ceramics artist, Tiffany Struthers
How did you discover your love for pottery?
It wasn’t until I became a visual arts student at USQ that I had really encountered the making of ceramics. I have always felt drawn to art and creating, and the way that ceramics is so hands-on and process-based with so much potential really drew me to it.
What is it that you particularly enjoy about it?
There are so many elements within ceramics, as with any other discipline, and learning each of these styles of ceramics is so inspiring and exciting to me. Wheelthrowing is slowly becoming my favoured process as I continue to learn and practice and improve on my skills. The discipline that is required for wheelthrowing, the control I have over the clay yet being so therapeutic; it has really taken over my making practice.
What was the inspiration for your work Unveiling of Breath (pictured)?
I love creating functional work, creating things which people can use and will become a part of their lives, their households. Unveiling of Breath is a series of work with a subtle shape and curve in the forms whose focus is the bold colour of the glaze with a simple pattern unveiling the clay underneath. My inspiration for this series was the patterns and colours of India and south east Asia in a simplified design, coming from my time in Nepal two years ago. The bright and distinct colour in the buildings and fabrics that I saw were expressed in the ceramic pieces and a simplified drawing of my favourite Mehndi design.
What was the process for creating this work?
I made the work through a process called slip casting, which involves making a plaster mould of the forms and using a liquid clay to create the pieces. I then used a wax resist method to create the pattern in the glaze, drawing them on by hand.
Do you dabble in other creative media as well?
I have done work in painting and printmaking before honing in on ceramics and would like to continue working on my skills as I create a studio at home.