This month, I’m starting something new called Playdate. A little series where I visit maker friends in their studios and share a glimpse into their world. It’s about supporting each other, celebrating good work, and connecting you with the people behind the pieces. And a reason for me to get out and meet like-minded people!
For the first playdate, I visited Julie of Julie B Ceramics.
Her studio feels like piece of makers paradise in the country where shelves filled with playful forms and organic curves. We chatted, laughed, and of course, made some ceramics together!
What I love most about Julie’s work is its warmth and curiosity, but never too serious. Here's our conversation!
Can you tell us a little about Julie B Ceramics and how it all began?
Julie B Ceramics began around 13 years ago when I started experimenting with clay. Although I've always been drawn to making and have worked across a range of mediums, ceramics quickly became the one that stayed with me. My practice is predominantly hand-built (no wheel work), alongside some slip casting. I'm largely self-taught, with a few short courses in the early days helping to build a foundation.
What do you love most about working with clay?
I'm very much an intuitive, 'seat-of-the-pants' maker, and I tend to trust the process; I work from a belief that it's actually pretty difficult to go wrong with clay, at least in an aesthetic sense. For me, each piece carries its own inherent character and presence.
The transformative and often unpredictable nature of clay through so many stages (from creation, drying and finishing, through to firing, glazing, and firing again) is so fascinating (if slightly unnerving), so I'd say there's never a dull moment.
What does a typical day in your studio look like?
Do you have a favourite piece you've made recently?
I've been really getting into sketching directly onto my work, simple black-line drawings with an underglaze pencil. Much of this is inspired by my longstanding interest in comics and graphic novels, an influence which can be seen in both my surface decoration and sculptural practice.
A major focus this year is transforming the garage studio into a functional, warm (very important in Ballarat!) and inviting space to work in. This will be a huge gamechanger for my practice.
Also, I'm determined to finally make a mug with a truly 'normal' handle this year…time will tell how that goes!
