MEET THE MAKER
Liz Sofield, ceramic, textile and paper artist
Textiles and making have always been im important threads in the life of Liz Sofield S (top). Growing up in New Zeala Zealand, she wore clothes sewn by her mother a and always had a craft project of fh her own on the go. Sewing, crochet and knitting were all part of her skill set.
After studying at Wellington Polytechnic, she worked in Auckland as a textile designer before moving to Brisbane with her husband Martin in 2004. For his job as a civil engineer, the couple later moved to Kalgoorlie, WA, with their young twins in tow.
Art materials were in short supply there, so Liz turned to items at hand – paper and thread – and started producing delicate artworks of textured paper patterned with stitching. At the same time, her son Liam became obsessed with paper planes. Liz would sit with him for hours, folding paper. To make sure her daughter Rosabella didn’t feel left out, she began folding paper flowers as well.
“This sparked a fascination with origami, and I began combining it with my hand stitching,” says Liz. What started as a family craft activity soon became a serious artistic pursuit. Her portfolio now includes paper works that feature gentle geometric folds covered in fine networks of thread. The work requires precision and patience, and Liz is devoted to it. “I love the rhythm and symmetry. With these works, I’m exploring the boundaries where art and craft meet.”
Back in Brisbane, Liz decided to explore the world of ceramics. She began applying her origami skills to works of clay, rolling and folding the material and pressing patterns into it to replicate the folds of origami. The result is her expanding range of fine porcelain vessels. Most recently, she has married clay techniques with her childhood love of crochet. Drawing on skills taught by her mother, she crochets delicate forms from natural fibres before covering them with porcelain clay and firing in a kiln.
Working from a space in her home, Liz dedicates several hours a day to her ceramics and textiles, relishing the comforting rhythms and satisfying outcomes of her work: “Making is such a tactile and meditative process. I hope that joy translates into my work.”
Liz’s work will be on sale through her website from early 2019; lizsofield.com.