Jane Aitken
in interview…
Q. When was your first experience with clay?
A. I first started pottery in my early 20’s doing a few beginner courses at the Fremantle Arts Centre. I then went on to the Claremont School of Art doing Ceramics and Sculpture for 4 years where I incidentally met my husband. It was a fantastic facility with great teachers and is where I developed my skills in wheel throwing.
Q. Best thing about being a member of PSP
A. I had a long break from Ceramics as my children were growing up but about 10 years ago, a friend told me about a pottery club in Cottesloe called Perth Studio Potters and said I should go back and do some classes to refresh my skills and see if it reignited the flame.
Well I can say it was the best thing for me. PSP has such a wonderful community of like-minded people who always offer encouragement and ideas and there is such an incredible range of talent amongst our members.
The club facilities are fantastic along with the ability to display and sell your work in the gallery.
I am very grateful that I am a member of this wonderful club.
Q. Wheel throwing or hand-building?
A. My ceramics are generally functional but I also like the sculptural ability. I often throw my pieces on the wheel and then alter them at leather hard stage.
Over the years I have done a number of painting classes through the Fremantle Arts Centre and I tend to switch my focus between painting and ceramics and use my ceramic pieces as a canvas.
My love of the natural world and in particular the West Australian flora has brought me to represent our wildflowers onto my pieces using a variety of techniques including, sgraffito, Mishima and Nerikomi.
My latest work is now incorporating three dimensional additions.
Ceramics has limitless potential and is what drives me to keep exploring the never-ending possibilities this craft has to offer.