Ceramics

I think it is important to say that I am not a potter and would feel uncomfortable calling myself a ceramicist. I do, however, enjoy working with and (against clay) for a number of reasons.

I enjoy the malleability of clay and the forms that can be produced. The chemistry behind the transformation from clay to ceramics and the laboratory behind the mixing of colours and glazes is a never ending learning curve.

I enjoy making work that an audience can touch and engage with. The ceramic jigsaws and spheres are directly connected to this.

The clay community I have joined is full of the most generous and helpful folk, who share skills and encourage new makers to keep trying. It isn’t as much about failure as it is a better way of reaching a goal. There is room for a happy accident.

The historic importance of ceramics is a never ending world of research that constantly inspires.

One of the first purchases I made when I moved into Springmount was a budget pottery, now that I had a ground floor studio. A couple more pottery wheels have been added, with my Earthstone Professional wheel being the latest addition. The wheels have provided great fun for have-a go sessions and everyone has managed to create a working vessel before they leave.