As we look forward to opening our membership application process again we'd like to share an interview with Sarah Cannell who joined the Society earlier this year...
Describe your craft in one sentence I create ceramic vessels in white earthenware clay decorated with drawn and screenprinted motifs inspired by the marshes of the Waveney Valley.
What first attracted you to your medium? I started drawing tiny designs for pots in 2016 as a therapeutic act during a difficult time. I was not thinking about creating the works in clay as my main practice was landscape painting and drawing. As the drawings developed and I enjoyed thinking about the forms, I started gathering equipment: clay, potter's wheel, kiln, and set about challenging myself to create 1,000 thrown vessels. I haven’t looked back! I still draw and paint but my main practice is now contemporary ceramics with an emphasis on surface design and colour.
What is the most exciting/rewarding part of your process? I enjoy every part of the process from creating forms in earthenware clay, decorating bisqued forms and glazing works. I am still excited every time I open the kiln and then photograph and document the fresh work.
Do you have a typical day? I balance my days and weeks between running clay workshops, curating exhibitions and creating work for galleries. Every day is juggling the practicalities of managing a community pottery, the admin of running two sculpture trails and the creative challenges of producing artworks.
What inspires/informs your work? The marshes have always inspired my work whether it is through drawing, painting or ceramics. I love the light, the big skies, the ancient pathways, the reeds and the willows, many of which feature on my ceramics as drawing or pattern. Combined with this is my love of Lowestoft Porcelain and the colours and decorating techniques used on the 18th century ceramics. We had a small collection of Lowestoft Porcelain tea bowls in the house where I grew up and I loved the blue and white designs as well as the stylised willow trees.
What have you learnt through the development of your practice? Being self taught I have learnt a lot about my approaches to learning and my resilience and inquisitive nature. I have immersed myself in the world of ceramics experimenting with clays, glazes, ways of making, in order to find my own voice. Alongside the creative journey has been a technical journey of discovery which has included kiln repairs and problem solving in the studio. I love that, although I have gained a large amount of knowledge in the field, there is still a lifetime of learning ahead of me.
What advice would you give to someone starting out? Try everything in order to work out what resonates with you. Enjoy experimenting with a variety of media. Focus on the process not the end result. Visit exhibitions and museums constantly to gather visual inspiration.
Read more about Sarah here >>
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