In the June issue of Bustle & Sew Magazine we were delighted to feature the lovely Jo from Jo Lucksted Ceramics. Based in Shepton Mallet (just a few minutes drive from Bustle & Sew HQ!) Jo creates wonderful pieces from clay, ranging from small buttons and beads all the way up to larger scale figurative pieces.
We asked Jo to tell us a little bit more about the techniques she uses. She told us…
“I mostly hand build all my work as I really enjoy sculpting. There are a few pieces where I use plaster press moulds which I made about 12 years ago, they are on their last legs really! When I do use them though they are just to create a basic form which I then build on.
I like to work at quite a slow pace so don’t use a wheel or slip cast even though that would be much more efficient for any bowl shaped forms. I work with the clay building up the forms or creating slabs by rolling the clay out. I enjoy surface decoration and texture, and have collected lots of different mark making tools. I often pick things up off the ground to impress in the clay (rusty washers are a favourite!). I have experimented in the past with ceramic transfers but as these require a third firing I’d rather paint designs freehand instead. I mostly use underglaze colours to glaze my work. The colours can be mixed and diluted so they go well with a decorated, textured surface without smothering it and can be used in a very painterly way.”
We also asked Jo about her biggest challenge so far…
“In my third year of trading I had a personalised product feature in the Not On the High Street Christmas catalogue. I had no idea how many orders I was going to receive so I almost had a nervous breakdown fulfilling about 900 orders and making over two thousand personalised doves. I did it, and everything arrived before Christmas, with only one breakage, but I couldn’t have done it without help from my family. It still makes me shudder to think about it…”
Be sure to pop over to Jo’s website to see all her wonderful creations. You can also find her on Etsy and Facebook – do go and say hello!
Read the full interview with Jo in the June issue of Bustle & Sew Magazine. Find out more HERE!
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