About

About Christina Goodall Ceramics

Christina Goodall is a potter/artist based in Torquay, Devon. The majority of her work is thrown on the wheel with stoneware clay and decorated by hand using traditional cake decorating piping techniques. Christina also makes porcelain jewellery using the slab method and adorning with fresh water pearls, mother of pearl and glass beading. She sells her work through her website, Notonthehighstreet.com and various pop-up and market stall events. Christina is also looking to open up her studio to pottery classes and workshops.

My Values

My aim always is to create beautifully crafted objects that function well.

Inspiration

My inspiration originated from my childhood and historical hometown; a town that can be summed up as a typical little seaside town. This town – Torquay, sometimes referred to as part of the English Riveria, holds the spirit of a time gone by from when British seaside tourism was booming. Including the Victorian Grandeur of the Pavilion still stands as an example in its decrepit state to post-war 50’s and 60’s remnants still looming to Fawlty-Towers-esque B&B culture.

The Nostalgia I feel for this place is from a childhood view but also from stories spoken by generations before mine passed down to younger generations. These nostalgic false memories are dreamt up to create a kind of glamorous version shrouding reality. I use this inspiration for my colour palette taken from the area; dreamy pastel coral, sea blue, girlish pink and minty green. 

The girly, childish, and kitsch symbols I use in my work are used to reminisce girlhood and are also part of a familiar collective memory from my generation. Hand piped decoration much like thick sugary icing creates traditional ‘house-wife era’ patterns including shells, roses, leaves, swirls, ruffles, ribbons, and basket-weave on my work reflects the expectations on a woman’s role. As well as the joyful act of elaborate cake-decorating encapsulated in permanent ceramic.

Process

I make small batches of both decorative and functional Ceramics from my studio in Torquay. Firstly, I hand-throw all the forms on my potter’s wheel with stoneware clay. The clay objects are then ‘trimmed’ to slim down the shape (and reduce weight) and carve out a foot-ring. Then handled, spouted, or altered to function accurately. The work is then painstakingly, thoughtfully decorated with piped clay. The piece is then signed. The clay objects are slowly dried; fired in a kiln to around 1000C; washed and dipped in glaze; fired again in the kiln to around 1230C. After cooling the ceramic object is complete and ready for use, to be lovingly looked after by a new owner.

History

I began enjoying working with clay at school by making figurative clay sculptures. This led me to study a BA in Fine Art Sculpture in 2013. At this point, I still enjoyed the feeling of clay and its many possibilities for experimentation. I then started learning to throw on a potter’s wheel, glazing and firing ceramics. After finishing my degree and moving home to Torquay, I bought a traditional potters wheel to continue my learning. Practicing consistently while also trying to perfect my technique. Then, I began volunteering in a pottery studio, maintaining the studio for classes and firing kilns. This inspired an interest in the chemistry of ceramics; a very broad subject; I began learning glaze making and continued my making. I became self-employed and started selling my pottery. I now work full-time in my studio designing and making my own ceramics.