Book Review – 31 Handbuilt Ceramics

Quoting from the book Jo Taylor comments, “Learning by observation and through feeling with your hands what clay will (and will not) do is as important as instruction. Much of a learner’s progress will be ‘kinaesthetic’, which is the activity of learning by doing, as tuition will only take you so far.

Watching people working with clay, both on television and online, is ever more popular; observing making in all its variations can quickly aid understanding. As a consequence of suiting different learning styles, ceramics retains universal popularity across a range of settings as it is an appropriate activity for anyone.

It is widely accessible: most issues can be accommodated and it is a proven beneficial activity for well-being. It is also an excellent means of building resilience and problemsolving skills, alongside the development of creative and making skills” .

1.1 - Jo Taylor, detail from Cincture wall series, 2019, porcelain, thrown, hand-built and assembled

4.4 -Jo Taylor, Vari Capitelli iii, 2019, height 41cm (16in).

6.47 -Jo Taylor, Vari Capitelli ii, 2019, height 44cm (17in). This work was coiled and thrown, with extruded and handmade additions using a bisque former.

7.12 -Building up the additions can change the energy and appearance of the underlying form.

7.22 - Jo Taylor, Pride and Joy Green i, 2018 height 25cm (10in) This is an example of porcelain coloured with a range of green stains, made into a variety of shapes and assembled at leather hard before being fired once.

8.41 - Jo Taylor, Vari Capitelli vi, 2020, height 43cm (17in) 1.1 8.41

4.44 7.22

7.12 6.47

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