I have been a blogger for a couple of years, but until now, my emphasis has been glass. That is the other love in my life :-)
For the past 3 years I have been slipcasting ceramic vessels, and now reached the stage where I am able to make my own molds too. It has been a hard and difficult school, but I love the challenge!
In less than a month I will attend Design Indaba 2012 to showcase my work. So I have been hard at work in the studio creating new designs, translate them into a master mold and then create the plaster molds from it so I can slipcast my pieces. I am a bit of a control freak and love the fact that I am in charge from the inception of the idea!
Let me tell you a bit about myself and my workspace:
I am on the wrong side of 40 and a trained nurse. I kinda went into nursing with a bit of nudging from my dad, a GP. What I really wanted to study, was art. But what job lies at the end of that degree? And back then Design was not really a job either. So I went off and offered bedpans to patients, made their beds and held their hands while they were passing over into another universe. I had serious envy of the surgeons. They got to cut people and have fun in theater, while I had to count swabs ...
And then the 40's hit me. I really hated my job. Creativity can kill people, you know! I discovered the allure of melting glass and was hooked. But life takes strange turns and after 3 years or working just with glass and sterling silver (oh, I did a short course in that too) I found myself with dirty muddy hands. Something I did more than 20 years ago once a week at a local college. Initially I combined my glass beads and ceramic vessels, but soon found out that it was just not financially or time viable. And I discovered an amazing black clay.
For the first almost 2 years I converted my black clay into a slip (or a paperclay slip) and casted with that. Finally my supplier offered me the slip. I was happy. I had a medium that, even though it is full of nonsense and difficult,produced the most amazing final product. Never mind the ultra dirty clothes and workspace! I have learnt how to coax every bit of obedience out of my beloved clay. And during this time I have been lucky enough to also learn how to work with plaster.
Just over a year ago I was told that I knew enough to make my own molds. And I did. Slowly I acquired most of the tools necessary to cut plaster masters, etc and today I can make most of my own molds.
Life took a lot of turns with me, and one of them was the little shop that I opened at the end of 2009. I loved it. But in October 2011 I realised that I had to close it. I was so sad about it. And felt the complete failure. At the same time I got offered an opportunity that I could not resist. A huge order that would sustain me through the summer. If I kept the shop, I would not have had the time to do the work. And neither did I have the space at home to work from. And in came another opportunity.
Through my supplier I learnt of a space in a huge 600 square meter studio complex, complete with kilns and a decal department. After a very quick discussion, I arrange to move my ceramic stuff to them. It was perfect. I loved my landlord and his manager. It is close to the city and on the bus routes.
Long story short -
* I delivered my work to the restaurant. They are happy with it :-)
* I got a fabulous work environment from which to work from.
* I made friends with my colleagues. And will kill for them :-(
* I am as happy as ...
