About Jo Padovan
Jo mostly makes functional pottery, often with the starting point being a wheel-thrown vessel of some sort. The initial driving force for Jo is the challenge in the making of a piece that has come to mind. This could be by way of the size, technique required, clay used, and glaze look and feel. Then really, it’s always a combination of all these things. It’s a constant learning process, one that is never tiring and is always thought provoking.
While Jo does have a preference to use fine white clays or porcelains, there’s usually always a bag of iron-bearing clay around. All is takes is for a sample piece made in red clay to come out of the kiln with an inkling of promise another bag of red clay makes it back into the studio and so the journey continues – including the clean up between red and white clay days!
Regardless of concept, process or medium used – each piece is given lots of thought and attention, with the aim to have it exist as a little piece of art that also happens to be functional.
It’s this striving to work within the delicate balance between functionality and art, that Jo finds is the most intriguing and rewarding.
