earth and fire 2014

I've got exciting news....I'm going to be selling at the earth and fire weekend in Rufford/Nottingham this coming weekend from Friday to Sunday. I'll be selling items from my latest collection which was shown at the Creo degree show. Check out the pieces from my Creo degree show post!

There's so many amazing potters and ceramicists that attend Rufford and there's so much going on it's definitely worth a visit! Have a look on the website for a bit more info and to see a list of everyone going/selling.

earth and fire website

If your about or have a free day this weekend come down and have a look at my work!

last weeks photography...

As well as my own business cards we've been busy on the Dec Arts course getting work organised for the brochure which everyone will be able to see at the Degree show. Each student has a double page spread in the brochure...the ideas for photos were to have a composition piece which contains inspiring objects/tools/samples etc and the second photo which covers an entire page is a more close up shot, focusing on detail within 1 of our pieces...Yasmin Ensor did a really good job of taking all the photos for our brochure...have a look at her work on facebook.

Above is my composition layout...I included on of my most relevant drawings which I feel communicates my inspiration and shows how I portray this through my ceramics. I then added my main tools...not many as all my pieces are built by hand, I use the metal, wooden and rubber kidneys to smooth the surface slightly and push the form into shape. I've also included one of my very first favourite pieces, produced from my small push mould. The glaze tiles are all tones which I have developed and will use throughout my show!

This is the close up, detailed image taken from one of my recent pieces. This image will cover an entire page, revealing the textured surface and combination of tones where one glaze meets another.

Fresh Inspiration

After a few tutorials I realised my drawing had come to a stop and all I was doing was making! I find it hard to get back into drawing but have actually enjoyed creating my latest sketches and collages.

I have used a range of media, from photocopied textures seen in some of my other drawings and photographs as well as pastels, watercolours, pen and pencil. 

My inspiration comes from natural objects/scenes/tones/textures/colours etc. 

Below are a couple of my drawings along with the original imagery which has inspired my work! I don't want to replicate the surface or scene entirely, I just pick out any form, line, colour or texture which appeals to me and show it in my own way.

The image above is in the Yorkshire Dales, a beautiful view of stoney hills and grassy fields. I like the range of surface and texture within this image, combined with the multi tonal greys and bright greens. I used pastels in grey to reflect the textured trees and added the form and texture of the hills through photocopied sections taken from my other drawings.

The second photograph was taken last year whilst I was on holiday in Rome. This is stone from the Colosseum. I am inspired by the natural, textured surface and worn colouring which I have tried to show within my drawing. I used just pen and pastels for this piece.

Busy Times....

Hello... 

It's been so long since my last post...I can't keep up!

I've been busy since Christmas preparing my business plan and setting up for assessments!

My project is going well so far but final decisions need to be made soon! My graduation date has been announced in July so everything feels very real now. I have started working bigger within my ceramics, using coiling as my main building method. I feel this allows me to understand the form and structure of the clay along with the surface. I've also changed my clay body to crank as this holds a rougher texture compared to B17C stoneware. My latest work is in the kiln at the moment but more glaze testing is under way. Keep looking out for my glazed large vessels. Until then, here's a picture of my most recent assessment....with some unfired/unfinished work.

I presented a mix of small samples created using a range of techniques such as pinching, coiling and press moulding, glaze experiments, sketchbooks and my larger pieces, (the mid sized piece featuring grog).

current project...

My main inspiration for my current/final project is based around my images of old, ruined surfaces, derelict structures and naturally worn textures. I want to depict the natural damage and state within the old structures, walls and surfaces of the buildings I have captured, creating new pieces inspired by these forms. My aim is to create worn, fragile pinch and coiled pots, focusing mainly on their texture and surface, using different materials and glaze recipes to reflect my initial inspiration. I plan to incorporate wire into my work to act as a frame/structure, as well as providing a contrast in texture and surface, different to the clay. I plan to form a final collection, consisting of a range of scaled pieces which are all decorative home ware vessels, both functional and non-functional.