ceramics diploma – Page 7 – Bridget Macklin

collaboration 1 — Collaboration 1 awaiting firing

Collaboration – the action of working with someone to produce something. What a lovely idea, especially when I might otherwise be inclined to drift a bit post diploma with no specific project in mind. So just when I thought there was no life after City Lit along come two people, quite independently of each other, wishing to work with me.

Actually, if I am totally honest, the project with Trevor Ruddock Black had been on the back burner for a bit whilst I made it to the end of the course, but this week is the first time that I have begun to think seriously about it. Trevor paints in oils. He makes vibrant abstract paintings on a very large scale and with fantastic texture. A little while ago we discussed the possibility of creating complimentary three dimensional pieces and so this week I started exploring how we might do that. Of course foremost in my mind was how to get a cast of his paintings without destroying them in the first place. Funnily enough that seems to have been the easy bit! The painting has survived completely unscathed. Phew! Next came the difficulty of working with a great many undercuts which normally make it impossible to take a good cast from a mould. Lets just say that I am working on that. But the good news is that, at least on a small scale, I have almost cracked it – please excuse the awful pun! And now I have a small box which is a copy of Trevor’s painting awaiting firing. I can’t wait to see the results. The next step is to think about colour – I could pass the box over to Trevor for that bit, or I could do something which compliments his painting. The one thing I know for sure is that I am not going to copy his art!

Then, out of the blue, I was approached by a sculptor wanting help with casting porcelain. Her project sounds really interesting and we met for the first time to discuss it yesterday. I am full of hope for another interesting partnership.

Meanwhile, this week marked the first every meeting of the City Lit Ceramics Diploma Alumni 2015 reunion. More on that anon, but it is great to know that we have each other in this time of transition and the thought that we are already planning our first group exhibition post graduation fills me with excitement. Not sure where or when but we will Re-turn. Sorry, more awful puns!

I feel so lucky to be surrounded by people who are in one way or another supporting my quest to become an artist. I never realised that I needed people so much as I have over the past couple of years and I cannot end this post without saying thank you to my best friend, the person who, over the past couple of years, has demonstrated the most amazing capacity to support, understand, wait, cajole, cook supper and keep the house from becoming a health hazard.

I do not think being on your own between study and next step would be good for anyone but I certainly feel pretty blessed. Go Team!

Celia David's delicate slip castings — Celia David’s delicate slip castings

The ceramics diploma at City Lit has been a most wonderful experience. I have learned so much from wonderful tutors and I feel much more certain of my way in ceramics.

Claudia Wassiczek's intriguing and thought provoking wall pieces — Claudia Wassiczek’s intriguing and thought provoking wall pieces

Mind you, I think the thing I know most certainly now is that I know almost nothing about ceramics! What a subject. The discovery of what it can do is going to take me the rest of my life!

The last two weeks will be with me for ever. It has been incredibly hard work getting everything ready, first for New Designers and then, almost without drawing breath, for our graduation show at Candid Arts but, my word, it has been worth every drop of blood and sweat and tears.

Young Ran Lee's massive, architectural groups — Young Ran Lee’s massive, architectural groups

It has been a real privilege to work along side some truly lovely people and I have enjoyed sharing so much with a group of fellow students whom I believe will be friends for ever – I certainly hope so! I have learned a lot about myself and been presented with some exciting opportunities for the future. Lucky me!

Enrica Casentini's beautiful oval vessel — Enrica Casentini’s beautiful oval vessel

Sassirika's delicate flowing forms. — Sassirika’s delicate flowing forms.

2015-07-05 11.46.46 — Ranti Bamgbala’s colourful collaged pieces

2015-07-05 11.47.09 — Jess Prout’s remarkable selection of vintage cameras

I woke this morning thinking about the work which has been in the gallery this week – not mine, that of my colleagues. The range of pieces has been so extra-ordinary.

Tania McCallin's massive yet beautiful vessels. — Tania McCallin’s massive yet beautiful vessels.

We have had the same tutors and been on the same course yet in the last few months our explorations have shot off in every single direction resulting in an exhibition which was incredibly diverse and of a truly fabulous level of skill – and all achieved over two years studying for two days per week. Not bad!

Steven Will's delightful porcelain vessels. — Steven Will’s delightful porcelain vessels.

So I wanted to share a few of what I think are the highlights of this week’s exhibition. Watch out – these artists are going to hit the big time, or I shall drink my glazes!

I cannot help it though, in all this work I still feel there is one person’s work that calls to me more than any other and, in the end I was compelled to bring one of her pieces home with me at the end of it all today. Joanne Bain throws the most delightful shapes. Her bottles gather in groups and create a dialogue with each other. They take on the semblance of figures and as she describes it, ‘hint at a deeper kinship between them’. What better way to finish the diploma than with a group of ceramic pieces which reflects the way I feel about the characters on the course? Thank you, Jo.

Position leads to relationships. Joanne Bain

Tag Archives: ceramics diploma

When you need a friend . .

This is the End of the Beginning