A few months ago my son and I returned to a local pottery class which we’d very much enjoyed a few years previously. A pleasantly relaxing and calming way to spend a Sunday morning. My son is honing his skills on the wheel and I’m continuing with making grumpy cats, limpet shells and ladies faces. A strange mix.
My son is making bowls, plates and last week a swan. I enjoy creating the decorative element on 3D objects so I painted one of his plates in a Picasso inspired style. Years ago when I was a teenager and was nearing the end of my first year at art school we went on a family holiday to the South of France. My sister and I visited the Picasso Museum at Antibes and I’ve loved Picasso’s ceramics ever since – the spontaneity and freshness very much appeals to my ethos.
I’m also making limpet shells which tie in with my paintings as I’ve frequently added them to my still lifes. Over the years I’ve collected them from the stunning white sandy beaches on Tresco. There’s something tactile and appealing about making them in clay. They look great in a bathroom, I have 3 sitting on the corner of my bath surround.
I’m hoping to decorate more of my son’s pieces. I think we could do a good collaboration together especially as he approaches the decoration as a task to complete with urgency and be over and done with as soon as possible.
