We have recently collaborated with a series of creative makers and small indie businesses to create a range of lifestyle products exclusive to Lazy Oaf. Each maker is a true craftsman and we have loved being a part of their process. One of our collaborators has been Ella Hookway a ceramicist based in South London.
Ella took us on her ‘make’ journey and also didn’t mind us badgering her with some questions, getting an insight into her world from the virtue of patience with pottery, taking time to be creative during lockdown and jazz! Every pot by Ella is handcrafted with love and patience and we are very jealous she gets to play with clay.
How did you first get into ceramics, any top tips for wannabe potters?
I started by attending a few evening classes and then in 2015 I joined my current studio, The Kiln Rooms. It's a communal space in South London shared with 20 other ceramicists. It was there that I really started to develop my own style and ways of working. It's been such a gift working from that space for the past 5.5 years, you learn so much from each other and there are always people around to talk through what you're working on. Unfortunately, it's not possible to join classes in-person at the moment but I've seen lots of pottery studios offering kits to enable people to make at home, so I would highly recommend trying that out if you can.
What’s the most challenging thing about creating ceramics?
Learning to be patient. You rarely get instant results when working with clay as even if you're quick at making, you still have to wait for the piece to dry completely before it goes through 2 kiln firings (bisque and then glaze), which themselves take 3 days. It's nice to embrace the slower pace it demands and the almost meditative state you can get into when working away from a screen and with your hands. It's also helped me to become more resilient as you have to accept that sometimes you might spend a month working on a piece and at the final stage, something goes wrong in the kiln, outside of your control. So it can be challenging at times but on the other hand, it makes it all the more exhilarating when things work out.
I'm often inspired by natural forms and patterns in nature so I gather a lot of inspiration when walking outdoors or watching nature documentaries.
2020 has been one wild ride so far, have any positives/creative breakthroughs come out of lockdown for you?
2020 has been a funny one for me as my studio was closed for several months and whilst I observed a lot of people having increased creative energy during lockdown, I didn't feel hugely inspired as I adjusted to the new ways of living. Away from clay, I decided to hand embroider postcards which I sent to friends. As many of us are spending more time at home these days, I thought it would be nice for people to receive something special in the post. Interestingly, I feel more energised to create as we head into lockdown 2.0, I've got a backlog of ideas I'd like to try out but also appreciating that I can take my time and let things flow naturally.
When you’re thinking up new designs & ideas, where do you go for inspiration?
I'm often inspired by natural forms and patterns in nature so I gather a lot of inspiration when walking outdoors or watching nature documentaries. I enjoy experimenting with mark-making too, so sometimes it's as simple as seeing what you can do with a specific shaped brush.
What’s your favourite song to work to?
I tend to split my time between listening to audiobooks, podcasts and music. With music it really depends on my mood, lately there's been a lot of jazz, with Miles Davis and Bill Evans featuring often.
Shop the Lazy Oaf x Ella Hookway Happy Sad Ceramic Pot
