Completing the trio

I worked on Lucie Rie and friends at the same time as Saga and other forms - to make a pleasing set of three prints alongside Hornsea bowl and others. My sister Jo in Uckfield loved the three picture combination, so after initially having the bowls as a birthday present - she now has all of them on her kitchen wall.

The vase and the little cup and saucer are made by world renowned ceramicist Lucie Rie. She was born in Austria, moved to London and worked there for many years, she was well known for her scratchy 'sgraffito' effect - which lends itself well to my woodcut style. These items were a very special gift from Shirley and Stuart Peebles, my Aunt and Uncle from Lowestoft. Shirley was a potter herself, they were given as a wedding present, 25 years ago. #lucierie #sgraffito

The blue jug was bought from the Conran shop in London, again there's a connection with my copywriter Olly from Brann days - we had to source a selection of tea making items for a Tetley photoshoot. Kettle, mug, jug, spoon etc. The pictures by my favourite photographer Eric Mandel in Sherston were bright and colourful - we shot a steaming and shiny Dualit kettle in two exposures. The shoot was for Tetley Instant Tea Granules - I think the pictures and good times working with Eric were more memorable than the product!

The other bowl is a bit more Hornsea Pottery for good measure. Hornsea Pottery was founded in 1949 in the Yorkshire coastal town of its name, they opened another factory in Lancaster in the 1950s. The brand was very popular in the 1960s and 1970s but sadly this faded and by 2000 the company had to close. #hornseapottery

The last picture here shows how I place the cut out coloured paper onto the inked block, the main sheet of paper goes over the top. Once printed, I then carefully take the individual coloured pieces off, apply glue then stick them back in place onto the finished print.

There are versions of Lucie Rie and friends in black or dark blue ink in the Ceramics Collection on my website. https://www.ballardcreative.co.uk/ceramics

#wallart #retroceramics #limitededition #handprinted #woodcut #ballardcreative