Great Pottery Throwdown 2024!

[SoupDragon]

It's back! Sunday 19:45... get your handkerchiefs at the ready for Keith!

I didn't like any of the sets. All too much for me for something that should be made for practical use rather than decoration.

Maybe I'm just a bore!! But my aunt was a Potter and I've a tea set she made. It's nicely decorated but not in an add on novelty way - it does however have all items thay do their jobs faullessluly. As in a teapot and a jug that pour with no drips and handles that are comfortable etc.

I think they have to make the challenges heavy in the decoration aspect to make it more difficult for the contestants. I imagine any competent poster could make a practical set but it takes a skilled one to do all the unnecessary decorative bits as well under the time pressure. Plus it tests their decorative skills so they end up with a good all round potter as winner. I think this is the same with all of these creative contests.

In reality, no one is going to use a novelty teapot on a day to day basis, it's going to sit on a shelf isn't it? In fact, I've just remembered that many years ago I started collecting novelty teapots - I think i have about 5 in a box somewhere so it wasn't a phase that stuck!

I did like Cadi's "slumped" mugs. I could see those being used with a plainer handle and a body that fitted into a hand nicely.

the young woman with octopus

Sophie. It's Dan whose name always escapes me. I'm not sure I know what Octopus Man is called either actually.

I was watching an old sitcom yesterday and the main character has a novelty shop in Brighton and said one of the biggest sellers was a mug with the handle on the inside! Don't think Keith would approve of that. 🤔

Evening!

Good evening!

Evening!

Completely plain items this week! As requested I believe 😂

My mouth to Keith's ear......

Donna looks younger with straight hair. But I like her curls.

So they DO read these comments . . .

<nods smugly>

They may be plain but they are all rather deep.

They’re all rather deep and meaningful this week, I hope they can pull off their intentions.

I think it's often a mistake to make it too personal and emotional.

It sounds complicated and interesting enough without adding personal journeys into the brief - I wish it could just be abstract.

It’s going to be incredibly difficult to vote anyone off this week, even if their designs go wrong. Perhaps they will have a No One Goes week, they have before.

I don't think they should have to make anything that makes people cry.

<wipes away tears>

LOOK - I JUST HAVE SOMETHING IN MY EYE, OK?

<sniff>

I do not doubt everyone's poignant stories and reasons behind their designs but why they feel the need to make them tie their pottery to their lives I dont know. Why can't they have a good idea for a design and make it without it having to 'mean' something.

Some very emotional stuff here this week.

Yeah ‘Light And Dark - Abstract’ would have been adequate and interesting.

This seems a big challenge! One hour...

its all gone a bit gestalt.

They all look like old paper shopping bags.

I thought that!

I feel hard hearted because I’m not bothered about the background stories the pieces. I’m quite interested in seeing the development of the potters and their characters during the show itself, but otherwise wish no.
i know it’s not the potters but the production company. I wonder if they help potters come up with something if they don’t have a bad experience or sad story?

mayb I’ll feel different when I see the work.

So did I.

A pretty pointless and disappointing taks, this one.