Exploring My New Venture into the World of Ceramics

I am in my happy place, splashed with coloured slip and paint. It began many years ago when I was at university when my first year included a semester of ceramics. I loved it. BUT I couldn't stand the idea of working so long on a piece for it to be left to the kiln to decide its outcome, so I pursued painting and latterly, printmaking. HOWEVER, I was able to revisit my first love recently with ceramic artist and friend, Katie Bradia and that has set me on a new path of discovery that is embracing colour and mark making, much inline with my recent painting exploits. It is surprising how the 2 sit so well together. I can be far more playful and relaxed when I work with clay. I don't know why, when faced with a canvas I feel I have to justify every mark I make and every moment spent. Playing is certainly not allowed. Although, I am not sure quite why!

Somehow calling becomes a value judgement based upon how seriously I work. Yes I did use the word calling. I do feel called to be an artist. More on that another time. But somehow 'playing' with clay never felt as though it could be part of that same calling. Yet, recently, I have felt differently. I have yet to work these tiny shoots of inspiration into something that makes sense outside of my mind. I have not tested my thoughts in any conversations as I have with my painting, but nonetheless I feel at home. I find so many lessons come to mind when I am working with the clay, how easy it is when it is prepared correctly, wedged and kneaded, how much more successful a piece is when the clay responds to my hands guidance. How differently my life, my relationships, my decisions are when I have taken time to pray, to be still and to know.

Going back to linking things with my paintings, I will drop in some comparisons for you, that will be on show 2 - 4th May at the Shakespeare Gallery, Scarborough .

I am drawn to the yellows and violets of springtime, which have been magnificent this year and find it is peeking through in my colour choices! I have multiple dandelions, bluebells, forget-me-not's all over my garden! Also the steely blues and rich orange roof tiles with the springtime showers.

It is enough to say that I plan to continue my journey, but instead of viewing it as a choice between the two, a competition for what deserves more of my time, I want to embrace both the 2D and the 3D.

Let's see where the adventure leads...