71 COMPANY PROFILE can probably find most of what you need lying around the house: a rolling pin, paintbrushes, knives, etc. Alternatively, starter kits are easy to find online if you want something more specific. Some of my best tools are actually old cakedecorating bits I refused to throw out - waste not, want not! I get a lot of my materials from Potclays and Scarva; they’re generally a bit pricier, but a great investment once you’re ready to level up. You recently won The Great Pottery Throwdown, season 8, congratulations! How did you sign up for the programme? Thank you! I still have moments where I wonder if it really happened or if I just dreamt it after eating too much cheese. I applied on a bit of a whim, after friends and family kept saying I should give it a go. I thought I’d fill in the form, never hear back, and carry on quietly making pots. Next thing I knew, I was standing in the studio trying not to sweat through my apron on national telly. How was your tv experience – have you done anything like that before? Not quite! I’ve performed on stage before, but nothing prepares you for throwing a giant salad bowl while a camera hovers three inches from your face. That said, it was one of the most magical, emotional, and downright bonkers experiences of my life. The team were incredible, the other potters were like family, and the whole thing made me fall even deeper in love with clay. Are you getting recognised on the street or has life returned to normal? A wee bit, aye! The odd person will stop me in the supermarket to say something lovely, or I’ll catch someone staring at me like they’re trying to figure out if I sold them a mug once. But mostly, life’s back to normal - me, the studio, my partner Duane, and my cat Buster, who insists on sitting exactly where I need to stand. I quite like the quiet, to be honest. What tips would you give to someone wanting to try their hand at pottery? Don’t aim for perfection, especially on the potter’s wheel. Realistically, you’ll need to throw hundreds of pots to achieve any real consistency! The first few pots will be wobbly, a bit lumpy, maybe unintentionally abstract - and that’s brilliant. When you start out, it’s not about making something flawless; it’s about the joy of making something. Embrace the mess, laugh when your handle falls off, and celebrate the weird wonky thing you made with your own two hands. What does the next 12 months look like for you? It’s shaping up to be a busy (and hopefully brilliant) year. I’m working towards stocking my online shop and plan to attend a few ceramics fairs throughout the year. Eventually, I’d love to run workshops and open up a space where people can come and make, no matter their background or experience. My mind is buzzing with techniques and ideas that I’m desperate to try, mainly with alternative firings like smoke firing and raku! I’ve also got a few playful design ideas simmering away - pots inspired by the Irish landscape, fairytales, even horror films. Watch this space… it might get weird (in the best possible way). www.jamesstanleywatson.com
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