In Pursuit of the Perfect Porcelain Pot

CANVAS AND CLAY ART

Ailsa J Brown, a ceramic artist, and painter from Vancouver in Canada, embarked on her art studies attending the Chelsea School of Art in London, England. After completing her first year abroad, she returned home and earned her diploma at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design. Ailsa has passed on her knowledge teaching wheel throwing and her "Painted Pot" workshops, sharing various methods and techniques of surface treatment to develop one's own visual language through self-exploration and discovery. 

Ailsa is a former student of TeachinArt and completed the Understanding Porcelain online class with Antoinette Badenhorst in Jul-Oct in 2020. 

Ailsa Brown with her clay and canvas

Here is Ailsa in her own words.
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My exploration into the world of porcelain came with the desire to have a pure white surface for my painted underglaze surface decoration. Up until this time, I had been using a cone 6 white clay body. This however, had its drawbacks, as I was experimenting with an unglazed surface and at cone 6 the white clay fired to more of an ivory/tan colour. The results were great at the bisque stage but the higher temperature diminished the brilliance and consequently, the underglazes lost their vibrancy and dulled them down. This was not the effect I was after. 

Fortunately, I discovered Antoinette's course on porcelain and plunged into adapting my process using this new medium. Initially, I embarked on a full cleansing of my studio in preparation for working with this wonderful, white “diva” that Antointette affectionately refers to it as. I must admit, there was a period of adjustment learning the characteristics and particulars of this new material and also of its limitations. Antoinette’s guidance and instruction helped me over the major hurdles and I found myself well on my way.  I have nowhere near discovered all the intricacies and will surely face many more challenges along the way however, the luminosity of the finished product has me hooked.  I now have a surface that sings and highlights my painted decoration beautifully.

​As a painter and a potter, I love to combine my two passions by applying a colourful nature inspired surface treatment that compliments my wheel thrown and hand built vessels. My main artistic inspiration is the flowing organic forms found on the bark of trees and other diverse plant life here on the west coast of BC, Canada. Sketches are done outdoors and then, back in the studio, are simplified and applied to my vessels in a controlled but loose manner using underglaze paints that are further refined with line work, sgraffito and slip trailing. I am also fascinated with the ancient pottery forms and decoration of the Minoan Civilization and this intrigue has prompted additional patterned imagery resulting in a blend of contemporary and antiquity. 

Coloured glazes may be used to highlight particular features and most recently, the addition of gold lustre or gold/silver gilding is the finishing touch. ​

As any potter knows, there are always ups and downs using any clay - from wedging to throwing, glazing to firing - and porcelain is no exception. It takes a patient heart and a determined mind to persevere in this practice along with a strong will to succeed. But, is it not so gratifying? When that one pot emerges from the kiln and lights you up with its honesty, humbleness and beauty, it is the most rewarding and satisfying delight. And so, I carry on in my pursuit to create the perfect porcelain pot.

Her social media: Facebook alsajbrown | Instagram @ailsajbrownart | Website www.ailsajbrown.com

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