How did I get here?
How did I get here? Or the alternative title - Why I got into Ceramics!
I thought it was about time I introduced myself and explain how I ended up in pottery. I call myself a potter rather than a ceramicist most of the time because I primarily make functional items, and I feel ceramicists are less about functional pottery and more about exploring the limits of ceramic material. I’m sure in time I will get to that, but right now I’m happy doing what I do.
So, Hi! I’m Ros and I identify as a potter. I live with my husband in North Bristol, Westbury-On-Trym to be exact. In our blended family we have four children, three are adults who (mostly) live away from home, and one who is taking her GCSE’s next year. We are animal lovers and have five cats and two dogs. Don’t visit us if you don’t like pets!
I have been many things over the years, but my longest-lasting careers have been creative. I was a wedding photographer for quite a long time and feel privileged to have been the capturer of memories for so many couples. I still do the occasional wedding, but only referrals from previous clients. I keep my eye in as a photographer by doing product shots of my ceramics, and I maintain a love for film photography with a darkroom in our attic, processing both colour and monochrome film and making prints.
I am also an artist, mostly abstract but the occasional watercolour portrait comes out. Recently I have been creating digital watercolour paintings as box designs for my ceramics. I have paintings all over the world, mostly sold through Artfinder (you can see my available work here), but some have sold in person too.
So, why pottery? Well it was my favourite subject in school and I have a GCSE in it, though not an A level as my school only offered Art as an option. Over the years I have taken various short courses, but realistically most of my learning has been self-led through books, research and videos. What I love most about pottery, and what keeps my interest is that there is always something new to learn, whether it be a new technique, style or a new form to master.
For me the Covid-19 crisis was what really snowballed the pottery. I couldn’t go to a studio to practice, or classes to learn new skills, so instead what I did (what I always do with hobbies) was to jump in with both feet, bought a wheel, ancient kiln, clay and some commercial glazes, and sat practising for hours a day. This is where my ability to hyper-focus comes into its own. When I’m really interested in something, I bury myself in it, to the exclusion of almost anything else. Ask my husband! But what this means is that I have acquired an encyclopaedic knowledge on most things ceramic and glazes, and anything I don’t know I research and test until I do!
The first kiln I bought was an ancient 1976 front loading behemoth made by Cromartie, which my husband rewired to bring into the twentieth century (with help and advice from the wonderful people at Cromartie) with a digital controller, thermocouple and relays. Yes, you read right, first kiln. We’re now on kiln four! Bessie the behemoth was a wonderful workhorse, and I only upgraded for better efficiency, what with electricity costs being what they are.
Working with clay has been my saviour through these strange times. I get antsy if I don’t get to spend any time on the wheel, and sometimes resent that I have to finish pots by glazing, when all I really want to do is make. Maybe when I’m a famous and successful potter I can employ someone to glaze for me!