
The Process
My ceramic work is developed from the sketches I draw when I travel. I am inspired by the coastlines, rock formations, weathered buildings, and objects featured in the landscapes. The role of light and shadow and the relationship between colours is a critical element of my designs.
Back in the studio, I use a grogged white stoneware clay to form a flat slab. I can then use my sketches as references to draw lines and press shapes into the surface. After the first layer of mark-making is complete, the clay is dried slowly between boards and newspaper until the surface is firm enough to be carved. Some of these slabs will be formed into vessels and others are left as flat panels.
Carving into the clay creates a three dimensional surface with different depths and hollows. Through the use of coloured slips and stains, I build further layers of texture and colour onto the surface. These pieces are then left to slowly dry out in preparation for the bisque firing.
After the bisque firing, I mix my own glazes with a range of different colours and finishes. This results in a variety of unique textures, such as smooth, glossy, cracked and crystalline. They are then painted into the textured surface of the piece before being fired at up to 1260 degrees in my electric kiln. This carefully staged creative process allows me to create work that prioritises all elements, from the initial composition and design to the final textures and colours.
