John Newdigate’s ceramic decorations have vivid colour, verve and a fluidity that convey his keen observations of light and movement in the sea and landscapes around him in his native Capetown. He has successfully combined his lustrous dynamic designs with function. In his words – ” my aim is to make functional ceramic wares that enrich the experience of every day life “ His first objective has been to produce forms that are light and refined while maintaining their robustness for the rigours of the kitchen. Simultaneously he has created wares to be a reminder of fun and celebration at the mealtime.
Thunderstorm Vase by John Newdigate
” I find thunderstorms invigorating – the slow build-up of heat and expectation is released in a few minutes of furious energy, leaving a sense of calm in its wake. “
Squid Vase
” The squid vase is inspired by the way aquatic creatures move about in their watery world, weightlessly and effortlessly – a feeling us land-based life-forms yearn for. The undulating sides almost trick the eye into believing that the vase is moving, and could float off on a whim. “
Bioluminescent Bowl – John Newdigate
Planktonic Love Bowl
John Newdigate : Every drop of water in the sea is pulsing with life. This is part of a series of bowls inspired by the little known creatures that seem to belong to another world, although we depend on them to make our own lives possible.
Hand carved ceramic plate – John Newdigate
Water,Wind, Sand vases
John Newdigate : These vases are inspired by the way that water and wind wash over sand, creating patterns that are always on the move, recording each little gust and swirl, influencing the shape of the next ridge to be formed.
Splash Vase
” This splash vase is inspired by ultra slow motion photography of a drop of water. I have used the porcelain in a spontaneous way to evoke a feeling of chance movement, captured in a split second. The celadon glaze is strongly evocative of water, both in the way the glaze has melted, and in the way its colour reacts to different light intensities. “
Catch of the Day bowl
Hand carved platters – John Newdigate
Ceramic cup and saucer
Porcelain dinner set – John Newdigaate
The ‘blue spaghetti’ range was inspired by an idea to create a set of bowls whose design was not restrained by the edge of the bowl, but had broken free and could romp from one bowl to the next, in fact across the entire table, touching on anything it happened to encounter along the way. This has the wonderful and unexpected bonus of creating new, unique designs each time the plates are put out for use, as well as on display shelves afterwards.
Coffee/tea cup and saucer – John Newdigate
Mushroom Bowl
Expresso cup and saucer – John Newdigate
A nice example of the movement John is able to capture.
A John Newdigate jar vessel made in collaboration with Ian Garrett, who created the forms. Made from earthenware clay, and painted with pigments under the glaze layer.
John Newdigate Vases
Abstract vase – John Newdigate
John Newdigate in his studio.
South African Landscape Series
Tent butter dish
This teapot is inspired by pumpkins being stored on the flat roofs of Karoo cottages.
John painted this pot with a pattern that abstracts the way shafts of light penetrate a body of water.
Stone Pines landscape bowl
Sriated Cliffs
Blue and white bowl
” This bowl is inspired by the traditions of West African and Japanese resist-indigo dying.
John Newdigate bowls
Birds In Reeds Jar
John Newdigate : I used to live close to a patch of reeds that was home to a multitude of birds that would return from foraging at sunset each day.
Bean Pod Fruit Bowl
This is a scaled-up version of a bean pod – to a size where most fruits can be accommodated to replace the beans.
Two Egrets and a Frog in Tree – porcelain plate
Black and White expresso cups by John Newdigate, ZA
Interactive Vessels
These vessels explore the relationship between light and the surface it falls on.
See John Newdigates website here
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