Jane Seymour
Ceramicist
Caher, Ireland
Illustrative depictions on unfired surfaces
- Jane etches birds, bulls and human figures onto the surface of her work
- She applies metal oxides to the clay to achieve rich colours
- Her pieces are fired multiple times in the kiln to create unique, layered textures
Jane Seymour is a third-generation ceramicist, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. Although she grew up surrounded by pottery, she only fell in love with clay later in life after experimenting with coil and slab building. Having always held a strong interest in drawing, she translates this influence directly onto her clay forms. Animals, birds and female figures regularly feature in her sculptures, placing a central focus on surface treatment. "While form is important to my work, dictating how I treat the surface, it is the surface design and decoration that truly excite me,” Jane says. Her work is held in the Irish State Art Collection, and she is a recipient of the Ceramics Ireland Professional Practice Award.
INTERVIEW
I constantly experiment, as I learn best by doing. I rarely keep technical notes, but over the years, I have built up a deep understanding of my materials and processes. A pile of failed and discarded pieces sits in the back of my studio. Thankfully, nothing new has been added to it in a while!
First, I scratch the design directly into unfired clay and rub oxides into the surface. After initial firing, I sand the piece down or add more oxides, slowly building up layers of texture. I usually fire the work multiple times to achieve the desired result.
Crows and ravens are visually striking birds. I have been observing a local flock of crows at the coast, studying their movement and social dynamics. I find them very fascinating.
I teach students of alll ages and backgrounds. Teaching fuels my own creativity, sharing my knowledge allows me to look at my practice from new angles. My students see the craft with fresh eyes, which pushes my work forward.
Jane Seymour
Ceramicist
Caher, Ireland
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
LANGUAGES
English
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