Glaze Inspiration & Descriptions.

I have always been drawn the the natural environment as a source of great inspiration.I have never desired to recreate some sort of literal interpretation or recreation but its impact on my creative thinking has always been present in my work. From my explorations into mark making during my degree in embroidery, my fascination with working with raw materials to my colour pallet.

I love the coast, growing up in north Norfolk it holds a very special place in my heart and is always a place of peace and restoration for me as well as being a source of great inspiration. When I am thinking of desired colours, tones and texture in glazes flashes of colour from many coast line walks and stays are always the starting point. I often find ,myself collecting shells and stones almost absent mindedly from sandy shores. Usually upon returning home they get stashed somewhere out of sight. But after a recent trip to The Gower I had a rummage and got my little stashes of seasides past and was over joyed to see the harmony between the different hordes over the years and the direct correlation between them and my current collection. In a world where it feels very it feels hard to find true inspiration among our image heavy culture there was something so immensely pleasing in seeing an element of my creative journey laid out in those memories from trips to the coast.

Rusty Orange -
This glazes has a beautiful waxy finish to touch with speckles coming from the clay body itself. The source of inspiration for they glaze has long been in my mind from a trip to Pembrokeshire many years ago. Where I came across the most beautifully rusted oil drum on a pebbled cove. A Shock of ochre among the subtle grey tones. Where thicker the glaze flashes white creating a very appealing contrast to the orange.

Rusty White -
This glaze is the same are the rusty orange but used on a whiter clay body. One of the many wonders to be had in glazing is how the colour and texture of different clays themselve effect the finish of the glazes. This glaze and clay combination creates a beautiful pure white with an eggshell finish to touch. Where the glazes pools thicker delicate crystals form creating a more satin silky finish and subtle shine. Where edges of the pot break the glaze surface you see hints of the orange. 

Toasted White -
There is a very pleasant mix of earthy and contemporary in the finish of this glaze. Used on a darker clay body you have the warmth of the clay itself coming  through again the toasty white with speckles from the clay reminding me somewhat of a bullrush. Where the glazes pools thicker you get wonderful hues of a delicate rosey pink. The glaze has a lovely satin feel to touch.

Pearlescent White -
By far the hardest glaze to describe,  this  glaze has an incredible level and depth of variation and tones. The overall appearance at first glance is  an off white. with a lovely silk, almost glossy finish. But on looking closer the surface is covered in  almost golden crystals . Where is pools thicker  you get lovely flashes of blush and then where slightly thiner it becomes slight translucent taking on an almost taupe hues. 

Speckled Sandstone -
The speckles in the clay body work perfectly with this glaze. which is semi opaque. Creating darker tones where the clay body shows through on thinner patches and a milkier crystal finish where thinker. It feels very timeless and has a lovely matt finish.
​