"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and
careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift;
above all it teaches entire trust."
Gertrude Jekyll 1843-1932
Pots
In making pots, however creative a ceramist might feel, s/he has to be part of the real world, following all the rules of chemistry and accepting the principles attached to it. The ceramist can never say, 'I made this pot'-only 'I took part in making this pot but the kiln had the last word'. All potters will know what I mean when I say that experience teaches me that a kiln has a life of its own: the kiln makes what contribution it will and the ceramist must accept it. This is why Japanese leave sake and rice in the kiln for the fox, for it is the fox that fires the kiln. This tradition is the origin of the fox as my own ceramic mark. When I was four years old and seriously ill, my grandfather made me a wooden shape to play with and my grandmother dressed it in some fur from her fox stole: and I like to think I must have been a reborn, ceramic spirit of the universe, remembering my past spirit companions. And why not? Ceramic is pure magic-the incredible earth, air, fire and water of the ancient philosophers and alchemists- Eric James Mellon
Beautiful.
Poppies and Wheat
My Brother and Sister-in-law got married just over a year ago! I was very busy last year making Ceramic place names for their wedding and also thinking a lot about my final year at Uni. Now I am working a lot, enjoying it! And getting the chance to carry on making my own work.
I made some coasters for my brother and sister-in-law's wedding anniversary present.
They are Porcelain with leather backs, glazed with a white wood ash glaze, imprinted with poppy heads and wheat.
Preserved Porcelain Plants
Here are some finished pieces which the children made during our drop-in work shop at Art in the Park last month, all fired and ready to be collected!
Their own art fossils!
Private view at designjunction.
Was quite a vast show, us being a change from what else was on show. We attracted a lot of attention and I had some interesting conversations with people about my work, which is always helpful!
Thank you to everyone that came!
I am back in the studio now, preparing for the children classes and rolling out slabs for some hand building! Watch this space..
Setting up at the designjunction.. OPENS TODAY!
A sneak preview of the show coming together, the place is vast! There is going to be so much to see in this building..it opens tonight and runs until Sunday so plenty of time to come and check it out!
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