Jo Gifford works in porcelain, paperclay and pitfired stoneware making small sculptural objects. Each is unique, with the vessel as a starting point, inspired by the natural world around us. The scale corresponds to the hand, relating to the hours spent in her hands as they are meticulously hand shaped, carved and finished. Jo uses a process led, material based practice where the hands on act of making is integral. Starting at the wheel she throws the vessel, then shapes it by hand and carves into it giving the processes and clay body their say in the outcome. With the porcelain she plays with the appearance of the finished surface, smoothing the drying clay and finally sanding and polishing the fired pieces so they start to resemble other materials. With the pit fired pieces she burnishes them before firing to give the smooth, polished surface and then allows the alchemy of the pit to do its work in creating colour and pattern. The slow repetitive process of working with clay is important, perhaps a reaction to the fast consumer led culture we live in. A way of slowing down, taking time and making something that holds time, care and the touch of the human hand within.