OAS is our new collection of workwear-inspired clothing. Our shoot features four women, going about their work, wearing OAS clothes sent to them a couple of weeks earlier with the request: please wear and work! Each week, we are profiling a couple of our OAS women here on Toast Travels, beginning with Nicola...
Nicola Easton is a ceramicist. She has been making pots for twenty-five years, working with wheel and kiln out of a small shed in her London garden - the same shed she's used since her younger daughter was born nineteen years ago. She describes her pots as functional rather than delicate; is less concerned with glazes, her pieces often serving as canvases for hand-painting. Fine days, she might be found with two ceramicist friends working sociably en plein air in the garden.
What first drew you to pottery?
I have always loved clay. When I was nine I made a living room set for my barbie doll out of quick drying clay, I even remember trying to throw a pot on my portable record player! It's such a wonderful medium, it has so many possibilities.
Have you taken any pottery courses / lessons?
I learned pottery from potter Nicola Tassie (as well as a City Lit course) who is based in a studio in Hoxton.
Tell us about earthenware...
I like usingearthenware for my mugs, bowls andplates because it works well with my designs and I can paint directly onto the clay. I go throughphases though. When I was at college and had access to all kinds of clay and materials I lovedexperimenting with porcelain and stoneware. If I had the time now I would carry onexperimenting.
Nicola wears: Slub Cotton Stripe Tee& Denim Dungaree
What most inspires you, both in your pottery and life in general? Everything to do with the natural world, particularly flowers and plants. The shapes and colours and patterns and the resilience of nature. And of course dogs! Particularly rescued mongrels, they are always special and unique.
What does it add to your life that you don't find elsewhere?
It's where I can be my most creative. There are no rules - I can make whatever I want in any way I want . I love making and painting things so this iswhere I can do both. There aredisappointments and triumphs and thats the fun of it.
Nicola wears: Denim Slim Shirt
How does it make you feel? Every time I open the kiln I am filled with excitement and expectations. I love going into my friends homes and seeing my pottery being used in their kitchens. It gives me a great feeling ofsatisfaction.
You can follow Nicola on instagram at @nics_pots
The Tactility of Utility is the phrase we took as the precept for our new collection of workwear-inspired clothing. We've named it OAS - three letters, appropriately, at the heart of TOAST and standing for Ordinary Attire Studio.Shop OAS here.
Add a comment