Lucile is a French-born creative living in Whanganui, where she has reconnected with her love of art and making things by hand through pottery. She previously studied photography and fine art and worked in education before having her two children.
Lucile’s pottery journey started when she was travelling in China with family and her artist friend Keeley Eastwood emailed her asking to join her in a beginner wheel class.
Lucile fell in love with pottery instantly and soon joined the Whanganui Potters Studio to keep practising. Much of her learning has come from YouTube tutorials and hours at the wheel. Working with clay has been a grounding and therapeutic way to slow down and reconnect with herself after dedicating seven years to look after her growing family.
She has been making pottery for almost two years now, and her throwing skills have come a long way since. Lucile especially enjoys making functional pieces like tumblers, mugs, and bowls. She hopes her pieces invite a brief moment of peace, giving their users a small mindful pause in their day. Her work reflects that search for peace: simple, honest forms shaped by curiosity, repetition, and the joy of making something with her hands.
Alongside pottery, Lucile also runs Honeydew Design Hub, a web design and photography business helping small local businesses grow. She is also the founder of Byte Craft LY, a small digital studio currently creating a children’s audiobook website called Story Palace.
Lucile is excited to enter ‘Artists Open Studios Whanganui’ for the first time. She will be joining forces with her friends, Keeley Eastwood (artist / printmaker / potter) and Brad Mosen (photography) and they’ll be taking part under their collective studio name of ‘The Art Triangle.’
Follow Lucile on Facebook and Instagram @lucilebarjot.creative