Jen Selwyn Pottery: Under Pressure

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Under Pressure

As I often do I procrastinated! This is one of two trays I made the other day for a special order that has to be done before I leave again on vacation. (The other on the bottom shelf of the kiln.) It is always good to make more than one, just in case. And I'm glad I did because this one has a crack. The other one came out of bisque fine and s now cooling in the glaze fire. That could take a while seeing it is hot and muggy here and my air in the studio isn't working. I am praying it comes out fine... nothing like working under pressure! I will try and post a photo of it tomorrow. I am excited to see how it turns out.

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About My Work

My love for all things messy started when I was young but has carried into my adult life for sure. I remember as a kid making mud pies and trying to sell them. Now I am using clay to create beautiful pieces and selling them. This time people are buying them. Although my first encounter with pottery was in college where I majored in Art Education. I really got into pottery about 9 years ago in Cincinnati at a place called

“Annie’s Mud Pie Shop” .... something about the name I guess.

I am most known for three series I have been working on for the last few years. My speckled turquoise pieces draw the eye of many art lovers. The color and mat texture of the glaze stands out in the sea of earth-tone work at many craft shows. My spiral series came about when I was experimenting with multiple layers of glazes and underglazes. The combination created a unique look that is ancient and modern at the same time. This glazing technique often requires hours of work, but the final product is such a delight I can’t stop making them. My leaf series is inspired by the Green Circle Trail in Stevens Point and my love of Fall. I use both throwing hand-building techniques to create the bowls, platters and baking dishes and use real leaves I collected with my children, to create texture and design elements. The glazing technique is what makes the leaves stand out on these pieces. I use the layering technique I discovered in my spiral work to add texture and depth to the leaves. I balance the strong colors of the leaves with a translucent gloss green to make the leaves pop. As a split to this series I have also added leaves to some of my turquoise pieces. The contrast if color is outstanding! This discovery came about when my cat stepped on the edge of a bowl and to salvage it, I simply added a leaf, the final product was such a delight I decided to make several more. And they were a hit!

When there are no more leaves to use, butterflies adorn my work. Much like the leaves the butterflies adorn the edge of bowls, platters and baking dishes. No, I do not use real butterflies! I do use images of real butterflies and I try to keep the decoration as accurate as possible. The butterflies are even more delicate than the leaves and have been a learning process for me. As a split from this series I have been using embossing and stamp techniques to create some original baking and serving dishes. They are still every bit as beautiful, just a little more user friendly.

I prefer to work in stoneware clay which makes my work durable, as well as oven, microwave and dishwasher safe. Glazes that are food safe and beautiful are what make my pottery great sitting on a coffee table or the kitchen table. What I enjoy most about working in clay, and with the leaves, is no two pieces are ever exactly the same. Most of my work is Asymmetrical, much like the leaves I find in nature. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoyed making it.

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Sunday, July 4, 2010

Under Pressure

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