Jack Hardie

Jack made his first pot in the late 1960s when he was in his early twenties. He practised several techniques, to absorb something of the ceramic tradition and most importantly to learn about clay. With an educational background in the arts and sciences, his work draws upon the two worlds.

In 2014, Jack and his late wife and fellow ceramicist built a 3D ceramic printer, there being no such printers available at the time. Together they began making 3D printed ceramics. Within six years, Jack re-thought his design ideas, formulated a workable clay mix, and developed his skill. His designs combine hand-drawn elements with mathematical curves and semi-random ‘noise’. He is interested in nature’s growth processes which often build up layer by layer like a 3D print. Random variations were introduced by using algorithms that were developed for animated films to give the appearance of flames, hair, or vegetation.

The 3D printer extrudes a continuous thin spiral of soft clay – a mixture of porcelain, water, flocculant, and fine molochite grog. Colour is created with body stains using traditional marbling techniques. The early part of the print requires guiding with a wet paintbrush. He then ‘baby-sits’ the print for up to 8 hours watching for explosive air bubbles, blockages or total collapse. Bases are fettled by hand when leather-hard and pieces raw-fired in oxidation to 1250 degrees C in a gas kiln.