JANERUSSELL
I am a local self-taught artist and ceramicist based in St Albans.
I use a variety of mediums and subjects in my art which also transfers to my pots.
My art ranges from abstract to portraits and all in between.
Similarly I like to push myself trying all processing also in pottery I throw, hand build and sculpture.
I have become interested in reduction firing purchasing a gas kiln.
Artist
My love of art began at school I was not an academic but did get good results in the art room. I was very much a drawer in those days and felt adding paint only spoiled the picture.
I went onto college after school to train as a hairdresser during the training my art was picked up by the design tutor when I did a portrait of a fellow student for hair purposes.
In my teen years I liked to pick up a pen and paper and draw time permitting. Jump forward several decades to the early 90’s and I bumped into a friend near where I lived doing a Plein Aire session. She said they were there as it was term holidays from the vocation course they attended at Herts University and during the holidays they continued to meet to paint.
I expressed my interest in art and she invited me to join her at Herts University’s evening vocation course, I applied, got a place and attended for many decades. We became a group of friends keeping up the tradition of meeting in the holiday to do plein Aire and have a pint!
I finally left the group approximately 7/8 years ago to broaden my experience and knowledge elsewhere and began attending other art groups and courses.
My art is quite a collection of subjects and styles as I get bored if on one subject too long. I use different materials, Acrylics, oils, pastels, oil sticks etc. Likewise, brushes, plate knives, different mark making objects. My art ranges from abstract, landscapes, seascapes, animals to portraits. I am keen on the impressionist style and lean towards it.
I have attended so many groups, courses and workshops over the years, just to list a few; Hertfordshire University, St Albans Art society, Insight Art, Herts visual Arts, Jeremy Ford, Mitzie Green, Sue Gray, Gary Spencer. Jo Daisy studio and many day workshops with different tutors.
I try different materials and methods. I like to create light and effect. My art has taken a bit of a back seat at present as I get more involved with pottery but I do combine the two!!
Potty Potter!
My pottery pathway possibly started when very young as one of my favourite past times was playing with mud; mud pies, mud bombs, worms and mud you get the picture! I was never a girlie girl so getting dirty has never bothered me. I enjoyed my wind- up train set rather than dolls and helping dad carry machinery about clearly became my job!
Jumping a few decades to approximately 2018, my interest continued I talked and thought about “doing” pottery more and more but didn’t make any attempt to access anything until that sunny day at the steam rally!!!
My husband, Steve is keen on old machinery so we have visited many and I mean many steam rallies over the years but on this bright sunny day there he was an elderly gentleman making terracotta garden pots. He had pots all around him and was making more on his wheel. He was a character and looked just like a garden gnome. He was the sort of person that shares and motivates with doing or saying very little but his words “get on a course gal and do it” got me to do just that and my journey began!
I first attended a taster course at Oaklands College and I continued to attend evening class over 6 or so years. Len was my first tutor and strict in the fact that you started with thumb pots to “feel” the clay then you were able to make coils (no extruders) and your pots had to be finished properly before moving onto the next step/stage.
The coiling and hand building lead to throwing where I would say I’m making a cup only to end up with a bowl. Each 2-hour weekly session I would start again putting that lump of clay on the wheel only for it to take over and tell me what it was doing. It took several months before I was in control and that moment that light bulb moment was amazing, I was making a cup and I made a cup!!! It was onwards and upwards!!
My throwing has improved over time by more practice and attending different courses. Like when I had to make an extra 50 pots in a short time to take to Nic Collins on a wood firing course throwing every day which is something I need to get back too. What is it we always say practice, practice and practice!!
I have attended a list of courses over the years throwing and Raku courses at West Dean, 2 x 2-week courses with David and Margaret Firth, a week at Tarka pottery, a week with James Oughtibridge and Rachel Appleby and a week with Brendan Hesmondhalgh and a couple of days at Whichford pottery throwing large pots.
I have become more ambitious over time making larger pieces and breaking into sculpture. I have tried different clays and want to keep learning rather than just “do” pottery. I have started experimenting with some brush on glazes but would love to know more on reactions, making and applying different glazes, stains etc. I’m still reluctant to make my own glazes but as my interest grows so does my confidence to try, – one day!! I have been researching courses that take you through all the different processes and stages of pottery that I can attend daily locally unfortunately I haven’t been successful.
I did pluck up courage and take myself off to West Dean for a Raku course, which was great. West Dean is a real retreat but Alison Sandaman tutor worked us hard finishing late each night. Then both myself and my husband went to Devon to Nic Collins wood firing course hench the rush for more pots as Steve got a place and came with me. And then to David and Margaret Frith on 2 two-week courses May and June.
I tried big pots and plates with David and Margaret Frith and had a week doing basic throwing at Tarka Pottery. As mentioned, I branched into sculpture with James Oughtibridge and Rachel Appleby a further course with Brendan Hesmondhalgh and back to throwing on an intensive progressive throwing course at Whichford pottery. I have learnt so much from all these very knowledgeable people but there is so much more to learn.
I mentioned wood firing which is my firing of choice but too time consuming for a hobby potter but as I love reduction firing and wood firing is not really an option the next best thing is a gas kiln. I am lucky enough to be the proud owner of a gas kiln! I have had some good results from my kiln and I am more inclined to try things out in my own kiln.
So, my pathway continues I have put my work out there which was another big step and have taken advantage of DCPG market stall. I am an active member of the Dacorum and Chiltern Potters Guild (DCPG) which hold outings, meeting, social gathers and we try different types of firings. I look forward to continued growth and you never know the name Jane Russell might be more popular in the art and ceramic’s world rather than acting cycle!!!
I won first prize in the Cinch art competition and have had two portrait paintings used in a film called the gallery and had two sculptures in the sculpture gallery in Holmfirth . I have attending Leavesden in the park, Redbourn, DCPG and the Blackbirds markets with my art and ceramics.
I have more dates in my dairy, more courses to attend and more things to try!!!