Johnny Rolf and Jan de Rooden

Our website becomes ten

In November 2006 after fifty odd years we said fairwell to the making of ceramics.
Since this website tells the story of how we lived with clay and what came out of our kilns.
At the same time it has become our virtual exhibition.
It offers you works, which reached their destination, as well as works which still wait for a home.
If you might wish to look at these ceramics, or at Johnny's gouaches, you are most welcome.
The phone number for an appointment is +31 20 6945401.
Our e-mail adress you may find at the bottom of this page.

July 2011

Welcome to our studio on the web.

When the two of us met in the autumn of 1956 and discovered that we both wanted to become potters, we could not
have the remotest idea, that once our studio would have a window to the world.
In a tiny no-daylight basement room we installed a kickwheel and a small electric kiln, brought in some clay and glaze materials
and there we stood in our first workshop. It held just enough space for one at a time to work with clay, but offered ample room
for the other person to encourage. From the start we welcomed what came out of each other's hands.
Onto what an inspiring ground we had stumbled, we understood only later.

While our hands became surer, our studio grew, our craft became art, and our pots became ceramics. Along with that
each could develop particular talents.
After Johnny bought paper and the required materials, first drawings and monotypes then etchings and gouaches began
to populate her studio in periods.
Jan became good at composing and preparing clay bodies, at adapting kilns, at developing special firing methods and
at making contact with people.

Since we decided to go the path of our lives together, we often made long journeys and at times we worked abroad.
In the countryside we built a second studio with a salt kiln and enjoyed the vegetables grown on our land.
But Amsterdam always remained our base. For many years our studios were on the canal of the Kloveniersburgwal
in the center of the old city. Alas, that in 1960 calm island became chaotic. Now you find us in a quiet coach
house on a broad green street bordering Amsterdam's center. A small garden adds colour to many a working day, and,
so we hope, to our work as well.

This website shows images of our recent work and of works of an earlier date, accompanied with some text.
May we also share with you some facts and memories which could be of interest.
Please know that questions or comments will be much appreciated.
Amsterdam, July 2001

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JOHNNY ROLF how it began earlier ceramics later ceramics gouaches monograph chronology agenda and info about our site		JAN DE ROODEN surrender to clay tradition earlier ceramics later ceramics drawings chronology data and notes fired mudbrick house agenda and info resumé