josie walter
Wirksworth, Matlock, Derbyshire, UK
Josie Walter in her studio in Derbyshire, England
Josie Walter, Berry Lunch Plate, 2019. Earthenware, thrown on a momentum wheel, decorated with white slip, slip trailed with black slip, raw glazed and decorated with colored glazes. Fired to cone 03 in an electric kiln. 3cm H x 24cm D
Josie Walter, Pink Bird Tray, 2019. Slab built earthenware, slip decorated and raw glazed, Fired to cone 03 in an electric kiln. 3cm H x 14cm W x 26.5cm L
No fairs, no galleries, no leaving the house, or at least the garden. A mixture of peace and worry! I had already signed up to a painting course in February/March and so it seemed like a good idea to segue into the next for April/May. The whole experience was uplifting and has ultimately benefited my practice in so many ways—making me less concerned with fulfilling orders, and more playful and willing to try new techniques and materials.
As life settled into “lockdown,” organizers of theaters, operas, cinemas and festivals began to think outside the norm and started creating online workshops, exhibitions, webinars and talks. We all became accustomed to Zoom encounters. Suddenly life was hectic! The three-day book festival in Hay-on-Wye; an online workshop to learn how to teach online, how to set up an online shop, setting up an online shop, meetings (great! no traveling miles and wasting a whole day). A brilliant three day Craft Festival #digitalcraftfestival full of demos, talks, craft films, children’s workshops, wacky portrait painting…days full of fun, stimulation, enterprise and—hurrah!—sales through our new online shop.
As restrictions are lifted we find ourselves in no hurry to resume our busy pre-Covid lives. We are content—but then we have space, a garden, and a rural location. But we really miss friends and family, especially grandchildren—though reading bedtime stories via Facetime has been a boon.
Josie Walter, Three Butter Slabs (beetroot, leeks, carrot), 2019. Slab built with four slab feet on the back. Fired to cone 03 in an electric kiln. Each slab 12 cm W x 16 cm L
During the Lockdown JOSie walter has been developing her drawing and painting skills and—oF NECESSITY—ACQUIRING new strengths in social media and marketing.
Josie Walter, 7 Carat Tray, 2020. “I love this joke, heritage varieties of carrots of course.” Slab built earthenware, slip trailed designs using a manganese slip and then raw glazed. Fired to cone 03 in an electric kiln.3cm H x 14cm W x 26.5cm L
Josie Walter, P is for Pet, 2020. Black ink drawing with watercolor. 24cm H X 17cm W,
Josie Walter, P is for Pollinator, 2020. Black ink drawing with watercolor. 24cm H X 17cm W. “In Spring I joined a drawing challenge.: every day for fourteen days we were set a drawing challenge beginning with ‘P’.”
Josie Walter, P is for Pig, 2020. Black ink drawing with watercolor. 24cm H X 17cm W,
Josie Walter, Deer Lunch Plate, 2020. 3cm H x 24cm D
Josie Walter, Mug, 2020. Earthenware, thrown on a momentum wheel. Dipped in white slip and then decorated with manganese and black slip using makeup sponges, ear buds, carrot, and potato prints. Fired to Cone 03 in an electric kiln. 8cm H X 7cm D