Tell Us About Yourself.
As a child I was always curious and creative, I think I've always been interested in processes - the how and whys. I love learning new things and having new experiences in life. From when I first started school I've lived in Sunderland but I'm originally from Yorkshire, I still visit my home town and after all these years it feels so familiar like a pair of old worn in shoes.
Why did you move to Sunderland and what reasons do you have for visiting your home town?
I was very young when we moved back to Sunderland so it was a decision mainly driven by my parents. They needed to move for the availability of jobs that weren't really available in a rural community and at the time we had a lot of family still living in the city.
What kind of creativity were you most attracted to as a child and why? E.g: books, poetry & literature or fine art, sculptures and paintings or home crafts like sewing, knitting and cooking or maybe media, tv, music and motion pictures etc?
I still have quite a large collection of beautifully illustrated children's books from when I was young but I loved cartoons particularly anything with animals in it. As I got older in my teenage years I started to appreciate fine art, I still love going to galleries and looking at paintings. I have a number of favourite artists including Rosetti, Mattisse and more modern artists for their visually challenging artworks.
Did you pursue creativity in your education as well or was it something you did in your spare time?
I studied fine art at A level and for a long time I wanted to be an artist, I studied to be a designer when I was at university doing Interactive Media Design. So I'm actually a graphic designer by trade, I've always been a creative person both in and out of education using my spare time up drawing or crafting.
Which part of the creative process do you enjoy the most? E.g. ideas generation (seeing, absorbing, sketching etc) or trail and error in making (3D hands on work, experimentation) or the final product (being able to see and feel the outcome of hard work)?
At the moment I like throwing most in the process of making I find it hypnotic and primal. For me there's a little spark of magic that happens at that moment; you go from an object not existing to it being something real. It's the moment of creation I suppose of making something born from the earth.
Do you have a favourite author/illustrator/artist? If so who was it and why? Also have they influenced any of your current works?
This is quite a tough question for me as I have huge admiration for an awful lot of artists! If I had to single out just one though I'd have to say Neil Gaiman. I have a lot of pottery heros and favourite artists so its unusual for me to pick an author.
I think I've loved just about everything he's ever written and his Sandman series is something I just come back to again and again. I don't really think he's directly influenced my work as such but I find him a inspiring person who I greatly admire for his skill as a wordsmith and tenacity to get what he wants out of life.
A lot of people find Graphic Design and Fine Art to be very different - In fine art the main focus is creating from your own thoughts and ideas, but in Graphics and Design you essentially create for others. Having studied both, do you find them to be different or quite similar? What prompted you to study Design instead of carrying on with Fine Art? Also do you prefer one to the other? If so why?
For me there was a crossover point, my work in fine art was starting to become more illustrative and design driven with an increasing focus on typography. I think the biggest difference is that in design your creating something that has to be fit for purpose whatever that might be.
It is more commercial and less expressive but it helps to have a design background sometimes because I never have to outsource design work, I just do it myself. When I first started at university there was a big gap between me and my other course mates because I was the only one who came from a Fine Art background but I think it gave me an edge - mine was always the unconventional angle. I think it made me more in touch with the feelings of a design and I still try to create evocative images that people can associate with rather than something that's pure function.
How did pottery/ceramics enter your life? Also why did you choose to work with clay? Are you working with clay full time or do you have other jobs?
My Dad was a potter and I can remember as a little girl modelling clay animals while he was throwing pots so in my mind I always had the smell of the clay and the sound of the wheel. I think I still find it deeply comforting on some level.
As a material to manipulate you can make almost anything with clay. I like stoneware best of all because its very durable from a functional point of view, it takes colour very well and is a relatively easy material to throw unlike earthenware which is gritty on the hands and porcelain which is too unpredictable.
At the moment I work part time as a designer but I don't think I'm very far off going full time in making pottery.
Have you ever thought about incorporating typography into your ceramic works if you haven't done so already? If not is this something you'd like to explore and is so why and if not why not?
I do sometimes add a bit of type to my work but it's mostly hand lettering which can be quite difficult. No two pieces ever come out the same so it really is truly unique.
When I first started hand lettering pots I found the challenge was actually working with a curved rather than flat surface it can make the letters uneven. It's also a confidence thing - you have to keep doing it to get better and it's always a worry that someone won't like what you've created.
I have a set of lettering stamps but I tend to use these less often as I do feel they look a bit too mechanical but they look great on things like jars and large chunkier pieces.
Having gone through education through fine art and design what prompted you to work with clay again or have you always worked with clay on the side?
Until about 4 years ago I hadn't touched a piece of clay since I was six so it had certainly been a while. I've always had a bit of a 'have a go' attitude to life and I've thrown myself into all sorts of projects over the years and I thought I'd give it a whirl just to see if I was any good at it. I feel as though throwing has really not just given me a skill but also a different outlook on life, through it I think I've become a more peaceful and confident person.
I still think there's always plenty to learn and I'm continually improving everyday, sometimes its the little 'tips' you pick up along the way from people who've been there and done that which make all the difference.
You mentioned as a little girl you modelled clay animals. Why have you chosen to focus on functional items such as cups, bowls and plates rather than sculptural items like animals and decorative pieces?
When I was at university I had to model real life objects in blue foam as an exercise but I actually found it really frustrating. I never really felt I got close to any real life likeness comparing it to the original. Also I love the functional side of making tableware pottery; for me when I make a piece I like to think theres a meeting point between beauty and function.
You might not think about it but there's also an element of interactivity with tableware you don't get out of sculpture and it's surprisingly intimate. You use bowls and plates everyday, they become part of your life and I like to think that the pieces I make in some small way enhance life's daily rituals. I don't think the little animals have totally gone from my work though as you'll sometimes find them attached to other pieces.
I noticed that you embellish the sides of your pieces with various shapes by removing and/or adding them. I find this quite unique. Where did design decision come from?
It's a technique my Dad always used and I picked it up as something that's quite effective for me. I'm not that good at some forms of decoration like slip trailing or sgraffito and all artists play to their strengths whatever that might be.
Have you noticed your works change and develop over the years? If so how and in what way?
My work has developed immensely in the time I've been throwing, I think to an extent you learn by doing and its only through continual daily practice that you do improve. You get a feeling for the limitations of the material and what it can and can't do.
Is there any particular type of clay or glaze you'd like to try your hand at? If so what is it and why?
I'd love to develop more glazes, at the moment I only really create 'simple' glazes but I'd like to have a go at making more complex colours and reactive glazes. Unfortunately at the moment I don't have the time but I do think it'd make my work more unique.
Could you talk us through how you transform an idea/design into a 3D object?
A lot of the time I create a picture in my head of the finished object and then work backwards from there, sometimes I'll draw it but more often I won't. Once I have the picture in my mind you work through the steps backwards to get the finished product.
I'm always very aware of what stage I'm at in the making process and try to concentrate on achieving each part of the process as best I can. With particularly complex designs I will draw it out and try to explain it to other people and get a feeling for what they think. Even if you don't take someone elses suggestions I do think its important to have a group of people to 'sound out' to who won't be offended if you don't take them up on what they think!
Apart from your design job, is ceramics the only arts or crafts you're actively working with? If so why did you choose to pursue clay over other types of arts and crafts? If not what else are you working with and did you try your hand at anything else over the years?
At the moment I knit but it's just a hobby of mine, I make things for myself and for family I've been a knitter for a number of years and I simply enjoy it. I also spend time baking whenever I can often these things turn up over on my blog for other people to enjoy too. I've tried all sorts of things - its just that only a few tend to stick with me.
What's your favourite piece from your own collection of works and why?
That's a tough question! I actually really enjoy the challenge of making dinner plates, they're quite difficult pieces to make and I can only do a few of them at a time but the sense of satisfaction I get out of making them is huge. They take glaze really well too and a balanced plate is just really beautiful to look at.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
You can keep up with whats going on in the studio every week over on the blog - http://www.littlewrenpottery.co.uk It's the best place to take a peek at what people have been ordering, anything new thats arrived in the shop and what I'm doing out and about.
Tell me about yourself.
I'm 33, have a weird name, and am very tall (6'1"). I grew up in the home counties. Like lots of people I never knew what I wanted to do for a career, so I drifted about gaining qualifications in seemingly random jobs. I have worked as a Scuba Instructor, a Swimming Teacher, and the person you complain to when you call Mothercare Head Office, to name but a few!
I'll give you the brief version of the next few years - basically I got married, did a degree in Art, moved to Lanzarote for 3 years, had a baby there, and moved back to South Wales where my husband is originally from.
Ceramics started for me when I was very depressed. We had just found out that our daughter has Cystic Fibrosis, and that there was a 1 in 4 chance that the baby was I pregnant with would also have it. As it turned out no.2 daughter also has CF. It was a horrible time, and both my husband and I were left reeling from shock. Once I had managed to scrape myself off the floor, I signed up for an evening course in Ceramics, simply because the time slot fitted our schedule. I soon realised how much I had missed being creative, and loved my Monday evenings playing with clay.
Whoa - I've gone a bit off track there. My favourite colour is pale turquoise, and I eat far too much dark chocolate. Just thought I better lighten the mood before we all start calling the Samaritans!
Did you enjoy working at any of your previous jobs and have any of the skills your learnt back then contributed to your ceramic works today?
I certainly enjoyed aspects of my previous jobs, but none of them fulfilled me. I always felt frustrated, usually at the managers and the seemingly pointless systems in place. I suppose everything you do in life contributes to the person you are today, but there is nothing I can pinpoint in my previous jobs that relates directly to my ceramics.
What prompted your decision to move to Wales after starting a life in Lanzarote? Are you originally from Wales as well?
We moved to Wales after three years in Lanzarote because having a child changed everything. Suddenly we missed having a family network and a fluency in language at hospital appointments and banks etc. We moved to Wales because that is where my husband's family are from and they all live within 5 miles of each other. I am from South East England but my family are spread far and wide.
Why did you choose an evening course in ceramics over other forms of art and have you had any previous experience with clay before your course?
The only experience I had of clay was a dabbling at school and when I was tiny, my mother did some pottery. I chose ceramics simply because the time of the course suited me. To be honest the course could have been in anything art based and I'd have gone. I needed to get out the house and think about something other than CF for a few hours a week. Having a degree in Art means I have tried quite a few art forms other than clay. At Uni I was interested in moving image and photography. My dissertation was on the 'reality' portrayed by photographs. I have always been fascinated by what people believe and how it affects them emotionally. For example you know a film is not reality, yet you are still scared, excited, saddened and so on, by what is happening on the screen.
Are your working with clay full time now?
My full-time job is looking after the children, but clay is pleasurable hobby that pays for itself. I hope to make it more of an occupation when my little one goes to school next year.
Since your favourite colour is pale turquoise why is the majority of your work glazed in red and deep blue?
Good question - I have a love of typeface, and I have found that impressed letters in clay stand out best in darker richer colours. Therefore pale turquoise doesn't get much of a look in! However, I am working on some new bowls which will use a blend of blue and turquoise glazes, so perhaps my favourite colour will get its moment soon.
Have you ever thought about creating a story from clay and using your photography skills to create a moving image or maybe experimenting with stop motion? If not is this something you'd like to explore?
No, I haven't but that's a really good idea. I'll be looking into it. I love Morph (I mean who doesn't?!) but I never really considered it as something I could do. I'm fairly new to clay and it has always mean a craft to me, rather than an art.
Having said that I was really inspired by the ceramic art work by the Craft Makers Guild in Cardiff the other day, and I have some artistic ideas that are clay formed that I will be putting into production soon. So I'll see where that road leads.
Where do you see yourself taking your clay works?
I think like everyone, I like to have an item on the Etsy homepage and an article (or a least an item of mine featured) in a glossy magazine. But my personal plan is to sell to more shops and get it to the point where it is actually making a wage.
Do you have a favourite typeface at all? If so what is it?
My favourite typeface changes a lot, and it depends on what I'm writing. My least favourite typefaces are those that are hard to read, and the mother of all overused typefaces: Comic Sans - unless you are 12 years old and writing about unicorns, it should never see the light of day.
What type of clay do you use and what are it's properties? Why do you use this clay over the other kinds out there?
I use regular stoneware clay. It comes out a creamy colour, is fairly easy to work with and cheap. I use it because it is readily available and I am just starting to think about trying other types - like I say I'm fairly new to clay.
Could you tell us about the types and colours of glazes you use?
Glazes - they are just the regular 1040C fired glazes. I dab on a couple of layers, and then use the 'wash off' technique to remove the glaze from the letters or pictures I have imprinted into the clay. Then I add a layer of clear glaze over the whole thing, to make it shiny. I only own about 5 glazes (my word they are expensive, aren't they?!) so make my work fit around what I have. I like to use a 'make it do' philosophy in life and my clay work is no exception. Sometimes the best ideas come from having to work round a few obstacles!
Where does your attraction to typography come from and how do you apply your type to clay? Also do you use ready made stamps and if so does this limit your choice of typeface?
I don't know why I like type, I just do. I use ready made stamps which come in an amazing array of fonts (especially if you go retro and use old type setting stamps). I have just bought some kit to make my own stamps as there are some things I can't get at a reasonable price.
Are there any types of clay or glazes you'd like to try in particular?
I'd love to give porcelain a try. I love it's whiteness.
How do you generate ideas for your work and what are your main influences?
I generate ideas usually as I'm falling asleep. I suddenly get a load of ideas that I jot down quickly. I also keep my eyes open for quotes. I love Winston Churchill quotes - he knew how to stand fast in a storm! I am an avid user of Pinterest and find it very inspirational.
Could you talk us through your creative process?
I jot down ideas then I mess about with the clay and see what happens. Sometimes another idea will be born while I'm messing. With new postcard designs there is a bit of trial and error to get the words to fit on the postcard!
Your spoon and postcard shaped pieces are very unique! What's the story behind those?
The love spoons were just a brilliant idea of mine. I needed a gift for a relative who was getting married, and I wanted the gift to speak of Wales, so I was thinking about a love spoon. Then it occurred to me I could make a ceramic love spoon and imprint their names and the date on the spoon.
I don't know how I thought of the postcards. It must have been one of my falling asleep ideas. I like clay being used for items that are not usually ceramic, and if they can impart a message then so much the better.
Do you have a favourite item in your shop?
I think my favourite is my Today is Amazing bowl. I like little reminders that make me count my blessings. I also love the colour that the mix of blue glazes came out.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I think all I would like to add is a piece of advice to anyone thinking of trying art or a craft. Do it with your heart, and your own style will shine through. Try not to worry whether it's perfect or right. I spent years not being creative because I was worried I wouldn't be good at it.
Tell us about yourself.
Art and craft has been an importent part of my life ever since I remember, my grandma being a illustrator, my grandpa an art historian and my mum a textile artist.
I grew up in a pretty village called Gunnislake in Cornwall and spent most weekends exploring the countryside with my family as a child. I have always loved the countryside surrounding Devon and Cornwall and this has gone on to inspire my ceramics.
At 16 I went to Plymouth College of art to study a btec in design crafts, where I experienced many different crafts including ceramics, glass, jewellery and large metals, my two favourate subjects being large metals and ceramics. I then went on to Hereford College of Art and studied a degree in Contemporary Applied Arts where I specialised in ceramics.
I currently work part time at Plymouth College of Art as technical demonstrator in Large Metals which I love and the rest of the time I concentrate on my ceramics and looking after my 2 year old.
Having grown up with a creative family, did you ever try your hand at textiles or illustration or any other types of arts and crafts when you was young? If so what and which were your favourites?
From a very young age drawing was encouraged, and to this day I love drawing and I think it is an important skill to use to inform and develop my ceramics.
Mum provided both me and my sister with sewing cards when we were very young (she now has sewing cards for my almost 2 year old!) and as we got older she taught us how to sew with both a machine and by hand - but it is not something which particularly grabs me, I would much rather be getting messy with clay! Mum also ran an arts and crafts club at primary school which I attended, so I got to try many different things! My favorites were always the messy crafts - clay, papier mache, painting, etc.
You mentioned the countryside of Devon and Cornwall inspire your works today. How so and in what way?
The textures found in nature, the contrasts found within the countryside, the froth of the sea and textures of the cliffs, and the harsh stark surroundings seen on the Dartmoor all inspire my work - I keep the main body of the porcelain unglazed and just add hints of mother of pearl glaze to create subtle contrasts. I pinch the edges of my bowls up to create a jagged edge like the cliff faces on the beaches and rocks on the moors. I also use flowers and leaves picked from my garden in Cornwall to press into the porcelain and then once fired I rub glaze into the imprint.
Also I noticed that most of your works are in the shapes of hearts, stars, butterflies and flowers - why is this?
I think that's just me.. I think these shapes are fun, and the basic shapes work well as a starting point. Also they tend to be popular shapes which people like. The influence of the countryside tends to be more on the bowls I make, and the way I glaze with the unglazed porcelain against the glaze in the texture.
What influences the colours you choose to glaze your works in?
I use mother of pearl lustre which is influenced by the sea froth and the hints of sparkle seen in the rocks and the cliffs. I use this to create contrast against the unglazed porcelain. I use brighter colours on the buttons and decorations pressed with flowers, these are the colours I see in my garden!
Do you still work with heavy metals? And have you thought about combining it with ceramics?
Although my work at home is purely ceramics at work I am a technical demonstrator in large metals at Plymouth College of Art, so I still spend half the week working in metal! I have some designs sat in my sketchbook waiting for September when I am back at work which incorporate both metals and my porcelain bowls which are exciting!
I love working in clay, and I find metal works in a similar way - when forging hot metal it takes on a plastic state and so moves much the same as clay - I remember one of my first blacksmithing lessons we were given a block of clay and a hammer before being let loose at the metal!
Could you talk us through your creative process?
I both design on paper and experiment with the porcelain to see what happens. I sketch the countryside that I love and then I design from there, choosing the elements that I find interesting to develop on. Sometimes I have an idea and i just go with it and make it, designing as I go, once I have a finished item i evaluate it and develop it on for the next time.
Do you prefer working with 2D or 3D crafts?
I definitely prefer working with 3D materials particularly clay and metal and always have. Although I feel drawing is a important skill to develop and move creative work on and keep it fresh.
Most of your bowls have at least a hint of mother of pearl on them. Is this your preferred glaze? Also why do focus on the shapes/textures of the country side rather than the the colours from the hills, blue sea or the cliffs etc?
The mother of pearl glaze is my favorite, I love how when you add just a tiny amount to a bowl the glistening catches your eye from across the room and draws you in to the bowl. I also love how subtle it can be and the contrast between the mother of pearl is really effective - I think that is why I focus on the shapes and textures and not the colours. I did make a range of bowls featuring the blues and greens from the sea which were popular but I prefer working with the porcelain body and hints of mother of pearl.
Have you ever worked with another other types of clay? Also what is your preferred clay and why do you favour that type of clay over the others?
The type of clay I work with is porcelain. It different from other clays because of its translucent qualities (the reason I love it) and strength even when thin. I experimented with loads of different clays during my degree, including earthenware, stoneware and terracotta clays. I choose to stick to porcelain because I love the translucent qualities and it isn't worth the risk of contamination, it is such a clean white clay and I am very messy! If I had loads of time I would love to experiment with bone china because it is meant to be even stronger and more translucent than porcelain!
What's your favourite item in your own shop and why?
Its really hard to choose my favorite items - I would have to go for two.
I would have to go for my mother of pearl nesting bowls because they really feature my inspiration. Plus I think they are cute all nesting within each other!
www.etsy.com/listing/75906188/three-nesting-mother-of-pearl-porcelain
Also my hanging heart pressed with Leaf. I love this because I chose the leaf from my garden and the contrast between the leaf and porcelain is really strong.
www.etsy.com/listing/94656987/ceramic-heart-hanging-decoration-pressed
Check out my etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/melissaceramics
And come and chat with me on facebook!
www.facebook.com/melissaceramics
Tell me about yourself.
My name is Inês Fonseca. I am Portuguese and I currently live in St Andrews, Scotland.
I grew up in the beautiful town of Sintra, which is located in a mountain close to the sea. It has really beautiful woods and castles, and because the weather is frequently foggy when I walked the woods I had the feeling that fairies and elves would appear on every turn of the way. My imagination was stirred with the environment and by a lot of books, including The Lord of the Rings and the Never Ending Story.
Crafts have always played an important role in my life... my mother has her own business making lampshades, and both my grandmothers have gifted hands. One of them taught me basic skills in embroidery and I keep a couple of beautiful blankets hand knit by my other grandmother. Although I love crafts, I must confess that I didn’t have very good grades in crafts and drawing at school. I think that this was because usually exercises were usually very strict and wouldn’t actually stimulate the imagination. I ended up studying humanities followed by a graduation in psychology, and later on I studied libraries and archives subjects. I have worked in archives since I was 22.
Polymer clay has become one of my favourite hobbies since I discovered it when I was 15. I have found it in a craft store in Sintra and was fascinated by the colour blocks. It was a lot like playing with plasticine but I could actually “freeze” the final result. Two years ago, after a year doing an MA in archives and records management in London – during which I didn't worked in polymer clay – I started playing with polymer clay again and I started exploring more techniques on my work. The feedback was so good that it got me thinking that this could actually be more than a hobby.
When did you decide to leave Sintra? Why did you choose to move to Scotland over any other place like London?
I left Sintra at 26. At the time I was working in Lisbon and I decided to move there. It was great because I was able to get to know the city a lot better and I would take long walks through the traditional neighbourhoods at the end of the day. I really miss being on the top of the hills looking at the apparent caos of the houses and feeling the warm breeze.
Later I moved to London to take the MA. It was a great experience... London is a mesh of cultures and people and I suppose it is best place to be whether you want to learn on archives or on crafts. I ended up learning both! After finishing the MA I returned to Lisbon until last year I decided to move with my partner to Scotland, as he is doing research at St. Andrews University. It is a big challenge in my life... I left a long term job and I am currently developing my work with the Little Creatures. I am also working in some archives related projects and looking for an opportunity to work with local archives. It’s been really hard work but also very rewarding.
Have you tried your hand at any other crafts or thought about moving forward with embroidery?
I ended up not developing my skills in embroidery although I would love to get back to it, but I can still do cross stitch using simple designs. When I was in London I learned knitting and I use it to make warm scarves and hats for me and my family.
I have also tried clay when I was a kid because some of my mother’s friends were ceramists. It was great and I think that is where my passion for polymer clay comes from. I remember when someone asked me if I could borrow one of my child books to get inspiration for some animal sculptures and I was absolutely amazed with the result (it was a very funny hippopotamus).
I confess that when it comes to crafts I would like to learn a lot more. I want to improve my jewellery skills and I will be taking some workshops on clay metal. I have also been wanting to try enamelling for a while... I was fascinated by it when I saw its use on medieval objects on display at the V&A.
Do you think your mother and grandmothers influence your polymer clay works today?
My grandmothers were born at a time when learning crafts was part of almost every girl’s education. They contributed a lot to develop my interest in crafts in a broad manner. On the other hand, my mother has always encouraged me with my work on polymer clay. She gives me a lot of suggestions, not only on my creations but also on more practical issues concerning the business. In the beginning she used to do basket weaving, and in the future I would like to incorporate some of its techniques on my work.
However I wouldn't restrict my influences to my family. These days we have access to so many resources, that it would be really hard not to be influenced by this flow of information (not only the internet, but also libraries, archives, museums).
Are you working on your polymer clay full time or do you have another job?
I am working on polymer clay part-time, but focusing on it as a long-term project. I also keep dedicating myself to archives. I do some volunteer work with the International Council on Archives.
I really like these two areas (crafts and archives): crafts pulls out my creativity side, and with archives it’s a lot about stories. You can help someone researching the history of his/ her family, but you can also safeguard the history of a company or of an area of interest, like crafts. For instance, I was in the Stanley Kubrick archives and it was great to see the scripts from the movies, some of the props that were used, but also all the research involved to make a particular scene. In another sense, I think that archives are essential to ensure human rights in both democratic and non-democratic societies. That is one of the reasons why I like it so much.
Do you think you'll ever move back to Sintra or have you settle on staying in Scotland and building a life there?
I will always return to Sintra... my family still lives there and I have very good friends living there as well. But for the next few years I will be in Scotland and I am really enjoying being here. I do miss the warm weather and the sun, but for someone who enjoys nature, this is perfect... the landscape is beautiful and I am enchanted with the local wildlife.
You mentioned you tried your hand at ceramics when you were young. Why did you not pursue the use of ceramics or any others types of clay? What attracted you to polymer clay over the other kinds?
I started using polymer clay when I was 15 and I thought of it as a hobby, mainly because it was easy to use and it doesn’t require many resources. It didn’t take much space and I could use the kitchen’s oven to cure the clay (provided I would clean it afterwards). The other great advantage I saw in polymer clay was the fact that it came in a great variety of colours. I begun with a very modest set of colours as I bought polymer clay from my pocket money but after a while I had a reasonable stash and I started making my own tools with old crochet needles.
Later I started seeing how the medium was being used and its evolution. I feel that I will always be on a learning process because there are so many techniques to perfect and to explore. It’s really hard to get bored with it.
You seem to have an interest in textiles. Have you ever thought about incorporating textiles into your clay works; for example creating real mini scarves for your penguins or knitting a hat and putting your creatures on them?
I am looking at the question of incorporating textiles patterns and textures into my work using polymer clay. The idea isn’t new and I have tried it already using “faux” knitting to make the fur of some sheep. But I would like to go beyond that... I am trying to adapt Fair Isle knitting patterns into faux knitting and I also want to explore ways to make “faux” embroidery, inspired by a Portuguese tradition of embroidered handkerchiefs, the “Lenços dos Namorados”.
If you take up other interests of yours such as the enamelling or metal clay works, do you think you'd continue to create your little creatures? If so do you think you could combine them with these new skills?
I am very curious about experimenting new techniques and materials. When I found out about metal clay I immediately thought about it in terms of its applications into the realm of the Little Creatures. I would love to try to combine it with polymer clay and explore the use of both mediums. I will have to try it though... from my experience dealing with new things is a great way to push the imagination.
A lot of the creations I do nowadays are the result of custom commissions. A recent example was a commission for some ear cuffs... I had never heard of them and after doing some research I started learning wire work to be able to make the ear cuffs. I ended up realising that I could easily apply it to make wire structures for more delicate designs.
What influences the colours you choose, the creatures you choose to make and the way you stylize your works? Also what inspires your work daily - what resources do you use and what do you take inspiration from visually?
Nature is definitely the best source of inspiration I have for my work. I am drawn by the little details and I am very curious about plants and animals... not only by the species with which I have direct contact but I also like books and TV shows about them. If there is a particular thing that draws my attention I end up doing more research and then I just try to figure out how to make it real. I use Flickr, EOL and field guides to look for images of the real creatures and I usually work from there. The colours I use depend on what I am working. I usually build the colour palette before working on a new design, but I often make changes on a more intuitive basis. I tend to use neutrals and browns for woodland creatures, but I love to explore vivid colours for insects.
You mentioned that your polymer clay works was a long term project of yours. Where do you see yourself taking this in the future?
I am looking at this project as a small business, and it’s been a real challenge to build its basis... not only actually working with polymer clay, but I also like the “management” aspects of it because I am aware that whatever I’ll make of it, I can make it according to my own values and rules.
I am looking into different ways to showcase my work, namely through some craft fairs and I would like to give it a go with retail. I would definitely like to see more little creatures around and if I can do that and have an additional source of income it’s perfect.
You mentioned that you enjoying doing both academic works (archiving) and creative works (your creatures). What are your views on the Arts and Academics?
People are different and I think that what works for some people may not work for others. I think it is important for people to have contact with different activities and experiences. It makes room for discovery and eventually to explore more in depth specific interests, whatever they are.
I see archives as a very practical area that is simultaneously “hands on” and intellectually challenging and I really like to get my hands dirty to find records that tell great stories... I was thrilled when I discovered a letter by Anthony Blunt among some records regarding education activities at the National Portrait Gallery.
I also think that it is important to have some sort of activity that somehow allows me to play. For some people it is sports, photography (for some people is archives)... but for me is crafts. I really enjoy being able to transform something with my hands and when I am “working” I often lose the sense of time.
Having both these activities in my life is very challenging and rewarding. It’s great to be able to put my imagination in practice through polymer clay and to be able to contribute actively to a healthy society through by preserving and promoting access to archives.
What is the creative process you go through to create a new creature? How do you come up with ideas and what kind of forms/ animals grabs your attention?
My ideas for new creatures come from a lot of different places... they can be the result of direct observation but they can also come from a story or a painting. I always carry a little notebook with me and if there is something that grabs my attention I write it or draw it. Lately I have been paying more attention to birds, as there are so many species in Saint Andrews, in particular sea birds. Sometimes I get home and I start working on it right away but often it takes a while before I start shaping the creature. In most of the cases I do some research on the animals, their habits and colours beforehand.
When I start shaping the creatures with polymer clay I usually already have some sort of structure in my head. It used to take some time until I worked out the final shape for a creature but nowadays I find that after a first model I am able to see what works and what can be improved. I take the time to explore, to find good solutions and then I make the real creatures.
The great thing of the Little Creatures is that there are all sorts of creatures, from mammals, to insects and fish and it’s great to add new members to the family because there is so much diversity to discover out there.
What's your favourite item in your own shop and why?
My favourite item is definitely the sheep... I really like sheep, they’re a fun animal, independent in some sort of way and they remind me of clouds with head and feet. I have always enjoyed making them, and I was thrilled to use “faux” knitting for their wool because it made sense to dress them with nice and warm sweaters.
I have done a few variations since and this winter they will be around in colourful knitted sweaters with stripes.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
It was really nice to do this interview and I would like to thank Carmen for this opportunity. I hope that those reading enjoy it and if at some point you feel your fingers telling you they want to make things, go for it. It’s great to discover new things and usually we end up surprising ourselves.
If you want to discover more about the stories on the Little Creatures you can visit my blog at thelittlecreatures.wordpress.com
