How do you describe what you do?
At the moment I am just experimenting with shapes. I love the idea of using templates to create more angular forms, but also want to add a natural twist to that, like a decaying brutalist building. I also love working with colours and have bought far too many glazes. I’m currently working on getting the perfect sea or pond combination on some tester plates.
How did you start in art / design?
I joined the makerspace in October and hadn’t touched clay before that but really threw myself into experimenting with different designs, first as presents for my friends but now more so for myself. My mum did a ceramics course when I was young, and the two pieces that survived sat on the shelf, a little model of a man and a model of our dog Shandy in a basket, and I always loved those. I did art at GCSE in school but really lost confidence over time when I stopped practicing. I’m hoping to also get back into painting landscapes but with pylons and other modern architecture marring the view.
What makes your work and/or process unique?
I don’t think I can call my work unique yet, I am still gathering ideas and experimenting. I use templates from polyhedra.net for my tealight holders and fold them up, I think most other geometric ceramic designs I’ve seen have been thrown and then cut away, but I’m sure it’s not unique. I guess my twist with the natural elements will hopefully be a unique take on that.
What would your top tips be for anyone considering taking up art/design?
Absorb as many ideas as you can but also don’t compare yourself to others. There’s always going to be someone that you perceive as better at certain things, but everyone has their own unique skillset, and you will find your niche that you can occupy. Also, enjoy it! Find the joy in your work and focus on the process not the result (I need to work on this myself!).
When you have the dreaded creative block, where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?
I have the opposite problem. I have too many ideas all buzzing around my head at once and I become frozen with indecision about what to do first. I am constantly getting ideas from seeing the other artists and makers at the Makerspace, browsing Pinterest but not usually for ceramics, for other art forms that I could try and combine with ceramics. I want to try screen printing underglaze onto a slab vase, for example.
What piece of work or project are you most proud of?
I haven’t done much yet, but it’s a tie between my moon phase coasters and my twisted vase design, which are both very simple designs in principle. I think for these it’s because I started off with results that I wasn’t at all happy with, so went back to the drawing board and tried again, quite a few times with the coasters, until I was happy. This is quite hard for me, I struggle when things aren’t perfect first time, but it was really worth going through this process.
What other artist or maker do you admire and why?
I admire Fiona Josephs from the space. She is just so in love with the creative process and was so warm and welcoming when I joined, talked me through her process and I ended up using inspiration from her lino printing onto ceramics for my final moon phase coaster design. She reminds me that I should be enjoying what I do and not worrying about the end result. Plus her work is amazing, colourful and often very funny. I want to be that person.
Any books on your shelf or exhibitions and events coming up you can recommend?
To be honest I have only just gotten into ceramics as an art form and would benefit from suggestions from anyone else! There is a book that I want to have on my shelf, Troika Ceramics of Cornwall, as I love the geometric shapes within the designs of those ceramics, and I am Cornish myself so it would be great to bring that into my art. Can’t get hold of that book though.
Why is Colchester Makerspace important to you/or and your work?
I needed a space without distractions, I had just been looking into renting kiln space when I stumbled upon the Makerspace website, but this is so much better. I have ADHD and having a space just for the project I want to work on has been so important. The community is also invaluable, sharing ideas and meeting people I may not have crossed paths with otherwise has been wonderful. In my first 3 months I achieved what I wanted – making Xmas presents for my friends and family! But it has definitely ignited a passion and I have so many ideas. Can you have too many ideas? If you want to get involved, make some suggestions for my work and I’ll see if my head explodes.
Joey’s work will be on display and available to buy for the month of May at Patch in front of the Makerspace at Trinity Works.