Jo and Andrew Eddlestone

Andrew

I have a workshop at home where I make a range of thrown domestic ware, slip decorated with finger combing and sgraffito decoration, glazed with coloured transparent glazes and high fired. I like pottery that is a pleasure to use, that the maker has taken care and thought to make, the curve of a handle, the smoothness of the rim, the attention to detail.  Always turn a pot over and look at its base. If it is well finished its maker cared about the whole pot. I make other pottery, pots for the garden, commissions and sculptural pieces and dabble with raku. This summer I made a kiln for raku. 

My work is exhibited regularly. I worked for many years in a pottery, just throwing pots on piece rate. It really focuses your mind and hones your skill.

In my workshops I try and help students to discover the enjoyment of working with clay and overcome their frustrations as their skills and confidence develop. Over the years I have been fortunate to work with a wide variety of groups. For eleven years I ran workshops in a day centre for disabled adults with learning disabilities, there was a lot of laughter. I have worked with the Carers Centre in Bath, Barnardo’s, North East Somerset Arts (now Creativity Works), Dorothy House, to name a few. 

This is my sixteenth year at Frome Community Pottery.

Jo

I have a love of Stained Glass, I always have! I especially love the subtle variations of natural light transmitting through transparent tints that can shimmer, sparkle, cast coloured shadows or form a restful shine.

My interest is in ancient traditional processes. I begin with pencil drawings inspired by the nature I see. I then choose glass that I hand cut and then stain with raw mineral stain in compounds I hand mix ( I was fortunate to be offered no longer available tradition stain from a glass restorer who was retiring). I often start with a black stain mixed with clove oil applied with a dip pen. This receives the highest 650 oC firing, followed by brushed on layers of colour. Silver stain yellow and gold derived pink are especially heat sensitive. Each stain with its own characteristics and optimum temperature. Because each piece is a one off, my progress is slow and uncertain and so I sell a full range from a card reproduction, to painted leaded garden panels to potentially endure for many hundred years!