#howiAMACO Insta Feature - Q&A with Natalie Dent

Natalie Dent

Instagram: @natko.ceramics
Website: https://folksy.com/shops/natkoceramics

Don't these pieces just make you smile? Between the sprinkles, squiggles, and tiny shapes, Natalie Dent's work has us grinning from ear to ear. Plus, she has a studio cat, and who doesn't love that? There's something adorably charming about the little faces and dots adorning Nat's work. With their primary color palettes they remind us of elementary school, watermelon, and melting ice cream. Not to mention the fact that they're all hand-built, so each one is lovingly made and unique. The aesthetics are adorably delightful, which means they're great for almost any decor, from kitchen to side tables to vanities. Not to mention she also makes jewelry, which is sweet and simple.

How did you come to be interested in working with clay?

I always wanted to have a go at making my own pots, and I decided to go for it to fill my spare time. I needed to switch off from my day job and pottery seemed like the perfect way to do that.

What inspires your work?

I was initially inspired by other ceramic artists who were hand building pots and sculptures which were so unique and modern, and completely unlike traditional pottery. I love Scandinavian design with clean, bold graphics and colour with a sense of fun and character.

What’s your favorite thing about clay?

That the possibilities are endless! You can basically make anything that pops into your head.

What has been the most challenging part of pursuing ceramics?

Glaze testing! It’s quite a nightmare and so time consuming, but totally worth it when you get the end result you hoped for

Which AMACO products do you always find yourself going back to? How do these products speak to your work?

I use Amaco velvet underglazes on most of my work. The wide range of colours available are second to none especially for decorative work such as mine, where colour is so important to catch the eye.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Sublime - self titled

What's your biggest pet peeve?

Bad drivers

Savory or sweet?

Always sweet! It’s all about the donuts.

When you aren’t making art, how do you spend your time?

I’m actually an accountant so I spend my life sat at a desk calculating peoples tax liabilities!