George Ohr | Judy Watson

I’m late to this Kick-about, because I’ve just arrived home in my studio after a month away. But I thought I’d throw together a quick response to the Kick-About #111, especially as it’s such a cool number.

The prompt was the Mad Potter of Biloxi, a nickname for George E. Ohr, a most excellent American ceramicist who lived from 1857-1918. His wonderful glazes and crumpled shapes, along with the seemingly weightless and wandering curlicues he attached to some of his pots, are deliciously attractive. (So was his moustache.)

It’s very sneaky to kick-about after the other players have left the field, because I was able to take inspiration from their work before I began. You can see their fabulous stuff here. I drooled over everything first, and then I settled on Kerfe Roig’s studies with a glimmering eye. (Insert insane, evil laughter here.) I had only a couple of hours to do something with this, and although Kerfe had spent time, thought and energy exploring a range of processes to stunning effect, I brazenly ripped off a fast and cheap imitation in my own style. Sorry, Kerfe. Love your stuff.

Apologies also to George, because your colour harmonies are superb and I have gone OTT without any attempt at subtlety. But George, you’re dead, and anyway I think you wouldn’t care.

Step 1. Clamber about in the ‘catacombs’ under our house and locate one of the much used and highly versatile x-ray development trays my Dad used in his veterinary clinic.

Step 2. Place paper in the X-ray tray. In the absence of the mysteriously missing water sprayer, (What have you guys done with this since I went away?) douse some paper with water from a watering can, until fully soaked but not disintegrating.

Step 3. Pour excess water back into the watering can using the handy spout at the corner of the x-ray tray. (Thanks Dad)

Step 4. Apply inks with abandon.

Step 5. Apply random brushes with abandon.

Step 6. Fashion paper into a horse shape, Ohr/Roig style.

Step 7. Ponder the delicate nature of wet paper, the already chaotic state of my workspace and the advantages and disadvantages of adding glue to the mix.

Step 8. Have another go, adding glue.