A little bit about me..
Profile
I originally trained as a nurse over 20 years ago and worked at various Birmingham hospitals over a ten year period. I have also worked in elderly care as a care assistant. My experiences working in a care environment have enriched my life enormously and greatly influence my artwork. I have always been interested in art and have been creative in some way all my life but it was when I visited a Jackson Pollock exhibition in 1999 and was blown away by the sheer energy and life in his paintings that I decided to take my interest in art much more seriously. Since then I have completed various art courses including 'Preparation For Fine Art' and an 'Art and Design Foundation' course where I gained a distinction. I completed a BA (Hons) Design Crafts degree in 2010 and have shown a selection of work at New Designers, London and Mint Gallery during the London Design Festival.
My work primarily focuses on the non functional vessel. Individual, one off pieces explore forms such as teapots, plates, and cutlery as well as small dishes and bowls. These everyday objects make reference to both function and decoration; however, I am particularly interested in what a piece becomes when the function is removed. My work combines personal expression with a social consciousness and I often use found objects as visual inspiration for my work, sometimes incorporating elements of them into the finished pieces. I use a variety of techniques in my ceramics including slip casting, press moulding and hand building but I am particularly drawn to the fragile quality that can be created by dipping various fabrics into liquid porcelain; once fired, the fabric burns away leaving a ghostly presence.
My smaller ceramic pieces once again reflect my fascination with the past, memories and a trace of what came before. I have a collection of vintage lace, buttons and other objects that I press into the wet clay to create interesting textures which also give the pieces a sense of history. You can view more of my work in my etsy shop.. www.hodgepodgearts.etsy.com or keep up to date with my latest work, exhibitions and craft fair details on my facebook page... HodgePodgearts on Facebook