| Jenny Reading biography |
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| view Jenny's ceramics | |
| I was born in 1957 in rural North Bucks and had an
agricultural upbringing involving close contact with animals and the natural
environment. After leaving school in 1976, I completed a Foundation course in Art and Design, intending to study Fine Art Painting and Sculpture. This was prevented by family problems and it was not until 1998 that I returned to the subject. Following evening classes in ceramics, I completed a 2 year full time National Diploma in Ceramics, and started selling small lurcher sculptures through galleries including The Garden Gallery, Southwold, The Old Fire Engine House, Ely, and Lowestoft Arts Centre. In 2002 I started an HND in Fine Art, still specialising in ceramics, and intend to study to degree level in 2005/2006. My working mwthods are as follows: small animal sculptures are slab built; large animals are coil built. I use crank craft clay as this is strong, and use a stoneware slip in some cases to obtain a smooth finish as crank is a bit coarse. The animals are fired to biscuit ware, then metal oxides, mostly copper, are applied before firing to stoneware. I'm currently living in west Norfolk with my daughter Christina who is studying photography, and a variety of animals including several lurchers. |