Gail West

The English Potter

Two techniques have given me endless opportunities during my fifteen years of working with clay. One is slab rolling. It's just like being given a clear canvas. Possibilities abound. Another is randomly coiling clay or rolling out irregular shapes. Fragility imposes wonderful challenges. Will the pieces hold their shape, crack or explode? Will they survive a final firing? Success makes it all worthwhile.

In contrast to the slab, coil and thrown pottery, my earliest clay pieces consisted of sculpture from life forms. Building upon these initial works, I've recently had fun with masks and titled themes. Exposing a seam and adding feet, if the piece dictates, satisfy my sense of humour. A love of nature is often realized by the use of natural imprints from a leaf or reptile-skin effect from a lattice fabric. I favour earthy tones, layering glazes texturally, often producing the effect of movement on the surface.

Evolving naturally from my previous work are barrel and pit firing. Items such as banana skins, nutshells, garden fertilizers are included in the pit or drum next to the piece being fired with wood and straw. This creates singular pieces, markings and colours belonging uniquely to the piece fired.

"The beauty of nature - its colour, texture and form is all the inspiration I need!"