So here it goes, some interesting work from Art-in-Clay (Hatfield House, 5, 6, 7 August 2011), a simply great representation of ceramics works from the traditional tea pot to the extravagant pig with a ball on its snout!
The exhibition is sorted out by marquee with a few outdoors exhibitors which have demonstrations:
Outside the Nordic Potters and Ceramicists tent, work by Jean-Francois Thierion,represented by Cultural Connections CC
The herbi4 Pottery Co. ,in the Jon Barrett-Danes tent, founders Jon and Rob Lord were really friendly and their work is really fun, makes you smile all day; I especially liked the aggressive looking chickens!
I started by the Nordic tent, and spoke to Birthe Fraser, creator of Cultural Connections CC. I admired the work of Lis Ehrenriech
Also admired the forms of Jan Karre Myklebust's dish and it's thick turquoise glaze:
In the Derek Emms Marquee, I spoke to James Oughtibridge . James was extremely welcoming and I loved his sensual pots, the are estonishing and you just want to touch them and take them home. They can be displayed inside or outside - James's work can also be seen at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre in Bloomsbury, London and should not be missed!
Doug Jones's work is well crafted and beautiful displayed; He puts together Chinese traditions and crystal prisms in a interesting way; it's what I call perfection:
Hilary Simms's work is new to me, but it's connection with the natural world is undeniable:
Claire Palastanga's work is fab! A primal instict takes you when you see her work and you go back to the seaside and it's calming noises. The black clay she uses to make her sea urchin pots is quite demonic but the interior gilding softens the pieces. Claire was also extremely friendly, but was swept of her feet as everyone seemed attracted to her work.
Though I didn't get the opportunity to speak to the artist, I loved Stanley Field's display and his amazing field of colours, I was mesmerised!
Mick Casson's Marquee
Monica Patuszynska seemed terribly busy when I got to her stand, but she was happy to talk to me and discuss her unusual cast porcelain pieces. I was interested in two bespoke lights and was taken by her unusual designs.
In the Hans Coper marquee, I spoke to artist Nici Ruggiero and as my work is made up of cracked casting slip, I really appreciated her beautiful raku pots and their distinctive charcoal cracked features. Her display was also perfect and complimented her forms:
Also in the Hans Coper Marquee Lesley Brisby was busy demonstrating how she creates her wire pieces. They seemed very delicate and in their centre nestles small porcelain vessels, all executed to perfection:
Ostinelli and Priest's ceramics in the David Leech Marquee were estonishing. I missed Paul (Priest)'s talk on the techniques employed in the work and I was really annoyed at myself for that - I guess I was just too busy looking at the finished articles and the animal figurative forms and bisc firing!
I will leave you with the work of young artist Lauren Butcher. It reminded me of a piece of work I did using procelain and illustrating love letters... here Lauren uses the post-it notes her parents sent her during her time at university to inspire her work:
