Janelle Peterson: How to hand-build a whimsical character lamp

Hi my name is Janelle Peterson I’m a ceramic artist from Western Australia. In this workshop I will be teaching you how to make your own whimsical and fun character lamp using a range of versatile hand-building techniques. The great thing about these techniques is once you are comfortable with them, you will be able to develop your own characters and lamps, using this basic form to build on and let your imagination run wild.

I have been an artist for over 20 years focusing on clay for the last seven. I love that you can use all types of techniques like printmaking and collage while working with clay to create interesting surfaces and texture. I enjoy making sweet and funny characters and animals and making up stories surrounding their imaginary lives.

In this workshop I will show you how to make your own whimsical and fun character lamp using a range of hand-building techniques.
First We will start by making a simple body and head form which is the structure for our lamp.
Then we will work on our face and features.
Next I’ll demonstrate how to make a housing for when we later glue our lamp fitting in.
Then we can start to decorate our person. I will show you how to create cute hair, clothes and flower forms from repeat simple shapes and using kanthal wire to add complexity to your form.
Once our lamps are finished I will show you how to glue in your light after you have glazed and fired.
Finally I will discuss different ways ways you can use what you have learned to explore other lamp ideas.

At the end of this workshop you will be able to use some simple hand-building techniques to build your own stunning character lamp and attach a working light. You will understand how to customise a simple body form and create endless different characters. You will learn how to create a simple face. You will learn to make smaller decorative flower forms and leaves to attach to your piece. And also how to glue and fit the light.

Required Materials:

• clay
• water
• sponge
• wooden board
• wooden modelling tool
• rolling pin
• knife
• plastic wrap
• small paint brush
• skewer or pin tool
• different sized circle cutters
• rubber rib
• kanthal wire
• lamp set (cable, plug, on off switch and light socket all in one)
• adhesive (soudal fix-all high tack sealant)
• masking tape
• light globe
• (templates to print out that I will provide)

Janelle Peterson is a ceramic artist, living in Albany, Western Australia, creating hand-built, one of a kind sculptural and functional pieces. She attended Edith Cowan and Curtin university receiving a bachelor’s degree in fine art.
Janelle is a storyteller and her work is drawn from fairytales, myth and childhood experiences.
She high fires most of her work using a mix of hand-building, sculpture and mold making to create sculpture ,lamps and other functional items. Drawing on her background in printmaking, textiles and collage to create interesting surfaces.
Janelle is known for her budgerigar sculptures and her character lamps which include native Australian plants, animals and painterly underglaze technique.

Follow Janelle Peterson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janellepetersonceramics