CERAMICS

I am a ceramicist specialising in hand-built, decorative pieces. I see the stoneware forms I make as canvases for my surface designs and illustrations. I decorate the surface using coloured slips and underglazes and finish my pieces by creating marks on the surface before firing. The beautiful and diverse nature of the British Isles inspires my pieces.

SARAH SMITH - ARTISTS STATEMENT

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SARAH SMITH - ARTISTS STATEMENT *

My final body of work is a series of wall-mounted platters and footed bowls, illustrating some of the birds I see from my home in rural North West Herefordshire.

The pieces are created from white stoneware clay using hump and press molds that I cast in plaster. Before the clay is dry I create stencilled designs in coloured slips before finally creating marks and textures on the surface.

My influences and inspirations come from the world of illustration and print, particularly the work of mid-20th-century artists Edward Bawden, Eric Ravillious, Enid Marx and the contemporary artist Mark Hearld. The imagery I create is inspired by nature.

I regard myself as an illustrator/designer, using the ceramic surface as a canvas.

IDEAS, CONCEPTS, AND THEME

I wanted the work I produced for my degree show to showcase what I am about as a maker and relate strongly to the interests and inspirations that define me as a person. With this in mind, I wanted birds to be the subject matter for my ceramic surface designs and illustrations.

The birdlife surrounding our home in rural North West Herefordshire is incredibly rich and diverse, and is my inspiration for this body of work.

When selecting the forms on which to create my surface illustrations and designs, it was important to consider how they would be viewed. I felt that a series of wall-mounted platters would create the visual experience that I wanted. In addition, I have made a series of footed bowls that complement the designs of the platters.

CERAMICS

SARAH SMITH - ARTISTS STATEMENT

*

SARAH SMITH - ARTISTS STATEMENT *

My final body of work is a series of wall-mounted platters and footed bowls, illustrating some of the birds I see from my home in rural North West Herefordshire.

The pieces are created from white stoneware clay using hump and press molds that I cast in plaster. Before the clay is dry I create stencilled designs in coloured slips before finally creating marks and textures on the surface.

My influences and inspirations come from the world of illustration and print, particularly the work of mid-20th-century artists Edward Bawden, Eric Ravillious, Enid Marx and the contemporary artist Mark Hearld. The imagery I create is inspired by nature.

I regard myself as an illustrator/designer, using the ceramic surface as a canvas.

IDEAS, CONCEPTS, AND THEME

I wanted the work I produced for my degree show to showcase what I am about as a maker and relate strongly to the interests and inspirations that define me as a person. With this in mind, I wanted birds to be the subject matter for my ceramic surface designs and illustrations.

The birdlife surrounding our home in rural North West Herefordshire is incredibly rich and diverse, and is my inspiration for this body of work.

TESTING POSSIBILITIES

FINAL OUTCOMES

Final Outcomes

The series of platters and footed bowls that have evolved during the last few months of my degree, represent my journey as a maker and ceramacist.

This body of work shows the development of my style and illustrates my love of nature and folk art.