Fox by Jackie Needham

Fox (with mixed media) Smooth Raku 154-1159

"The inspiration for much of my work lies in the relationships between animals and humans in folklore and fables. I interweave these mythological stories with my own memories, dreams and beliefs to offer the viewer an alternative narrative. Some pieces refer to a nostalgic past and are often humorous and whimsical whereas others are psychologically darker.

Each unique piece is hand-built using a mixture of slabbing, pinching and coiling methods.

I like to use found objects to make intriguing textural surfaces on my clay animals which are later coloured with stains and oxides, although I also enjoy the excitement of smoke-firing burnished pieces."