Q: What do you make?
I mainly make functional pieces which are all wheel thrown in white stoneware and fired in an electric kiln. I usually work on a body of work making a limited number of pieces and some one-off pieces. I make my own glazes which often have a satiny finish and I use many different techniques of decorating the pieces. There always seems to be something new to try and ideas that are waiting to take shape in a new piece of work.
Q: What are your influences?
Influences: nature and its many shapes and lifeforms especially from the sea. But I also looks at other culture's ceramics like the ancient Iranian, Chinese and Greek. And of course I can not deny a Scandinavian influence on some of my work as I grew up, studied and worked there till I was 30 years old.
Q: What is your working environment like?
I have a studio at home in the basement. There is a door from the garden and ‘normal sized’ windows. The workshop is a bit cold in the winter but during hot summer days it is a nice cool place to work in. I have a top loading electric kiln, which I fire to cone 9 for my glaze firings.
Q: Which part of the making process do you enjoy most?
I really like throwing on the wheel and trying out ideas for new shapes.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you have experience in your work?
In December 2003 there was a heavy downpour of rain in the middle of the night and flooding in some areas of Melbourne. My workshop got flooded up to 50 cm which meant that my wheel and kiln got wet and I lost glaze ingredients. The water drained away the next day leaving quite a mess and a layer of mud on the floor.
I was very worried about the damage but after drying out the pottery wheel it started up fine. The kiln had to be dried out over weeks, checked by an electrician and then fired up slowly over a week. I am very happy that the kiln seems not to have suffered permanent damage except for some discolouring of the bricks.
Q: Can you survive on your craft, or do you rely on other income?
I have no other income, but I have got another job: having a family—two girls 14 and 16 years old. So my husband’s income is what the family mainly rely on.
Orbis Bowl and Vessel
Q: Is there a particular book that has significant to your work?
There are many books that I treasure but ‘Time’ featuring Andy Goldsworthy’s land art, that is his art installations from and about nature is very interesting and inspirational.
Q: Have there been major turning points in your career as an artist?
The biggest change was moving to Australia from Denmark in 1985 and having to start up again in ceramics in this ‘strange new place’ !
Q: What have you learned as a businessperson over the years?
To become confident in talking to others about my own work, to keep good records--- and that making and selling ceramics is hard work.
Orbis Vessel and Orbis Jug
Q: Do you see any business challenges specific to potters/ceramics artists?
I think there still are challenges of getting due recognition and appreciation of the unique qualities of handcrafted ceramic work.
Q: How has the Internet affected your business?
Communication can be a lot quicker using e-mail and I am listed in a couple of directories. I have got my own new website www.lenekj.com which I can refer people to, so hopefully this will give me more contacts and sales in the future.
Q: Where do you sell/exhibit your work?
I take part in exhibitions Australia wide and my work sells in galleries and shops in Victoria ex :‘Northcote Pottery Gallery Shop’, ‘Skepsi’ Carlton, ’Craft Victoria’ Melbourne, ’Lars 23’ Albert Park, ‘Antipodes’ Sorrento, ‘The Studio @ Flinders.
Q: What would you like to be doing in 10 years time?
I would like to travel and see more of Australia and maybe work overseas for a period of time.
Sea Urchin Bowl
Lene Kuhl Jakobsen
Tel: (03) 9457 5770
studio@lenekj.com
www.lenekj.com
see more of Lene work at VCG directory click here
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