The sea and the universe on a bottle

• • Josep's first teacher was his father
• • He has received several distinctions for his works with crystallisation
• • He teaches courses all over the world

The son of a potter from whom he learned the craft, Josep María Mariscal began as a turner in 1992 when he was just 16 years old, passing through several workshops. In 2003, he opened his own workshop and deepened his knowledge in different techniques such as engobes, fugitive copper raku, raku un, and sigilatas. In 2010 he acquired an electric kiln with which he started to practise his crystallisation technique. Josep has received several awards for this work. "I try to find crystalline glazes with the perfect amount of crystals between the background and the surface. My forms are classic and conservative and I can control the placement of crystals on the surface. I cannot stop researching crystalline glazes," he says. "The skies, sea and landscapes, along with the multitude of flora, are a constant source of wonder, inspiration and delight for me. The sea and the universe, especially, have fascinated me since I was a child."