Fresh From the Kiln

These pots have just come from the kiln . I am impressed with the increased translucency in these pieces. I am forever experimenting, looking for ways of improving what I do, and this time I altered the firing schedule quite extensively. Thank goodness these things sometimes pay off!

Why Soluble Salts?

Because the metallic salts that I use for the decoration of my work are soluble they add a quality that could not be achieved with traditional oxide decoration. They are absorbed into the body and interact with each other reminiscent of watercolour painting. As you can see from the detail shown, the term watercolors on porcelain used to describe this technique is very apt.

Why Bone China?

Ever since my first experimentation with porcelain bodies, my quest has been the pursuit of whiteness and translucency. Unfortunately in South Africa, where I work, the local kaolins are not very pure. The idea of importing a kaolin did not appeal to me as I have always been determined to make my bodies using local materials. After achieving limited success with porcelain tests, cream rather than white and little, if any, translucency, I experimented with a few bone china recipes.

From the first tests the results were incredible. Whiteness that I had only imagined. It transpires that the bone ash, which makes up a large part of the body, has a bleaching effect on any iron traces in the kaolin, producing a body of extreme whiteness and increased translucency. Recently I have started adding bentonite to the body to increase green-strength. Bentonite, which itself contains small quantities of iron usually making porcelain tests creamier, rendered the bone china, if anything, whiter than it was before the addition.

Currently On Show

A few pieces of my work can currently be seen on the group exhibition 'Oppitafel' at Artspace, 142 Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood, Johannesburg. Other Ceramics on show are by: Eugene Hon, Deon De Lange, Karen Sinovich and Nicolene Swanepoel.

A New Year.... A New Resolution

Well as 2009 begins , it is time once again for the inevitable resolutions. This year I want to consider the word focus. It is my intention to focus on making work, exploring new avenues within that work. I intend to focus on getting my work exposed to as many people as possible. It is also my intention to focus on the joy that doing the work brings. I take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and fulfilled 2009. May all our intentions be realised.

Julie Lovelace

This is the work of Julie Lovelace. She has recently completed her B Tech in Ceramic Design at the University of Johannesburg. Her work, which initially appears whimsical has a darker side to it and is concerned with, among other things, the loss of innocence. Julie uses a variety of surface treatments on her work including underglaze, glaze, acrylics and lustres. Look out for Julie's one-person exhibition early 2010.

What A Great Year It Was!

What a year this has been. As far as my own work goes probably one of the most exciting ever. I continued with soluble salts on bone china and have had some good results as well as some great acknowledgement for this work. In the second half of this year I was fortunate enough to receive a merit award at the Corobrik National Ceramics Exhibition hosted by Ceramics S A. Peter Beard, renowned British ceramist, was the award judge for this exhibition. I also participated in the Staff exhibition at the University of Johannesburg, where I am currently a lecturer, as well as 'The Magic of Making' at the Sally Thompson Gallery in Melville, and 'Oppitafel' (0n the table) at Artspace in Rosebank. I also have an article published on my trials with soluble salts in the current issue of Ceramics Technical the excellent Australian ceramic journal.