Ceramic Showcase - Elisabeth Ryan

4th May - 31st July 2002

The dramatic landscapes found within the natural world have inspired ceramist Elisabeth Ryan to create these impressive, sandy and textural vessels.

"The inspiration for the vessel forms, their surface qualities and colour derive from landscape and the natural world.
The vessel is a vehicle to convey these chosen qualities by remaining identifiable and familiar to the onlooker. This allows the pieces to sit comfortably within the domestic sphere in both the home or garden.
Each piece is handbuilt by coiling or slabbing techniques. Colour is achieved by the addition of various oxides at the initial making stage, resulting in complete fusion of body and colour. A range of clays are used to give variation and contrast in colour and texture and are then high fired to achieve the final finished mature surface.
The vessels are a personal interpretation and celebration of the unique qualities found within the natural world. They do not attempt to represent the many vast and varying landscapes, just simply to reflect these qualities and to instil calm in an often chaotic world."
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