I think I mention somewhere else in this site that I've been 'doing'
ceramics for about fifteen years now- starting with a weekend raku workshop in Brisbane, Australia. My 'engagement' over the years has been a bit erratic , largely due to the resistance I have so frequently encountered on nearing the studio door! But as always, once engaged, I wonder what all the fuss was about -it feels so comfortable. My 'neck-of-the-woods' is pretty special-Pūrākaunui, a tidal inlet some 30 minutes drive north of Dunedin, and fifteen minutes from Port Chalmers. I'm now up to my third studio here [meaning three moves!] and whilst its still not really big enough [are they evre?]....it compensates by the view. Raku has been for a long time my preferred method of firing- most of all I love its immediacy and its randomness -though the latter is also a source of frequent frustration [as all raku-firers will appreciate.] I [raku] fire in a home-made gas kiln, but increasingly now , I fire in electric kilns and use raku spasmodically for specific work. Work is hand-built using a variety of techniques-often 'invented' as I go; similarly, pieces are also largely worked out as I build them, sometimes informed by a few [very] rough sketches. The glazes are from recipes gleaned and played with over time-I'm definitely not a chemist so I'm not really interested in the science of glazes -though it's a constant temptation -read 'diversion'- to continually be testing new ones -in search of the ever-elusive 'hallelujah' moment! Much of the pleasure I derive from working with clay is in figuring out the many and various technical issues, especially in the building stage. This may explain why I find it difficult to stay with a given form-or even theme: alternately, I also frequently wonder if my inability to do this is some kind of creative immaturity-a bit 'jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none'? Regardless, I'm happy to be where I am - with so much to learn! |
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