It’s hard to believe that I am well past my six-month mark at DCR and, in fact, it will soon be a year since I flew back to Aotearoa to interview for the apprenticeship. As autumn makes its presence felt here in Kapanga, I am reminded of the two days I spent in town during the interviews. In good old Coromandel style it was bucketing down and myself and the other candidates ran around DCR, soaking wet, completing with various ‘tasks’ around site—pugging clay with Callum, making up glazes with Matilda, throwing cylinders with Ellie (an apprentice visiting from the Leech Pottery), analysing the differences between mugs with Chris—although it felt like the DCP team had conspired with the weather to ensure the ultimate test: can you survive a wet Coromandel winter in the mud!

I’ve reflected here previously about the immense operation that is Driving Creek, and because we are privileged to be able to produce at scale from start to finish—literally from digging clay from the land, right to processing and packaging the pots once they emerge from the kiln—at times I’ve felt like my learning has been spread across so many aspects of the production, that my confidence with throwing is still shaky. There is no shortcuts about it though, it literally just is years of practice! But it still can be challenging to not put pressure on myself to be progressing faster. 

Since the beginning of the year, I began training in the first form in the DCP pottery range that Matilda and Callum set to challenge me with—egg cups! The smallest (and perhaps cutest!) shape in the range, do not let these sweet little vessels fool you into thinking they must be simple to make. Using only 80 grams of clay, learning to centre this tiny amount on the wheel whilst not knocking the gage (which is set to 5cm high and 5.5cm wide to ensure a consistency in dimensions for each egg cup thrown), is no easy thing. 

Once I was confident centering this amount, the real challenge has been training my eye to refine the curve and rim. The DCP range utilises subtle curves and stylised rims which are functionally pleasing to use, whilst creating an aesthetic which nods to Barry’s domestic designs and the Leach Pottery where Callum trained and worked. Learning to replicate these features is a part of the process I really enjoy and am constantly challenged by, because when you are only working with small forms like egg cups, the slightest discrepancy in the angle of a curve or the thickness of the rim, makes a huge difference on the final product. And while handmade pottery does mean there is always a bit of variation between each pot, the range is produced to a standardised quality and consistency, so my training focuses on being able to replicate the shape again and again.

I am constantly asked what pots I’ve made, and it’s interesting to hear different reactions from people when I explain that I’ve just been making boards of egg cups, which I reclaim at the end of the day! It reminds me what a privilege an apprenticeship is, because I’ve been given the opportunity to study and practice, receive feedback, and then start all over again, refining my work to a set standard. The pace of production means I can go weeks without throwing, with other jobs like glazing,clay making,  kiln loading, processing (don’t forget cleaning!) taking priority. And this diversity is so good, it feeds a comprehensive relationship to my work as a potter and keeps me on my toes. I did spend the week that the cyclone hit in January sat at the wheel, deep in egg cup practice, and I think by the end of that week I was seeing egg cups in my dreams… So diversity is good!

After what is probably nearly 500 practice egg cups, I finally had the first batch which got the nod of approval to go through our firing cycle. It was the best feeling, pricing them up and placing them on the shelf in the shop. There is still a very long way to go (I’m tasked with making 150 before I can officially move on to the next shape in the range), but it feels like a good time to take stock and reflect back on what has been a huge learning adventure over these past six months. 

So, just in time for Easter, you might fancy picking up an egg cup or two to include in an easter egg hunt, or just to enjoy your runny eggs with soldiers—they might be one of my first!!