Mike Dodd: "Potter" short film into his life and work

Goldmark's film provides a unique insight into the working life of Mike Dodd, one of Britain's most prestigious potters.
He lives and works in the beautifully rural surroundings of Glastonbury, Somerset. Dodd discusses his love of pots and shares some of his personal philosophies. Talks about the importance of using local materials and hand made tools in the making of his work. Watch him unpack his kiln and throw a large textured vase on his kick wheel.
To view work by Mike Dodd on the Goldmark Gallery website click here: bit.ly/11Lrg2z
To buy your copy of this film click here: bit.ly/12mGon4
Biography - Mike Dodd was born in 1943 in Sutton, Surrey. While in the village of Corfe Castle, on his way to a teashop with his parents, the young Dodd spotted a potter at work. He stopped, mesmerised by what he saw. The image of that potter burnt itself into my mind, and according to my mother's later account I bored them rigid, talking excitedly about everything this white coated magician had done.
Dodd is a vegan with a strong commitment to animal welfare, conservation and environmental issues. He has held workshops at Landshut College for Ceramics in Germany and the Golden Bridge Pottery in Pondicherry, India. He has exhibited extensively throughout the UK and his work is held in collections at the V&A, British Crafts Council and Ulster Museum, Belfast.
What is Goldmark?
A family business started by Mike Goldmark, we've been selling art from the Goldmark Gallery in Uppingham, UK for over 40 years and hold over 50,000 items in stock. Explore a wide range of the very best art and ceramics available to you through our website www.goldmarkart... where you'll also find scholarship pages, books, online catalogues and even GoldmarkTV! Enjoy your visit here: bit.ly/18ZF7Lv

[@greenness7387]

Your words about the art form and non-violence to sentient beings are both poetic and connected. Practising an ancient art form speaks to the soul.

[@Goldmarkart]

Absolutely!

[@dominikawdowska6847]

What a beautiful soul lives in this man... It shows through his creations as through his words...

[@melaniesingh7208]

I love pottery. I love watching “digs” where they unearth a piece of a bowl, or jug from thousands of years ago. Potter’s make things to last forever.

[@robertbush1595]

I thank you for these wonderful biographies on ceramic artist. Long over due acclaim for often ignored talents.

[@Goldmarkart]

Our pleasure!

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Decades ago I toured a number of potteries in the west of England (Cornwall etc), bought a regional guide to various potters and when I was back home in the USA I wrote to a few of the potters asking about the possibility of an apprenticeship and iirc Mike Dodd was one and he replied to me graciously that unfortunately he was not taking on any apprentices at that time ... I was disappointed but thought, wow! He responded! That was worth a lot!!

[@gabrieldafonseca7663]

Beautiful video, and wonderful ending. Thanks for producing it, and thanks Mike Dodd!

[@Goldmarkart]

Thank you

[@jerrycratsenberg989]

Lovely, just plain lovely. Thank you very much for sharing!

[@Goldmarkart]

You are so welcome!

[@aina2165]

Those potters are so wise, truly inspiring and it affects my way of thinking. I would love to buy one of his tea jars and his vases are incredibly beautiful too.

[@Goldmarkart]

Go for it!

[@garyeasy7436]

A beautiful video. The clay has centered the potter. This is what it's about. Thank you for posting it.

[@aina2165]

Absolutely!

[@kimbell6689]

Mike Dodd - thanks for articulating your thoughts and feelings on pottery as art. I've had many of the same feelings and enjoyed hearing them translated into concise thoughts.

[@karenrennie1196]

Just bought one of his lovely bowls from his studio. I feel so blessed.

[@jonfisher9214]

I ate my breakfast out of a Mike Dodd bowl this morning. It's been my favourite for years and glad to have bought it from him personally. A really nice guy.

[@gauripanicker6661]

He is not just a inspiring potter but also an inspiring person... thank you Sir...

[@CHASE1246810]

I love that artists just go on and on and on even about the simplest things.

[@nicktipton1790]

This is a really wonderful film, well made, inspirational. Thank you Mike I enjoyed watching it.

[@anneryla]

Absolutely beautiful, wonderful and very spiritual. I love it!

[@thisissoeasy]

Such a remarkable man, and what a beautiful video. I am deeply moved. Thank you very much!

[@rutilopata8294]

Absolutely touching and inspiring! loved every word, thought and pot🕊🌸💫💐🦋

[@badboybushcraft1533]

Thank you for the opportunity to glimpse into the life of a great potter.I am an old Sussex lad, who has only just found the love of potting and ceramics, now I cant get enough.thank you again.

[@kathymaxted6151]

What lovely pots and what a nice man. I always feel quite emotional when I see people making pots cause it reminds me of God and how we as humans are his clay vessels He has made, and He delights in making us like this man delights in making his unique special pots

[@abdelmoulaouilj2338]

kathy maxted are you have a some Pres machine to sell me it

[@claytone9]

Well done! Mike Dodd is a top-drawer artist.

[@batyaerdstein2788]

Beautiful. Shalom from potter in Israel

[@TitusLivy777]

What a beautiful soul. Inspiring.

[@MarkoVegano]

I have watched this video enough times, that I have lost count. I never get enough and always find some mean in his words and work. Mike Dodd is a sage potter that keeps showing the world that one can never see enough beauty in life and in the mundane things we take for granted. He is an inspirational person that lifts my creativity, spirit and purpose in life. I only wish I was his apprentice.

[@Goldmarkart]

That's great, thanks for your kind words.

[@RedFoxPottery]

Another Brilliant Film I am always amazed by how much you get out of the potters.

[@Indexanimisermo]

ahhhh so gratifying to see your post fire pot...some don't show that...love your work and what a lovely man you are...quite agree with your observations of life and cities...ya that's about it.

[@nedludd8633]

Just wonderful, he has such a good kind generous and open attitude .

[@mikeu5380]

Reading Leach ("A Potter in Japan") and Yanagi ("The Unknown Craftsman") on the craft and the craftsmen-- a perfect fit with this! Thank you for posting the video for us.

[@roostercogburn597]

Loved this documentary. Super cool. Mike reminds me of the late great robin Williams

[@benjaminallen3043]

Thank you for sharing your work and words .

[@TsetsiStoyanova]

Pottery represents life... a good one!

[@tolykozin]

what a beautiful story, how he became a vegetarian and the reasons behind this! His life style reflects his work and a true embodiment of body and spirit!

[@Goldmarkart]

Absolutely!

[@SacredHolisticArts]

Beautiful words and works thank you for sharing

[@tolykozin1]

THe level of sensitivity is somehow enhanced when you are a vegetarian, and that is quite apparent in your approach towards the natural materials of your environment that you use in your work. May He bless you many!

[@77777aol]

Insightful wisdom and good humour. The cows are pretty special too.

[@morganolfursson2560]

Don't mind the photo on this account this is my husband's, i am actually Japanese. What he said about Japan is absolutely not true. We do not buy a 800 pounds (100 000 Yen) pot . Some people may buy an antique because they are collectors or because they can afford it (as they already have everything else they need so they can buy things they want). But no Japanese would ever buy a pot rather than a sofa or a suite . We know our priorities. Yes in traditional houses (tatami mat room) sofa or 3 piece suites are not convenient and rarely bought because it would damage the mats, but most houses in Japan are in western style today, and sofas or suites are part of the interior, far more than pots are. Some tea ceremony or flower arranging masters or teachers may buy a tea bowl for 2000 pounds or a tea container for 5000 pounds because it was made by a famous artist or used by a renowned tea master, but these people represent less than 0,1% of the Japanese population. Most of us can not afford a 5000 pounds tea container or a 30 000 pounds bamboo tea scoop. These are works of art reserved for the elite and the super rich. A 800 pounds pot will never be bought in Japan over something necessary like a sofa. People really have to stop having these crazy ideas about Japan or Japanese. Most of us don't give a damn about pottery , we are too busy working and trying to make money to keep a roof over our heads and food in our plate, and way too tired after a 10 hours day work to even care about pots.

[@77777aol]

It's interesting to note what Mike Dodd had to say about busyness. 5:57

[@morganolfursson2560]

@@77777aol Personally i find this part extremely self-righteous and self-indulgent. He may have the time to make pots and doesn't have to work 10 hours a day, but he can only do this because someone else works 10 hours a day so he can have it easy. When he is sick, he goes to the doctor, when he is really sick he goes to the hospital, when he is hungry he goes to the supermarket or the restaurant , when he wants to go on holiday he jumps on a plane. But he can do all of this only because some people work 10 hours a day as doctors, as nurses, as waiters, as supermarket staff, as flight attendants and pilots, etc.... If everybody decided to just become a potter, the world as we know it would end within days and mankind wouldn't survive a month. He is completely depending on the fact that people work that hard so he can enjoy an easy life, but rather than being grateful, he literally spits at the face of these people by saying that they are being too busy, although this is precisely thanks to these busy people, he can stay home and make pots. I find this part infuriating . I am a medical doctor , married to a veterinarian, we both work 14 hours a day. Do you think we wouldn't enjoy staying home and making pots. But how would you feel if you were sick or your dog was dying and you realized that your doc or vet thought that today he'd rather make pots than take care of you or your pet ? Some of us have some integrity and common sense, and know what to prioritize . Never tell people that they are too busy, when they are the ones allowing you not to be !

[@nairolf5177]

@@morganolfursson2560 everybody as too assumate there choice what do you know about his potter’s life ? and about his private life ? maybe i never take any plane and any vacation ? , maybe i spend a lots off hours on his vegetable garden wich provide the best food and keep mony on your pocket ? ,maybe is making himself lots off differents work on is house ,on is car, or on repair different objects which also avoids spending money ? do you think life is imposssible without doctor and without veterinarian working 14 hours a day? nobody prevents you from working in a group practice for exemple where you will work fewer hours because a colleague can take over. of course you will earn less money and you will have to limit your lifestyle but you will have more time to do something else . and above all you will have more interest to practice. I do not imagine how it is possible to maintain a good efficiency towards its patients by working 14 hours a day.

[@morganolfursson2560]

@@nairolf5177 This is the husband answering, the veterinarian . We are 3 vets working at the clinic , but we also run animal shelters and rescue centers plus we do volunteer work for the people who can`t afford medical fare, Even by working only 8 hours a day at the clinic we still need to work an extra 6 hours (often much more) at the rescue center and shelters where we have over 200 animals to take care of daily. My husband (we are two men) works for different organizations in war torn areas or areas struck by man made or natural disaster. A 14 hours day work for him is a good day , sometimes he works 18 hours a day . None of us do it for the money, and whatever money we make after paying the bills, we use the rest to rescue more animals. We really do not have time to do our garden, and we really do not have any form of expensive tastes in any aspect of our lives. The last time i bought clothes was 3 years ago and we haven't been on holiday for 4 years , which was the last time i remember sleeping more than 6 hours a night. I am not complaining for a second, this is the life we chose and it is a very rewarding one, just not financially. Professional efficiency is more a matter of organization and living a stressless life rather than sleeping 9 hours and working 8. I sleep 5 to 6 hours a night and wake up to a job i love so it doesn't stress me at all. I use every little time i get to relax . Like right now, writing a message to you while eating my lunch and doing my paperwork is very relaxing. And taking care of animals is not a hard job. I will sleep better and change my schedule when i have to perform a surgery , but other than that it is rather an easy life. That's why i pity people who have to work in a supermarket, even just 8 or 9 hours a day. I pity them far more than myself or my husband because although we work nearly twice the time a supermarket worker does, our jobs are not stressful, and though risky the risk is worth it. But i am also extremely grateful to all those workers who make my life a lot easier, and i thank you for not giving up and doing a job that many believe to be menial but which actually is so important to millions if not hundreds of millions of people. I really do not want to make time for shopping or cooking or doing the laundry and cleaning the house. This would be a complete waste of my time , and i'd rather pay someone to do it rather than spend 5 hours a day at home doing chores , when this time can be so much more efficiently spent on 10 or 15 animals . That's why i am grateful to have an organic vegan store not too far from the house and the clinic where i can get excellent food, thanks to those very busy people who work there relentlessly. I am grateful to have my guardian angel who comes to the house twice or three times a week and cleans it and keeps me clean too, without him i would live like a hoarder. Plus he is a vet school student so i am glad to be able to help financing the person who hopefully will work with us some day. I am so grateful to the bus driver who takes my kids safely to school, to the teachers who work their ass off to give them a great academic education, grateful to the docs who treat my kids when their father is not home, to the people who work in factories so we can all have clothes on our back. This is all these busy people who make my life and our life (all of us) much easier and who contribute to make this world a better place to live. This potter contribute nothing to this planet, which is fine because this is his life and his choice, but what i definitely not accept is that he refers to others as the Busy Ones in such a negative way , when as i said, they are the ones allowing him , not to be so busy. That's how i see life. We need potters and i admire their work , but they are not better than the busy people , who either do it to make this planet a little better or who just don't have a choice but to be busy to keep food in their plate and a roof over their head.

[@nairolf5177]

@@morganolfursson2560 thank you for taking the time to respond to me for so long, while reading you I thought that I may not have understood what shocked you in the speech of mike dodd. I am French and my English has its limits ... in the end I don't find anything especially anti-social there, and I share enough his way of seeing the bad things of buissness. that said I also understand your point of view and I realize that once again it is impossible to imagine people's lives on the basis of a few lines on a youtube comment. that's a bit what i did with you and i was partly wrong ... :-) I’m happy for you so much despite this many hours of work your life is happy. very good continuation to you. Pierre A French potter :-)

[@janecollette9504]

Thank you for sharing this film with us. I really enjoyed watching the whole process of creating such a lovely useful form. I also learned a great deal, and feel a deeper understanding about my craft.

[@erikarejka6713]

Thankyou wery much. The form is emptiness, and the wery emptiness is the form....I will take this

[@Fredmayve]

Lovely thanks.

[@Goldmarkart]

Thank you too!

[@francesluck6597]

Wonderful. Uplifting.

[@dianejarvis270]

Loved this film and loved Mike's pots. Thank you.

[@nadiacor8514]

Pure Emotion. !!! By Italy

[@jimdavis8391]

beautifully considered and realised pottery and the best case for vegetarianism I've ever heard presented.

[@justplayflute]

Just lovely, thank you

[@danielterry9749]

Awesome video! Very moving! Thank you for sharing.

[@jcc3411]

What a beautiful person 🤗

[@grierdd]

Wonderful. I hope the next time I make it to the UK I can bring home one of your pieces.

[@lizardas]

That was wonderful...and inspiring.

[@samahdi6972]

Beautiful work , ..........Form only changes, Energy is always conserved, Being Only IS and IT is Never negated. Adi Da

[@nickacoutin2505]

The very best. Love this.

[@gerryarty8342]

Excellent KanPi

[@joanlizscott]

Totally enjoyed.

[@attilathehamster6774]

Lovely and informative video. I loved the slip trailer anecdote, very humourous.

[@PeterSIpeli]

this was so lovely

[@margaretcumingdavies497]

Lovely.

[@victoriatillous2566]

Thank you.

[@sunburnramthem2373]

the highest form of inspiration !

[@pvoshefski]

inspiring

[@suchpastiche312]

very moving so very deep

[@jmg1957]

watched 7 times ...well done

[@americancandlefactory2781]

nice.....work....

[@maestasify]

The first pot happened when water in a clay-lined basket was a bit to close to the family fire. The basket burned. What was left was a partially fired shell of clay. Corrugated pottery reminds us of the basket the 1st pot came from. Honor the basket.

[@TariHuffaker]

you gave me an ah-ha moment...In-spire!!! I love the visual you gave ... thanks so much, Mike. I also love your thinking on the marking...the marks...what means something.

[@BBugel]

Wundervoll!

[@katekaniff5987]

The discovery of you ... has brought me closer ...🤔... That ... thing,stuff/? ✨cheers!

[@carolynmihelcic4702]

Lovely Lovely work..

[@MegaPishoo]

what a lovely man!!!!

[@MormotTheHog]

I m curious at where does the tin tin sound coming from and how at 19:07 of the video

[@Goldmarkart]

The sound is coming from the pots themselves as they cool down. I'm sure someone out there could furnish us with a scientific explanation...

[@Random54]

wonderful video.

[@valgraham5844]

Big Mike, big pots!! Little me, little pots!! I spotted Finn the dog, so this must be quite some time ago!!

[@clifforddalton3067]

thanks Mike, interesting video :)

[@TD-jn4tv]

What type of kiln and firing method do is used? Is it wood fired?

[@ilmugerabah.pottery]

Sangat bagus👍

[@ScarlettLane-x6l]

❤

[@lisasacco6191]

Does anyone know what that powder was that he was coating the pot in at 5:40 ?

[@Neldidellavittoria]

I also wondered about it. From the way he doesn't care that it falls back into the clay bits in the wheel tray which he will later recycle, I've an inlking it's just the same clay body he uses only in dry powder form, like what you have before mixing it with water. I've got to try it and see if my theory stands.

[@chrisw5353]

Neldidellavittoria That’s my guessing too. I will try and let you guys know.

[@BenDavis_restorahlife]

China Clay

[@erzoszikla]

Just ashes from wood dude. :)

[@gato_fofo]

TOP!

[@michaeldodd3563]

Very nice vid... My mothers maiden name is Potter...not that that has anything to do with anything here...just an observation

[@stickermigtigger]

That's why I don't make tea pots; too damn many rules. :-)

[@benthegardener6304]

What is he rubbing on the pot at around six mins in?

[@StealthElectronVIP]

+11 Regent Street I guessing just powdered clay. Looks like he cakes it on and then expands the pot to give it a kinda cracked texture.

[@garyeasy7436]

I'm guessing sodium silicate, but it's just a guess. The finish is similar to salt fired (sodium chloride), which is beautiful, but salt generates toxic fumes that can combine with atmospheric humidity to create hydrochloric acid. Unsafe.

[@soulmamma67]

I thought it was wood ash? The finish seems to suggest it with the olive hues and how runny it is.

[@jmg1957]

great ...spiritpipeman

[@emeltikis6885]

Çok güzel bayıldım elinize ruhunuza sağlık eğitim veriyormusunuz sizden eğitim almayı çok isterim.hoşçakalın sevgiyle kalın.

[@AX1A]

busy-ness business internet inner-net inspire in spire inspiration

[@Thouveninpascal]

6:18 = 21:50 ?

[@mikestewart6517]

We have a slightly higher population than the Kalahari.

[@FirstNameLastName-hahaha]

Just how much "education" needs to be presented to someone before they're effectively overwhemed / brain-washed into absorbing your version of an "ethical" path ?

[@blaberus1]

I would interpret Cardew's story about the broken African pot more cynically/realistically - yes, the women were delighted when he broke it because they could make another one, but not for the "joy of making" another but because they could earn more money..

[@Goldmarkart]

Probably a little of both!

[@sejaldahiya1891]

Your interpretation reflects how you view those women

[@ronmccombs9133]

I still like hamburgers.

[@kohtas]

He's a wonderful potter, so he should stick to pottery rather than trying to preach his ideals. Seems to be really full up on himself as well, all the while trying to portray this humble personality and lifestyle. Very contradictory as a person. His pottery is really nice though.

[@Dmitry_Matusevich]

Красивые работы но...! Глину Майк Дод копает явно на Марсе!) Заходил на сайт с его работами - блюдо 71см. на 72см. стоит £1,950! Охренеть! Nice work but ...! Mike Dodd is obviously digging clay on Mars!) I went to the site with his works - a 71cm dish. by 72cm. worth £ 1,950! What the fuck?

[@chriswatson1698]

It is possible to kill a cow or a sheep instantly, but millions of mice are poisoned in grain silos every year. Poisoning is a slow cruel death, leaving their babies to die of thirst. Vegans are vicious killers. Just because you don't eat the animals, doesn't mean that you aren't responsible for their deaths.

[@charlesmills6621]

I just checked the website and realized that he is extremely proud of his work judging by the prices and a bit vain. BTW domestic cows raised for food are anything but natural. No need to. apologise for killing and eating. Such a silly notion. Otherwise a really good documentary.

[@adit1001able]

You Englishmen have given more suffering to others (common wealth nations) like nobody has.

[@MarkoVegano]

Thanks for making this very inspirational video. I watch it many times as I throw my own pottery. It lovely to hear your stories. I found many similarities in them that made me wish we were neighbors. Anyway, thank you. Stay well.