really hard.
- Are you very precise then? -Very.
So, I'm going blue, pink, white for my sphere
and I'm going white, pink, blue for my cylinder.
I'm doing three layers of color on some of them
two on others.
There's a layer of blue then I put white inside.
So, we're gonna etch into it so white will come through.
Trying to visualize it. I'm struggling with these challenges
to even imagine what you guys are doing.
Even me. So, this is my first time ever doing
like layers and stuff so
like, it's new to me.
To confuse matters even more
Is that really white? MEL: at this stage
the different colored clays all look the same.
- Is that your white? -Yeah.
Oh. It's really dark.
- I thought it'd be pure white. -When it's fired, it'll change.
My illustration shows different layer colors
and when you cut through the layer
it will hopefully show three different colors.
Rosalind's making
matching stylized owl vases.
She'll construct her feathered friends
out of two cylinders and a sphere.
They're just to make people smile
so hopefully I'm onto a winner.
Everyone loves an owl.
I'm doing my first layer which is gonna be blue.
This first pour
will form the outside shell of their vases.
This could get messy. CLAIRE: I don't like mess.
As soon as the liquid clay
hits the plaster, it starts to dry.
And the depth of each layer
will be determined by how long it's left in.
It is all about precision timing.
I don't want this in the mold for any more
than a minute and a half.
Each minute equates to about one mm of thickness.
On my blue one I want two mil
I'm giving it two minutes.
I think the slip is a bit too thick.
Oh, God.
Hiya, Rainna. RAINNA: Hello.
How you doing?
I'm having a right laugh, here.
Good. -What's going on?
I don't know.
You don't know?
It's just really, really difficult.
Have you got anything to show us? A drawing?
Yeah, it's terrible. MEL: Oh, let's have a look.
All right. Don't take the mickey though.
We never do.
Okay, so it's- -MEL: Sorry.
- See what I mean? -Sorry, no, it's lovely.
It looks terrible, I know
but I'll explain my drawing.
Based on the coast, White Cliffs of Dover.
That's the sky, that's the white cliffs
that's the sea, that's the sand. But it's a really bad drawing
but I was hoping that's gonna look better on my thing.
I'm sure it will.
Rainna's slip cast vases
are an affectionate nod to her home county of Kent.
Her abstract design will see a cast sphere shape vase
of blue and yellow
representing the sea and beach
and a large cylindrical vase made from blue and white slip
as the sky and cliffs.
To add texture and height
she'll use a decorative technique called slip trailing.
The slip trail I'm gonna have so it's gappy.
So I'm only gonna take half of the mold
- and then slip trail on there. -Right, okay.
Leave that to dry. Hopefully, it'll peel off and then
I can then attach it with some more slip.
- I'll look forward to that. -That's the technique I'll use.
'cause otherwise I'm only just keeping to two simple forms.
So I thought I'll keep to the simple form
but add something that's quite challenging to do.
Well, sounds good.
- Good luck, Rainna, yeah. -Thank you.
And we are at the time limit.
Excuse me while I pour this.
Each layer of slip needs to be timed to perfection
if the potters want to achieve an even thickness
to the walls of their vases.
Blimey, it's heavy.
The muscles are definitely gonna come in handy for this.
Save going to the gym.
Yeah.
I just hope the rubber bands don't come off.
Oh, mate. MATT: The band was on
there's just so much weight of slip in there that it just
the band wasn't strong enough to pull the bottom up with it.
Little, little spillage, won't be doing that again.
For his large vase
Matt is hoping to make multiple casts of spheres
which he'll then stack to construct his largest vase
and use the cylinder cast for his small vase.
Matt will incorporate his three colors
using a technique called marbling
by mixing his slip together.
How you achieving that decoration on there?
I'm pouring pink into the jug first and then
- Yeah. -you can just see in there
there's a little bit of pink and white.
So, how are you swirling it?
Are you agitating the mold?
- Just pouring it and as it... -Okay, right.
So, you're really trying to get some fluidity in the design?
Hopefully I can do that.
But fluidity
appears to be something Rainna's having trouble with.
It's not coming out.
God.
I think the slip is probably a bit too thick.
Break it open.
Oh, there you go. Look at it.
It's disgusting, I'm starting again.
Rainna's not the only one
struggling to manage the slip and molds.
It's quite slow pouring.
Maybe it's gone all solid in there.
I really don't know what's going on inside the mold.
I'm just gonna take a look, see what it's like.
Ooh. It looks very wet and congealed.
Yuk.
I'm ditching this one and starting again.
Oh, all that work.
Start again.
I'm going to cast another bowl through the bowl mold
so that I'll be able to use it as the bottom half of my bud.
After three weeks of sea-themed designs
Leonard has decided to get back on dry land
with his Dahlia-themed vases.
He will carve out his cylinder and sphere casts
to capture the thin petals of the flower.
One vase in full bloom and one as a flower bud.
I love drawing Dahlia's.
I want it to represent this bowl
which is the bud of the Dahlia.
So I need to cast two bowls
one which will get carved into the petally legs
and the other bowl will be pared back
to reveal the colors underneath the surface layer.
Flea is also going
with flower themed vases.
So, my daughter's name is Iris. Keith: Right.
I love the name, I love the flower.
So what I'm hoping to get is the dark blue on the outside
the yellow on the inside
and the Iris' will be carved
so you'll get the yellow coming through.
Flea's vases will be made from cylinders and spheres
which she'll cut and join
to produce a contemporary matching pair.
The delicate detail of her Iris design
will be achieved by scraping and carving
into the surface of the porcelain.
But she needs to cast her molds first.
Ooh, sorry.
Can you remember what that's for?
Yeah, it's for this one. Let me just
it's not quite thick enough.
So, you're getting the hang of this now then?
It's not for the faint-hearted.
I think I'd rather go through labor again to be honest.
I mean that.
Come on, it's like rocking a baby to sleep.
Shh. There, there.
After their painful start
Hallelujah.
Rosalind, Leonard and Rainna
It, well, it's coming out, so that's good.
are back on track.
Just prepping the next color slip.
I think we'll be okay.
The only thing is, I've got to cast two of each
so excuse me while I mop my brow.
With two molds and several layers of colored slip
So, I'm on pink.
organization is key.
I don't know what I'm doing
I don't know what I'm gonna do next
bear with me, I'm thinking on the spot here.
I poured the second layer in to the sphere
the next layer I'm going to pour in is going to be blue.
Is it? I can't remember now.
Rosa's hoping her blue, white and pink vases
will capture the bond between a mother and child.
She'll press a sphere-shaped indent
on the side of her large vase
to allow the small vase to snuggle into it.
You know when you're pregnant you're carrying the child
you can get them separated
but you're still part of each other.
- Wow. -It's a little deep, isn't it?
Yeah, I like it. It's good.
Potters, just over an hour gone already.
- Oh, really? -Yes.
Messy business.
You've got it all over you, mate.
- On my face? Yeah? -RAINNA: Yeah.
Ten seconds, oh, heck.
We've got this.
Each layer of color is a painstaking process.
So, I've done my blue, I'm on my white,
I'm getting some muscles.
The more colored slip the potters add
the heavier and more difficult the molds are to handle.
Oh, my God. It's all come out.
What am I gonna do?
The potters are over an hour into their challenge
to produce a pair of multicolored slip cast vases.
I'm just about to empty out my final layer in my bowl
which is the white layer.
Hopefully it works out.
It will work out.
But for Flea, it's back to square one
and this time she's taking a belt and braces approach
to secure her mold.
I don't wanna lose the slip.
I'm gonna make this work.
If the potters thought getting the slip into the mold
and keeping it there was hard
Can't get it open.
they now face the tricky process
of getting their cast safely out
Am I just a idiot? I bloody can't get this apart.
Nah, me neither.
and in one piece.
I can't get it out.
That's a problem?
They're just stuck.
They're just stuck.
At the moment, my bowl is stuck in the mold.
Any slip-ups now
mean they risk not having the time to start again.
All fun and games, ay.
I've got three cylinders to cast and five spheres
so enough to make me worry about time.
One slip of their hand and the cast could be ruined.
Oh, yes.
Oh, finally. ROSALIND: Hallelujah.
But, I need to pour another one quickly.
How's it going, Flea?
It's good, I think I'm gonna do it.
If I stop shaking.
As Flea catches up
the rest of the potters prep their molds
for the second batch of cylinders and spheres.
Clean this guy, get him back together
'cause I need to pour the next layer into him.
Claire's vases of blue
white and pink will also feature a fourth color
as she'll decorate them with yellow feathers
that she'll cast in sprig molds she made at home.
A detail that has special meaning.
A feather, kind off, means a lot to me in my life.
Ever since I lost my granny to cancer
I kept getting all these little feathers appearing
out of nowhere just really strangely.
Oh, I see. What, in just your day to day life?
Yeah, like, they would appear in the strangest of places
where, you know it just couldn't have come from anywhere.
Like, I never had feather pillows
I never had feather belongings
that just these little white feathers would just appear
in places and I just, sort of, always thought
that's my granny looking down on me.
So that's where my concept's coming from.
And it seems the pottery gods
are finally smiling down on Flea.
Yes.
Could actually happen.
I don't know how I could possibly turn this round
but there's a possibility that I might.
Potters, you are halfway through.
Come on.
How's it going, Leonard?
I've managed to get one whole bowl out.
Yay. True story.
If running a slip casting production line
wasn't stressful enough
the potters need to start assembling
and joining their pieces
if they're to leave themselves enough time to finish
to the high standards Sue is expecting.
It's very important it's joined well.
It's only got one firing
it makes everything more precarious.
The seam should be fairly seamless.
It's gonna be hard to impress Sue.
I think the slightest little thing it's gonna matter.
Finishing, I think, is really important.
It's a bit rough around the sides
but I'm happy with it, gonna just do my best.
Ronaldo's green
blue and yellow vases will represent his past in Barbados
and present in the UK.
His combination of spheres
will be cut and altered for a contemporary design
and to achieve the height required
he'll add an architectural form
as a nod to the skyline of his home in London.
I just decided to stick to the things I love.
I like the kind of futuristic architecture
and I love nature and landscapes
so I think they'll work good together.
I hope so.
Ah, Jacob. -Slimy.
So messy, so so messy.
Your bench is just carnage.
It's organized mess, fine.
- I know where everything is. -Right, okay.
There's a bit of clay under there that I need
Right, is there? Okay, 'cause it just, yeah
it just looks like the whole place is trashed.
Yeah, it is, it is.
Jacob is casting a cylindrical
and spherical vase in deep blue slip
which he'll carve into to reveal a white layer underneath.
He'll also use ornate creatures to adorn the outside
of his pair of vases.
I'm doing cylinders now and then half kind of...
- Like ears? -Ears, yeah.
And then on the ears I'm gonna engrave, like
some mythical creatures
Okay.
if I've got time so.
Oh, yeah, you, well, I dunno.
Yeah. -Yeah.
The potters need to ensure
their vases reach the minimum height requirement.
We're looking for 25 and 15.
And whilst Ronaldo
is using an architectural form to add height to his vases
Rainna is going for a more organic look.
What are these things here?
These are my slip trailing
and I'll just sort of stick that on.
- Looks like a little crown. -It does, don't it?
Maybe you should just wear it.
Would you wanna wear the crown?
Do you think it'll suit me?
You know what, it does, you know.
While Rainna's busy making her crown
Rosa has been raiding the throne for her secret weapon
a ballcock to create a perfect curve in her large vase.
You can sort of squeeze the ball in
and it sort of bends around it.
Anyway, I think that's deep enough.
Oh, it's so wet. MEL: Are you alright?
What's going on?
I'd like to say it was.
I was building something beautiful
but it's not coming out as planned.
Okay, this is supposed to be your Dahlia?
It looks quite grotesque.
It's kind of like an artichoke at the moment I'd say.
So, the idea is that it looks as though it's sat on
petals.
But I'm doing this and I know that I shouldn't be.
Why are you doing it then?
You're very rough and ready with that.
- Because. -Because of time?
The time is going to run out.
Okay, so you have got a really, a lot to do, haven't you.
Yep, quite a lot to do.
The potters have spent hours
building up the layers of colored slip
which they need to gently carve through
to reveal the colors beneath.
Just carved that whole piece out there
and give it an effect of an eye.
But carve too deeply
and they risk weakening the structure of their vases
and could cause them to collapse.
Please don't look at my bud.
Potters, you've got half an hour left.
Oh, dear. CLAIRE: This is really, really, scary.
I haven't put anything into the surface
or on the surface yet.
How did you do it, Flea? FLEA: Sweating.
You, you threw it all over the floor
and you still have two beautiful forms
and I'm still trying to construct mine.
Don't even deserve a wink.
Well, you've got something three dimensional,
put it that way.
I'm feeling a little bit under stress with this one.
Don't know how I'm ever gonna get this done in the time.
Claire spent so long
fettling for a perfect finish
she's up against it for the decoration.
So scared of rushing now and making a mistake.
That's always when mistakes happen.
If I go, too deep it's all over.
When you're carving and you're stressed
it just goes really, really bad.
It's just collapsed.
I won't have a second piece.
- It's gone completely. -Has it?
- Yeah, it just collapsed on me. -Oh, no.
I was carving through and I carved, obviously, too deep.
I'm not even gonna attempt to, work on it but-
Oh, I'm sorry about that, Leonard.
- Keep going. -Thank you very much, Mel.
Alright darling good luck. -Yep, thank you.
What's up?
It's the worst thing I've made, ever.
- Look at it. -It looked better on me.
Oh, gosh.
Oh, my God.
I've gotta think of something.
I don't even know what to do.
Potters, you've got 10 minutes left.
Both of your vases have to be on your bats
and in the drying room by the end of the challenge.
Oh, this just isn't physically possible now.
Rosa, are you cool? Are you on track?
It's fine there, just don't put it that way.
Claire, I know you've got them feathers to stick on.
- I'm sticking on one. -Fine.
Where's your other one? -In the drying room.
Oh, it's already in there, is it?
Okay, you're ahead of the game.
You're trying something new.
I don't know what I'm doing. I'm just trying to add height.
You know what, it might fire up to be really, really lovely.
Well, that's it, you don't know how it's gonna be.
That's the magic of it all.
Nice. RONALDO: Thanks.
Potters, you've got one minute left.
You're making me very nervous.
Chop, chop.
At least I've got something.
Whoa. Alright?
Only one piece.
Come on, now, get your vases on those bats, please.
Oh, Rosa.
Ten, nine, eight
seven, six, five, four
three, two, one.
Time's up.
Oh.
Well done, potters.
Okay, that's it, potters dismissed.
Whoo.
The last 10 minutes was brutal
so I was, like, really rushing to get those incisions in.
I've never feathered so fast.
Literally, I rolled up a load of clay
and just put this weird
I don't even know what it is.
The vases will now stay
in the drying room for three days
before being fired in the electric kiln.
I'm really pleased with what I came up with and
when you're joining like that
there's always concern that there's gonna be breaks.
I just hope it comes through the kiln.
The small piece was a disaster and I lost it.
Got another challenge coming up and maybe if I excel in that
it'll be enough to alleviate the errors
but I don't know.
Each week the potters face two challenges
the second is a complete mystery.
And this week, for some of the potters
it could be a vital lifeline
to keeping their place in the pottery.
I could pull myself back from the disaster the other day.
Positive attitude, always.
I'm a little bit apprehensive about the second challenge.
I'm hoping that it'll be throwing.
We have not done enough throwing
and I'm really excited to get back to the wheel.
Oh, this is intense.
There's rumors about there being
some sort of twist to the challenge today.
I don't think we're worried about it
but we are very, very curious
as to what this twist might be.
Morning, potters. Welcome back.
It's time for your second challenge
and this is a throw down with a twist
because you're going to be throwing with your feet.
You're not really.
- Was that a- -No, that's a joke.
I really wish it was that challenge now
- but it's not. -No.
Instead though
you're going to have to throw a bowl wearing this.
So, Keith, would you like to demonstrate?
Right, here we go.
Now, throwing is all about feeling the clay
between your fingers.
We're looking for the widest bowl
but also, I want to see a really deliberate positive rim
on this bowl.
The minute you put the blindfold on
your hands become more sensitive.
I'm literally just feeling the clay
and I'm feeling that base
and I'm getting it nice and bowl-shaped.
And it's partly muscle memory
from when you throw normally.
It's called Haptic Skill, isn't it?
That's right.
Where you've got the connection between your hand
and your eye co-ordination
and it's things that you do all the time without thinking.
So, you probably all know how to do this.
Do we have to get it off? -You do have to get it off
the wheel.
So, it could go all wrong there, couldn't it?
There you go, well done.
- Are you happy with that, Keith? -It's alright.
Yeah, it's good. I like that.
So, go back to your benches
put your blindfolds on and no peeking.
This is exciting.
Well that properly is a blindfold.
- Rosa. -Sorry.
Okay, all the blindfolds are on.
You've got 10 minutes and your time starts now.
They've been given enough clay to make two bowls.
So, if their first attempt fails, they can have another go.
Just feel that clay.
You'll know when you've got it centered.
Oh, my god, I love this challenge. This is so cool.
I got it on the wheel which is a good start
and, weirdly, I'm shutting my eyes as well.
I've never tried this.
It's nice that you have to feel the clay
- and let the clay talk to you. -Look at Ronaldo.
He's taking it very calmly, isn't he?
I know.
I think, oh, god, I'm doing it wrong already.
Push towards the center, Rainna.
Well done, Leonard.
Nice vase there.
Remember, we want a bowl shape.
I'm trying to work with my intuition.
Jacob's got a really nice shape going on there
now hasn't he?
He has, yeah.
He looks very much in control.
Uh.
Yeah, I'm all right, not too hard.
When you're ready. We'd like to see a bowl at some time.
Slow and steady, yeah?
I need to concentrate on pulling the bowl out
as wide as I dare bring it.
Rosa's is, oh, she's lost it.
She's literally got one more go, right?
Yep.
Ah.
Potters, that's five minutes gone, five minutes left.
It's just gone, time's flown.
I'm not feeling confident at all.
Well, it feels like I'm making something.
Does it look like a bowl?
Woo, losing it.
I can feel a bowl there, but it's got a big foot.
Claire's putting some shape into it now.
Oh, yes.
Matt's getting one off. MEL: Is he?
- That sounds a bit odd. -No, let's not
- let's just rephrase that one. -Yeah.
One minute left, gang, one minute.
Leonard's finished.
- Don't ruin it, Rainna. -Oh, my God you're scaring me.
Just be careful, don't plonk it down.
Five, four, three
two, one.
We have bowls.
You can take your blindfolds off now.
Well done
Oh, my God, I've made a bowl.
Isn't it amazing to see what you've actually achieved
just with your fingers?
Oh, I'm quite pleased.
Ronaldo, class.
Thanks, mate.
Oh, wow. -He's right though
it's actually very therapeutic. Like, you just get in the zone.
My little tiny one.
The potters have made nine wide bowls
but who will measure up in both quality and width?
Hey, Jacob.
You're looking really pleased. It is a good shape.
It's lovely, but it's all about size I'm afraid.
Let's have a look.
So, 19 and a half?
Yeah, good. Well done, Jacob.
Yeah, beautiful. Thank you.
Nice rim on there too. -Thank you.
Well done, Jacob. -Cheers, thanks.
Hey, Matt, how was that for you?
In my mind it was at least 10 centimeters wider
than it is though.
Always is, Matt. MEL: Right.
So, we like the shape? We like the rim?
It's a really strong form, isn't it?
If you just bellied out and widened out this bit
it's just about being braver.
So, 19?
Yeah. -Yeah.
I can see you thought about making the base thicker
to actually get it off. But you haven't been as bold
as you could've done to make that bowl shape.
So, 18.
Now, you're, don't do that.
It does look like a goblet
Yeah.
Got a really nice curve inside.
It's a lovely, kind of, porridge bowl shaped. SUE: Yeah, it is.
Yeah. Hmm, thank you. -I'd say Mummy Bear.
Mummy Bear porridge bowl.
Seventeen, really nice radius.
Yeah.
It looked great when you were throwing it
and now I've just seen it's got a hole in it.
Yeah, it's a, it's a plant bowl.
Ah, right, okay. -Shall we measure it, though?
- Cause that's the important bit. -Yeah, let's have a go.
So it's kind of oval, actually.
Let's take the widest.
Shall we go for 20? MEL: Yes, 20.
20 centimeters.
It looks wide.
- Yeah, I'm very pleased. -You've been really brave there
because you've done a small foot rim and a really wide rim.
You know, that could've collapsed.
So. Look at that, that's 25.
25? That's great
Good work.
It's really quite contained
which is exactly how I thought it would be from you.
Very ordered, really neat.
Eighteen and a half at the most, I think.
It's a strong form.
It is. Just over 21, isn't it?
Yep. SUE: Yeah. Well done.
Thanks, Leonard.
The judges will now rank the potters' bowls
from worst to best.
Really good effort by all of you
but in ninth place
with 15 and a half centimeters wide
is Rosalind.
In eighth place, unfortunately
it was one of the widest,
but it had a hole in the bottom
is Rainna's at 20 centimeters.
In seventh place with 17 centimeters, lovely bowl
Rosa.
Flea was sixth with 18 centimeters
half a centimeter more put Claire in fifth place.
Matt was fourth, with 19 centimeters.
In third place with 19 and a half centimeters
is Jacob.
So, it's between Leonard and Ronaldo
for the top spot.
So, in second place with 21 and a half centimeters
is Leonard.
So, in first place with the widest bowl
at 25 centimeters is Ronaldo.
Well done Ronaldo. Whoo.
It feels great to know I finally won something, like.
Whoo. So good.
So, I got four centimeters more than Leonard.
Size really does matter.
The second week in a row that I've come second
in the second challenge.
I do still feel as if there's a little danger of me going out.
I really wasn't happy with the slip casting.
Being near the bottom in that challenge
and doing so badly on the vases
it's not looking good for me really, is it?
Dum, dum, dum.
After three days of drying
and 24 hours of firing, the potters' slip cast vases
are ready to come out of the kiln.
Come on in.
This is the first time
they'll get to see their vases in full color.
We don't know what we're gonna face
we don't know how they fared in the firing.
We don't know what the color is gonna be like.
The moment of truth.
The moment of truth indeed.
It just gone in for one firing
so there'll be no glazing to cover up any cracks
or anything like that.
Right, let's get them out.
Huh, wow.
Quite a transformation.
Oh, yeah.
Rosa.
Okay. ROSA: Good. It sank a little bit
but overall, I'm actually quite happy with the look.
Jacob. All right with those?
- Yeah. -Claire.
They all survived, so I'm really happy.
Oh, the pink is still pink. Wow.
So, my squashed one's down here in the front.
I was hoping it might.
Focus on the positives.
Yeah.
- The contrast of colors works. -Yeah.
Last week I won potter of the week
and then this week it was just a total flop.
I don't even wanna look at them.
Last but not least. FLEA: Yeah.
I don't know how I did it. That, I don't know.
Really pleased. RICH: Yeah, they look great.
Thank you. -Comeback queen.
It was really intense.
I pushed through and I produced something quite beautiful
and I'm really proud of myself.
The potters must now polish their vases
to achieve a smooth finish
before filling them with flowers ready for judging.
It looks a little bit like some weird, space worm.
When you look back and see the
complete mess we were all in
to have something's quite good.
Oh, I'm so happy.
If I take away everything, just that bit there.
I like that.
I could put at least one large flower head in there.
I'm gonna present them that way.
Less is more, isn't that what they say?
I'm happy.
The potters have turned 126 liters of liquid clay
into 18 unique slip cast vases.
But whose pair will win them potter of the week
and who will Sue and Keith decide
to cast out of the pottery?
Rainna, would you like to bring your vases up, please?
Up she goes.
Thank you.
One positive point
is that they have got your energy about them.
- Frenetic energy. -I don't know what.
I think it's called panic.
That was mad.
How did you do this bit on the top?
So, I just rolled out some clay
whacked it on, dripped a load of slip round it.
Do you call that slip casting?
It was slip casted though.
What, the bit of clay that you rolled out?
There you go, yeah.
You've stuck this bit on the top.
You haven't tried to hide the fact.
You've actually accentuated it.
So, at least you've managed to sort of
you know, hide that in the way of making it really obvious.
Does that make any sense?
Yeah, we can resurrect a bad job.
I'm just glad they're, you know, they're done.
That's over with now.
It is over, thank you so much, darling.
Thank you.
The first thing that strikes me is
which one's the large one and which one's the small one?
- This one here. -That's the large one?
Yeah.
We asked for one large and one small.
So, I was thinking about height
so I thought I could add something to give the height.
I really like this effect here.
Yeah, I quite like your mark making
and it's worked out really well, hasn't it?
Yep.
Well, we can definitely see you've used three colors.
In terms of marbling
the qualities that you've managed to achieve here
are really commendable.
I'm not convinced about the design of this one.
I was just hoping it would be more elegant.
Yeah, it looks a bit like a plastic bottle that's melted,
doesn't it?
Well, that's disappointing.
You've scored and incised through
to the different layers of slip
which is what we were looking for.
I'm really liking this curve here.
So, they sit together, don't they here?
So that makes complete sense.
We asked for you to make them
as a set that would work together
and you've achieved that.
It works really well.
Thank you so much.
That obviously looks like a mistake.
You know, that was always gonna be really tricky.
You just can't do that with a colored clay
or a slip cast body.
You've got lots of layers
and they're very thick so the body's really struggling
On this one, however
it's a far more formidable piece.
You have got your three, four colors in there.
You have done some piercing and some incising.
I do have issues with, sort of, the quality.
We've got two forms here
one definitely qualifies as a vase.
Yep. KEITH: Does this one, Sue?
No, I don't think it fits the criteria unfortunately.
Nope.
Flea, would you like to bring your vases up, please?
Like I'm walking down the aisle.
Duh, duh, duh-duh.
Which one am I marrying?
The one in the middle.
It's not too bad, is it?
You've done a good job considering the mess you're in.
Thank you.
You've ended up with this proper Wedgewood blue.
You know, you've shown real tenacity
in actually getting something out of the mold.
I mean, it's a shame that you can see the seam line here.
Considering where you came from
it's amazing what you've done.
it feels really good to have two things I feel quite proud of.
You know what, Flea?
You should be proud of yourself.
You really should be proud of yourself
because I literally didn't think
you were gonna get anything off
and you have.
It's amazing and I'm proud of you
for actually persevering. Brilliant.
You can but only smile when you see them.
And I like this surface design that you've put on there.
I would've liked a bit more color to come through
- from one of the slips. -Yes, yeah.
I was disappointed to see that that hadn't shown through.
And it's just the attention to detail really
that I was looking for.
I wanted to see, sort of, the rims finished really neatly
'cause you can get a really good level of finish
when you're slip casting.
- I'm liking the weight thought. -Yeah.
The casting thickness is good and at the end of the day
you have produced two things that made the judges smile.
Yeah, they're very charming.
So, I think what is commendable
is that you've clearly thought about
how long to case each of those colors for.
You know, that's down to your aesthetic judgment, isn't it?
And your design skill.
It's just basically down to finish, isn't it, really?
Well, it is. Attentional to detail is what I'd look for
in a slip cast vessel.
And it would've elevated it and given it, sort of an
extra dimension.
Looking for flaws is really difficult.
It's the precision that really works.
You've got this really nice flat top rim and a sharpness.
What is really nice
is that you've got pink inside and also white.
But here you've got a layer of blue
that just shines through.
You know, that's exactly what we wanted to see
the contrast between the layers.
And your little sprigs of feather on there
again, are really, really lovely.
Not only are they beautiful
they're just really well executed.
They're fantastic.
I would've liked to see more of them.
- Me too. -But they're really lovely.
Are you happy with those comments?
Yeah.
Yeah, really, really well done.
It's a slip challenge which was just totally not me
so to get comments like that in a challenge like that
I'm just, wow.
Keith had a little tear so that was nice.
I hope my granny's looking down and she's really happy.
They like my curve. That's quite good.
I think there's a massive chance
I'm gonna be going home this week.
Their comments I think were fair enough.
I knew where I went wrong
the whole thing went wrong.
The judging was what I expected the judging to be.
Do I feel that I'm safe in the judging room?
No, I don't.
Potters, the judges have made their decision.
First, the good news.
This week's potter of the week
and having their slip cast vases displayed
in the throw down gallery is
Claire.
Well done, Claire.
Now the bit that's just getting harder
and harder every week.
One of you has to go home
and this week
that person is
- Leonard. -Thank you.
It does help that I was expecting
to be the one chosen to go this week.
It would've been nice to go onto the next challenge
but it wasn't to be.
It has been extremely pleasant
being with all the other potters
and just the support that they've all given was great.
So, as Leonard leaves the pottery
Claire is named our potter of the week for the second time.
Her beautiful feather vases
will join her winning breakfast set
as she claims another plinth in our throw down gallery.
First time I got potter of the week
I really didn't feel like I deserved it
but today I'm absolutely delighted
that I got potter of the week
because it's just something, you know
I don't normally do.
So to get it in a slip casting challenge
you know, I'm just over the moon.
I'm really pleased that this week is over
it was the worst week I've had.
I thought I slipped up
but actually I've slipped through.