Judi Dyelle throwing a bowl.
Judi Dyelle carving a bowl.

In 1967 Judi Dyelle graduated with honours and became an Associate of the Ontario College of Art. She was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence. Upon graduation she received a Canada Council Grant which allowed her to spend a year and a half travelling in Japan and studying with Tatsuzo Shimaoka who was one of Japan’s most recognized ceramic artists. It was in Kyoto that she first experienced porcelain and knew that she had found her clay. When Judi returned to Canada, she began teaching pottery in Toronto and continued in Vancouver, Montreal and Victoria. She has exhibited and given numerous workshops in Canada and the United States. Judi was invited to participate in an International Ceramic Festival and exhibition in Mokpo, Korea. Her work is in many private and public collections throughout North America, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, Denmark, Iceland, Germany and England.

Most of the work Judi produces is wheel thrown, using a translucent porcelain clay. It is fired, in a reducing atmosphere, to cone 9 - 10 (1280° - 1305° centigrade) in a propane gas kiln. Many of the pieces are pierced, cut or textured before glazing. Her extensive study and love of Oriental ceramics can be seen in the variety of forms and glazes that she has developed. She also enjoys using low temperature local clays as slip glazes and as the base for several of her metallic glazes.

Judi feels that the most essential thing about her work is the form. Whether it is handbuilt, wheel thrown or a combination of the two processes, the form is the underlying factor. Her work is a continuous search for beauty using the delicate translucency of porcelain. The finishing process of glaze, slip or firing is an embellishment to it. The play of light comes from the carving or piercing that she does. She continually studies and researches various ancient cultures and it is from these sources that she draws her inspiration. It is her hope that the work that she produces will have a timeless quality to it.

Since Robin’s passing Judi has continued to produce her exquisite porcelain and operate ’Chosin Pottery, in Victoria, B.C., Canada.