Introducing Katy Thornton
Katy signed up for a couple of tasters in May 2021, she returned for a 4 day throwing class in June, and joined as studio member in July. Since then she’s been a regular at the studio: practicing her throwing and recently experimenting with underglazes and decorative techniques.
Who are you? Plug your social media and/or shop!
Katie Thornton, I don’t have social media. I’ve been potting for about 6-7 months now - I started with a taster session here and have decided to make pottery a part of my life.
Share one pottery goal you have for 2022.
I want to be able to make a successful cylinder that doesn’t have the weight all in the bottom.
What sparked your love affair with clay?
I’m not really sure, during all the lockdowns and stuff it was a good time to reassess things. I thought I’d like to try that. I’ve always been interested in form and colour and shape. It just felt right, so I came along and it is right!
Has a pot ever broken your heart?
In terms of it going wrong? I think I’m still at the very early stage where if anything comes out nice I am happy!
What are your favourite and least favourite parts of the pottery process?
I’m really enjoying getting to grips with how I can make different shapes and working out what my technique is. Where I’m less happy still is with glazing because I’ll have a really nice pot and I’m thinking yes I’ll dip that! Then it comes back with a great big fingerprint or something silly I’ve done, like my waxing wasn’t very accurate or something like that. So you ruin what would actually have been a really excellent pot just by not having that attention to detail.
How have any of your other hobbies/interests influenced your work?
It’s odd really because this is a complete departure. I’ve never done anything crafty. I work in an office based, document based environment so being physical and 3D with stuff like this is completely different which is wonderful.
Tell us about an artist/ceramicist you look up to.
There’s an artist called Sasha Wardell who does slip casting of lovely shaped pots, she does layers of slip and then carves in. They look absolutely fantastic. She uses bone china which is very tricky, I believe, but they come out beautifully translucent and glowy. They just look lovely.
Describe your relationship with clay in one word.
Adversarial - it will not get the better of me!
Finally, can you recommend a podcast/book or something you’ve watched that has inspired you recently?
I got a book for christmas called “Techniques Using Slips” by a chap called John Mathieson and that has got some really interesting stuff in it. Different ways you can make use of slips and lots of pictures of the ways different potters use slip to decorate or deform or highlight their work. It’s fascinating.