Introducing Jayne from Jayne Bawden Stoneware Ceramics. Where every item is handmade!! From her home in Mildura, Victoria, Jayne hand creates all of her stunning pieces.
Find out why Jayne started creating and why she is so passionate about the value of handmade.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
I make all types of things from domestic table ware to sculpture. Often my work is the result of a demonstration.
I really like working on the wheel. In summer, hands in cold water and in winter, hands in warm water.
It is a mesmerizing process from a lump of clay spinning, transformed by the hands working in unison, into a vast range of things. It never gets old to me.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
I studied Ceramics at BCAE which is now known as Federation University. I worked as a Secondary school teacher for many years before retreating into my studio where I continue to teach Ceramics to a wide variety of students. I share my studio with The Mildura Pottery Club. This exposes me to a wide variety of ideas and methods on a regular basis. It also keeps me very busy loading and unloading kilns. Preparing and reclaiming clay.
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?`
I find inspiration in the natural world. My studio is in a rural setting with views into paddocks of sheep sharing with kangaroos. There is a lot of bird life - Kookaburras on the clothes-line and families of Magpies singing in the background.
Where did you learn your craft?
I studied Ceramics at BCAE which is now known as Federation University in Ballarat Victoria.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
Handmade artistry is important to me because the end result is items with soul. I am lucky to experience the joy and excitement that comes from a beginner potter being amazed and proud of their creations. Ceramics teaches patience and perseverence.
I encourage my students to be kind to themselves, let go of perfectionism and in the words of my sister, embrace the wonk! Glaze covers a multitude of sins. There is nothing more satisfying than eating a meal off a plate you have made yourself.
Jayne is a much loved member of the Madeit Collective, posting regularly in our Facebook Group ~ The Handmade Marketplace of Australia ~ and sharing her new creations as they are released. If you haven't connected with Jayne Bawden Stoneware Ceramics, make sure you join our FB Group and say hi !
