To order pieces via my Etsy shop please click on the link below:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Jonquilcook

If you are interested in commissioning something unique, please contact me directly by email at:jonquilcook@hotmail.com

My workshop is located at
Le Bourg, Ratenelle, 71290, France.

Some of the plates, jugs and bowls in the 'Forest' series are produced using the same sgraffito techniques as those described below for the cobalt blue fish, but I also make pieces where free-hand drawings over copper green slip provide the decoration.

This image shows the pieces stacked in the kiln just before the final glaze firing.

Before....

And after!

At work decorating a 'tree-pot'. Fortunately I don't have to go too far from my front door for suitable subject matter...

Below are some images of me at work on the 'fish' series. I took inspiration for this design, some years ago now, from looking at Japanese woodcuts and textile prints after somebody had asked me to produce them a bowl with fish on it.  The bowls, tea-pots, plates and vases I went on to produce have proved quite popular so I continue to make them (the carving process never loses its marvellous, meditative pleasure for me!) and am now selling them via JonquilCeramics on the Etsy website.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Jonquilcook

I use white earthenware clay to throw forms on the wheel. These are then painted with oxide slips (I use cobalt for blue). When the slip reaches the right level of dryness (leather-hard) I begin to scrape it away using a range of metal or wooden tools depending on the marks I want to make. This technique is called 'sgraffito'.

When the decoration is completed I leave the pots to dry before a first 'biscuit' firing - to 1000 degrees centigrade, oxidation, in an electric kiln . This usually takes around 9 hours.

Finally, I glaze the pieces with a transparent enamel finish which gives a glass-like sheen to the pieces after they have been fired for a second time. 

Exhibition earlier this year with local artists collective....

...in the stunning space of the 12th century Refectories des Moines, Abbey of St Philibert, Tournus, France.

A display of some of my collection in the boutique at Brancion, in southern Burgundy...

...site of the extraordinary castle and medieval village that from the 11th century was the seat of power for the Lords of Brancion, and later for the Dukes of Burgundy.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

A few years ago, when I began experimenting with ceramic decoration, I created a set of hand-made alphabet stamps. This has enabled me to create customised pieces for friends and businesses, such as the bowl I have been working on (see below) for Jonnie Beasley. I love the process of printing into the clay in this way- it reminds me of the letterpress work I did during my apprentice book-binding period in the US many years ago....

 (adding a bit of colour to Jonnie's bowl- green is his favourite colour. I will post a photo of the finished, glazed piece when it comes out of the kiln!)

Working on a tea-pot for the Blackwell Collection, so named after the beautiful country house on the shores of Lake Windermere, owned and run by the National Trust. The house is full of wonderful examples of early 20th century British craftsmanship, and I fell in love with the White Dining Room, full of sunlight, with views across the Lake. The design on these ceramics is inspired by the Rowan tree frieze produced for the house by artist and architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scot (1865-1945)

Working on a large vase for the fish series...

I will post photos of finished pieces once they are fired.

Please contact me directly if you are interested in buying a piece.

You can now also follow me on Twitter @jonquil_c

and on Instagram as jonquilcook

It's been a productive couple of weeks here in the pottery: more jugs, bowls and plates for the Forest series, plus some new, larger pieces thrown for carving... watch this space!
Finished pieces are currently available for sale through etsy.com, and Artfinder.com (search for Jonquil Doremus-Cook). For prices of individual pieces please contact me directly by email, at jonquilcook@hotmail.com

 Carving away oxide coloured slip to reveal clay on wheel-thrown pieces. Creates relief and colour contrast.

Pieces drying, awaiting first firing in electric kiln to 1050 degrees centigrade. Firing takes around 9 hours.

Glazing of pots after first firing. Green glaze inside, transparent outside. Low-fired pieces need to be glazed all over as they are likely to be more porous than high-fired ware. My pottery aims to be beautiful and decorative but also highly functional.

Forest series before and after final firing- 1100 degrees.

Freshly thrown pieces waiting to be 'turned'. The clay needs to be at a leather-hard stage of dryness in order to carry out a finishing of the final form on the wheel.

Foreground- large vase (to be carved with my Fish design). Background- elements of a tea-pot waiting to be assembled (this will be decorated with the Blackwells themed design).

Jonnie Beesley-Pritchard's special green bowl (mark 2!!). Jonnie loved the customised bowl I made him so since it got well-used and eventually broken I am making him another! The letter-stamps are fired clay that I carved by hand.

Series of mugs with seahorse design for sale at Midland Hotel (design is based on original seahorse sculptures on exterior of building by artist Eric Gill, and a mosaic feature in the foyer floor, by textile designer Marion Dorn. You can see photos of the mural, originally painted by celebrated British artist Eric Ravilious, that I reproduced -and adapted- in the Rotunda Bar of the hotel, by clicking on the link on the right).

Some of my recent creations: attempting to bring a little more light into the world! Happy New Year xxxx

 This lamp measures 50cm in height, including the custom-made shade. The base itself measures 25cm.

The fish lamp!! Base measures 27cm.

These lamps are for sale. If you are interested please take a look at my shop : 'Jonquilcook' at www.etsy.com