[Workshop visit] Natsuko Morino, something that makes everyday life more enjoyable

Mr. Morino, who makes pottery like paintings that are warm and friendly in Oiso Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. I visited the workshop and asked about it.


The day I visited was a winter day with warm sunshine.
Oiso Town in Kanagawa Prefecture has long been a place where politicians and celebrities have built mansions and villas, or used it as their final residence. About 40 minutes by car from Kamakura towards Odawara. You can feel the warm and refreshing breeze blowing from the sea.

“My parents were transferred and lived in various places, so I am not from Oiso, but I think the climate is really nice and easy to live in,” says Morino. The beautiful light from the garden was inserted in the house and workshop that I visited.

Ms. Morino, who liked making things with her hands more than drawing, went on to the crafts department at Joshibi University of Art and Design. After graduating from university, studied under a pottery teacher. It was there that he learned specific techniques. After that, in 2001, the kiln was built in Oiso. Her brightly colored paintings with motifs such as flowers, animals, and towns have many fans both in Japan and overseas.



Mr. Morino speaks calmly and cheerfully, but listening to him tells me that he really likes making things.



Formed using a plaster mold. All of these molds are handmade.



It is fired using an electric kiln.

Here is an introduction to the works we handle!

“I often incorporate the flowers and nature that I see on my walks into my work.” As he says, his work expresses the beauty and loveliness of the scenery he sees in his daily life, and has a warm style. It's all about things that slowly heal your feelings.

The butterfly series is made with a technique called ``kobiki,'' in which white soil is applied on top of the clay. A little bit of brush gives it a taste. I never get tired of looking at it with a warm and gentle texture.

The bright colors and hand-painted texture are wonderful, like a free-flowing canvas painting.

flower series. It is drawn in a relaxed and lovely way, and you can hear the sound of the flower garden swaying in the wind.

Mimosa oval rim plate

In order to prevent stains as much as possible, the mug has a different glaze on the inside and outside, so there is a slight difference in color.

“The work is coated with titanium mat and edible silicon, so I think it will not get dirty easily,” says Morino. There are many white and bright colors, so I can feel the artist's kind consideration in such places.

However, since it is a pottery vessel, there may be slight variations in color. In particular, I was advised that dark-colored fruits (such as grapes) may be colored easily if left on for a long time. If you are interested, please be a little careful.


It is a vessel full of kindness that is filled with the idea that it will be fun to use in everyday life.



Click here for works handled by Natsuko Morino