Devon pot-thrower, Matt Jones, came to us with a fun proposal: to design a logo for merch as he prepares for his debut at the revered Craft Fair Bovey Tracey. We talked the project through and decided to exchange design services for a set of tumblers. They are stunning, and the whole process was a joy. In our latest Stop & Chat, we asked Matt how he got into pottery, and where his creative journey might take him next.

As a kid, I was never arty in a good-at-drawing sort of way, but I did like using my hands. When I was young I played a lot of tennis, and then when I was a bit older I played a lot of guitar and then when I was even older I worked in a bakery making bread. It wasn’t until I was nearly 40 that I did pottery for the first time. The first time I sat at the wheel and I felt the centred clay move through my hands I knew it was something special.

Repetition is a key factor in all these things, the only way to improve is to keep going. You don’t need to be smart, you don’t need to be articulate, you just have to keep going. For whatever reason I’ve liked keeping going. 

Although I enjoy the solitary nature of throwing pots alone in my basement, it is a good idea to get out and about once in a while. Working with you guys was a real reciprocal experience; very laid back and conversational, but also super purposeful and focused - I liked the balance of relaxedness and on-it-ness. I imagine this is not an easy balance to strike. It was a real pleasure.

Commissions-wise I’d be very happy for Verdant to ask me to make some ceramic beer cups - in exchange for beer, perhaps a lifetime supply of ‘Even Sharks…’. I’d be happy to make some stuff for Argoe and Emilia in exchange for food.

I enjoy collaborating with others, and the shared experience of this brings about fresh challenges and new learning - I really enjoyed this aspect with you guys when we worked on the cups. 

I’ve collaborated with a couple of lovely coffee roasters - Crankhouse and Roastworks, and a couple of marvellous coffee shops - The Exploding Bakery and Common Beaver. 

I was involved in a wonderful collaboration with the brewing legend Fred Van Der Hoek on a beer called Crooked Matt, Crooked Fred. This was a glorious experience and I enjoyed the fact that much of the brewing process had real parallels with pottery - although there are some rules and methods you are best to follow, much of the work comes down to real-time adjustments on the part of the human being. What emerges as a result of this is the distinct characteristic of the individual - I loved this element.

I’ve just started to collaborate with the musician Minotaur Shock, which is super exciting - we’re working on some ceramic album artwork together. He’s an old school friend and a very lovely gent.

My dream commission / collaboration / project though would be working with Banksy, and I can well imagine he’s thinking the same thing. I don’t mind what we make, but it would probably mean I could buy a new kiln.

crookedclaycrookedclay.com
instagram.com/crooked_clay_crooked_clay