Andrew Ludick Colourful Ceramics

Andrew Ludick trained initially as an illustrator at Columbus College of Art before focusing on ceramics. Originally from the USA, Andrew moved to Ireland about 13 years ago.

He says ” I first worked with clay in college, at the time I was studying illustration and couldn’t take as many ceramics classes as I wanted to so it had always been in the back of my mind as something I would eventually get into. After I came to Ireland I slowly made a change from painting and drawing to working with clay. Because my wife is a potter it was a real easy changeover, all the materials and equipment were readily available.” He has developed a wonderfully distinctive style.

His work is inspired by a variety of artists and media, notably the paintings of Paul Klee and the music of Lester Young and Thelonious Monk. Ludick also cites Native American and African art forms as key influences.

Ludick’s approach to making is both intuitive and organic. He uses white earthenware clay, letting his pieces naturally evolve through the processes of coil building and pinching. Allowing the material to dictate, he embraces the meditative aspect of the work, so that a natural progression takes place from clay to vessel. After firing, he treats the newly crafted form as a blank canvas to be decorated with colourful shapes and patterns. The finished piece is covered in a clear transparent glaze, deepening the colours and sealing the clay so that the vessel can be used for functional purposes containing food or drink.

Strangely with a post called Fishink, I don’t know what first caught my eye about Andrew’s work lol.

Sharing his studio with fellow potter and wife Rosemarie Durr in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. The retail space which sits alongside the studio, stocks their own work in addition to a selection of homewares and gift ideas.

Thanks to the Irish Design Shop and Irish Craft Portfolio for a few images and comments taken from their sites. More info and images here on Andrew’s blog.