Experiments with clay

 

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Pembrokshire

It’s been a while since i’ve done any serious photography but i have been very busy learning pottery. I needed something really tactile and it is very grounding working with a material from the earth.

Going back to being a total beginner at something is both exciting because i can create and experiment with little expectation, to intimidating as i have to stop myself from thinking that it will be years before i can produce anything that might be worthy of showing.

The thing im finding with ceramics is that pottery tends to be viewed very much as a craft, and im finding that in the art world, craft tends to be looked down upon. Where once there were lessons in “art & crafts” now art is usually paired with design. Most designs are mass producable. I was beginning to feel that outside of Japan, functional ceramics just arn’t valued… So thank you Pembrokshire!

I saw some incredible pieces at the Narberth Pottery, all at very affordable prices. I was also surprised at how much pottery cropped up in souvinier shops, art shops and local galleries as well as an antiques shop in Narberth having a fantastic selection. Suddenly i didn’t feel so alone!

I found some nice rocks down on the beach which i have used to imprint into stoneware clay.

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I have also developed a little love for coracles after seeing them at Carew castle.