My video slide (below) illustrates the slow, methodical but ultimately relaxing process of making a large punchbowl and cups. The first stage is the ‘pinching’ out a large ball of clay then layers of clay called coils are added. Each coil needs drying slightly before the next one is added. Once the basic shape has been achieved, I scrape and refine the surface with a metal tool until its is smooth and fingerprint free.
With the addition of rolled, pointed feet and the addition of rolled up balls of clay, and ‘hook’ to hang the cups on, this finally completes the punch bowl. The little cups which hang around the edge are small ‘pinched’ pots just a smaller version of the punch bowl itself. Finally, at last to decorate, after drawing out the image, I get to work with my fabulous underglaze colours.
This a youtube video created by Culture Northern Ireland interviewing me about my 30 year retrospective exhibition at the Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Northern Ireland. (2011)
Video created by the Mill Cove gallery, Mill Cove House, Castletownbere, Co. Cork, Ireland.